Rumor Roundup: Debunked by Apple itself

Rumor: Apple Watch to feature 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage (AppleInsider)

Source: Some analyst

Chance it's true: 30 percent, at most

Some analyst repeats the same stuff some other analyst spewed a couple weeks ago. For some reason, this is considered newsworthy.

Not that any of these specs seem particularly outlandish, but claiming to have real knowledge of this device's innards when Apple hasn't even offered a launch date yet? There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity, fellas.

More 12-inch MacBook Air details: reversible USB Type C, MagSafe gone, slimmer fanless design (9to5 Mac)

Source: Some guy who allegedly knows "people familiar with the matter"

Chance it's true: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The big problems with this report:

• The source has no verifiable track record

• The payoff for this rumor is way off in the future

• The report reads like a checklist of nerdgasm features while completely glossing over the engineering implications (seriously, an Intel processor that "can keep at low temperatures and high performance without a heat sink"? I am skeptical, to say the least.)

Apple Reportedly Planning to Shut Down Beats Music [Update: Not True] (MacRumors)

Source: "People familiar with the matter"

Chance it's true: None. Zero. Debunked by Apple itself.

This story prompted a couple Apple bloggers who I actually respect to say this is exactly the sort of thing that makes them glad they don't post rumor stories anymore. Everyone who passed this on credulously - including, sadly, our sister publication TechCrunch - looks asinine in the wake of this journalistic debacle.

iPad Air 2 Rumored to Launch in October, Updated Retina iPad Mini May Come Later (MacRumors)

Source: Taiwanese website

Chance it's true: 30%

While none of the items in this report strike me as being outside the realm of plausibility (with the exception of the nonsense about the "iPad Pro"), Taiwanese publications don't have an exceptionally good (or even passably good) track record when it comes to Apple rumors.

Apple Will Be 'Lucky' to Ship Apple Watch by Valentine's Day (MacRumors)

Source: "People familiar with the matter"

Chance it's true: Highly likely

The engineering and software development challenges of actually pulling off something like the Apple Watch are, predictably, daunting. Other companies (*cough*Samsung*cough*Motorola*hackhackcough*) might be content to rush half-baked and semi-functional geek-focused junk to the market in a questionable attempt to be first(!), but that's not Apple's modus operandi. The Apple Watch will hit store shelves when Apple is satisfied that it not only doesn't suck, but that it's something that delivers on the company's legacy of quality products.

That's all a highfalutin way of saying it'll ship when it's ready, kids. Not a second earlier.