If SamMobile’s tip is to be believed, Samsung is readying a 10.5 inch tablet ( SM-T800) to take on the large screen tablet war that is going to break out soon, with Google launching its new Nexus 10.1 , along with Apple getting geared with a 12 inch iPad, with its already launched 10 inch version in the market.
The tablet by Samsung will be powered by a quad core Snapdragon processor, and will have 2 GB RAM, along with 16, 32 and 64 GB storage variants. It will run Android 4.4.2 , and will sport a 8 MP rear and 2 MP front camera , microSD slot and a 7900 mAh battery. The tablet according to the spec sheet was a WiFi only model, though we can expect cellular variants as well.The tablet’s will boast a 2K Super AMOLED display, that is, 2560 X 1440 resolution, which is surely better than the iPad’s 2056 X 1536 resolution.
According to Digitimes site, the ASUS made next gen Google Nexus 7 will be released next month, this is based on their 'supply chain' sources, which though not so reliable, but still is information at least. As we reported earlier, the rumors here also report the Nexus 7.2 having an HD 1920 x 1200 screen and powered by Snapdragon 600 Processor.
Not much of information here, but stay tuned as we update you about the latest we find about the Google Nexus 7.2
Apart from the rhyming title (excuse my poetic flare) , this is some real good news for those who have been waiting impatiently for the Nexus 7 upgrade, which would allow them to boast of the latest specs at a price which won’t really hurt their pockets. If a recent Federal Communication Commission filing is to be taken as good enough proof, we have quite a lot of info about the 2nd gen Nexus 7, which is rumored to have been built by ASUS again. But of course this is just rumors, but rumors with some solid base no doubt.
With a Full HD 1080p display, the Nexus 7.2, as it is being called, has almost been made better in all aspects. A higher 2 GB RAM, 5 MP rear and a new 1.3MP camera in front, makes it able to compete with the competition well enough, and helps cover up for many a disappointments the predecessor caused. Also significant is the switch of the processor, from Nvidia Tegra 3 to the Snapdragon S4 Pro this time, although there is no intel about the clock speed, which can be expected to be decent enough, my guess being around 1.5 GHz. Some more pride inducing features are the NFC and LTE support. And as was obvious, the device will come out of the box with the latest Android version, the Android 4.3.
Earlier speculated to be released in April (which as we know has not happened , unless Google has a time machine now), the Nexus 7 upgrade is now set to release in July (hope they make it this time). But no doubt a happy package this one will be, just keeping our eyes open for the price, AND for Indian consumers, the Rupee-Dollar conversion rate, which is touching new depths recently, making many a devices inch slowly out of the reach. *sigh*
ASUS , the manufacturer of the Nexus 7 tablet and Transformer series, has yet to get its due in the tablet world, which is dominated by players like samsung and Apple. And its ready to make the competitors feel the heat, as it starts off at the Computex by unveiling 3 Tablets - The all new Transformer Pad Infinity, Fonepad Note FHD 6 and MemoPad HD7 , all of which look super promising in their respective categories.
First is the Transformer Pad Infinity, the upgrade to the similarly named tablet , and just like the Transformer series, comes with a dockable keyboard to make it work as a laptop as well. It is one of the first tablets to be powered by the new Nvidia Tegra 4 processor , clocked at a cool 1.9 GHz. Moreover, the 10.1 touchscreen boasts an enviable resolution of 2560 X 1600. The tablet comes with 2GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage , along with microSD expansion. It has a 5MP rear and a 1.2 MP front camera, and supports WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0
The second device, THe Fonepad Note FHD 6 is another member of the giant sized Fonepad series, but this time its target is the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The Fonepad Note is a whopping 6 inch monster , with a Super IPS+ display at 1920 X 1080 resolution ,with a 367 ppi density. To take on the Galaxy Note series, it is powered by 1.6 GHz dual core Intel Atom processor, which though currently cannot be compared with the Note II's processor, which incidentally is Quad Cored. The super phablet has 2GB RAM, though disappointingly has Android 4.0 OS. It sports a 8MP rear and a 1.2 MP front shooter. As the name suggests, the device supports stylus input, and the device as well as the stylus resemble the Galaxy Note II's set a lot.
