Refurbished iPad 4 and iPad Mini Offered At A Discount

iPad Mini

(Image Credit: http://www.apple.com)

Discounts were made available for refurbished iPad 4 and iPad Mini through the online store of Apple. These discounts range from around fifteen percent up to seventeen percent.

This will allow would-be iPad owners to acquire the latest models of the device albeit a refurbished version at a lower price than the brand-new version. The discounts are available for all variations of the refurbished models of the tablet offering of Apple.

The 16GB Wi-Fi-only model of the iPad Mini has a price tag of around $279. This is lower by 15 percent compared to the usual price tag of the device. On the other hand, the 32GB iPad Mini is sold at around $359 or a discount of around 16 percent. The 64GB iPad Mini is priced at around $439, which is lower by 17 percent compared to the usual price of the device.

The 16GB Wi-Fi-only model of the iPad 4 is priced at around $419, while the 32GB model has a price tag of $499. Both price tags are lower by 16 percent compared to the standard price of the device. On the other hand, the 64GB model is sold at around $579 or a discount of around 17 percent.

All of the refurbished products of Apple are tested and fully certified by the company. They come with a new battery along with a new outer shell. All refurbished units of the iPad 4 and the iPad Mini carry a warranty of one year.

Numerous Color Options For Low-Priced iPhone and iPhone 5S Hinted

iPhone 5S

(Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

Apple-focused Macotakara revealed that the supposed iPhone 5S and the low-priced iPhone will be available in a number of color options including green and gold.

Since Apple has not given any confirmation on the two new models of the iPhone, the report will remain in the realm of speculations. However, a number of reports have emerged on the possible appearance and features of the two devices.

The low-priced iPhone will reportedly feature a plastic casing, instead of aluminum and may be available in blue, white, green, pink and yellow-orange. There may be other color options for the device, including white, gray, gold orange, and navy. The price range of the device will reportedly be from $350 up to $400.

On the other hand, the reported iPhone 5S will also have a number of color options aside from the typical white and black variants. The report revealed that users may be able to choose from a green or a gold variant of the device. The iPhone 5S will also have similar features as the iPhone 5 and will feature a dual-LED flash for its camera.

Despite the absence of any confirmation from Apple, the fact that the latest model of the iPod Touch is already available in a number of color options, it is possible that the company will do the same thing for the upcoming models of the iPhone.

Trial production of the low-priced iPhone will reportedly start by next month although a number of reports have indicated that it may not be available in the market earlier than next year. On the other hand, earlier reports indicated that the iPhone 5S will be released by the company by July.

No statements were issued by Apple in connection to the reported low-priced iPhone or the iPhone 5S.

Lighter iPad May Be In The Works

iPad 4

(Image Credit: http://www.apple.com)

The fifth-generation iPad may be lighter compared to the previous model of the device.

Taiwan-based Digitimes reported that the upcoming model of the iPad will enter production by July. It will reportedly be leaner compared to the previous models. It will also be 25 percent lighter compared to the iPad 4. Information about the device was also released by NPD DisplaySearch last April.

Although the fifth-generation iPad will still feature the 2048 by 1536 Retina Display, it will use thinner glass. This is made possible with the use of a new touch sensor technology. Its backlight gear will also be more compact compared to the ones used on the previous models.

Last April, NPD DisplaySearch revealed that the LED backlight of the upcoming model of the iPad will be smaller, which will make a slimmer iPad possible.  The increased efficiency of the LEDs will make the display perform more efficiently. It may also be possible for the device to use a touch sensor that is film-based.

The third and fourth models of the iPad were actually thicker and heavier compared to the iPad 2. The big backlight assembly contributed to this added thickness and heft on the device.

Digitimes also revealed that by September the deliveries of the fifth-generation iPad will increase to around three million units. 

Apple iWatch May Not Be Launched Until Next Year

iPod Nano with Watch Strap

(Image Credit: http://www.slashgear.com)

The so-called iWatch may not be introduced by Apple earlier than the latter part of 2014.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities made this revelation through a note to investors. He also pointed at the lack of resources required in the development of a variant of the iOS for the device as one of the issues facing the production of the device. The company is currently working on overhauling the software.

