Hmm a USB port you say, plus some fancy charging tech, if this still comes with iOS then it's very strange. Plus a 12.9" screen will make for a large device.
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Apple May Include USB 3.0 Ports on Upcoming 12.9-Inch 'iPad Pro'
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What are you doing with your cables? I've still got my original lightning cable on the go that came with my iPhone 5, I've used it with every iPhone and iPad since then and it's still going strong. The problem is people mistreat them and pull the wire to remove the cable from their iOS device. I always pull on the hard plastic end which is the correct way to do it and makes the cable last for years.
Agreed. (in a big way)
If any one regular reader of this website actually believes the quote, they have got to be completely brain dead. (the same goes for the stylus prediction)
Not only have wireless peripherals been the norm for a decade, but this is Apple we're talking about here... the company that eliminated spinning media drives from its hardware 2 years before anyone was ready to stop using it. This drove the paradigm shift in how we consume data & software as a whole.
Apple absolutely WILL NOT retreat its hardware to USB ports. Gimmie a break.
If rumors of a 12.9" screen are correct - we need to start calling it a 13" iPad Pro - not a 12" 
The durability of the cables is one thing, but the Lightning cable system itself is solid and isn't gong anywhere.
Lightning works in a similar way to Thunderbolt. TB is basically a PCIe cable, over which you can channel basically anything (displayport, ethernet, USB, whatever). TB is more of a "dumb pipe" because it's really infrastructure which supports other protocols.
Lightning is similarly flexible. You can completely control it from userland with software, which means that an App can basically contain all of the "drivers" and supporting software it needs to control a particular device, without decreasing system stability or breaking the permissions model.
The real question is: why do people still want to connect external devices? Printing can be done wirelessly with most recent printers. USB storage is popular because its cheap but Apple won't accommodate it since cloud storage is a better long-term solution. There are sensors and other small gadgets, but Bluetooth Low-Energy is a better (wireless) solution for those.
Apple won't give people USB; they'd give people an alternative (in their minds better) solution which does what they want to do with USB. There isn't much reason to use USB on mobile devices today anyway.
Why?
Why wouldn't Apple suddenly overthrow all it's design choices for the iPad and start adding unneeded Ports (for Keyboards? As if there hadn't been the possibility to connect bluetooth keyboards since iPad 1...)Sometimes 'people' should just shut up. Or rumor sites should ignore them.
With all the cloud and bluetooth solutions, an ios device does not really need an additional port. I could maybe (and this is a stretch) see a thunderbolt port to connect the iPad to a display. But we already have accessories available that allow USB, HDMI, etc connections through the lightning connector. So I could see the thunderbolt connector if Apple was going to market this as a computer replacement where you would use the lightning to keep it powered and the second port to connect to a display for work. This would excite me only because my crazy idea could only work if they finally gave iOS true multitasking.
They aren't going to ditch Lightning any time soon, and they aren't going to release a 12" iPad.
Watch it have more ports than what the 12" MBA has
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Wireless keyboards and mice with USB receiver dongles are the norm, but Bluetooth wireless ones are not. I can only ever find Apple-branded Bluetooth keyboards and mice. They always have issues pairing. The thing is, iOS already supports wired keyboards through Lightning.
I'm using SATECHI Bluetooth keyboards with my Lenovo towers, but they make a Mac specific version, which supports up to 5 devices and iOS. They are chiclet keyboards with numeric keypad.
Calm down, Apple will release it when it's ready. If you want a rushed product go see Samsung
The only thing that might support the end of Lightning is the rumour that the 12" Macbook Air might be using a USB 3 Type C connector for both power and connectivity. That would be very, very frightening for both Thunderbolt and Lightning... but it is only a rumour and I'm wondering if what those rumours really show is a Thunderbolt 3 connector (or if they're even wondering about using the USB3C connector for TB3).
Of course - that may be the point: the iPad pro might be something that Apple have on the drawing board or in prototype (stored next to the ARM-powered MacBooks) that won't see the light of day unless the MS Surface suddenly starts eating the iPad and/or MBAs lunch.
I'm all for USB 3 and faster connections on all iDevices...but as far as I am aware, all iDevices use ancient solid state technology that is much slower than USB 3. Now, in all fairness, the SS technology doesn't need to be blazing faster for playing an MP3 file or opening Mail. However, as MP3s get larger, more lossless is used, more/larger video files are locally stored and played, as well as the iOS gets bulkier and bulkier, that old SS technology easily shows its age.
On another note, I am dying for a 12" iPad. I find the existing ones just don't offer a large enough screen FOR ME. You may have your screen size opinion and I have just stated mine.
I'm also very much hoping the 12" cost begins at $600 or $700. If I'm needing to spend over $1000 for a 128GB 12" thing, I might as well buy a Surface or other non-Apple product at that point.
