First noticed by reader BenAmirault, the lack of home button on the iPad shown in the invitation has been the primary focus of attention. While many leapt to the conclusion that Apple may be getting rid of the home button (Steve Jobs famously didn’t like buttons at all), others quickly pointed out that the iPad could just be in in landscape mode. However, some other clues may prove it’s not that simple…

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In case you’ve been living in the analog world for the past few days, Apple sent out invitations Tuesday to an event to be held next week. And the Internet exploded, right on schedule.

Apple, true to form, has not said anything about what products or services it’ll unveil next week, or if it’ll unveil anything at all. Nonetheless, based on past history, a nonstop cavalcade of rumors, and third-party sources, Apple is all but guaranteed launch the next iPad, aka the iPad 3, at its March 7 event.

That much was effectively confirmed by Apple’s invitation, which shows a picture of a finger reaching out and touching what can only be an iPad screen, along with the words, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

That’s all we have to go on, at least officially. That’s when we turned to you, faithful Mashable readers, to see if there were any clues in the invitation that might not be obvious. It wasn’t much to work with, but that one image and those 10 words prompted a frenzy of digital forensic examination the likes of which could only be matched by an entire season of CSI.

SEE ALSO: Forget the iPad 3 — I’d Still Buy an iPad 2

From the wording to the visible apps to the pattern of droplets on the screen, readers extracted clue after clue as to exactly what the iPad 3 might be. Keep in mind that all of this is highly speculative, that Apple could have easily Photoshopped the image extensively, and the company is notorious for its misdirection over rumors.

Still, the invite is real, and it really came from Apple. Here’s what our readers were able to extract. Feel free to share any more theories in the comments.

More About: apple, ipad, ipad 3, itv, tablets, trending

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The sound-free video, above, leaked on the Japanese forum AppVV.com, appears to show a 4S being put through its paces. The BrowserMark number is significant as it’s roughly double the number you’ll get on an iPhone 4 running iOS 5 — meaning the iPhone 4S will browse the web at twice the speed of its predecessor.

The site does not explain how the phone was obtained ahead of launch. So how do we know it really is an iPhone 4S? Because Siri appears to be baked right into the OS — note the preferences screen that allows you to select English (in Australian, British or American dialects), French or German. Also note the options to have Siri talk back and to activate the service when you lift the phone to your ear.

Want to learn more about Siri? We have its history, and an interview with the app’s co-creator, here.

[Via Macrumors]

More About: apple, iPhone 4S, siri, Video

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Here’s a piece of visual evidence that the iPhone 5 could have a larger screen and a thinner bezel. Thanks to a Chinese reseller of Apple parts, this unconfirmed photo has surfaced, reportedly of the digitizer panel for the iPhone 5.

According to 9 to 5 Mac, the screen has similar construction to the same part on the iPhone 4, but as you can see, the panel reaches almost all the way out to the edges of the device. There’s more screen area on the top and bottom, also bolstering iPhone 5 rumors we’ve been hearing about a much larger screen.

From this picture, it’s hard to tell if that’s the rumored 4-inch screen or a 4.3-inch screen, matching many of the Android smartphones released recently.

Taking this rumor one step further, Piotrek has put together mockup of what the new iPhone 5 would look like if it were wearing this larger digitizer panel:

How about it, readers? Will Apple join the 4-inches-and-larger smartphone market when it rolls out the next iteration of the iPhone this summer?

Images courtesy iDeals China and Piotrek

More About: Clues, iPhone 5, rumors, screen, speculation, trending

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If you value efficiency and effectiveness, then your Android device should be your best friend. These tech toys are capable of handling all kinds of work and personal tasks, from email and schedules to file management and to-do lists. And all the tools you need are conveniently located right in the Android Market. With so many choices, however, things can get a little complicated.

Here are ten highly rated, absolutely free Android apps that will help you work smarter, get more accomplished, save time and stay organized.

1. Dropbox

Dropbox is great because it’s not just a mobile app; it allows you to manage files in fully synced folders from desktop and mobile devices. Dropbox’s Android application allows users to access a Dropbox — and any kind of content it contains, including music and movies — from anywhere. Users can also upload files, such as images and links, to their Dropbox account. This video will give you an idea of how it works:

User comments:
“So helpful!”
“This worked perfectly for me.”
“A solid start for a free app.”

2. CamCard Lite

This simple application allows you to snap pictures of business cards and automatically import that information to your virtual Rolodex. CamCard Pro is also available as a paid app for $9.99; both versions of the app support multiple languages – from English to traditional Chinese.

User comments:
“High accuracy, impressive!”
“Did a fair job of getting info off the card.”

3. GDocs

GDocs is a text editing application that allows you to access, view, edit and sync documents stored in a Google Docs account. It also lets users create, send, import and export documents.

User comments:
“I like being able to make notes and edit documents and sync them back to my Google account.”
“Basic text works fine.”
“Pretty useful.”

