We know that this is a merely unsubstantiated rumours, but the gist is so difficult to pass up - the iPad 3 is supposed to make a first-time appearance in the upcoming (26th January 2012)iWorld convention in the US (where else?) in San Francisco.

According to some source in the ether the iPad 3 will have an unsurpassable battery life. The 14000mAH battery would last 20 hours - twice that of the current 6500mAH one in the iPad 2.

Besides, we're sure everyone by now would have heard that the new display will be Retina Display. Technically, if you're interested in this stuff, it is QXGA resolution of 1536 X 2048. And to keep the display bright there will be not one but two LED lights bars. We doubt any other tablet maker can beat that.

If you think that Apple is still going to maintain those awfully low-resolution lenses of the iPad 2, you're in for a treat. It's still rumour though, that they will be 8 and 5 MP.

Those who have used an iPAd 2, if yuo think that is fast, the iPad 3 will run even faster with a new upgraded processor, the A6.

Lastly, the running rumours have been that Apple would built a second smaller iPad, to compete with the Kindle Fire. This we doubt as well. We believe the other rumour that Apple would lower the prices of the iPad 2 so as to be more competitive to the Kindle Fire. Instead, Apple would still bring out two versions of the iPad 3. One would cater to the lower end and the other to the other end of consumers, whether they are professionals or they just have more money to throw at Apple.

Judging from the response from Malaysians at the iPhone 4S launch, it may appear as if the latest Apple mobile device has no competitor. Of course, that’s not true. Quite a few devices can give the iPhone 4s a run for its money. Like, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Let’s first take the display of both phones. If you have been a long-time iPhone user, the size of the display on the iPhone 4S should sit very comfortably with you. That said, on the other side of the pond, the Android lover would certainly take to heart the 4.65 inches of real estate. Yes, more than one full inch than the screen on the iPhone 4s.

If you go back up to the table and look at both phones’ processors, you’d find the Nexus is faster too, at least on paper. Also, they are both dual core affairs. Also, the Nexus is running Ice Cream Sandwich, which speeds it up even more. That said, there is also unmistakable speed in the iPhone 4S because iOS5 is no slouch either.

As for the camera, a lot has already been said and written about iPhone 4S’s camera, which is a whopping 8 MP. With iOS 5, the camera has a grid for composing. The lens has a very large f/2.4 aperture. So, no more darkish, blurry pictures. They now look brighter. The colours are also more true to form with an advanced hybrid infrared filter which keeps out IR light. The camera has face detection. Now you can go straight to the camera even from the Lock screen. Lastly, for the best balancing of colours and lighting, the camera can utilise HDR.

As for the Nexus’s camera, all we can say is, Oh come on, only 5 MP? Really? But, to be fair to this device, the camera also can be accessed quickly from the lock screen. It has automatic focus, and can shoot in low light without zero shutter lag. It also can utilise HDR and has a panorama option into the bargain. Still, as most buyers take into consideration the camera’s resolution in a phone, we feel that the iPhone wins in this particular feature.

The iPhone is smaller in height and width, but it is a little heavier at 140g against 135g of the Nexus. Bet you did not know that. And also, it is a little thicker at 9.3 mm against 8.94 of the Nexus.

As for some of features like accelerometer, ambient-light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, proximity sensor, digital compass, nowadays almost any respectable smartphone would have them. But not NFC, though, which the Galaxy Nexus has. This is THE technology to watch for going forward and we were really looking forward to the iPhone having it. But then again, Apple probably thinks Siri is the technology of the future.

So, if you have been feeling the urge to run out and get the iPhone 4S, have you still got that urge or have we made you pause and wait for the coming of the Galaxy Nexus? Or perhaps wait for the other awesome devices out there in mobile land. Yes, there are other fish in the ocean even if the iPhone 4s is a whopper of a phone.

The right place to be at the iPhone 4s launch in Malaysia was the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Maxis’ iPhone 4S launch drew crowds of enthusiastic buyers. When we visited the KL Convention Centre – for the record Mobile World was also at DiGi’s launch and we did not get an invite for Celcom’s launch -  we saw hundreds of people, maybe even more, lined up to buy the iPhone 4S.

We were, of course, interested to see who was first in line; the person who would by default be the first Maxis customer in Malaysia to officially buy an iPhone 4s. Of course, there has been online chatter that at least one DiGi customer had got his hand on an iPhone 4S even earlier, before the actual date designated by Apple, but we won’t go there.

The unsung hero of the day at the Maxis launch - and we will get to the point why he was the unsung hero in a while – was 16 year old Leonard Chan. This young student from Cheras was first in line and he turned up at the launch venue a whopping 12 hours before the launch. The second person in line, according to Leonard, came three hours or so later.

What drove Leonard to such heights of passion to become the first in line? It turned out that he was doing his uncle a favour. The uncle, a publicity shy Mr Chang, had asked Leonard to stand in line for him. Leonard told Mobile World that he decided to come early because he was worried that he might miss out on getting the iPhone 4S and he was truly surprised to find himself first in line.

He’s not only the unsung hero – we’re not even sure if it was finally he or his uncle who will go on record as being the first purchaser – Leonard also has a heart of gold. He was doing this favour for his uncle for no other reason than simply helping a relative out. He’s not expecting or getting any reward from his uncle.

And no, Leonard is not yet an iPhone user though he has other Apple gadgets. That points, we think, to a strong possibility of seeing him first in line again then the iPhone 5 is launched.

(This articles has three pictures)

DiGi started selling the iPhone 4S at midnight at SoHoKL, and delivering all pre-orders.

DiGi's iDiGi 88 plans is the cheapest for RM55 per month with 200 minutes of talk time, 1 GB of data and 200 SMSes, for a 24 months contract.

DiGi Store Online is another option to purchase the device,from 11 December 2011.

Chin Chee Min was the first online customer to pre-order a 32 GB Black iPhone 4S.  He managed to submit his order within 4 minutes when the site went live.

As for Hiew Chin Fe, the first walk-in customer who waited from 5.30pm, he opted for the midnight sale, walking away with a 32 GB white iPhone 4S. An auditor, he said that he wanted the device as he felt iPhone was better compared to others. Plus, it had Siri, a voice assistant. He is also a DiGi customer for almost 5 years. He made a short demo using Siri before walking away.

For more information on iDiGi plans for the iPhone 4S, visit www.digi.com.my/iphone