Interestingly, if Apple priced the iPhone 5 redesign at $350 they would kill Samsung. There is no way Samsung would be able to compete with that price. They would be forced to either stop the galaxy line or to dramatically reduce the price. The A7 chip combined with a 15 hour battery, and a finger print scanner, would kill all Samsung Phones or at least severely hurt sales.
If they included haptic feedback in the (iPad mini 3?)
http://appleinsider.com/articles/12...in_haptic_touchscreen_fingertip_feedback.html
it would be ready for implementation on the iPhone 6S. Or they could simply wait for the iPhone 7. I wonder when IGZO displays will be ready for mass production
I personally see the iPad mini being an ideal video gaming machine. Once they add 3D gaming to the iPad the skies the limit. There is almost no way they can have an iPad with the technology described in patents like this
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/01/apple_patent_3d_objects/
ready by 2014-2015. Additionally, if Apple buys LeapMotion they could take control of technology that would severely help improve the user experience and would allow them to make beyond awesome products sooner rather then later.
There are reasons Apple has filed patents for these. I don't think they did it off fun. They plan to add this technology, however processors/battery tech has to be available that allows it to make sense. If the battery only lasts 1-2 hours the concept is flawed. If it costs $500 to build they need the costs to come down. My suspicion is that they are building fascilities that can accomidate their production demands and can mass manufacture future stuff for prices that can yield 30-40% margins. When Tim Cook mentioned tht Steve Jobs told him to do what's right I think he was referring to the massive amount of money they will be making. I see a scenario where in 2015-2016 they are earning $150-200 billion in profit. We're a ways off from it playing out, but I can't help but wonder if the reason they aren't using the 120 billionaire that they plan on using it for massive quick production of new fascilities.
Remember, when they have 500billion in cash and more money than God, they effectively become God of the consumer electronics sector. Ironically, even if they are earning $150billion + they will only have 20-25% global market share. ( if even that). Perhaps doing what's right meant being a benevolent God.