Apple Delaying Mass Production of 12.9-Inch iPad to Deal with Strong iPhone 6 Plus Demand

[MyopicPaideia]

Well spotted buddy -- sorry for jumping the gun.

You do have a point though in your original post - Apple's stock ALWAYS takes a hit after a keynote, the opposite of what happens to most companies after a product release or major announcement, even within the same industry. If you had a lot of money you could make a lot more by betting on this. Buy up stock when you see the post event/keynote dip and sell a week or two later when the stock has normalised again. Laugh. Rinse and repeat.

Sep 19 - APPL stock price drops $1 to on heavy trading. (double the volume of the previous day) Buy

Sep 22 - APPL stock price rises to $1 above pre-keynote level. Sell.

If you had $2,000,000 to play with and you aren't greedy, you've just made about $200k in 3 days.

It seems that there is a lot of expectation building that then gets shot down right before an Apple event from various overseas sources. It is either stupid analyst CYA tactics, or orchestrated to try to hold Apple down, both in the eyes of investors and the consuming public.

I actually think it is a bit of both, or at least happens to serve interested parties' dual purpose.

PS - then there is this whole bendgate issue - someone should definitely review whether anyone made bank off of that fiasco, especially anyone connected in any way to that idiot who posted that YouTube video that got the 40+m views. Anyone who made a big buy on that day is going to make a lot of money selling it off in the short term.

 

[Val-kyrie]

Apple and its suppliers are delaying plans to mass produce the larger 12.9-inch iPad in order to deal with strong demand for the iPhone 6 Plus, reports The Wall Street Journal. Apple was originally planning to mass produce the larger tablet in December, however the company has remained unsatisfied with the production output from its suppliers for its larger iPhone.

Hmmm... I am still not convinced this Bendgate fiasco will remain a limited issue. Yes, the demand for the 6+ has exceeded demand, but I do wonder if Apple is reworking/tweaking the internal build of the iPhone 6(+) in light of increasing reports of the 6+ bending. Perhaps the article should read,

Apple and its suppliers are delaying plans to mass produce the larger 12.9-inch iPad in order to deal with the structural weakness of the iPhone 6 Plus, reports The Wall Street Journal. Apple was originally planning to mass produce the larger tablet in December, however the company has remained unsatisfied with the product's resiliency from its suppliers for its larger iPhone.

Here's to hoping the issue is merely one of production, e.g., a bad batch of aluminum or something to that effect.

 

[ohbrilliance]

Just how many believed the 6+ didn't exist?

Plenty. For a long period there were far, far fewer leaks related to the 6+ compared to the 6.

 

[fertilized-egg]

A 13" iPad would be a total waste if it's limited to that kind of usage, and I don't see how anyone would find a much better use for it over the 10" iPad.

I disagree. A 12.9" iPad will roughly be 7.7" wide and 10.3" tall, which is much closer to the standard letter paper size than the current iPad. Often times the current iPad is simply too small and the larger iPad would be welcomed by many different types of users.

 

[Tat45]

Unsurprised in regard to the article.

I'm unashamed to say that I love my iPhone 6+.

 

[SMIDG3T]

I simply don't believe this product exists.

Nope. It doesn't. Not until Apple announce it on stage.

 

[Mashurrab]

image shows a probably 15" iPad with a 13" MacBook Air or 13" iPad with 11" MacBook Air.

 

[Tycho24]

If this 12.9" iPad ever reaches fruition, I'll buy it on day one!!!!
Btw, I do NOT do graphics. I do NOT want to draw on it. However, like many, many, many, many others- the iPad has become my main computer. I have a maxed out late 2009 27" iMac... I've had it since I got the 1st iPad on day one. Slowly, I've relegated it to Netflix duties... the iPad is much more convenient & personal for almost everything I do. I play some games.... (Go PVZ2!), I read a lot of Internets, & I read a lot of comic books on my iPad.
We all know that print media is deader than disco, yet... up til now, a nice glossy print magazine, while less practical- FAR trumps tablet viewing, as every single one of them is smaller. I think having a magazine sized iPad is going to be amazing!
I've read magazines before. My hands are used to holding something that size.
And Internet is gonna be dreamy... =)

 

[Darrin Bell]

Who says it wont be able to do more?

Many Artists out there bought the Surface Pro line simply because it was a good drawing device. If the 13 Inch iPad had a digitizer Input device I would buy it day one.

EXACTLY. I just bought a Surface Pro 3, but only because I got tired of waiting for Apple to put out an iPad I could use as a professional art tool. If they introduced something with a digitizer comparable to Wacom, and it was capable of running a full version of Photoshop, I'd sell my Surface tomorrow.

But I really doubt that's going to happen.

 

[kwizatz]

I think a 13" iPad would be great, especially for business. Makes more sense than a giant phone where portability is more important. If a touch interface is great at 10" it's even better at 13".
They also need to add multiuser support to iOS like android has had for a while. That's why I bought a nexus last time around.
Merging and mixing of iOS and Mac OS X is inevitable. Just not sure it's going to happen yet.