Kuo also indicated that additional research for the components of wearable devices is needed to make such devices feasible in the market. This will result to the delay in the production of the watch-like device of Apple.  The company may also use a screen display size of around two inches. It will also feature biometric security, which is made possible after the company acquired AuthenTec for $356 million.

Reports of the supposed iWatch initially emerged in February, which indicated that the tech giant was taking the production of wristwatch-like products into consideration. Another report also indicated that around 100 people were reportedly assigned by Apple to work on the device. New patents filed by Apple also hinted at the possibility that Apple will work on such a device.

Kuo has been accurate in a number of previous reports on Apple products including the plans of the company for a Retina MacBook Pro and the white iPhone 4. He was also accurate with his statement on the details of the iPad and the iPod.

Statements from Apple CEO Tim Cook last month also supported the statement of Kuo that the reported iWatch may not see the light of day until next year.

Will Apple Launch A New MacBook Air?

MacBook Air

(Image Credit: apple.com)

Industry watchers are anticipating the release of a new MacBook Air of Apple. The indicators that point to the coming of the new model are the shrinking supply of the 13.3-inch model of the slim Apple laptop. Only Best Buy has the device on its inventory, while the supply of all the other authorized outlets of the tech giant is reportedly getting smaller.

A reduction in the supply of an Apple product is normally a sign of a new version of that particular product.

However, it remains uncertain if a new MacBook Air will indeed be released by the company. It is expected that the upcoming device will feature the next-generation Haswell processor of Intel. The processor will be launched by June, prior to the Worldwide Developers Conference of Apple. This may give some indication of things to come.

Another question that will be raised in connection to the next version of the slim laptop of Apple is whether it will use the Retina Display that is used in a number of devices of the company. Although using the high-definition display may be expected, it may raise the cost of producing the device, let alone affecting the battery life of the device.

If Apple aims to maintain a notable battery life for the device while using the Retina Display, it may have to sacrifice its slim design. But with the way technology is advancing, Apple may have another ace hidden somewhere up its sleeve.

Next iPhone May Be Released By September

iPhone

(Image Credit: http://www.apple.com)

The next iPhone will reportedly be released into the market before the end of the year, and with the appearance of the iOS 7 in a number of web logs, it seems that it will only be a matter of time before the next model of the smartphone offering of Apple will enter the market.

However, a note from Morgan Stanley has upped the ante recently. According to the research note written by Katy Huberty, the production of several iPhone SKUs will start by June or July, and it will be launched by the company by September. This may give indications that there may be more than one new iPhone in the pipeline. The research note was dubbed as “Systems and PC Hardware Asia Trip Takeaways Part 1.”

Although reports about the next iPhone started to emerge some time ago, most of these reports were mainly focused on a single iPhone model or the iPhone 5S. It should also be noted that Huberty was in touch with suppliers in Asia, which will give the research note more weight over previous speculations about the upcoming device. The research note also gave the schedule on the upcoming launch of the device.

It can be recalled that an earlier report from a Japan-based industrial newspaper revealed that production of the display panels for the next iPhone will start by June at the Kameyama plant of Sharp.  Putting these earlier reports together may also add credence to the note released by Morgan Stanley in connection to the upcoming device.

The launch of the new models of the iPhone is also expected to correspond to the release of the iOS 7. The next iPhone is expected to feature a new processor and other internal components that may be an upgrade to the current model of the device.

Traffic Logs Show iOS 7 Prior To Launch

iOS 7

Reports on the upcoming release of the next iPhone have resulted to speculations on the upcoming introduction of the iOS 7 in the market.

The reported emergence of the next mobile OS of Apple in web traffic logs recently has increased the anticipation for its launch in the coming month. This was revealed by a startup company that enhances websites to make them touch-friendly for smartphones and tablets. According to Onswipe, nearly 25 percent of visitors to the websites using its technology were supposedly using the soon-to-be-available software.

