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Apple reportedly reduces iPad 2 production volume target
WIth an announcement of a second-generation iPad just around the corner, Digitimes is reporting that Apple's volume targets for the new device have been set lower. While both Apple and iPad manufacturer Foxconn are mum on the subject, Digitimes stated that the forecasted manufacturing run for the iPad 2 for the period ending March 31 is now set at about 300,000 - 400,000 units compared to earlier estimates that were in the range of 400,000 - 600,000 units. Some earlier rumors expressed concern over the ability of display suppliers to achieve the yield goals set by Apple, but Digitimes reports that since the company has three manufacturers to back up the supply of touch screen displays, that is not likely to cause delays in the shipment of the iPad 2. Digitimes also noted that most upstream component suppliers (the manufacturers of components used by Foxconn to assemble the iPad) have not received word of a reduction in the iPad production volume target, and that Apple has been reducing the production of the original iPad in anticipation of the newer model being produced. Should Apple's suppliers not be able to meet the production goals, there could be shortages of the new iPad 2 in the short run.
March 2 Apple event confirmed, revised iPad anticipated
The word has gone forth -- invitations to Apple's upcoming product briefing, first reported by Kara Swisher at AllThingsD, have begun to arrive in the mailboxes of Mac-centric press and pundits. All signs point to the introduction of the iPad 2 at the 10 AM (Pacific) event. Stay with TUAW between now and next Tuesday Wednesday for the latest! Below, the invite image (courtesy Engadget):
Apple's holding an iPad 2 event on March 2nd... we'll be there live!
Hey look at that! The rumors were true. Apple will be holding a media event on March 2nd... and Engadget will be there live covering the whole thing. As you can tell by the image above (sent with the invite), this is going to be all about tablets -- iPads, to be exact.
UK carriers discount iPads
Orange and T-Mobile in the UK slashed prices for iPad models with 3G connectivity to as low as GB£99 with a 24-month contract. In addition to boosting new business for these popular mobile carriers, the "limited time" offers appear to be a strategy for clearing inventory ahead of the highly anticipated launch of a next-generation device. New customers qualify for a £99 iPad by signing up for an Orange data plan priced at £27 per month. Meanwhile, existing Orange and T-Mobile customers qualify for the discount with iPad data service starting at £25 per month. The monthly fee provides iPad users in the UK with up to 1 GB of "anytime" mobile data. The current offer represents price cuts of at least £100. Previously, subsidized pricing for the iPad with 3G started at £199 for existing customers and £229 for new customers. A new 3G-enabled iPad without a carrier contract costs £541. It's unclear whether these popular UK carriers -- that provide mobile services to approximately 37 percent of the UK -- have been informed of Apple's plans for a new iPad or are simply making an educated guess about the device's immediate future. The iPad was originally announced over a year ago in January 2010, and it went on sale in April 2010. Much like its cousins in the iPod and iPhone families, the iPad is expected to follow an annual release cycle. Many expect the "iPad 2" to go on sale before the end of April 2011. [via iPad Watcher]
Rumors in Limericks: iPad 2 Media Event
The iPad 2 rumor du jour Says the invites will go out the door For Wednesday, March 2nd Media will be beckoned If true iPad 2, zut alors!
Apple holding iPad 2 event next week?
We're all hotly expecting new MacBook Pros on Thursday, but it sounds like Apple might have an even bigger announcement soon: Kara Swisher at All Things Digital says the iPad 2 will be revealed on March 2 in San Francisco. That lines up with some of the rumblings we've heard, but we haven't gotten an official invite yet, so things could change -- we'll let you know as soon as we hear anything definite.
Yuanta Securities analysts claim iPad 2 will be delayed until June (Updated)
The iPad 2 may be delayed due to "production bottlenecks" at manufacturing company Hon Hai Precision, parent company of Foxconn. This delay is partially the result of unspecified changes in the iPad 2 design made by Apple before the Lunar New Year on February 3, according to a report from Yuanta Securities analysts Vincent Chen and Alison Chen. "Our checks suggest new issues are being encountered with the new production and it is taking time to resolve them," writes Chen. "As a number of Android 3.0 tablets are being launched in April and May, the delay in iPad 2 shipments may give the Android camp a brief window of opportunity." A two month delay would push the iPad launch close to Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference and the expected launch date of the iPhone 5. It is possible that Apple could tie the announcement and launch of the two iOS devices together, but the retail debut of two extremely popular devices at the same would be a logistical nightmare. A delay would also cut into analyst's forecast of 30.6 million iPad shipments for 2011, a figure that could drop to 23 million following a delay. We should note this latest report contradicts previous rumors that suggest the iPad 2 has entered production and is on track for a March release. Both the Wall Street Journal and Japanese website MacOtakara claim to have sources that confirm the iPad 2 is rolling off Asian production lines. According to Bloomberg, an Apple representative in Hong Kong declined to comment on this delay, and Hon Hai spokesperson Edmund Ding was not reachable. Update: The Loop chimed in with a rebuttal that claims this rumor is absolutely not true. And AllThingsD also claim the iPad 2 will be introduced during a March 2 event.