The third launch was of the upgrade to the budget tablet MemoPad , named MemoPad HD7, which has a 7 inch IPS HD display with a 1280 X 720 resolution. Powered by a quad core Cortex A7 processor , it has 5 and 1.2 MP cameras, along with supporting Bluetooth 3.0. It comes in 2 variants of internal storage - 8GB ($129) and 16GB ($149).
Though pricing of the first 2 tablets , as well as the availability and launch dates of all tablets are unknown, these tablets can be expected to make much more than a ripple if decently marketed and priced.
There was an interesting fact about the windows 8 powered Microsoft Surface Pro tablet, that the 64GB version actually offers only 28GB of usable storage space, after taking into count the space pre-booked for the OS and its updates. Combined with the fact that the tablet does not have a microSD slot, this was one of the super criticized points. And it seems Microsoft has learned something from the mistake, and have launched a 256GB storage space containing Surface Pro, in Japan. Incidentally, this tablet is a replacement for the 64GB model, as the latter was not launched there at all.
The 256GB Surface Pro costs around $1175 , converting from its cost in yen (119,800 yen), and will be available with exclusive Touch covers when it gets into the market on June 7. A 128GB model will also be available. To remind our readers, the Surface Pro is an Intel Core i5 processor powered, tablet, which doubles up as a laptop with a dockable keyboard. The multi touch screen also supports stylus, the same type as the S Pen in case of Samsung Note series of devices.
Although launched in Japan, there is no official word as to the availability of the 256GB version in other parts of the world, as to which we will constantly keep you updated.
Samsung seems intent on creating 8 inch tablets , first the Galaxy Note 8.0 , and now the Galaxy Tab 3 , which is going to be an 8 inch device as well. This is what a insider source told SamMobile , also stating that the Tab 3 won't be supporting 4G LTE and would be seen in Wifi (SM T3110) and 3G + Wifi (SM T31000) models only. Set to release in June, it is supposed to be a direct competitor of the IPad mini and perhaps the Acer iconia A1 -810 . Price is something that we hope will be competitive as well , as we really got one big shock seeing a $520 price tag on the Wifi only model of the Note 8.0!!! That is FAR from an IPad mini competitor for sure, but thats how things are. Lets hope for the best, that includes some gr8 specs as well. ;)
HTC is rethinking to re-enter the tablet market again, as far as NPD DisplaySearch, a consulting firm says, with a 10.1 inch full HD screen , windows 8 powered tablet in the pipeline, though no official confirmation from HTC or Microsoft has been made as yet. Clearly, HTC is on a high with the rave reviews of its latest smartphone, the HTC One , and though they had a dismal start in 2011 with the Flyer and Jetstream tablets (never heard of 'em?) which failed to do anything impressive, HTC knows it can get some share of the market pie that has been snatched off the goliath Apple in the tablet scene.And with HTC's innovative camera and design, plus the safe expectation of something as superb as the One really promises some action from HTC this year for sure. So HTC is one more name to look out for in tablet domains now. Stay with us for more updates about this and more upcoming devices
Archos, a name that is less known to most tablet consumers, or would-be consumers, mainly coz of the domination of names like Apple, Samsung, Asus, etc. But those who know it know that the french manufacturer is one name that assures you decent tablets at a price that fits many a budget. And they are here with yet another series, the Archos Platinum- 80, 97 HD and 116, a series that makes you fill with nostalgia for the Titanium series, due to the huge similarities in design, though Platinum is a sure shot upgrade, with quad core processors and higher RAM.