Another website, Macrumors, also reported an increase in the number of visitors using devices with the iOS 7. But industry watchers indicated that it is normal for an increase in activity for unreleased software offerings of Apple. It can be recalled that prior to the release of the OS X 10.7 Lion and 10.8 Mountain Lion, traffic logs saw an increase in their activity months before they were officially launched.

Apple is very secretive when it comes to the activities of the company and safeguards are also implemented when they use external resources. According to former Internet Technologies engineering director Don Melton, the company would change the way the software would identify itself when it taps into external web servers.

Reports have emerged hinting at the possibility that the iOS 7 may have a different appearance compared to the previous versions of the mobile OS, which has basically remained the same since it was initially released by Apple in 2007.

Last month the company revealed plans of introducing the next versions of the mobile OS and the OS X during the annual developers’ conference of Apple. With the upcoming release of the iOS 7 of Apple, the introduction of the next model of the iPhone may not be far behind.

Production Of Next iPhone Display To Start Soon

iPhone 5S

(Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

The production of the display for the next iPhone has already started according to a report from a major industrial newspaper in Japan.

The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun revealed that the even though the Kameyame factory of Sharp was not operating at full capacity, full operations will start with the production of the display of the upcoming version of the iPhone of Apple, which will reportedly be dubbed as the iPhone 5S.

The specifications of the next iPhone will reportedly be similar to the present model of the device, the report added. Reports on the delay of the release of the iPhone 5S have emerged, which resulted to serious warnings from analysts indicating the need to release the device within the third quarter of this year.

The latest report may appear to confirm this. In addition to Sharp, LG Display as well as Japan Display will help in the production of the display panel. Japan Display is a combination of Hitachi Display, Sony Mobile Display and Toshiba Mobile Display. No information was available on when the two other companies will start producing the display panel for the next iPhone or the iPhone 5S.

Anticipation is high for the upcoming release of the iPhone 5S, which is expected to happen together with the release of the iOS 7. Earlier reports have already indicated that the next iPhone will feature a better processor compared to the current model of the device.

Production Of Display For Retina iPad Mini To Start Soon

Retina iPad Mini

(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

The RetinaiPad Mini may be launched in the third quarter of the year as production of the display will start in the coming months. This was revealed recently by NPD DisplaySearch, which pointed to a June or July start of the production of the display panels of the device.

NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim indicated that one of the main manufacturers of the display will be LG Display. He also said that Samsung was not among the list of suppliers for the upcoming small-size tablet offering of Apple.

Shim indicated that the role of LG Display in the production of the Retina iPad Mini has become bigger as Samsung was not identified as one of the component suppliers for the device. The 7.9-inch display of the device will have a resolution of 2048 by 1536.

The pixel density of the device will be similar to the one found on the Retina display of the iPhone 5. It will also be among the highest pixel densities among all tablets in the market. Bu, Shim was uncertain if the higher pixel density will be noticed by ordinary consumers.

Shim added that a number of tablets with pixel densities that go beyond 300 PPI are set to be released into the market. It may reach a point where it will not be easy to distinguish the enhancements on the image quality. The Amazon Kindle Fire will have displays that have a pixel density of over 300 PPI. On the other hand, the Google Nexus 10 already has a pixel density of 229 PPI.

However, consumers will still notice the better image quality on the Retina iPad Mini compared to the current model of the device.

It is also possible that consumers to focus on the display of the upcoming Retina iPad Mini due to the attention that the small-sized model of the iPad has gotten following its release into the market.

Bigger Screen Size For iPhone 6 Eyed By Analyst

iPhone 5

(Image Credit: http://www.apple.com)

It appears that Apple may be taking something from the strategy of its rival as an analyst indicated that the iPhone 6 may be unveiled with a bigger screen display next year.

According to Peter Misek of Jefferies, an upcoming model of the iPhone will have a bigger screen and it may be unveiled by Apple next summer. Although the main draw of the iPhone 5S will be more color alternatives for its buyers, the company may not be satisfied with the large-screen iPhone 5, which was unveiled last year.

