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Rumor Roundup: Screaming from the digital rooftops

chris rawson
Updated ·3 min read
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Apple Watch's advanced AMOLED display far more costly than traditional screens - report

(AppleInsider)

Source: Some market research firm

Chance it's true: 30 percent. Probably.

I don't know where these guys got the idea that Apple is using a plastic AMOLED display in the Apple Watch. Apple hasn't even officially announced the device's display resolution, much less any of the specific technology underlying that display. This "report" is therefore entirely speculative tosh from a source that has been wrong far more often than it's been right.

Apple rumored to launch 27" iMac with 5K Retina display at October media event (AppleInsider)

Source: "People familiar with the matter"

Chance it's true: 50/50

This report is extremely specific in its details, so we shall see. However, we are approaching (possibly exceeding) two years of rumors about Retina displays for iMacs with no payoff yet, so I'm pessimistic enough about the truthiness of this rumor that I'll be pleasantly surprised if it turns out to be correct.

Apple developing iOS 8.1, 8.2, & 8.3 in shift for 2015 launches (9to5 Mac)

Source: "People familiar with the matter" plus reading way too much into things

Chance it's true: Who knows.

It doesn't make much sense to me for Apple to be testing multiple in-house alpha-dot versions of its OS at once, but I can extrapolate some reasons why Apple might choose to go that route. What's most entertaining about this piece is watching 9to5 Mac flail blindly about trying to come up with its own rationalization. They throw out so many possibilities that if even one of them turns out to be correct, you can count on them screaming it from the digital rooftops for all to hear and admire.

Test code hints at future iPads with Touch ID and Apple Pay (Engadget)

Source: Deep dive into iOS code

Chance it's true: 100 percent

A couple weeks ago, I read speculation on Twitter that the next iPads might have integrated NFC that would allow them to act as payment terminals for retailers, the perfect companions to the iPhone 6 and 6 plus, and an alternative to third-party NFC terminals. If Apple does something like this, it'll be the genius move to end all genius moves.

I've witnessed plenty of retailers using iPads as their cash register interface already, and throwing NFC into the mix could easily make the iPad the device of choice for small to medium-sized retailers all over the world.

Upcoming gigantic 'iPad Pro' will reportedly get displays from Apple's biggest rival (BGR)

Source: Digitimes

Chance it's true: None

Digitimes has a whopping zero percent accuracy record so far this year. They are the laughingstock of the tech world - as is anyone who continues to take their nonsense seriously.

Apple Watch production reportedly starting sooner than you might think (BGR)

Source: Taiwanese website

Chance it's true: 30 percent

Count on absolutely everyone playing the Apple Watch Launch Date Bingo guessing game for the next three months. At least.

Bloomberg corroborates reports of gold iPad coming with next hardware revision (9to5 Mac)

Source: "People familiar with the matter"

Chance it's true: Who knows

Show me a single iPad shell with gold coloring - and mockups don't count - and I might take this rumor at face value.

Piper Jaffray advises 'conservative expectations' for Apple Watch, predicts first-year sales of 10M (AppleInsider)

Source: Some analyst

Chance it's true: Zero

Although analyst Gene Munster is best known for his years-long, Quixotic insistence that Apple is going to release an HDTV any day now, his real talent lies in making very specific predictions of Apple's sales numbers and then missing those predictions to the tune of millions of units.