Rumors

iPhone 5S said to start shipping in Q3 this year with upgraded camera and processor

Cody Lee ∙ March 21, 2013

Now that Samsung has unveiled its flagship handset for 2013, all eyes are on Apple as the tech world waits to see what it has in store for its next-generation iPhone. The word is it's going to be an 'S' model, meaning it'll likely only feature internal changes.

And a new report out of China this morning reaffirms that theory, claiming that components for the iPhone 5S will start shipping in Q3 of this year. It's believed that the handset will offer an upgraded camera and processor, among other improvements...

Bloomberg: Samsung in race with Apple to get wristwatch to market

Cody Lee ∙ Updated June 4, 2018

We've heard a lot of talk in recent months that Apple is working on a wristwatch-like device. And it could be ready to launch as soon as this year. We've also seen some alleged leaked screenshot images that suggest Samsung is working on a similar product.

Tonight, Bloomberg is out with a new report that adds significant weight to both rumors, claiming that not only are both companies preparing wearable devices that perform similar functions as smartphones, but they're both racing to get them to market...

Morgan Stanley: the iPhone 5S will have a ‘killer feature’

Cody Lee ∙ March 18, 2013

Morgan Stanley's resident Apple expert Katy Huberty appeared on CNBC's Fast Money Halftime Report this morning, in a rare TV interview, to field questions on her firm's current positive buy ratings for both HP and Apple.

Asked about Apple, Huberty—who has an overweight rating on the stock with a price target of $630—says the company is poised for a big year with new software features for the upcoming iPhone, including one 'killer feature.'

Report: iPad mini to rule 2013, Retina model due in Q3

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

A new week brings a fresh batch of iPad rumors. According to a report out of Asia, Apple is gearing up to launch a Retina iPad mini in the third quarter of this year, alongside a redesigned fifth-generation 9.7-inch model with an iPad mini-like aluminum design, featuring a thinner bezel and lighter frame.

Despite Apple slashing shipments for its full-size iPad 4 in nearly half, from 60 million units down to 33 million units, the story notes the company has not reportedly seen any material decrease of iPad mini demand since its launch in October of 2012...

Supply chain chatter points to Retina iPad mini debut in second half of 2013

Cody Lee ∙ March 16, 2013

I have to admit, it feels kind of weird that we're in the middle of March and there's been no word of new iPads. I know, Apple just released two new ones back in October. But still, there's been an iPad event in the first quarter of every year for the past three years.

We've heard plenty of rumors though. There's been a lot of talk of the 5th-gen iPad getting a design makeover, and Apple's widely believed to give the mini a Retina display. And according to a new report, we can expect the latter in the second half of this year...

Budget iPhone: colors, 4-inch screen, super-thin plastic casing mixed with glass fiber

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 15, 2013

Apple's budget iPhone, a rumored all-new design targeted at emerging markets where carriers rarely subsidize cell phones, will be offered in a range of colors and have a "super-thin plastic casing mixed with glass fiber", one reliable analyst wrote in a Friday note to clients. The specs for the device were apparently decided on back in 2011 and call for a four-inch screen resembling the iPhone 5.

Dismissing talk of a 4.5-inch entry-level iPhone, the report argues Apple is "unlikely to abruptly change" its stance on screen size just because Android makers are increasingly building phablets. Jump past the fold for more tidbits...

Analyst: Apple would be ‘stupid’ not to release budget iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 14, 2013

Many analysts have voiced their support for a rumored less-pricey iPhone which they hope will help Apple recover from market share losses in emerging markets, namely China, India, Brazil and Russia - all huge markets for handsets. BTIG's Walter Piecyk goes further, calling Apple "stupid" if it doesn't release said device before year's end.

By his own estimates, Apple could sell about 36.5 million less-pricey iPhones in fiscal 2014 for an additional $11 billion in revenue - and that's after accounting for some inevitable cannibalization of the higher-priced iPhone models...

TSMC allegedly finalizing Apple A7 chip designs

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's leading independent semiconductor foundry, is reportedly finalizing production designs for Apple's in-house engineered A7 processor expected to power a 2014 wave of iPhone, iPad and iPod upgrades. If a new supply chain report is anything to go by, the chip will be fabbed on TSMC's 20-nanometer process technology, reportedly moving into risk production in May-June, with volume shipments expected in the first quarter of 2014.

TSMC has long been speculated to enter Apple's supply chain and become a manufacturer of the engine which powers iDevices. So far, Apple has fabbed all of its iDevice chips at Samsung's plant in Austin, Texas. This is the first time TSMC has been reported as actually prepping to manufacture Apple's next-gen A-series chip. Earlier this week, we heard that in addition to TSMC, Samsung and Intel are also vying for Apple chip contracts...

China Mobile announces major LTE push ahead of rumored iPhone launch

Cody Lee ∙ March 14, 2013

China Mobile announced today that it's going to be spending a staggering $7 billion on its LTE network this year, setting the stage for what could be a late iPhone 5 launch. The carrier's current network standard doesn't properly support the popular popular handset.

In fact, China Mobile—the largest wireless provider in the world by subscriber base—is one of the few remaining major carriers in the world that doesn't offer Apple's smartphone. But recent chatter indicates that there's a good chance that could change this year...

Twitter reportedly readying standalone music discovery app for iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Last year, Twitter acquired popular music discovery service We Are Hunted. The company developed proprietary search technology than can continuously scan the Internet to identify trending new music around the world.

And according to a new report, Twitter is getting ready to launch a new standalone app based on that technology called Twitter Music. The app, which is expected to debut on iOS, will bring music discovery to the masses...

Alleged Google Now for iOS promo video surfaces on YouTube

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

This is pretty interesting. An alleged promotional video showcasing a Google Now—Google's impressive voice assistant that debuted in Android Jelly Bean last summer—for iOS app surfaced on YouTube this afternoon.

The big deal here is that while Google added some Now elements to its iOS Search app last fall, it kept location and contextual-based features exclusive to Android. But if the promo clip is real, that could be changing soon...

LinkedIn reportedly buying Pulse for up to $100 million

Cody Lee ∙ March 12, 2013

When word started spreading around yesterday that Pulse was about to be acquired by a "major platform" company, I would have guessed it was either Yahoo or Microsoft. The popular news reader app seems like it would be a great fit for either firm.

But according to the latest reports, the buyer is actually the social networking site for business professionals LinkedIn. The company has allegedly already sealed a deal with Alphonso Labs, the maker of Pulse, worth between $50-$100 million...