Even as Misek did not reveal the specific screen size of the iPhone 6 in the note he wrote to investors, it did indicate that the upcoming iPhone 5S will have a four-inch screen display when it will be launched sometime this year. The iPhone 5S will supposedly feature an enhanced processor, a better camera and more color options that may be appealing to potential buyers.

Making the screen size of the iPhone bigger is sensible since the Samsung Galaxy S4 of its main rival in the market has a screen size of five inches. This is considerably bigger compared to the screen size of the current model of the iPhone, which may change once the iPhone 6 is released next summer.

Slim iPad 5 Hinted By Casing In HK Market

iPad 5 Casing

(Image Credit: http://www.engadget.com)

Rumors mills have been churning out a steady supply of unconfirmed reports about the iPad 5, and the latest reports have resulted to a number of case designs for the next model of the iPad.

Reports have indicated that a number of slim casings for the iPad 5 have started to emerge online and in Hong Kong. A number of these cases have been posted on Alibaba.com while some were available at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair. These cases have hinted at the possibility that the next version of the iPad will be slimmer even as its screen size will still be similar to the current version of the device.

Alibaba.com already has a number of listings showing the casing for the upcoming model of the iPad. This shows that suppliers in China are capable of producing accessories for any Apple product even before they are released into the market. Earlier reports had hinted at slimmer backlights, which would result to a thinner model of the iPad. The device will reportedly have the same screen size despite its slimmer profile.

An image was leaked earlier that was supposedly that of the upcoming iPad 5 that gave rise to speculations that the device will be slimmer compared to the current version of the iPad.

Multiple Screen Size For Upcoming iPhone 5S

iPhone 5S

(Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

A Topeka Capital Markets analyst revealed that the next iPhone of Apple or the reported iPhone 5S will have at least two models featuring different screen sizes. It will reportedly be unveiled by the company in July.

The information was supposedly acquired from a meeting with a company in the tech-supply chain, according to Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets. He said that the next iPhone will come in at least two different models.

He told investors in a note that he released recently that they believe that Apple will offer the iPhone 5S in more than one size, which would give consumers additional options and increase the market share of the company. However, he did not specify the screen sizes of the next iPhone.

It can be recalled that White also revealed last January that the next model of the iPhone will feature different screen sizes, and will be available in different colors.

If the iPhone 5S will be offered in different screen sizes, one model will likely have a screen size bigger than the current screen size of the iPhone 5, which is at four inches. Another model may use the same screen size as the current model of the iPhone, while a third model may feature a screen size that is smaller than four inches.

The supposed July launch of the next iPhone is echoed by other analysts who have indicated that the next model of the smartphone offering of Apple may be released in the summer.

Both Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities and Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray believe in a June launch of the upcoming device. However, Kuo also believes that the iPhone 5S may be released into the market by July.

White also revealed that the price of the next model of the iPhone may not go under the $300 level. It will likely have a price tag ranging from $300 to $350.

The price range will likely for the iPhone model that is not subsidized and unlocked. It will also be promoted in developing markets like China.

Apple is currently facing pressure from Samsung and its own investors, and may need to be more innovative to be able to expand its product offerings in the market. Offering a low-cost iPhone 5S with different screen sizes may be unusual for the company, but it may have to do what it can in order to show that it is still a force to be reckoned with in the market.

Leak Shows Reported iPad 5

iPad 5

(Image Credit: http://www.nowhereelse.fr)

The reported iPad 5 may feature a thin bezel similar to the one found on the iPad Mini if the leaked image of the fifth generation tablet of Apple is proven to be accurate.

The upcoming iPad will supposedly be slim, just like the small-sized version of the tablet offering of the company. That is, if the image posted on Nowhereelse.fr is indeed that of the next-generation iPad. If this is the case, then Apple may be using the iPad Mini as its inspiration for the design on the upcoming model of the full-size iPad.