The first thing you realize when you see them is there 'striking' resemblence with IPads, and thats what they have. Archos 80 has the same 8.0 inch 1024 x 768 display as the IPad mini , while the 97 HD tab has the same 9.7 inch 2048 x 1536 4:3 IPS display as the IPad . Though the Archos 116 is surely a step ahead, with 11.6 inch IPS display. And of course Archos doesnt price these tabs as exorbitantly as Apple. Talking bout what's inside, all three tabs are powered by 1.2 GHz quad core processors , with a 8 cored graphics processr, 2 gigs of RAM , and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Another upgrade is the fact that unlike previous Archos tablets, these have all the standard google apps inbuilt.
And as their reputation is , the pricing is not gonna hurt any pockets a lot, with the 80 platinum costing $199, 87 HD priced at $299, to be shipped later this month. Archos 116 , set at a price of $349 will be launched in April though. What we need to wait for is the reviews of these tablets, as Archos has a tendency to get some kind of glitch in their tabs each time, be it the display angle or sometimes software woes. Lets see though, and be hopeful for the best. :D
According to the latest news, as circulated by Bluetooth SIG , Samsung will be launching the Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet in 3 variants - Wifi only (GT N5100), 3G + WiFi (GT N5110) and Wifi + 3G + 4G (GT N5105, and are said to be made available in Europe first. Expected to be launched at the MWC 2013, it is said to support an 8 inch 1280 X 800 resolution screen , powered by a quad core processor and 2 GB RAM , sporting Android Jelly Bean , and having a 5 MP camera. And of course as the name indicates, the characteristic S Pen stylus of the Note series tabs and smartphones.
But thats not all. It is also being rumoured that Samsung is also going to launch Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 , suggested by the 3 new user agent profiles for tablets at samsung's site . Out of them , the entry level tablet is said to be a 7 inch competitor for Google Nexus and Kindle fire HD, with a 1024 x 600 resolution.
Then there is a 8 inch tab to compete against even their own Note 8.0, along with the 7.9 inch Ipad mini. And then there is a 10 inch tablet , to compete against the Google Nexus 10 , though more info about them is yet to be announced, maybe at MWC. Keep with our blog to stay connected with the latest
Breaking the usual launch cycle, Apple launched Ipad mini and 4th gen IPad last October, and are gearing for the next installment in the series this October.
According to iLounge (with a history of accurate IPad leaks) , the IPad 5 will be launched this October, shedding some of its weight and width in terms of bezel, keeping the screen same sized, but decreasing the device's size as a whole (At last , some difference to give bragging rights about at first sight!). Moreover, it will have the new IGZO display, that means thinner and more power efficient device - so one may expect better battery life. On the other hand, the I Pad mini will be the same designed, except having a retina display.
Also, some rumours about IPhone 5S were around, regarding the usual internal upgrades to a faster processor, along with a 13MP sony made camera sensor, and a larger rear flash . Also , the budget IPhone with a plastic body, for chinese markets is rumoured, though official confirmations can only be at the hands of Tim Cook.
Galaxy smartphone series took the world by a storm, unlike their tablet counterparts. But Samsung wants to change it, with a IPad mini counterpart in the Note series, focusing on the budget tab market.
According to SamMobile, Samsung will reveal the Galaxy Note 8.0 at the Mobile World Congress next month. Rumored to have a 8 inch 1280 x 800 resolution display (better than the 7 inch 1024 x 768 resolution IPad mini display). No word on the processor, but it's said to have a 2 GB RAM, 5 MP rear camera, 1.3 MP front camera,16 GB or 32 GB internal memory variants, expandable with microSD cards, and will come in 3G and WiFi only options. And the Note nomenclature suggests the stylus input availability in the tab as well.
There is no word on pricing either, but seeing the mid level specs, and the fact that Samsung has been pricing its tablets comparable to IPad, so one can expect it to be around or less than the US$330 price tag of the IPad mini.
Panasonic did make some noise with their massive 20 inch 4K tablet, and continued on it to extend their Toughbook line, with the new Windows 8.
