Since the introduction of the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display back in June, speculation has turned to when that gorgeous display would finally be heading to other members of the Mac family — and the answer now appears to be “soon.”
DigiTimes is reporting that Apple suppliers have started shipping new iMacs as well as a new 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, the latter of which could be released within the next few weeks, according to sources in the supply chain.
“The sources estimated that the official launch of the Retina Display 13.3-inch MacBook Pro should be in either September or October to target back-to-school demand and the year-end holidays,” the report claims.
The iMac’s fate is less clear, however.
“Apple originally planned to release three new models with upgraded panels and CPUs, but due to poor yields of the panels, the mass production of the high-end model, has been postponed, without any launch schedule,” the report notes. “The other two models — targeting the mid-range and entry-level segments — saw shipment volumes from the supply chain increase in September.”
No one outside of Apple knows for sure if the company will announce one or both of these updated products at this week’s media event in San Francisco, where Cupertino is expected to finally take the wraps off the next iPhone. But if you’re in the market for a new iMac or smaller MacBook Pro, now might not be the best time to buy one…
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All signs are pointing to T-Mobile USA again being left out in the cold when the sixth-generation iPhone is presumably revealed next week, but that doesn’t mean the carrier won’t have a strategy in place to combat the problem.
TmoNews is reporting that fourth-place U.S. carrier T-Mobile may soon be installing in-store displays to show off unlocked iPhones running on their 3G network in an effort to sell against Apple’s forthcoming handset.
“All the intel streaming in seems to point to a ‘bring your own iPhone’ demonstration in store, which lines up perfectly with what T-Mobile’s been saying all along for their refarmed network,” the report reveals.
T-Mobile is actively working to expand its network for 4G LTE, and in the process shift spectrum to radio bands that are compatible with the iPhone. While there are already plenty of unlocked iPhones that have retreated to T-Mobile, they’ve had to contend with slower EDGE data speeds due to this incompatibility.
The report claims T-Mobile store managers were “asked to activate a new micro-SIM before the end of August,” which could point to the company rolling out the new initiative sometime this month.
With Apple now ready to announce their next handset on September 12, it appears T-Mobile wants to fight back by enticing iPhone owners to bring their device to the magenta network, which recently relaunched an unlimited data plan again.
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Now that most everyone agrees Apple will be introducing the next iPhone in September, the debate seems to now be focused on when the mythical “iPad mini” might make its debut: At the same time or a separate event?
The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple has already weighed in on the likelihood of the sixth-gen iPhone being introduced next month, but now the Apple insider appears to be throwing cold water on the idea of an “iPad mini” sharing the stage with the handset.
“I’m thinking it makes more sense for Apple to hold two events,” commented Daring Fireball scribe John Gruber this week. “First, an iPhone event, focused solely on the new iPhone and iOS 6. Then, the iPhone ships nine days later, and there’s another wave of iPhone-focused attention as the reviews come out. Then, in the first or second week of October, Apple holds its traditional ‘music event,’ exactly along the lines of the events at which they’ve been debuting new iPods for the last decade.”
Dalrymple appears to agree, responding with a simple “Oh that Gruber is a smart fellow” on his blog, The Loop.
The rumor mill has been working overtime lately, tripping over itself in an effort to get the scoop on what Apple has been up to. Remember those rumors speculating that Apple would be revamping its entire product line at WWDC this year? Yeah, that didn’t pan out, and instead the company focused on new MacBooks.
With the iPhone now the most profitable device Apple — or maybe anyone! — makes, the folks in Cupertino surely will want to keep the focus on it’s latest and greatest, so the Gruber/Dalrymple theory makes a whole lot of sense to us. Either way, it’s going to be a busy autumn for tech…
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Over the weekend, reports surfaced that Apple may be tapping into its vast mountain of cash with an eye toward buying The Fancy, a social commerce site that rivals Pinterest and has the backing of Twitter and Facebook co-founders.
Business Insider is reporting that Apple may be in talks to acquire The Fancy, a smaller rival to the more popular Pinterest. The idea is to expand Apple’s e-commerce reach by combining its more than 400 million iTunes accountholders with the “fast-growing social commerce site.”
The Fancy may be a New York startup with only 20 employees, but the report notes the company “is much further along in linking its users to transactions” than rival Pinterest. The Fancy nabs a 10 percent of each purchase made through its website.
However, the report cautions this is far from a done deal.
“There is no signed deal and no guarantee one will happen,” Business Insider adds. “We do not know the price Apple has proposed to pay for The Fancy or how recently talks took place.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook was recently spotted chatting with The Fancy CEO Joe Einhorn, who met at Allen & Co.’s Sun Valley conference earlier this year. According to the report, Cook started using The Fancy shortly thereafter.
The Fancy board members include Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes. Ironically, the company’s offices are located above an Apple Store in New York City. Coincidence?
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We’re now halfway through July, so it should be just a matter of time before Apple unleashes OS X Mountain Lion. We have no idea exactly when it will arrive in the next 16 days, but at least one website is placing bets on Wednesday, July 25.
9to5Mac is reporting that a number of Apple retail stores appear to be planning overnight work for its employees both in the U.S. and abroad, suggesting that the company may set loose OS X Mountain Lion the following day, on Wednesday, July 25.
“We’ve heard a few whispers (three and counting) that Apple Stores both in the United States and overseas have planned overnights for Tuesday, July 24th,” the report notes. “With OS X Mountain Lion launching ‘in July,’ according to Apple, we believe that it is sensible to speculate that this overnight may point to a public launch the following day.”
The overnight is reportedly planned for Tuesday, July 24, described as “basically just a few guys running around with the master image installing it on every Mac,” according to one employee. Since Apple released new Mac hardware a month ago, OS X Mountain Lion is expected to have the spotlight all to itself this year.
The website also notes that Tuesday overnights are common for Apple retail, pretty much contradicting its own assumption that next Wednesday might be the unveil date.
There could be one clue in last year’s release of OS X Lion: The release was announced during the company’s Q3 2011 earnings call on July 19, with availability the next day in the Mac App Store. Apple has a quarterly earnings call next Tuesday, July 24, so… we’re just sayin’…
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