WSJ: iPad 2 in production; to be offered through Verizon and AT&T
In what shouldn't be too much of a shock for anyone, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the next generation iPad is now in production, which would concur nicely with the rumors that the iPad 2 will be released in the next four to six weeks. The WSJ report doesn't offer a whole lot of details, but they cite their sources as saying that the new iPad will be thinner, lighter and will come with a faster processor, more memory, a more powerful graphics processor and a front-facing camera (no word on a rear-facing camera). However, the next iPad will not feature a higher resolution display. WSJ sources note that the new iPad's display will be "similar" to the current model. The Wall Street Journal also noted that the new iPad will be available through Verizon and AT&T stores, which is no surprise since both now offer the iPhone. However, the new device will not be available through Sprint or T-Mobile. The next generation iPad is widely expected to be unveiled by the end of February with a March shipping date.
WSJ: iPad 2 in production, features FaceTime camera, faster processor
Oh look, what's this? The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the iPad 2 has entered production -- which exactly lines up previously rumored manufacturing schedules. According to the WSJ, the new edition of Apple's tablet will have a faster processor with a better GPU and more memory in a thinner, lighter package. There's also said to be a front-facing camera for video conferencing, but the much-discussed display resolution will remain "similar" to the current iPad -- which actually goes along with the most recent information we've gotten from our sources, who say that the next iPad will indeed stay at the current resolution, and that the higher-res display we'd heard about earlier may have actually been for a future model. As for availability, the WSJ says the new iPad will be on Verizon and AT&T, which certainly makes sense -- although it'll be interesting to see how Verizon handles positioning it against the upcoming Xoom, which Motorola is marketing in an aggressively anti-iPad manner. In any event, between the iPad 2, the Xoom, and whatever Palm has to offer tomorrow, this spring is about to get very, very interesting.
Talkcast, 7PM PST/10PM EST: Verizon iPhones and The Daily
If it's Sunday night, it must be Talkcast time! Tonight's live show will likely include a sprinkling of Macworld chat, along with other newsy bits from the week. We had Verizon iPhones line up for pre-order, The Daily launch event and another wave of iPad 2 rumors. Also, don't forget that Kelly hosting equals aftershow! Your calls and questions help us make the show the best it can be, otherwise I'm just talking to myself. To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 pm EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (yay for free cell phone weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free Gizmo or X-Lite SIP clients; basic instructions are here. Talk to you tonight!
Rumor: iPad 2 announcement at end of February for March release
The iPad 2 rumor mill is in full production mode now, with the latest coming from Japanese Mac site MacOtakara. According to the translation (unfortunately from Google Translate and not our very own Japan-based Rick Martin), Apple is planning on a short event toward the end of February during which the features and release date of the new device are to be announced. Production of the new device is apparently on hold due to the Chinese New Year celebrations, which began on February 3 and should end the morning of February 17. The picture at right is from the site, although we have no idea if that's a touchscreen from an existing or future iPad. MacOtakara believes that the release will be made in March, although the exact timing and distribution (i.e., worldwide vs. US only) are uncertain. We don't know where the site got their information or if this is simply yet another case of wild speculation, so take this rumor with a great deal of skepticism. We are, however, seeing an increased number of reports of iPad 2 parts being shipped to repair depots, an iPad 2 prototype was apparently spotted this week at launch of The Daily, and unconfirmed rumors are saying that an iPad 2 ad was filmed in LA this week featuring a FaceTime call on the new camera-carrying tablet. [via MacRumors]
Asustek chairman has "secret weapon" to compete with iPad 2
The chairman of Eee PC netbook maker Asustek Computer Jonney Shih is claiming to have a "secret weapon" to help his company compete with the iPad 2 when it is released in a few months. As reported by PCWorld, Shih recently talked with IDG News Service about the future of Eee PC netbooks, but he played coy when asked if the secret weapon was a new kind of tablet computer, saying "I think it's best not to say now. You will have to wait until the launch." As recently as August 2010 it was reported that Asustek was selling fewer netbooks because of the success of the iPad, with only 14 percent of those shoppers interested in portable computing still considering a netbook over a tablet computer. With this in mind, Shih is going to need something special to keep up with the estimated 48 million iPads to be sold in 2011. Anyone care to chime in as to what the "secret weapon" may be? A nuclear-powered netbook? A tablet computer that doubles as a dinner plate? Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
ASUS chairman Jonney Shih promises 'secret weapon' to rival iPad 2, disses 3DTVs
Jonney Shih has never been one to back down from his stance on anything, and in a recent sit-down with IDG News Service, the ASUS chairman delivered quite a few nuggets worth poring over. For starters, he played up (and subsequently downplayed) a "secret weapon" that would likely rival the iPad 2, but wouldn't go so far as to confirm that said weapon would actually be a slate. His response to prying? "I think it's best not to say now. You will have to wait until the launch." He also noted that personal cloud computing was poised to boom, and didn't leave much hope for the likes of webOS and QNX -- he claims that there is only room for three OS camps to win, and those three slots are already occupied with Windows, Android and iOS. Finally, he took the opportunity to fling water on the 3DTV buzz, noting that he "doesn't think that will prevail." He did leave open the possibility for glasses-free options in handhelds to succeed, but beyond that, it's safe to say he's not much of a 3D advocate. Hit the source link for the full skinny, but don't go digging for any extra details on his iPad 2 killer -- something tells us you'll be sorely disappointed.