A pretty impressive spec view, with Windows 8 Pro, 3rd generation intel Core i5 3437U vPro processor, 128-256 GB SSD, 4-8 gigs of RAM, and a 10.1 inch touchscreen, along with USB 3.0, WiFi, faster Bluetooth 4.0 and option to add cellular data make it a pretty alluring tablet, not forgetting the super durability, characteristic of the Toughbook series . It is priced at a pretty sharp high level, at US$2,900.
A cheaper (relatively) version, powered by Android will also be available, at a price tag of US$1,300. It will run on Android ICS, powered by a TI OMAP4460 1.5 GHz dual core processor, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB internal memory, expendable with microSD cards. Yeah it is pretty expensive, with not so justifiable specs, but after all, durability has its price.
Both the versions pass the MIL-STD-810G test for 4 foot drops, fluid ingress and temperature. FYI, this is the same test used by the US dept of defense, with Panasonic hoping to cover at least 50% of the toughpad market, though price to spec ratio does make things look a bit difficult for this new Toughbook.
At CES 2012
show, the show was dominated by Windows 8 Ultrabooks, 3D OLED TVs,
Android tablets, 4G LTE and quad-core processors. A year on, things have
changed. Here's our pick of the best gadgets and tech of CES 2013.
1. Nvidia's Project Shield
Like a gamepad glued to a tablet, but in a good wayCES occasionally surprises you and Nvidia's planned entry into mobile gaming with Project Shield
has certainly raised a few (thousand) eyebrows. At first glance, it
looks suspiciously like a PC gamepad glued to a 5-inch smartphone. But
that's exactly what makes it so exciting.
This device runs the
Android OS and so it can access any game on the Google Play store.
Better still, it can stream games from any PC equipped with Nvidia's
GeForce GTX 650 or from a laptop packing a GTX 660M GPU. The multi-touch
display boasts an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, while inside
beats the 72-core heart of a new Tegra 4 SoC, which is six times
speedier than the excellent Tegra 3.
2. Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
Qualcomm's new processor has biteAnd
while we're talking mobile processors, Nvidia's Tegra 4 isn't the only
new chip on the block. Samsung pointed us at its forthcoming 8-core Exynos 5 Octa, featuring the ARM A-15; while Intel introduced Bay Trail, its next-generation, 22nm quad-core Atom tablet platform. Not to be outdone, Qualcomm unveiled its 4K-capable Snapdragon 800
chips, which feature a quartet of Krait 400 cores and an improved
Adreno 330 GPU. Thinking about buying a new phone or a tablet? We'd wait
a while if we were you.
3. Sony Xperia Z
With the Xperia Z, Sony have a serious smartphone challengerWhile
most mobile manufacturers save their big smartphone launches for Mobile
World Congress in February, Alcatel outed the 6.45mm-thick One Touch Idol Ultra, ZTE unveiled the Grand S and Huawei debuted its first Windows handset, the Ascend W1. All good phones. But not a patch on the waterproof Sony Xperia Z, which features a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm APQ8064 processor, a 5-inch 1080 x 1920 pixel Reality Display and a 13MP camera.
4. Samsung Youm
It's your new flexible friend (credit: Engadget)When
Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, its icon-based OS and 3.5-inch
touchscreen revolutionised the smartphone. Five years on, we're still
waiting for the next big leap forward in mobile design. Perhaps the Samsung Youm
will enable the phones of 2014-2015 to make another leap. This OLED
display uses thin plastic instead of glass, making the screen pliable,
bendable and almost unbreakable.
5. Panasonic 56-inch 4K OLED TV
It's big and it's beautiful, a bit like whaleIf
last year's CES was all about 3D OLED, then CES 2013 is a showcase for a
new televisual fad - 4K, aka Ultra HD. Both Sony and Panasonic plugged
in beautiful 56-inch prototypes, each laying claim to the title of "world's largest 4K OLED TV".