4. Springpad

Springpad is brand-new to the Android Market, but has been getting rave reviews from users on other devices. Like Evernote, this app allows you to save items in a virtual notebook. But it doesn’t just save these items; it also pulls in data from other sites and helps you take action on your lists, not just remember them.

User comments:
“Superb interface.”
“Online sync is nice.”
“Great app, saves notes online and locally, so there’s no wait to view.”

5. SlideScreen

If you struggle with information overload, here’s an app that might help you. SlideScreen turns your Android device’s home screen into a display of your information with a meaningful hierarchy to distinguish signal from noise. The app shows a summary of data from text messages, phone calls, GMail, your calendar, Google Reader, stock market data, Twitter and Facebook. A pro version is available for $6.99.

User comments:
“Keeps getting better! Google Voice would be awesome.”
“Made for simple people with good taste in phones.”
“Nice concept and good looks.”

6. Remember The Milk

This app represents mobile task-management at it finest. Users can add and check off tasks on the go, organize upcoming tasks, get alerted when they are near a task location and sync their mobile actions with a web interface. It’s available with a $25 yearly subscription to the RTM web interface.

User comments:
“It helps me stay on track with what I need to do, and the email service is great.”
“Great, simple UI.”
“Very fast and intuitive.”

7. Astrid Task/To-Do List

Astrid is more than just a to-do list; its friendly reminders will help you stay focused and productive. It’s location-aware and can sync with Remember the Milk. Best of all, it’s open-source and built specifically with Google technologies in mind.

User comments:
“Really convenient, I absolutely love it!”
“Astrid keeps me out of trouble and on time.”

8. Evernote

Half notebook app, half reminder app, Evernote lets you save your ideas, inspirations and favorite things to the cloud for future access. It’s basically a virtual substitute for a good memory. You can record text, images or audio.

User comments:
“Ideal for taking snapshots of documents.”
“Almost perfect, just needs offline support.”

9. Voice Recorder

Here’s a simple, useful application for taking notes on the go, capturing ideas, remembering songs or recording interviews. The audio recordings are timed, and files are sent as attachments to your Gmail account. You can search for recordings by title or date, and you can set your recordings as ringtones.

User comments:
“Words like a charm.”
“Good sound quality.”
“Helpful for class instead of taking notes.”

10. Jorte

Jorte is a personal organizer app that was designed to be both attractive and practical. It’s a scheduler and to-do application that syncs with Google Calendar. Its three home screen widgets allow you to quickly view a monthy or weekly calendar or a to-do list.

User comments:
“Very good calendar app.”
“Very user-friendly and good customization.”

For more mobile coverage, follow Mashable Mobile on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook

More Android resources from Mashable:

- 8 Best Android Apps for Photo Editing
- 8 Best Android Apps for Health and Fitness
- HOW TO: Turn Your Android Phone Into a Killer MP3 Player
- 5 Amazing Android Apps for Baseball Fans
- 6 Free Android Apps That Will Make You Drop Your iPhone
- 5 Free Android Apps for Web Developers

[img credit: laihiu]

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Reviews: Android, Android Market, Dropbox, Evernote, Facebook, Gmail, Google, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Reader, Google Voice, Rating, Remember The Milk (RTM), Twitter, springpad

Tags: android, apps, astrid, camcard, Dropbox, evernote, gdocs, Google, jorte, Mobile 2.0, productivity, Remember The Milk, slidescreen, springpad, voice recorder

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The iPad offers a lot of choice as far as meeting consumer needs, says Carnegie Digital Computers. The tablet computer is available in both a Wi-Fi only version, as well as a Wi-Fi plus 3G compatible version. The 3G compatible version, explains Carnegie Digital Computers, would allow users to access the web anywhere—even where wireless Internet access is not available. Carnegie Digital Computers continues that the iPad is also available with 16, 32, or 64 GB memory. This lets customers pick the iPad that is perfect for them without paying for unnecessary extras.

Another favorite feature of the new iPad is the web and e-mail experience it offers, says Carnegie Digital Computers. For example, when viewing a webpage, users can view it in both landscape and portrait. Carnegie Digital Computers explains that customers love that when they rotate the iPad, the page automatically rotates too and expands to fill the screen. Also, the multi-touch features of the screen are astounding, says Carnegie Digital Computers. Users are able to double tap the screen to enlarge particular portions of websites. Carnegie Digital Computers says that new iPad owners constantly comment on its ease of use and intuitiveness.

The iPad also changes the way users can view photos and video. Carnegie Digital Computers explains that the iPad display is brilliant and vibrant, while high-definition videos show up bolder than ever. According to Carnegie Digital Computers, YouTube is already a working component of the iPad. The iPad also supports iPod and iBook functions. Come in to Carnegie Digital Computers and try out the new iPad—once you experience it, you will definitely want one.