The front cover of the iPad 5 was shown on the image along with the bezel around it that shows a slimmer design compared to the current model of the iPad.

Earlier reports hinted at the possibility that the upcoming version of the iPad will have a 9.7-inch display screen along with a slimmer design. The recently-leaked image may provide the proof needed by earlier reports, that is, if it is proven to be true.

However, the French website has a notable record when it comes to making revelations on upcoming products from Apple. The supposed image of the iPad 5 was reportedly given to the website from sources in China. However, since these reports remain unconfirmed, which means their accuracy is still debatable.

The iPad 4 was launched by Apple last October together with the iPad Mini. The two devices entered the market in the early part of November.

Reports have also indicated that Apple will start its production of the next generation iPad by summer. However another report hinted at a possible April launch of the iPad 5, which simply means it remains uncertain when the device will be actually unveiled by Apple.

New Apple Headquarters Goes Over Its By Budget By $2 Billion

New Apple Headquarters

(Image Credit: http://www.bloomberg.com)

It appears that the construction of the new Apple headquarters is facing some budget issues. Reports have indicated that the 176-acre “spaceship” campus that is scheduled to be opened in 2015 has gone over its budget, by around $2 billion.

The late CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs made an appeal to the city council of Cupertino City in June 2011 as he showed the plan of the company in building a circular structure that encompasses 3.1 million square feet and will serve as the workplace of the 12,000 employees of the company. The employees are currently working in a number of buildings that the company rents all around the city.

The budget that Jobs set aside for the new Apple headquarters was just under $3 billion. However, it appears that the cost of building the Apple Campus has gone up to nearly $5 million. The current budget for the top secret edifice is higher than the cost of building the new World Trade Center complex in New York, which was at around $3.9 billion.

Prior to the death of Jobs, the late Apple CEO intended to lay the foundations in 2012 with the plan of moving in by 2015. However, the delay in the environmental impact report of the company pushed back the start of construction to 2014. This means the employees will start working in the new Apple headquarters no earlier than 2016.

The company has been trying to reduce the budget for the new Apple headquarters. It is working with Foster+ Partners to reduce the budget by $1 billion before they continued with the work. Sources have also indicated that a number of buildings will be torn down at the site by summer while excavation works will take around six months. Bids for the jobs will be submitted by subcontractors in the coming month.

Although the price tag appears huge for many people, $1 billion is nothing compared to the cash reserves of the company, which reaches around $137 billion. The company has also informed its neighbors about what to expect in the future. The company released a brochure indicating the transportation options that employees can use in order to reduce traffic.

The new Apple headquarters will also have its own fitness center, restaurant and other amenities that will encourage employees to stay inside until the end of their shift.

Delay Noted On The Development Of iOS 7

iPhone

The possible release of the new iPhone over the summer may be in danger of being moved back, that is if it will be released at around the same time Apple will release the iOS 7. This is due to reports that have hinted at the possibility that the development of the latest version of the mobile OS of Apple is delayed is proven to be true.

Although nothing definite has been reported on the development of the iOS 7, reports seem to indicate that work on the mobile OS is supposedly behind schedule. Despite this, reports have also revealed that the next mobile OS may feature a brand-new display.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball reportedly indicated that there is a possible delay in the development of the OS and it appears that the company has beefed up its team with engineers from the team working on the Mac OS X 10.9. The report hints at the possible release of the iOS 7 during the Worldwide Developers Conference of the company, which is normally held sometime in June and where the developer versions of the software of the company are released.

In addition to reporting the possible delay, Gruber was reportedly able to obtain information about the design of the supposed mobile OS of Apple. The iOS may see some changes, which Apple is aiming to keep a secret by giving the lead in the development of the device interface to Jony Ive, the industrial design vice president of the company.

Reports have indicated that iOS engineers, who have carrying privileges, have placed polarizing filters on the display of their iPhones, which make it difficult to see any modifications made on the user interface of the device, Gruber said. Rene Ritchie of iMore also made similar observations as he indicated that the work of Ive will make a number of people happy with the iOS 7. However, designers who favor rich-texture may not share the same sentiment. This is due to the supposed affinity of Ive for trying to replicate real-world materials and objects.