If we had to choose a winner, we'd opt for Panasonic's stunning 3840 x
2160 pixel set. It's barely a half-inch thick, created with a special 3D
printing technology that might finally enable the mass production of
OLED TVs for sale, not just demo purposes.
6. Valve Steam Box
Steam box has the potential to upend console gamingJust
as Nvidia hopes to disrupt portable gaming with Project Shield, Valve
has ambitious plans to grab a fat slice of the console pie with a Steam
Box. The Piston
concept from Xi3 shows just what Valve has in mind - a small, quiet,
Linux-based system that plugs into your high-def telly and plays PC
titles via the Steam network. It's important to point out that this
dinky Piston box isn't Valve's official hardware. That's still in the
works.
7. FitBit Flex
The FitBit Flex will watch you even when you're asleepWearable
fitness technology isn't a new concept - you can already buy activity
trackers such as the Jawbone Up and the Nike FuelBand. The FitBit Flex
is the latest addition, a colourful wristband that monitors how many
steps you've taken, the distance you've travelled, calories burned and
your quality of sleep. Expect to see a surge in health and fitness gadgets this year, including smart watches and sensor/phone app systems.
8. Pebble Smartwatch
A kickstarter come goodVapourware? Far from it. Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky used CES to announce that the Pebble Smartwatch will be shipping to Kickstarter backers on January 23.
9. Oculus Rift
Bring the game right to your face...Remember virtual reality? Strap the chunky Oculus Rift
to your face and you can get up close and personal with two 640 x 800
LCDs, which combine into a high-def 1280 x 800 pixel display. It looks a
lot like Nintendo's ill-fated Virtual Boy and brings back hazy memories
of the 1990s, when VR gaming was an oddity, ultimately abandoned
because of poor graphics, expensive hardware and joy-destroying lag. The
Oculus Rift spearheads the rebirth of an old and enticing technology.
And it seems to work...
10. Panasonic 4K tablet
Not for the likes of us, but pretty as anythingBucking the trend for compact 7-inch tablets like the Nexus 7 and iPad mini, Panasonic's prototype Windows 8 tablet
boasts a 20-inch, 4K Ultra HD display with 10-point multi-touch. The
good news? Thanks to a specification that includes a 1.8GHz Intel i5
3427U vPro processor, 4GB of RAM and Nvidia GeForce graphics,
performance is zippier than many Windows tablets. The bad news? It
weighs 2.5Kg, has a two-hour battery life and probably won't be aimed at
consumers like us. Still, we can dream.
So what can we take away from this year's show?
4K is the new 3D
Better phones will be launched at Mobile World Congress
New mobile processors will lead to super-smartphones
You'll soon be wearing (or using) a digital health gadget
Virtual reality is back, baby
Portable gaming is poised for a revolution
Valve's Steam Box will challenge next-gen consoles
Panasonic made a mark at CES 2013 with its stunning 4K IPS - Alpha display 20 inch Windows 8 based tablet. Gaining lot of attention, it has a wide viewing angle, and some great specs too.