I have a Surface Pro 3, and while I like it as a "laptop", it's difficult to use as a tablet. It just feels too big when you try to hold it the way you would an iPad. Typing is awkward and they split the keyboard to the left and right sides of the screen because there's no way your thumbs could reach the center. When I do use it as a tablet, it's to take notes with the included pen... and I can't see Apple changing their anti pen/stylus stance.

 

[tattooedyuppie]

They've got so much cash. They should be able to figure out how to make stuff that they sell by now, no?

 

[MacSince1990]

Apple's back to late 2011-status.. except stronger.

 

[rmatthewware]

I know this iPad mockup image isn't new, but why is the screen of the iPad Pro significantly larger than the screen on the MacBook?

 

[MacDarcy]

What I bolded is nothing more than your opinion that you are masquerading as fact.



I have used split-screen on a tablet (Surface RT and Surface 2). For those of us who use our tablets for productivity (in addition to entertainment and casual uses) such a feature is very helpful.

I am quite productive on my iPad4 and having split-screen windows on it would be a welcomed addition...especially on a larger tablet.

It all comes down to one's perspective is. But those who claim that the iPad is nothing more than a toy of leisure should not stand in the way of those who use it productively.

I use my iPad mini productively. I'm a travel blogger/photog and I write my blog & edit my pics on it. So much more portable than lugging a laptop around the world. Although I find extensive video editing limited on it, so I would definitely welcome an ipad pro. Was going to buy that rumored 12" MacBook retina when it comes out, but will wait to see if this hybrid ipad materializes first.

 

[zipa]

I agree. All the android multitasking solutions look so cumbersome and terrible.

So copy the one from Windows RT. Works like a charm and is a real killer feature.

 

[macduke]

I think the iPad Pro is going to be announced at the Apple Watch event in February and go on sale in March. I've mentioned it in other threads, but the timing of 12" Retina MBAs and iPad Pros seems suspect. Especially with the Retina MBA rumored to be fanless, and nothing else has really leaked about them which means they're potentially under tight security like the Apple Watch. But why? Maybe a quad or hex core A8X in the MBA? An iPad Pro that docks to a MBA-like bottom shell, transforming the UI from touch-based to mouse-based? I know it seems far-fetched, but given the things Apple has been doing lately that we thought we'd never see happen, I seriously think there is a small chance we'll see this happen. The dual core A8 has Geekbench multi-core score around 2900. The iPad version will probably be clocked a little higher, around 3100 depending on the battery budget. The base model 2014 MacBook Airs have a multi-core score of around 5300. So a quad-core A8X could, in theory, get around 6200, or even higher if they can max out the clock given the thermal capacity of a larger device. The power is there. The only other thing is you're going to need at least 4GB of RAM.

 

[Tycho24]

But the problem with this idea is that it only caters to a small niche of market. The iPad is a mass-market device, as it meant to do what a majority of people use a PC for: web-browsing, social media, videos, e-mail, and some light productivity like some word-processing or making videos in iMovie. A 13" iPad would be a total waste if it's limited to that kind of usage, and I don't see how anyone would find a much better use for it over the 10" iPad.

As for a digitizer, one can only dream of Apple doing such thing. But seriously, if they do it, then it would truly mark the end of the Steve Jobs-era of Apple.

The difference in screen size between a mini and an air is 1.8"... & it DEFINITELY feels and looks like a different product, & there is a clear and sensical divide between which one makes most sense for users. The jump to the rumored iPad is a difference of 3.2"... I don't see how anybody could think that the same wouldn't be true this time around.

 

[charlituna]

These constant backtracking rumours are making me weary.

It seems this is the cycle:

1) Analyst makes an unsubstantiated guess on a new Apple product and its release date
2) No part leaks/product not released/product never existed
3) Analyst stipulates why this didn't come to fruition (e.g., iPhone demand, iOS bugs, Saturn's alignment with Jupiter)

I know I'm probably on the wrong website to make this comment, but it seems every time there's a rumour about an upcoming product, there's a conflicting rumour a few days later.

yes you are on the wrong website. Because you are using logic and there's no place for that around here. Especially if it's logic pointing out that something that gave the ubergeeks a hard on isn't likely to happen.

And you are on the money. that pattern is exactly what happens. rather than analysts keeping their mouths shut or admitting they are wrong

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I just don't get why anyone would need a 13" iPad. Don't get me wrong, I love my iPad, and I use it every single day, but a 13" iPad seems like an overkill for what it's capable of. Wether we like it or not, a truly productive device needs a keyboard and a mouse, and iOS apps were never designed to have a mouse. Mac OS X on the other hand wasn't designed for touch interfaces, so I don't think we'll see a 13" Macbook Air Touch either.