Reports about the new mobile OS have emerged ever since the start of the year, when developer logs have shown the OS coming out. But it remains uncertain when the iOS 7 will be launched.

New iPhone May Be Released Over The Summer

New iPhone

(Image Credit: http://www.cnet.com)

Latest reports have pointed at the possibility that Apple may introduce the new iPhone over the summer. If reports are proven to be accurate, the company may go back to the time when it introduced the iPhone 4 into the market during the summer.

The new iPhone will reportedly have a similar shape and size as the current model of the iPhone. It also appears that Apple is working on making the upcoming model of its flagship product cheaper. It may be available in the market in the second half of this year.

The last two models of the iPhone were released in fall, with the iPhone 5 unveiled during an event that was held last September. It became available in the market before the month ended. On the other hand, the iPhone 4S was unveiled by Apple in October of the previous year.

If the timing of the release of the new iPhone is right, it may be introduced by Apple during the annual developers’ conference of the company. Although the schedule of the conference has yet to be announced, it is normally held sometime in the early part of June.

However, the only thing that may make things a bit messy is the fact that developers in Apple have to beta test the latest version of the iOS, which may last a number of months. It remains uncertain if the supposed summer release of the new iPhone will come true since Apple normally releases its new version of the iOS at around the same time the smartphone is released into the market.

Apple iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 Spotted

iPhone 5S

(Image Credit: http://www.pcmag.com)

Even though the iPhone 5 of Apple has yet to cool its heels, reports of the supposed iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 have started to gain momentum. A post on a micro-blogging site based in China revealed that the two devices have already made an appearance at a Chinese Apple supplier.

The post by Old Yao on Sina Tech added that the two new iPhone models may be released into the market this year. He indicated that one of his friends was able to catch a glimpse of the two devices. The iPhone 5S reportedly has a similar design as the iPhone 5. On the other hand, the iPhone 6 will be longer, wider, and slimmer.

Apple did not release any statement in connection to the report. However, experience has shown that each time Apple is getting nearer to releasing a new device, reports and speculations about the device normally increase. However, some of these reports are unsubstantiated, which means that the post of Old Yao about the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 6 should be taken with a good amount of salt.

Previous speculations by analysts hinted at the possibility that the iPhone 5S will be released sometime in June or in July. A redesigned model of the device, which may probably be the iPhone 6 is also speculated to be released at around the same time. 

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst from KGI Securities, indicated that the S model of the iPhone 5 will have a similar design as the current model of the iPhone. But it will come with a number of enhancements including a fingerprint sensor and the A7 chip, which will improve the performance of the iPhone 5S. The iPhone 6 will reportedly offer a bigger screen display, which may be more appealing to consumers particularly those who fell in love with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Cheap iPhone Reports Emerge Once Again

iPhone 5

(Image Credit: http://www.apple.com)

Cheap iPhone? Anyone? A recent report from the Wall Street Journal hinted at the possibility that a cheap iPhone will be launched by Apple within the year. However, this appears to be old news since Wall Street Journal apparently made a similar report some time ago.

The report also comes after Digitimes, a Taiwan-based website, reported the possibility that the cheap iPhone will be promoted mainly in developing countries.

An anonymous source reportedly indicated that Apple has been looking into developing a cheap iPhone for some time already. However, it was only recently when some progress has been made in the creation of the device. The device will reportedly have a polycarbonate plastic shell, which is the only new detail in the report. The source also revealed that the cheap iPhone will be unveiled by Apple before the end of the year.

A Wall Street Journal report in February 2011 indicated that a prototype of the iPhone was supposedly spotted and is set to be sold as part of the device lineup of Apple. The cheap iPhone will reportedly be smaller compared to iPhone 4, which was the main model of the device at that time.

