It's that time of the year again. As we approach fall, we're getting closer to the launch of Apple's new products, as promised by CEO Cook during the company's last earnings call. This also means that we can expect new rumours and leaks to start hitting the Internet.
While a lot is already known about the iPhone 5S (the next-generation iPhone) and the iPhone 5C (the low-cost iPhone), we're also seeing new rumours and leaks related to the next-generation iPad and iPad mini.
A number of rumours have already suggested that Apple is modelling its next-generation iPad on the iPad mini in terms of design and form factor. The speculation has got more credence thanks to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The
report mentions that the new iPad will feature the same touch-panel technology that's seen in the iPad mini, making it thin and light. It cites people with knowledge of the matter as a source, and adds that Apple intends to use the film-based touch panel used in the iPad mini instead of the glass-based one that is sported by the full-sized iPad.
Recently, a video showing the front and back panel of the fifth-generation iPad assembled together, had appeared online showing a design different from the current generation iPad. Prior to that pictures of alleged back panels of the next-generation iPad and iPad mini had also appeared online. The purported iPad rear casing was slightly smaller than the casing of the current generation iPad and the site mentioned that the distance between the border and screen of the iPad 5 was much shorter than the previous iPads, indicating that the new iPad would look similar to the iPad mini with smaller bezels. The casing had the Apple logo carved out and not just printed on it, in the images.
While the exact launch dates of the new iPad and iPad mini are not known, yet, a new
report by Bloomberg suggests that Apple will release new iPad models, including an iPad with a thinner body design and an iPad mini with a high-resolution screen, later this year but not at the September 10 iPhone event.
It adds that the "planned new full-size iPad, with a 9.7-inch screen, will have a body that more closely resembles the current iPad mini, with a thinner bezel than the current version. It will be the first redesign since March 2012, when Apple introduced a high-resolution iPad with the current shape."
A number of rumours suggest that Apple could release the next generation iPad mini in the fourth quarter of 2013 but it's not known if it will feature a Retina screen. Just a few days back, a report by Apple-focused website 9to5Mac claimed that
Apple was testing a new iPad mini model that would include a faster processor but not a Retina display. However, a few hours later, a new report by The Wall Street Journal appeared suggesting that Apple's suppliers were ramping up production of a new iPad mini device that features a high resolution Retina screen made by Samsung.