With 3840 x 2560 resolution, and 15:10 aspect ratio, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, Windows 8 Pro, and including Adobe Photoshop Touch, complimented by the ultra responsive screen and the digital pen bundled with it, it surely is turning heads. At 2.4 Kilos, which is heavy i know, it is still the lightest and thinnest in large screen tabs category.The battery is quite horrifying no doubt. Price, or as a matter of fact, even official specs haven't been announced, but the samples at CES have the following specs
20 inch IPS - alpha display
3840x2560 (230 ppi) resolution
15:10 aspect ratio
Windows 8 Pro OS
Intel Core i5 3427U vPro 1.8 GHz CPU
NVidia GeForce graphics
4GB memory (max 16 GB)
128 GB SSD Storage
High resolution Anoto live pen
USB 2.0 x1
micro SDXC card x 1
Embedded HD camera, front
2 hours battery life
18.7
Nvidia has been a player in GPU's and now mobile CPU's for long now, with Tegra 2 launched for dual core , Tegra 3 for quad core smartphone and tablets! And now, they are back with their latest addition to this series, the Nvida Tegra 4
Codenamed "Wayne" , it contains 72 custom Geforce GPU cores. For those who don't know about Tegra 3, this is 6 times the amount in Tegra 3. So you can be ready to see some super stunning visuals and exceptional gaming experience in future devices. The CPU is first Quad Core application of ARM's most advanced Cortex A15 architecture, and can be clocked as high as 1.9 GHz. It also has an upgraded version of Tegra 3's 5th companion core, which as earlier, is invisible to OS, and works to save power
Apart from NVidia's own Project Shield, more devices are expected to be seen in the Mobile World Congress later this year, with this processor.
Archos comesup with yet another unique product with a device to turn any HDTV into an Android powered HDTV, called the TV Connect.
Not the first android powering device, giving the users the ability to play games, video chat, surf the web, stream videos and all, but what's cool about it is that it comes with a TV Touch remote, which as you can see, sports quite some buttons there, doubling as a keyboard, and gamepad.
The analod buttons provide "multi touch" controls like swipe and pinch & zoom. Users can also "touch" their TV by pointing the remote with the "Pointing Wand" feature. All these are complimenting the fact that this device runs not on Google TV OS, but on the latest Android Jelly Bean!!!
Though it requires a bit of use of the game mapping tool to play games, and may seem a bit cumbersome, but the hardware makes up for it. Having a 1.5 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, 8 gigs of onboard memory, expandable to 32GB with micro SDHC slot, built in WiFi, micro USB, USB host port(for external HDD's), Ethernet port, mini HDMI port,and HDMI cable, along with access to Google Play , does help attracting attention.Measuring 235 x 105 x 34 , it can be made to sit above or below the TV. It also has an integrated HD webcam. ARCHOS will demonstrate it at CES 2013, and is releasing it in february, at a price of $129.99.
Everyone hates scratches on the screen, no matter what hell the rest of the body may be subjected to.And Corning has with its Gorilla Glass series served well to protect that dear "little" part. (Although I see paranoid people still getting protectors for their screens) Well Corning is back , showing the 3rd addition to its series, the Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which will be officially unveiled at CES 2013, although they have already made a press release as well (in which they announce the release of optical cables as well).
The company claims that the screen has been made stronger at the molecular level, adding a feature they call :"Native Damage Resistance"(NDR). Whatever that fancy term may be at the manufacturing side, it is claimed to be 40% less likely to get visible scratches, 50% better at retaining its strength after being flawed, and 3 times stronger than the Corning Gorilla Glass 2, which was only thinner than the 1st of them all.
With it being showcased the coming 6th January, we could see the much awaited devices of 2013 (Namely Apple IPhone , Ipad , Samsung Galaxy devices, and other tablets as well). Though not unbreakable, but surely Corning is heading in that direction.
The zSpace 3-D display implements motion parallax by tracking
the user's head movements to achieve a new level of realism (Image:
Infinite Z)
A new interactive 3-D display developed by Californian startup Infinite Z
can track hand and eye movements in real time to let users manipulate
virtual objects in three dimensions in a highly intuitive way. The
zSpace display could bring a new level of realism to computer-aided
design, virtual reality simulations, and even gaming.
This is a major upping of 3D viewing , as the current 3D screens only simulate binocular parallax, i.e the variation of an image seen from both eyes due to distance between them, and the consequent correction by our brain. Those screens did not simulate motion parallax though, the depth cue by which we get a different point of view whenever we move our head with respect to an object.
