Apple's secretive nature about the release of its upcoming products has always given birth to a host of rumors. The Cupertino tech giant's latest offering, that includes heavyweights like a new iPhone, a smaller iPad, and a new HDTV, has the rumor mill abuzz.
While rumors are rife about the anticipated features and probable launch of the devices in September, Apple remains still tight-lipped. The latest rumor surfaced on Aug. 17 and is courtesy Forbes. In the Forbes report, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek claims that iPad Mini and iTV are already in production.
In his research note, Misek wrote Apple's contract manufacturer Hon Hai has already started production of the much-awaited Apple iPad Mini. Additionally, Misek noted that even though July was reportedly the worst month in Foxconn's entire history, its revenues went up 5 percent from June, which indicates that the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing company is working on iPad Mini.
Moreover, Misek's own source and Taiwanese sales data from July also revealed that iPad Mini's orders have increased from 18 million units to 25 million for the September quarter, and more than 30 million units for the December quarter.
Misek, at the same time, believes that iTV is also in "full production" and, in all probability, will hit the market before the end of the year.
"Recent data out of Sharp, Hon Hai and other specialty chemical and TV component suppliers support this," Misek writes. He then reminds that JDSU recently disclosed that the company has got a new non-gaming customer for its gesture control modules and that the customer is a new "living room" based one, which indicates that Apple possibly "will leverage AT&T's and Verizon's content deals for the iTV," Misek believes.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Apple Inc.'s shares have created a record and the company's market value crossed $600 billion speculating that the company has initiated the production of iPad Mini as well as a iTV.
Rumored Features of iPad Mini
According to GottaBeMobile, iPad Mini will have 7.85-inch display, will be 213.36mm tall and 143.67mm wide, two-thirds of the new third-generation iPad which is 241.3mm tall, 185.67mm wide, and 9.39mm thick. The Mini will sport the smaller 19-pin dock connector similar to that of the iPhone 5. It is highly rumored that the new iPad Mini will come with two speakers on either side of the dock connector and the speakers will be rear-facing and easy to cover while holding.
Apple is also expected to pack in an IGZO display from Sharp and 8GB of flash memory with the new iPad and, it is expected to be priced at a reasonable $299.
Rumored Features of Apple iTV
According to report from Best Buy, which surfaced in February, Apple may come up with a 42-inch HD TV, which may run iOS, support iCloud, can be controllable from an iPhone or iPad, and have access to Netflix, YouTube, and Flickr, same as the existing Apple TV. The new HDTV is expected to be enabled to have content from iPods, iPhones, iPads, Macs, as well as Stream media from mobile devices directly to the television.
Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal claimed last year that Apple may pack in a Siri-based Remote Control. Bloomberg, on the other hand, reported that Apple will offer a YouTube-like built-in video sharing service in its iTV to let users easily share videos online from their iPhones and iPads.
Recent report claims, that the new iTV can also sport Xbox Kinect-like features to let viewers control the TV by gesturing with their hands and the TV will read motions to determine actions.
According to Misek's projection, an Apple TV could sell about 2 million units in the quarter ending in December, with an average price of about $1,250.
Probable Release Date
Per Misek's estimation Apple will launch its iTV in the December or March quarters, while Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini on Sept. 12.
