Category Archives: Rumors
What I Want From The Next iPad
The third addition to Apple’s market-leading tablet series is, according to speculation, not too far away, with Chinese manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron said to be working around the clock to produce the numbers in time for a purported March release.
With the release apparently so nearly upon us, there’s been much talk about what we should and shouldn’t be expecting with the device, which we’ll rather cautiously presume to be called the iPad 3.
But we don’t have to cast our minds back too far to remember that as plausible and supposedly cast in stone something may seem, unless there is an official word, nothing is certain.
As such, I’ve put together a list of the key features I would personally like brought forth with the iPad 3.
Foxconn stock climbs on Apple projections
This just in from the “not surprising since a rising tide lifts all boats” department — stock in Apple’s primary manufacturing partner, Foxconn, climbed to a recent high on speculation that Apple might be using metal casings for the next-generation iPhone.
The speculation is in line with what Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty noted last month. Huberty believes that Apple is moving away from the glass casing used on the iPhone 4 and 4S and moving to a metal casing instead. Foxconn spokesman Cheng-Kuang Liu, of course, wisely declined to comment about the rumors.
Apple’s press event is getting “overhyped”
As anticipation builds for Apple’s January 19 press event, the tech web has latched onto the notion of “GarageBand for iBooks,” suggesting that Apple will release iBook creation tools to the public. Ars Technica believes its true, while Philip Elmer-Dewitt does not. Interestingly, both opinions are based on discussions with the same person.
Chris Foresman at Ars and Elmer-Dewitt both spoke with Matt MacInnis, CEO of Inkling, a company that’s been making interactive textbooks for the iPad for some time. MacInnis does expect Apple to make production tools available, but does not feel that Apple is out to “digitally destroy” textbook publishing, according to Elmer-Dewitt.
“Apple is not trying to kill the incumbents,” MacInnis told Elmer-Dewitt. “They’ve learned their lesson from upending the music industry.”
Next-generation iPad rumored to be in production for March release
It’s January, and that means it’s time to ramp up the iPad rumors to full frenzy mode. Japanese rumor site Macotakara, which has been surprisingly accurate when it comes to speculation about upcoming iPads, says that the next-generation iPad is now in production in anticipation of a release in March, 2012.
Macotakara’s sources in China say that Foxconn and Pegatron will share production of the new iPad, with Foxconn grabbing a full 85 percent of the orders. The site says that the initial devices will be outfitted with Sharp LCD display panels, allowing 2048 x 1536 resolution without adding weight and thickness to the iPad. As you can see above, the Macotakara has also been accumulating images from Chinese sources of what appear to be replacement parts for the next-generation iPad.
On the idea of a 7-inch Apple iPad
There’s been much debate over the idea of a 7-inch iPad from Apple. Today, our pals at MacObserver jumped into the mix with their take on things. The Kindle Fire, Ted Landau points out, offers “an e-reader with added iPad-like features for half the price of an iPad.”
Speaking as a happy Kindle Fire owner, I rather like the medium form factor. This is not an opinion universally shared in the TUAW trenches, but I appreciate the way I can carry it around in a purse — something not possible with the iPad. That means, when I head out, I now often take the iPhone and the Fire along, where as before I’d have only had the iPhone with me. My iPad remains reserved for backpack or briefcase excursions.
A 7″ screen offers a very good reading size. It’s more portable than the iPad screen and offers more area than the iPhone. It also excels at gaming and video watching, providing that same middle balance.
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