The cheap iPhone will supposedly be similar to the design of a typical iPhone although it will have a cheaper body. Using polycarbonate plastic may allow Apple to bring down the cost of producing the device. The other components will come from the older models of the iPhone.

The Wall Street Journal report on the supposed cheap iPhone was also similar to the Digitimes report, which was not quite credible. The report revealed that the device will feature Snapdragon chipsets and a bigger screen display.

Well, it appears that this latest report on a supposed cheap iPhone simply shows that the season for Apple rumors has already started once again.

Reports Hint At Possible iOS-Powered Watch Is In The Works

iPod Nano with Watch Strap

(Image Credit: http://www.slashgear.com)

Reports coming from the sleeping dragon hints at the possibility that Apple are working with Intel to develop its own iOS-powered watch.

Following the release of the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad, Apple may be working on an iOS-powered watch. Sources within the supply chain have reportedly informed Tech163.com, a China-based blog site, that a supposed iOS-powered watch will have a 1.5-inch OLED screen display and Bluetooth connectivity.

The “iWatch” is expected to be unveiled by Apple in the first half of the year.

According to Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, Apple may eventually develop its own wearable computer or an iOS-powered watch. The smart watch demand is likely big enough following the Kickstarter campaign was able to raise over $10 million for Pebble. These smart watches will likely be running an Android OS or the iOS.

However, reports such as these remain unconfirmed, and it should be taken with a grain of salt. Some industry watchers are not expecting an iOS-powered watch to be released into the market any time soon. But the smart watch niche may be an area that Apple can see a possible demand in the future.

Some consumers have also given feedback through Crave on the possibility that an iOS-powered watch may be offered by Apple in the future. Among the features that consumers want to see on the smart watch is support for FaceTime and Siri along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC wireless connectivity.

The square-like design of the iPod Nano has made it an ideal watch substitute for some users. A number of manufacturers have offered watchbands that will allow the iPod Nano to be worn as a watch. The iPod Nano allows users to listen to music, view images, and monitor their fitness activities.

However, Apple has increased the size of the 2012 model of the iPod Nano, which would not make it ideal to be used as a watch. Therefore, it may be possible for the company to offer an iOS-powered watch in the future.

Supplies May Have Affected Sales Of The iPad Mini

iPad Mini

(Image Credit: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/)

The demand for the iPad Mini is rather high but if the supply is not enough to meet the demand, sales will definitely suffer.

This was the insight of Shaw Wu, an analyst from Sterne Agee, in a recent cnet.com report. Sales of the iPad were not as expected due to shortages in the supply of the iPad Mini, which has also affected the sales of the full-size model of the device.

The insight of the analyst is just one among many who were concerned of the sales of the popular products of Apple. However, Sterne Agee has a more positive outlook in the sales of the iPhone although the company was apprehensive of the sales of the iPad, particularly with that of the iPad Mini.

Even as the supply of the iPhone has caught up with its demand, sales of the iPad remained rather bleak. According to Wu, this can be attributed to shortages in the components for the Apple iPad Mini, which resulted to consumers purchasing the full-sized iPad instead of the iPad Mini.

This has resulted to an adjustment to the sales projection for the iPad from 25 million units to only 23.5 million units. A good number of analysts have projected iPad sales of not more than 24 million units. On the other hand, Wu projects sales for the iPhone to reach around 47.5 million units, which is much higher than the 46 million unit sales of a number of analysts.

An increase in supply will increase sales and more profits for Apple. With the upcoming release of the iPhone 5 in a number of countries before the end of the year, sales of the smartphone offering of Apple will likely increase.

However sales of the iPad Mini has yet to catch up with the demand and the supply is the likely culprit for its relatively limited sales. Factor in the effect of the iPad Mini on the sales of the full-sized iPad, sales are below expectations.

The supply problems of the iPad Mini have also affected the confidence of investors in the profit margins of the company. However Apple revealed that the current situation is only temporary due to the release of a number of devices into the market.

Apple will have to improve its supply of the iPad Mini in order to meet its demand and ultimately increase its profit margin and leave its investors with a smile on their face.