Apple : Analyst believes 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is coming

Analyst believes 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is coming
Report: Apple slows iPhone 5 production to address aluminum scratches
Taiwan requests Apple blur images of its new radar facility in Maps app
iPod touch, nano begin to ship to stores and customers
'Revised' 9.7-inch iPad to boast 4G connectivity for UK users?

Analyst believes 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro is coming

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Rumors about upcoming Apple products are nothing new, and seemingly follow the Cupertino-based company year-round.

When Apple released the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display earlier this year, reports began to circulate that a 13-inch model would soon follow.

A few months later, and with no 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro on the books, rumors continued to point to Apple developing the smaller model, even going so far as to allude to a September release.

It's now October, and Apple still hasn't mentioned or even hinted at the possibility of such a laptop existing.

However, even analysts believe Apple will release a compact model of its Retina MacBook Pro, though it may come a bit later than originally thought.

Production to begin by Q4

DisplaySearch's Richard Shim thinks Apple will begin production on the 13-inch MacBook with Retina display later this year.

Shim originally predicted production would begin during the third quarter of 2012, but clearly that hasn't been the case.

With the iPad Mini rumored for release later this October, Shim thinks it's unlikely Apple will make any formal announcements about a new MacBook until the iPad Mini has launched.

Additionally, Shim still anticipates the smaller Retina screen to have a pixel density of 2560 x 1600, rather than the 2880 x 1800 the 15-inch model carries.

That would put the 13-inch model on par with the resolution of the rumored Google Nexus 10, the supposed big brother of the company's Nexus 7 tablet.

There's no indication about what price the new model might carry. However, Shim expects the 13-inch to come in at a more consumer friendly price than the 15-inch's $2,199 (UK£1,373, AU$2,147).

Until Apple makes a more formal declaration, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed a smaller, more affordable Retina MacBook is on the way.

Report: Apple slows iPhone 5 production to address aluminum scratches

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Soon after the launch of the iPhone 5, reports surfaced about how easily the handset's aluminum back could get scratched, which included some customers finding their unit in this condition right after being taken out of the box.

While the aluminum back on Apple's latest smartphone is an overall improvement from the glass on previous iPhone 4 and 4S models, customers have discovered the soft metal is generally more susceptible to everyday wear and tear.

Apple Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing Phillip W. Schiller confirmed this when he respond to an iPhone 5 user's email inquiry, saying the company considered this "normal."

What isn't normal is opening the box to find an iPhone 5 that's already received scratches from the factory, a problem Apple appears to be working with manufacturer Foxconn to address.

Quality control

According to a report published on Wednesday, manufacturer Foxconn is now conducting stricter inspections of its iPhone 5 assembly line.

The move is aimed at reducing the number of scratched iPhone 5 handsets, which get boxed up and shipped from the factory. But it's proving to be a slow process.

Apple requested the slowdown to address customer concerns, which is said to be costing the company both time and money at a time when Cupertino is already struggling to meet demand on its sixth-generation iPhone.

As a result of the slowdown, analysts at RBC Capital Markets have already reduced their iPhone 5 sales estimates from 57 million to 49 million.

Apple and Foxconn both declined to comment on the report.

Taiwan requests Apple blur images of its new radar facility in Maps app

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Since its inception, there have been a myriad of complaints levied against Apple's new Maps app.

Included in iOS 6 as a replacement for Google's Maps, Apple's version has come under scrutiny for having outdated information, blurry images, and lacking public transportation information.

Apple's Maps has also come under fire for including high-quality images of secure facilities around the globe.

Locations like a Turkish maximum security prison, as well as a military airstrip on the Japanese island of Minamitorishima, and the United States' Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland can be seen clearly in Maps.

Taiwan can now add one of its prized secure military installations to that growing list, and the government isn't very pleased.

Apple's international incident

The Taiwan Defense Ministry reached out to Apple to have the images of its new $1.4 billion (UK£875 million, AU$1.3 billion) early-warning radar facility in Hsinchu blurred out.