Setting aside your 'truly productive' comment which reeks of the same erroneous bias that Ballmer had (that productive = using MS Office or similar and only that because there is no way what to be productive), everyone is jumping on this belief that this iPad Pro will have two sets of processing components so you can attach a keyboard and mouse and it magically becomes a Macbook Air. Which I find utter ridiculous and highly highly unlikely to ever come out of Apple outside of a patent and a long discarded prototype

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But the problem with this idea is that it only caters to a small niche of market.

Yep and that niche has had zero issue with using the iPad as it currently exists. One key reason is the portability. You start getting any bigger and it becomes harder to use it one handed, to carry it around even in a bag etc. Folks become less inclined to want to keep it with them at all times because it is as big as a computer.

Some level of a digitizer might be added but because it can benefit a multitude of uses not just artists and geeks that want it to be just like the Surface etc. but don't count it on it being a wacom or having thousands of levels.

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Surely Apple can manage this! Maybe they need to use some of that massive cash reserve to hire some more folk and create more production lines...

that's not really the issue. The issue is that some analyst wanted to make a name for himself and pushed out a rumor about a product that isn't real. Likely never was and never will be. So now, rather than admit his error, he's pushing a fake rumor of issues and delays to cover up his error.

wash, rinse and repeat, this will happen 20 times never year as well

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How big is that market though?

The market could be huge, but i'm wondering exactly how many Surface have been sold to end users this time around. I remember with the Gen 1 there was a write off of some $900 million dollars in unsold RT units against combined sales of like $800 million sold. I missed the Gen 2 numbers but what's the Gen 3 looking like.

 

[miketheappleguy]

Why would they make an 11 inch, 12 inch, 13 inch and 15 inch macbooks? And why would they make a 12 inch macbook and 12.9 inch ipad in the same year? Somethings got to give and luckily we are closer than further away to finding out.

-miketheappleguy Vice President and lead investigative reporter of allthingsapplerumors.com

 

[charlituna]

On the last earnings call Cook said Apple had "interesting" things planned for the iPad space. I doubt A8 and Touch ID qualifies as interesting.

He may not have been talking about this years release.

 

[jm001]

Wow at that size they should be able to fit a 10000mAh battery and 8GB of RAM. I'd like to see a 12.9" iPad, but will we? Very slim chance...

 

[teslo]

But the problem with this idea [marketing ipad to artists a la surface pro] is that it only caters to a small niche of market. The iPad is a mass-market device, as it meant to do what a majority of people use a PC for

like the i6 and i6+, a larger 12" ipad (regular, ios) and 12" ipad pro (with usb port(s), pressure sensitivity, stylus, OSX, etc) for about 2-3x the money would make sense. it's not THAT small a niche market. artists and musicians helped prop apple up when they were the underdog back in the day. it wouldn't be unimaginable to think they'd bring portable tablet form factors to the more professional workflow. the whole concept has been a great success for wacom (cintiq, companion), proving the market is out there in a substantial way. the tablet experience will help pros in many industries, but running OSX or not will be the deal breaker.

edit: and as far as steve jobs' opinion on styluses: you really think he didn't picture artists drawing on the tablet of the future with one? he was just being practical about the capabilities of iphones pre-2010. and highlighting the novelty of only needing fingers for relatively precise input.

 

[deconstruct60]

I think it will appear, for these reasons:
....
2. It will run OSX, as it has the capability to handle touch via the trackpad on the Mac, ....
3. It will have a detachable keyboard additional to it, like the iPad covers,,, auto on/off.
4. Some kind of thunderbolt dock for the addition of peripherals.

I guess, I think it will be like a Mac mini meets the iPad, rather than the MacBook meets the iPad.....

More like headless MacBook meets iPad than a Mac mini.

a. The mini has no keyboard. If there is a keyboard involved then it will be like the Mac products that have an integrated keyboard.

b. if there is a Thunderbolt dock and keyboard a headless MacBook would integrate those two into one. Pragmatically TB in the base box would mean Intel x86 in there also. No Apple ARM SoC can drive TB.

What could have is system the does fast and broad continuity sync when pulled apart and put back together. Coupled mode runs OS X and detached mode runs iOS.

However a 12.9 iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard/cover doesn't particularly need OS X or some kind of new OS.

If mimicking the surface 3 Pro then it is more so moving the 'smarts' from the keyboard "half" of MacBook clamshell the the display half . Again, the Mac mini has no integrated display ( and touch I/O input device) so MacBook is a closer 'like' match.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

If this is true, it means that they believe in the iPhone more than the iPad/MacBook hybrid "thing". That doesn't inspire confidence.

Think: News story 1 - iPhone 6+ still in high demand; limited availability. 12" iPad sold out everywhere. "Unprecidented demand", "Apple can't keep up".


News story 2 - iPhone sales strong and steady. No new products until March.

 

[smulji]

How big is that market though?

How big is the Mac Pro market? And yet Apple went to great lengths to give it a huge makeover.