Reuters staffer spots iPad 2 at The Daily launch event
Imagine, if you will, a high-profile introduction for a major new media product on the iPad; major enough to merit attendance and brief remarks from Apple's Eddy Cue. Let's posit for a moment that the room is filled with professional journalists who make it their business to notice small details that might lead to interesting stories. Consider as well the possibility that some of the Apple team members in attendance might be carrying some product models that are ... unacknowledged, shall we say? Yes, the front runners for the 2011 Phone In A Bar Accidental Scoop Awards are the new team of Apple and Reuters. The party of the first part seems to have brought along an iPad with front-facing camera to today's launch event for The Daily, and a Reuters reporter saw the device in the wild. Reuters says "a source with knowledge of the device" confirmed that this was not a trick of the light, and that the real chips-and-salsa iPad 2s will indeed sport the camera along with other yet-to-be-confirmed features. Nice job, anonymous Reuters reporter. Good luck on the job market, Apple intern who was supposed to bring the gaffer's tape and cover the iPad cameras.
iPad 2 display leaked? (updated)
Do you believe what you're seeing? 9to5Mac along with iFixYouri repair say they've got the new iPad 2 display. Better yet, they've got the purported part number: LP097X02-SLN1, compared to the original iPad's LP097X02-SLA3 display. It's said to be lighter and more than 1-mm thinner than the original while featuring a thinner bezel as well -- right, just as the rumors and our own sources have said. Such a display would also enable some tapering of the edges in line with those milled aluminum dummies we've seen. The big mystery is still the resolution. A 9to5Mac commenter claims to have deciphered the part number to reveal its LG Phillips 9.7-inch XGA 1024 x 768 H-IPS display origins (same resolution as the current iPad, if true). Unfortunately, we have no way to confirm this. One more pic of the part number details after the break.Update: 9to5Mac posted a few new details. First, it says that the new display is 10 grams lighter. Fine. It then adds cheekily, "Oh, if we told you that the dots on the display matched up with the current display, would you be upset?" Well, would you?
Keep your iPad 2 display hopes reasonable
The iPad 2 will not have a "Retina Display." That's the realization that most people have been coming to for some time now. Not long after the iPhone 4 came out, I read an article that mentioned the very significant challenges in bringing such a high resolution screen to a display the size of the iPad's. John Paczkowski over at AllThingsD cites a report originally from AppleInsider suggesting the iPad 2 "will feature the same 1024×768 resolution display as its predecessor." That really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, but I foresee many a blogger and pundit "dinging" the iPad 2 for not having a Retina Display when it comes out. Not because they've done the math and realize how difficult it would be, but because criticizing Apple gets more pageviews. Let me quote my friend and colleague Richard Gaywood from that above article and remind us all that "it's important to stress that these are only rumors and that 2048x1536 is an incredible number of pixels -- 3,145,728 of them, in fact. That's only 17 percent less than the 27" iMac or 27" Cinema Display, and it's 52 percent more pixels than a 50" 1080p television screen!" I recently started using a Retina Display iPod touch, and yes, I do notice the iPad's screen a bit more, but not nearly enough to keep me from using it, and only when I first switch from one device to the other. It's not as if the iPad has a bad screen. If Apple hadn't come out with the Retina Display, I doubt most people would be clamoring for a big change on the iPad at all. The rest of the improvements will be modest but not unimportant, including a faster processor and more RAM (512 instead of the current 256). There are expected to be modest cameras front and back, rumored to be only 0.3 megapixels in the front and 1 megapixel in the back. These camera aren't for heavy lifting, they're mostly for FaceTime. Paczkowski calls these changes "evolutionary" as opposed to "revolutionary," and he's right -- then again, the iPad 1 is still miles ahead of anything else that has actually shipped. Apple is unlikely to do anything in the next version of any device that weakens the battery life statistics when compared to the previous device. Perhaps we'll see a Retina Display in the iPad 3, but quite honestly, I'd gladly take a bit more RAM and a bit more battery life, and -- sure, throw in those two "better than nothing" cameras too -- I'd still think the iPad 2 is going to be a huge continued success. Many people who bought version 1 will upgrade. Many who held off because they didn't want to buy a "1.0" device will take the plunge. Expect waiting lines on opening day.