Even if just 4 percent of iOS 6 users use Maps, that's clearly too many sets of eyes able to view the vital Taiwanese installation.

In fact, Ministry spokesperson David Lo told the Associated Press, "Apple should follow its rival Google in using only low-resolution satellite pictures."

Google has made a practice of blurring out images of such high-security locations, and has even been known to do so upon request.

The radar station is set to go online later this year, and oddly enough, reports indicate Apple's imagery of the base is a year old.

Even with outdated cartography, Apple just can't seem catch a break when it comes to Maps.

iPod touch, nano begin to ship to stores and customers

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Apple is shipping orders of the fifth-generation iPod touch and the seventh iPod nano, according to word around the net. The new goodies should arrive in stores early next week.

9to5Mac reports readers who preordered the new iPod touch received notices from Apple saying their devices shipped and are expected to arrive on Oct. 15.

Apple even posted a user guide on iBooks for the new iPod touch this morning.

Apple promised the devices would be out in October, but today is the first glimpse of when the two iPods will make their way to the wild.

Out in the world

International customers are getting the iPod touch around the same time. An Australian reader reported getting the same notice with an Oct. 15 delivery estimate.

iPod touches are even showing up at some retailers. This morning, Engadget China's editor-in-chief tweeted about the new iPod touch with a picture of it in his hand from a Hong Kong Apple store.

The new iPod nanos are a little bit more of a mystery. Though users are getting their iPod touches, the status for the nanos says "preparing for shipment." So it shouldn't be too much longer.

iPod touch: The new loot

The new iPod touch is thinner, lighter and, at 4-inches diagonal, taller than its predecessor. It also features a new beefed up dual-core A5 chip, and a sharper rear camera that shoots 1080p video.

One of the newest features is a retractable knob that hooks onto the new iPod touch loop, a free lanyard Apple added.

It also comes with the new high-quality "EarPod" headphones equipped with a remote and mic.

The new nano comes with a larger 2.5-inch display, which can show up to six apps now. It also has a FM tuner, Bluetooth and returns with the popular pedometer. It also has the new EarPod sans mic and remote.

Both iPods are built with Apple's new Lightning dock. Those who still have a lot of the old cords may be glad to hear Apple started shipping Lightning-to-30-pin adapters yesterday. But at US$29 (AUD$25, GB£18), it will be a little pricy.

The 16 GB iPod nano costs US$149 (AUD$169, GB£93), the 32GB iPod touch costs US$299 (AUD$329, GB£249) with the 64GB version costing US$399 (AUD$439, GB£329).

'Revised' 9.7-inch iPad to boast 4G connectivity for UK users?

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A tweaked version of the 9.7-inch new iPad will bring 4G connectivity on the EE network in the UK, according to a Guardian report.

The 'revised' iPad 3 model will be announced alongside the rumoured 'iPad Mini' later this month according to the report.

'Industry sources' say the device will be instantly compatible with Everything Everywhere's 4G network and will also feature also feature the Lightning connector that recently debuted on the iPhone 5 handset.

Those sources say the revamped tablet would feature a 4G chip, compatible with EE's 1800Mhz LTE network, launching next month and on the Three network, which is due next autumn.

iPad mini Wi-Fi only?

4G LTE connectivity was a headline feature of the new iPad 3 in the United States where networks were already in place, but at the time, the UK had no such opportunities to harness next-gen mobile speeds.

The company had run into problems with advertising standards regulators in the UK and Australia over coining the device 'iPad 4G' when those nations only had access to advanced 3G services.

The Guardian report also brings word that the iPad Mini, expected to become available in November, will be Wi-Fi only without 3G or 4G cellular services.

The rumoured 7.8-inch tablet is likely to be a cheaper alternative to the full-size device, so the lack of mobile internet would allow Apple to keep the cost down for consumers and help it to compete with the ultra-affordable Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire models.

Yahuui Blog

Wednesday, October 10, 2012