On another note, I am dying for a 12" iPad. I find the existing ones just don't offer a large enough screen FOR ME. You may have your screen size opinion and I have just stated mine.
I'm also very much hoping the 12" cost begins at $600 or $700. If I'm needing to spend over $1000 for a 128GB 12" thing, I might as well buy a Surface or other non-Apple product at that point.
None of my lightning cables has had to be replaced since they were first taken out of their packaging.
I called this early last year when the rumors were first starting about the iPad Pro. Apple could let developers use apps and extensions to handle USB devices that are plugged in, such as a scanner or whatever. Doubt they will open it up for use by a mouse.
I wish Apple would just standardize all their device sizes so that everything is clear and balanced: 4", 5", and 6" iPhones. 8", 10", and 12" iPads. 12", 14", 16" MacBook Pros, etc. They could potentially reduce the bezel across all of the lines and make everything smaller. Or maybe I'm just having wishful thinking because I would really like to have reduced bezel iPhone 5" and iPad Pro 12". For Macs I'm thinking about moving to iMac 5K onlybut even then I'm hoping for a 30-32" version of that.
I wish Apple would just standardize all their device sizes so that everything is clear and balanced: 4", 5", and 6" iPhones. 8", 10", and 12" iPads. 12", 14", 16" MacBook Pros, etc. They could potentially reduce the bezel across all of the lines and make everything smaller. Or maybe I'm just having wishful thinking because I would really like to have reduced bezel iPhone 5" and iPad Pro 12". For Macs I'm thinking about moving to iMac 5K onlybut even then I'm hoping for a 30-32" version of that.
Not to mention, how would you use a mouse on a device with no cursor? Unless they're putting OS X on this thing, the iPad with iOS has no way of even working with a mouse.
Adding USB ports would be absurd (if you need a USB cord for something, add a Lightning-to-USB adapter, if anything... but then, a tablet use that needs a bunch of wired stuff hanging off it is a rather small niche market).
More absurd: the idea that Apple was nearly ready to start production, and still plans it for a few months later, and is STILL DECIDING what hardware featured to include??
No. If the product is even real, and coming in 2015, the major specs were locked down ages ago.
More absurd: the idea that Apple was nearly ready to start production, and still plans it for a few months later, and is STILL DECIDING what hardware featured to include??
No. If the product is even real, and coming in 2015, the major specs were locked down ages ago.
What was your dream? How has it changed in a year? We still don't know what the Apple Watch fully does, or how well it will do it. So no point deciding yet.
The iPhone 6 and Plus are excellent, I don't think anyone can deny that.
And the 12" iPad is nothing but rumours. We don't know a thing about it except "anonymous sources". It might just be an even bigger iPad, it might be the hybrid you're wishing for, it might not even exist.
Just because there is freemium content doesn't mean the things you like are not there. What a strange thing to complain about. "destroyed", ha not t all, all the apps I like still work fine even with freemium content alongside it (some of which I like too).
And why do you care so much about the number of icons? Power users most likely use Spotlight, it's a lot faster for launching apps and means you don't need to remember where things are. For casual users its a great simple method of showing apps. And again - you don't know anything for certain about the rumoured iPad, so no point getting upset about it.
And there are no real news apps? That's weird, I use a few.
If you heard that rumour you must have heard the rumour about the 12" Retina version too? Not sure what a Macpad is? But all rumoured Airs have trackpads.
Why would they release things that aren't ready? Makes no sense. Obviously these devices aren't ready, no point rushing things for no reason. If they were ready they'd release them because no doubt they'd make qa lot of money from them.
You are allowed to buy these competing "gorgeous" tablets. Nobody is forcing you to buy just from 1 company.
I haven't seen anyone mention an extra row of icons, no solid rumours until you mentioned it. So no need for the alarm. Wait and see, if the new device doesn't fit your needs, buy something else. Or talk with your wallet and buy something else anyway.
I own a NUC too, great little device. But it's nothing special, it's a small computer at a decent price. And I prefer the look and build quality of the Mac mini (as a living room based HTPC/regular machine). I think I'll be switching back when it comes to upgrade.
Also earlier you said:
"Honestly now the idea of 12" ipad is not a "wow" idea anymore but more like "well why not" and i would propably go for a 12" if i decide to replace my ipad 4."
So you either own an iPad or you don't.
What on earth is "apple land"? Never limit yourself to one company, especially if you are unhappy (like you appear to be). Buy what fits your need, unless you own lots of Apple shares it doesn't matter which company you buy from, just buy what works for your needs. I own hardware from all different companies, I use services from lots of providers. My stuff all works together just fine. Why would I limit myself to just Apple?
Overall it sounds like you've gotten all worked up about rumours that are quite often wrong anyway.