In this screen, Infinite Z have embedded infrared markers into the companion glasses , allowing position of head to be tracked, and adjustment of image to occur (remember the cool see through screen used by Ethen Hunt in MI4, using a IR camera to track the security gaurd's eyes ??) The result is when wearing the glasses, the viewer is presented with a
much more intuitive experience in which virtual objects can be viewed
from different perspectives as their point of view changes.
Along with the eyes, it also tracks motion of the stylus, to create a realistic 3D interation. This, as it is called, Virtual Holographic 3D technology , which currently costs a pretty pinching $3,995 , will surely revolutionize the fields of virtual reality, 3D viewing and gaming as its price decreases in the future.Though, if you're a software developer who would like to create software
that works with the display, however, the good news is that you can get
your hands on one for considerably less – just $1,500.
The video below from Infinite Z showcases the zSpace display technology.
Asus may be gearing up to release an 18 inch tablet in 2013, according to the Communication Commission, the size being guessed from the P1801 model name, as details are not so freely distributed.Engadget speculated the P1801-T may be the finalized version of Asus' Transformer AiO, which debuted at Computex back in June 2012, and hasn't been seen since. The transformer AiO was a desktop PC + a massive tablet, with the screen removable from a dock, and offering Android (4.0 back then) in tablet mode, and windows (7 back then) in PC mode, though I hope they will change it to the latest Jelly Bean+ and Windows 8. As if the FCC filing wasn't enough indication of the mysterious tablet's existence, GLBenchmark also debuted some specs for a P1801 device.According to this, it will run Android 4.1.1, cortex A9 processor and a scree of resolution 1920 x 1032, though no more info is avalaible as to the interchange of the operating systems. Though with CES 2013 starting on Jan 6th, we dont need to wait much to get all doubts cleared over this mystery tab. Source: Endgadget via techradar
Apple's meticulous regularity regarding release schedules was thrown to the wind during 2012, most notably with theiPad 4 following the iPad 3 after only six months. Also, we were a year ago totally wrong about the iPod Classicfinally bowing out - it's still on sale.
Still, we are heroically soldiering on regardless, with a list of 'Apple in 2013' predictions. They perhaps aren't as bonkers as some of those you'll find elsewhere on the web, but they are therefore probably more likely to come to pass!
1. An early iPhone 5S
You'd be crazy to think Apple wouldn't update the iPhone in 2013, given that it's responsible for much of the company's revenue. Judging by iPhone release patterns to date, it's likely to be a smaller bump this time round: aniPhone 5S, perhaps, with incremental improvements to speed, battery life and the camera. What's less certain is when it'll appear. With the recent autumn event suggesting a new iPad next October or perhaps every six months, the next iPhone might well arrive in the spring.
2. Apple TV or Apple iTV
Tim Cook recently referred to TV as "an area of intense interest" for Apple, adding: "When I go into my living room and turn on the TV, I feel like I have gone backwards in time by 20 to 30 years." So obviously this means a literalApple iTV, right? Not necessarily. TVs aren't updated regularly, yet Apple likes to refresh hardware often. Smart money is instead on the existing Apple TV box in 2013 becoming more than a mere hobby, and disruption coming from further integration with iOS devices, bespoke Apple TV apps, and an iTunes Match-style service for video, along with other deals with broadcasters and TV companies.
2013's Apple TV will be this same Apple TV, but with apps and more services
3. Something for the pros
We last year predicted the last ever Mac Pro would arrive in 2012. Instead, we got a half-hearted update and a promise from Tim Cook that the company was "working on something really great for later next year". Macs remain the minority of Apple's revenue, desktops are the minority of Mac sales, and Mac Pros sell in lower quantities than the iMac and Mac mini. Still,if Cook's true to his word, we will see a new Mac Pro next year - and we reckon that will be the last one Apple releases before it concentrates entirely on appliance computing.
In October, Apple fired Scott Forstall, and Sir Jony Ive, senior vice president of industrial design, was given the role of leading and directing all Apple's 'human interface', including software. We doubt we'll see a wholesale shift from overblown textures to sleek minimalism, but by the end of 2013, Ive will make his presence felt on OS X and iOS. We hope whatever the result it will at the least mean more usable Apple operating systems, and potentially more beautiful ones as well.