Apple job posts point to built-in NFC capabilities for iPad / iPhone
Ladies and gentlemen of the, ahem, jury, we intend to show -- through rumors and circumstantial evidence -- that Apple might very well be building Nexus S-like NFC capabilities into next-generation iPhones and iPads. We present for your consideration exhibits A, B, and C: three Apple job posts, seeking two managers of global payment platforms and one test engineer for iPhone hardware. According to the original post, the right engineer possesses a background in both ICT (information and communication technology) and RFID (radio frequency identification), which forms the basis for NFC. Suspiciously, Apple removed the "ID" in "RFID" sometime in the past 24 hours. Still not convinced of Apple's NFC involvement? Consider this: Apple's manager of global payment platforms is tasked with contributing "to the analysis and development of new payment types and processes." Okay, so there's not a smoking gun in sight, but a little innocent conjecture never hurt anybody.
iPhone 5 and iPad 2 will come with NFC built in, suggests well-connected analyst
You'll no doubt be aware of our (well justified) distrust for anything that passes a tech analyst's lips, but this time's a little different. Richard Doherty of Envisioneering Group cites "engineers who are working on hardware" for Apple's latest project in asserting what that project actually is: NFC capabilities are apparently being built into the next generation of iPhone and iPad devices. Contactless payments via NFC have been steadily building up in hype and adoption recently -- at least in the western hemisphere, the stuff is commonplace in Japan -- and Doherty predicts Apple will make its move into the field with some new hardware and an accompanying "revamp" of iTunes. The idea would be to allow the use of iTunes gift card balances and the credit card info Apple already has from you to make swiping payments at compatible retail outlets. Apple is said to be planning enticements, like loyalty credits and points, to get you using its service in the place of the competition, and there are already a couple of software patent applications from the company detailing other potential uses for the technology. All of which could mean absolutely nothing, of course, but this seems like an awful lot of smoke for there not to be a fire under it.
iPad high resolution display rumored for third generation
According to IDC research manager Tom Mainelli, the iPad 3 and not the iPad 2 will be the lucky recipient of a high-resolution display. Previous rumors have repeatedly suggested that the iPad 2 will sport a high-resolution "Retina" display. Most of these rumors came from Asian sources and were cautiously repeated with skepticism that Apple could pack a Retina Display into the iPad 2 and keep the price competitive. Mainelli bucks this trend by asserting that it is production and not cost that is the limiting factor for a 10-inch high-resolution display. The technology exists and is reasonably priced, but there are no production facilities capable of producing a Retina Display at the volume Apple will need for the iPad 2. Apple sold over 7 million iPads in its last quarter, and these numbers are expected to skyrocket in the upcoming year. Rather than experience lagging sales due to component shortages. Apple may have opted to push off the high-resolution display and manufacture the iPad 2 with a standard resolution display. Apple is reportedly prepping manufacturers for the iPad 3, giving them time to ramp up their display production capabilities for the third generation tablet. If this analysis by Mainelli pans out and the iPad 2 does ship with a standard display, will you be disappointed? Disappointed to the point that you bypass the iPad 2 and wait for the iPad 3? Let us know in the comments.
Apple's iPad strategy: Cutting off competitors, or just learning their lesson?
Falling into the "no, duh" category, Business Insider, citing a 9to5 Mac article, says that the main reason the forthcoming iPad 2 will undercut the emerging plethora of Android-powered tablets is because Apple has already cornered the market on manufacturers and has enlisted more to produce the tablet. The number of PCB suppliers, according to reports, has risen from three to seven. Business Insider points out that Apple did the same thing with the iPod just a few years ago, making it harder for competitors to get their hands on supplies. Apple does learn its lesson when it comes to supply and demand. It doesn't want to face a chronic shortage of iPad 2 when they do come out -- not only will they have the early adopters wanting to trade up to a version with a camera, but they also have the first-generation holdouts waiting for the rumored features. I'm sure that Steve Jobs was not happy with the length of time it took new users to even get their hands on an iPad after the initial run, not to mention a basic case and the iPad Camera Connection Kit. As with the iPod and iPhone, the company has learned to anticipate demand. There will also be companies out there willing to produce parts for Android-powered tablets, and have probably anticipated the growing demand as well. Just as Apple has learned from itself, its competitors are learning from Apple, too.
