It seems like the long-rumored iPad mini might actually become a real thing this month. Multiple well-sourced reports are claiming that Apple is planning to unveil the tablet at an event on October 23.
With that in mind, we expect to see speculation and part leaks really ramp up over the next few weeks as we await Apple's announcement. In fact, today we've got photos of a purported iPad mini battery...
Yesterday, the elusive and long-rumored iPad mini event was as good as confirmed for October 23rd. AllThingsD reported the date, and the well-connected Jim Dalrymple gave his "yep" of approval.
And now that we know when it's going to be, the next question is what is it going to be? We'll see the smaller iPad, of course, but what else? Well the word is, there's going to be a focus on iBooks...
Over the past few weeks, we've been hearing about problems within Foxconn's production lines regarding the iPhone 5. Workers are unhappy with the complicated manufacturing procedures, and higher quality standards, and thousands have even gone on strike.
These problems are said to be one of the main factors in the iPhone 5 supply constraint Apple is seeing worldwide. It's three weeks after launch, and the handset is still seeing shipping times of 3-4 weeks. But rumor has it that Apple is working on a solution...
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry with its headquarters located in the Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, will according to an analyst's research note begin making next-generation quad-core mobile chips for iPhones, iPod touches and iPads sometime in 2014. We heard before that TSMC has a “good chance” of winning Apple’s chip biz in 2014 and this report reaffirms the notion...
October 10 came and went without an Apple media event (here's why), but that doesn't mean the rumor-mill is standing still. According to a new report by a Wall Street Journal-owned blog, Apple will hold an iPad mini event on October 23 (that's a Tuesday). And instead of holding a presser at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where the iPhone 5, iPads and other products were introduced in the past, Apple has reportedly opted for a more intimate setting at Town Hall Auditorium on its Cupertino, California headquarters.
UPDATE: Jim Dalrymple of The Loop has weighed in on the rumor with his trademark "yep".
October 10 has come and gone without an Apple invitation (Fortune's Philip Elmer-DeWitt who called for it apologized), prompting watchers to wonder about a smaller and cheaper iPad Apple's rumored to be close to launching under the iPad mini moniker.
According to a supply chain report today, Apple is facing quality control issues with the device's display and chassis, suggesting that shipments are not smooth at the moment due to low yield rates. The report notes that the iPad mini will come in native and black-colored aluminum chassis said to be "more vulnerable to scratching". That doesn't sound good.
The manufacturing difficulties are being blamed on anodizing, a finish process where aluminum thrown into a pool of chemicals and then running an electrical current through the acid bath, which produces a skin-deep layer that can easily be peeled off. The anodized finish process on the black cases for the iPad mini is reportedly "more critical", resulting in lower yield rates...
After being snubbed by Apple as an iPhone partner for several years, T-Mobile finally decided to take matters into its own hands. It started updating its network to be more compatible with the handset, and launched a nationwide "bring your own device" campaign to attract unlocked iPhone users.
The marketing has caused quite the buzz in the media, but only time will tell if it resonates with consumers. Unfortunately, T-Mobile may not get to find out. According to a new report, the carrier has sent out an internal memo indicating that it can no longer use the iPhone to drive sales...
It's been almost three weeks since the iPhone 5 went on sale here in the US, and it's practically impossible to find the handset. Apple's website still shows shipping time estimates of 3-4 weeks, and both Verizon and AT&T show the phone won't be available until November.
On the surface, it seems that Apple is once again a victim of its own success: it simply can't make iPhones fast enough to meet demand. But apparently there's more to it than that. Word is that the phone's aluminum backing has been a major factor in the supply constraints...
With the successful iPhone 5 launch now behind us and the rumored iPad mini introduction allegedly upon us later this month, the rumor-mill is no doubt busy thinking about Apple's next big thing. The mythical Apple television set instantly springs to mind, dubbed by the media as the iTV. Not so fast. According to one analyst, an intelligent remote rather than a standalone HD TV set is up next for the Cupertino, California designer of shiny gadgets...
We may have been exposed to a surprising amount of leaks pertaining to the looks and hardware features of a smaller iPad Apple is thought to be introducing later this month. One important feature has remained a mystery thus far: the device's price point.
With both Amazon and Google selling their seven inchers for just $199, Apple's mini iPad cannot and shouldn't cost substantially more in order not to ruin its chances in the marketplace.
Among the possible tricks Apple could employ in order to keep the costs down: re-using some of the iPad 2 components and yes - skimping on some features, including cellular networking...
A report by the Japanese blog Macotakara recently asserted that Apple ordered parts made of carbon fiber, presumably for an entirely new product (no iBike jokes, please), though for all we know the company could be simply looking to replace aluminum in products with lighter and stronger carbon fiber parts.
The report would name neither the supplier nor the product in question and today the same blog ran another story shedding more light on the matter.
Apple apparently has been working with the mysterious supplier for at least three years, suggesting that the shipments of carbon fiber parts (said to be too large to simply be a sample) stem from Apple's multi-year partnership with the vendor...
Apple tomorrow is allegedly expected to invite select members of the press to an iPad mini-focused media event, likely to be held at some point next week. With part leaks, dummies, schematics, mockups, gorgeous renders and news of manufacturing ramp up all leaking on a daily basis, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the iPad mini design has been set in stone weeks ago.
A new report by a reliable Japanese blog now claims Apple's changed the iPad mini design and one "large OEM mobile accessory maker" had to throw cases it already made, likely based on same leaks and rumors we've been hearing about...