Apple to date has used plenty of textures in its apps — something Ive might soften now he's leading all of Apple's human interface
5. Innovation question marks
Apple's expected to revolutionise an industry about every eight seconds or tech pundits get all huffy. In reality, though, Apple has always been a company of iteration, only occasionally making breakthroughs: the Apple II (1977), the Mac (1984), the original iMac (1998), the iPod (2001), the iPhone (2007), and the iPad (2010).
Nonetheless, expect question marks to be raised during 2013 if Apple doesn't disrupt another market, regardless of how well its other devices are selling. Also expect people to remark a lot how the company's not the same now Steve Jobs isn't around, despite the company being a corporate-sized embodiment of the man.
6. Map attack
Having ditched Google Maps data, Apple rolled its own mapping solution foriOS 6. The results were problematic and error-strewn. Tim Cook apologised, Scott Forstall in part got the boot for the mess, and Apple doubled down, yet still didn't fix things fast enough for the Australian state of Victoria's police force, reportedly concerned about people becoming stranded. (That last story was a tad overblown, as it turns out, with only one person actually stranded. Still, it showcased the system's inability to make sensible assumptions when two places have similar names.)
Apple's pretty hopeless when it comes to online services, but maps are an area in which it cannot afford to fail, and so we've two predictions: first, Apple Maps will improve at a rate of knots; secondly, the service will be under close scrutiny, and so will ostensibly appear to remain broken but will in reality be less so as time moves on.
Apple Maps: not as good as it should have been. Expect that to change in 2013
7. Super Siri
Siri arrived on more devices through iOS 6 and also learned some new tricks in 2012. Although it doesn't yet do everything people want, the voice-control system is a little more intelligent regarding finding information, and it can now launch apps. Apple needs to up its game to compete with the impressive Google voice search, though, and so 2013 will see major enhancements to Siri, primarily in terms of speed, but also regarding the information it can access. Also expect Apple to increasingly use Siri to circumvent the need to search online — much to the chagrin of Google.
8. Release cycle changes
For a time, Apple's release cycle was like clockwork, especially when it came to iOS: new iPads in the spring and an iPhone in late summer. The iPad 4 changed all that, arriving a mere six months after its predecessor. Expect competition from rivals to further disrupt Apple's release schedule, with some devices moving to six-monthly rather than annual updates, and others shifting from previous cycles. Also, given Apple's launch/shipping misses regarding the new 27-inch iMac (which launched alongside the 21-inch new iMac) and iTunes 11, we won't be surprised to see the company revert to simply not announcing future products unless they're pretty much ready to ship that day.
The iPad 4: six months early, by 2012's schedule. 2013's will be more turbulent
9. More profits and less market-share
We don't think we're in for a repeat of Windows/Mac OS when it comes to Android/iOS, but cheap Android tablets and smartphones will nonetheless continue to have an impact on Apple's market-share during 2013. Figures will, however, continue to show iOS has the lion's share in terms of ongoing usage and profits. Another prediction: pundits will fail to realise Apple's stalling or falling share of a rapidly growing market nonetheless equals growth, and continue to lump Android into a single group, despite, asIan Betteridge recently noted, it being "a set of semi-compatible platforms, built around the same technology".
10. Baffling survival of the iPod Classic
We last year predicted the iPod Classic's luck would run out in 2012, given Apple's shift to the cloud, its focus on iOS, and dropping flash memory prices potentially enabling larger-capacity iPod touch devices. Amazingly, it survived. Therefore, we're going to predict the iPod Classic will bafflingly remain in play for another year, in part because we were wrong last time, but mostly in an attempt to dare Apple to do otherwise.
The iPod classic, still going strong, against the odds — although that's probably because it is relatively cheap
