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Next iPad and iPhone Due in "Middle of 2013"?

iGrip said:
Good observations. But what if they expanded their existing brands horizontally? I see that starting with the iPad Mini.

They cou ld introduce ruggedized iPad Pros for contractors, etc. Maybe a spot-on simple phone with big text for seniors. Would that forestall the need to introduce the next big thing for a while?
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Maybe. My belief is that they need an entirely new leg of the table, not variations of the existing legs. For example, roll out iPad 1 and lots of people with iPods & iPhones & Macs buy one. Roll out an iPad Mini and there's a split of who buys iPad 4 and who buys iPad Mini. 10 variations of iAnything doesn’t yield 10 purchases per buyer (they'll just buy the ONE variation that best fits their own needs).

New leg to the table should yield something appealing for just about everyone that wants to buy something new from Apple. Then it can go through several variations over the next few years as it's revenue contribution ramps up and up.

Variations like iPad Mini will be required just to keep those parts of the slope propped up as good as possible. Eventually everyone that wants an iPad has a recent one and the compelling reason to upgrade with each new version thins out. For example, I type this on an 2010 iMac, not seeing enough in the 2011 & 2012 versions to drive an upgrade.
 
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iGrip said:
Good observations. But what if they expanded their existing brands horizontally? I see that starting with the iPad Mini.

They cou ld introduce ruggedized iPad Pros for contractors, etc. Maybe a spot-on simple phone with big text for seniors. Would that forestall the need to introduce the next big thing for a while?
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Apple isn't able to manage that many SKUs (if for no other reason than manufacturing capacity). On the other hand, exponential growth isn't something they can manage forever...
 
Apple will introduce at least one additional size iPhone early 2013. The screen will be able to resize back to 4" for certain apps and functions that warrent one hand use. It will left or right align to the bigger screen.
 
zbarvian said:
What could they realistically introduce with the next iPhone? There's no way they could 2X the CPU right now, or make many major enhancements. I'm doubting this rumor.
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You aren't understanding - they increase the tempo of updates and the updates become less huge each time. That's how it's supposed to work.
 
iParis said:
So back to the June release dates? It's not that big of a deal people, just three months sooner than the last two years. The only unfortunate part for me and all the other iPhone 5 people is that if it's still June when the iPhone 6 comes out our 2-year upgrade won't be due for at least another three months.
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No, not "back to June"

It's going to a more-often release schedule. Which means that if you can't buy a new phone but every 2 years, you won't get every other phone. You'll get every third. Or forth!
 
cameronjpu said:
You aren't understanding - they increase the tempo of updates and the updates become less huge each time. That's how it's supposed to work.
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Middle of 2013 would be June. I imagine they're just resuming the "new-iPhone-announced-at-WWDC" schedule. I doubt they'll be accelerating the pace of their updates.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Maybe. My belief is that they need an entirely new leg of the table, not variations of the existing legs. For example, roll out iPad 1 and lots of people with iPods & iPhones & Macs buy one. Roll out an iPad Mini and there's a split of who buys iPad 4 and who buys iPad Mini. 10 variations of iAnything doesn’t yield 10 purchases per buyer (they'll just buy the ONE variation that best fits their own needs).

New leg to the table should yield something appealing for just about everyone that wants to buy something new from Apple. Then it can go through several variations over the next few years as it's revenue contribution ramps up and up.

Variations like iPad Mini will be required just to keep those parts of the slope propped up as good as possible. Eventually everyone that wants an iPad has a recent one and the compelling reason to upgrade with each new version thins out. For example, I type this on an 2010 iMac, not seeing enough in the 2011 & 2012 versions to drive an upgrade.
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It seems like Apple hopes that 4th leg would be some form of Apple TV. If they can find a way to shift how people buy/consume TV it represents a huge potential market on the hardware and content side.

The challenge is the network/cable/satellite owners are well entrenched and they are going to vehemently defend their turf. Without first run content or live sports, Apple TV is basically Netflix with a higher price tag. Most people aren't going to replace their current providers unless Apple provides a better value proposition. And studios aren't going to cut off their lifeblood with the networks/cable/satellite providers to give Apple a sweetheart deal.

The record industry was forced into a corner by rampant piracy and an outdated distribution model. The TV model still works.
 
Yes Mantan, that is the working concept for what the 2013 "next big thing" will be. I've thought that one through 100 times and keep coming up with many issues of how even Apple could make that a solid new leg at the table. It's so dependent on others who are very happy with the status quo, some of which are terrified of getting under Apple's thumb like their friends in the music industry.

I love :apple:TV but I just don't foresee a whole television flying so well... especially with the working concept that whatever software experience is built into that television would probably also be available for any television via :apple:TV4. If so- if the software part of the experience is also available for just about any television hardware- the "what's left?" piece (the hardware) must stand on it's own.

Apple certainly makes great hardware but I would argue it's the software that really makes things stand out. For example, if Apple decided to endorses iOS and OSX as stand-alone software capable of running on any hardware from any manufacturer would we still be so drawn to ONLY Apple hardware? That's one of the issues I foresee for an Apple Television if there is also an :apple:TV. Then, there's the broadband distribution issue (the Cable companies generally own the broadband pipes through which Apple's solution must flow) and it just piles up from there.

All that said... best I know, it's the only working rumor with enough support to seem like it could be a cut at a "next big thing" (fourth leg of the table) in early 2013. We really haven't heard too much about anything else of comparable upside to iPod 1, iPhone 1, iPad 1. Either it's a very well kept "double down" secret or maybe Apple is pinning things on that Television concept?

Whatever it is, Apple needs it to be ready to dazzle sooner than later. If you look at the past pace of next big thing rollouts to fuel the rapid growth, this next, next big thing should have hit this year (in 2012). Hopefully, we don't go too far into 2013 with only new iterations of old "next big things".
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Yes Mantan, that is the working concept for what the 2013 "next big thing" will be. I've thought that one through 100 times and keep coming up with many issues of how even Apple could make that a solid new leg at the table. It's so dependent on others who are very happy with the status quo, some of which are terrified of getting under Apple's thumb like their friends in the music industry.

I love :apple:TV but I just don't foresee a whole television flying so well... especially with the working concept that whatever software experience is built into that television would probably also be available for any television via :apple:TV4. If so- if the software part of the experience is also available for just about any television hardware- the "what's left?" piece (the hardware) must stand on it's own.

Apple certainly makes great hardware but I would argue it's the software that really makes things stand out. For example, if Apple decided to endorses iOS and OSX as stand-alone software capable of running on any hardware from any manufacturer would we still be so drawn to ONLY Apple hardware? That's one of the issues I foresee for an Apple Television if there is also an :apple:TV. Then, there's the broadband distribution issue (the Cable companies generally own the broadband pipes through which Apple's solution must flow) and it just piles up from there.

All that said... best I know, it's the only working rumor with enough support to seem like it could be a cut at a "next big thing" (fourth leg of the table) in early 2013. We really haven't heard too much about anything else of comparable upside to iPod 1, iPhone 1, iPad 1. Either it's a very well kept "double down" secret or maybe Apple is pinning things on that Television concept?

Whatever it is, Apple needs it to be ready to dazzle sooner than later. If you look at the past pace of next big thing rollouts to fuel the rapid growth, this next, next big thing should have hit this year (in 2012). Hopefully, we don't go too far into 2013 with only new iterations of old "next big things".
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The only true groundbreaking piece you can do from a TV front is offer ala carte pricing. People don't like paying for 300 channels just to get the 40 channels they actually watch. It's like the old days of buying an entire CD just to get the 3 songs you wanted.

The difference is there is zero incentive for networks to make that content available exclusively through Apple TV. And with Smart TV's already offering apps like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube - that ship may have already sailed.

There's absolutely no way they could have a landscape shifting product ready for a 2013 launch...

They'll have to hang their hat on something else. The question is what? The music player and smartphone markets are mature. The tablet market is quickly becoming saturated. They are going to have to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat to keep moving units at the pace the market expects.
 
Yep I can attest this rumor is true...Wife works for major marketing firm that has the inside track on product releases...New Mini and Iphone will be released early of 2013
 
ng-design said:
Normally I would have doubted this claim, but given Apple's surprise release of the iPad 4 after only 6 months, I think it's entirely possible now.

I don't like the new trend of a 6 month cycle. That is way too fast to work out all the kinks. Their phones are going to become as buggy and crappy as the Androids are. Blah.

And then they're back-ordered for a month or more. So why would I want to order something, wait a month for it, only to know that I have 5 months left before it's outdated again?
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Why do people here seem to blindly hate on Android phones? None of the Android phones I own are buggy and horrible.

Plus, it's actually a misconception that Android phones are released rapidly. HTC's or Samsung's flagships (currently the One X and the Galaxy S III) are released on an annual basis.
 
troop231 said:
Waiting for the iPad mini with Retina display more than anything.
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When I first held the iPad mini, my hand told me this is the one. When I first looked carefully at the non-retina display, my eyes told me I can do better. My eyes won, it has to be a retina display. I'm hoping that we get both the next iPhone and iPad/iPad mini a few months earlier than most people are expecting.

I think there's a possibility that Apple could shift the iPhone release back to June, with the iPad/iPad mini releases following a month later just in time for the back to school buying season with the holiday season soon after. The only question is will we get a 5S with the same design or a redesigned 6? I think a retina display on the mini and a lighter 9.7" iPad (maybe a half pound lighter) are safe bets at this point. All of this depends on the progress that Apple is making with iOS 7, which I hope is significantly better than iOS 6.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Buying an iPad with built-in cellular doesn't require you to ever buy any cellular service or lock into any contract. It's just there if you need it. If you ever do need cellular, you can turn it on for very little and it will expire rather than continue to bill you. More simply, it's on demand LTE/3G only if and when you need it (if ever).

It's not quasi GPS, it's real GPS. It doesn't need cell towers or cell signals to function (you never have to activate LTE/3G service for the GPS hardware to work). GPS works just like dedicated GPS devices without LTE/3G. No towers nearby has no relevance on its functionality.

You might think of it as paying up for (real) GPS and getting a bonus of LTE/3G if you ever need it.

As to the $5 part vs. the extra $130 or so Apple wants for its inclusion, you'll need to decide if you want that functionality that badly or not. If not, there are dedicated GPS devices that work by bluetooth for non-LTE iDevices (such as: http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electron...luetooth/dp/B006M49G80/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_1). Some mifi devices have GPS built into them too. Such devices seem to run about $100-$150+.

Or you can tether with an iPhone (though I've read enough comments about that to conclude that tethering for GPS is not as good as having the GPS version of the iPad).
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Or if GPS is important to him, he can consider the competition, that have GPS in the wifi models.
 
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I hope this turns out to be true. It'd time up perfectly for me since I'm not due for an upgrade until May.
 
If the iPad 5 has the same black finish of the mini and the profile of the iPhone 5 I imagine a lot of people would upgrade on looks alone.

But what about features ? iOS 7 with widgets ? New split window mutli-tasking ?

Probably not. Probably going to be the same ol' iOS we have had for years now.
I don't see them doing anything truly amazing anymore.
 
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