APPLE 2013 – WHAT APPLE HAS IN STORE FOR YOU

I’m a bit of a fanboy when it comes to Apple. Guilty as charged, I’m sane enough to keep a check on my pocket while buying expensive things. I have been an avid follower of the latest happenings and the rants that people keep making about Apple every now and then.

Recently, there have been a lot of speculations as to what Apple is going to do in the year 2013. There have been numerous rumors on all things Apple; and ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you, 2013 will be the year you go crazy like a little girl when products are launched one after the other, all year round.

Image courtesy KGI Research

To get a sneak peak at what the geniuses at the Cupertino facility have in mind for their customers, dive right into this compilation of all the rumors.

1. IPHONE 5S

Looking at the past trends, it’s safe to assume that the next generation of the iPhone series will be called iPhone 5S. If rumors are to be believed, the phone will be launched somewhere during the summer (June – July). The iPhone 5S will have a similar form factor as of the iPhone 5 with speed bumps, NFC technology and hopefully a finger scanning sensor embedded in the home button to keep the their customers interested while claiming it to be the most revolutionary implementation on a handheld device. Though, I have to agree that if this sensor does see the light of the day, it will be implemented in a rather unique way. One such example being, unlocking your device without the need of passcode, individual locks on applications and integration in the passbook application or any other payment apps (even while making transactions through Safari). These are just some of the methods in which I would like to see the finger scanning sensor being implemented. Needless to say, there are abundant other ways of implementing it.

2. IPHONE 6

Left to Right: 3.5" iPhone, 3.5" iPhone 4, 4" iPhone, 5" iPhone (Mockup)
Image courtesy iMore

Yes, Apple will be releasing the complete makeover generation of the iPhone, i.e. the iPhone 6 later this year (October – November). Keeping in mind how its rivals are updating the premium series of their Smartphones, unfortunately, Apple seems to be succumbing to the market trend to release products more frequently. Personally, I wouldn’t like to see two versions of the iPhone launched in one year, but like every other individual wanting to make more money, even Apple wants to increase its revenues and this is the way to go.

It took Apple 5 years to increase the screen size by ½ an inch when they launched the iPhone 5; but not anymore. If rumors are to be believed, the company has shown immense interest in making bigger phones. The iPhone 6 will have a bigger screen, measuring about 4.8” – 5” and will be thinner and lighter than the current generation iPhone 5. It will also have a notification light (like the ones on the BlackBerry devices) and a faster A7 processor to power the device.

OTHER IPHONE RELATED RUMORS

Analysts and dedicated websites have claimed that cheaper version of the iPhone will also be launched along with the iPhone 5S or somewhere around that time. It will have the same configuration as the iPhone 5 but a plastic casing and 5 to 6 color options.

3. IPAD 5

Left to Right: iPad 4, iPad 5, iPad Mini
Image Courtesy Macrumors.com/ciccaredesign

The iPad has been Apple’s fastest growing product. After being launched in 2010, the company has sold nearly 84 million iPads (source) and counting. It has also been the most frequently updated product, having witnessed 4 generations, a smaller version in the form of iPad mini, and the recently announced 128GB version of the iPad 4. There is no iota of doubt that apple will be launching the 5^th generation iPad this year with a design similar to the current iPad mini, which boasts of a smaller bezel and a thinner and lighter design.

With those design tactics in mind, Apple is rumored to be changing a lot of things inside the device. These include a faster processor, rearrangement of components, smaller battery and thinner display.

4. IPAD MINI 2

The iPad Mini was launched in 2012 and has been a huge hit. It has been eating into its elder brother, iPad’s (full size) sales. For some strange reason, Apple decided to launch the 1^st generation iPad Mini sans the Retina Display which was a huge deal breaker for a lot of customers who loved the Mini but wanted the Retina Display. They have to wait a bit longer as rumors suggest that the 2^nd generation of the iPad Mini will have a Retina Display as its key upgrade along with a spec bump to increase the processing power of the little beast.

5. MACBOOK PRO

Last year, apple launched the Retina Display versions of the 13’ and the 15’ Macbook pros and even changed the interior and exterior design of the laptop. The 13” Macbook Pro with Retina Display got rid of the CD slot making it almost 20% thinner and a pound lighter than the 13 inch Macbook Pro. However, rumors predict that Apple is not going to stop there. According to the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to shift to the all-retina lineup and tweak the designs of the thinner Macbook Pros with Retina Display. He has also predicted that the price points of these laptops will be reduced.

Personally, I would like the option of more flexibility in the after sale customization and a default dedicated graphics card on the 13” version of the Macbook Pro, provided all this remains at the same price point.

6. MAC PRO

This has arguably been Apple’s most neglected product. This professionals’ only product saw its last upgrade in June 2012 when they cheekily bumped the processors but kept every other configuration intact, leaving the few dedicated customers bewildered. However, Apple has confirmed a March release of the new Mac Pro series. Let’s hope it’s not as disappointing as the previous update.

7. APPLE TELEVISION

This product will probably be the highlight of Apple in 2013. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc. has rumored to show, “immense interest” in the field of televisions. That interview has sparked off rumors of Apple launching a TV with a 40+ inch screen range.

Apple Television (Concept)

There has been no information as to when this product will be launched, but given the lack of expertise in this field, the ambitious product may even be shifted to somewhere in the 1^st half of 2014. Whenever the product is launched, it will be revolutionizing the TV industry including TV shows, cable networks and manufacturing of TV sets.

Apple has a lot of things up its sleeves. Remember what happened when apple was going bankrupt in the mid 90’s when they became extremely ambitious by launching a dozen different products? In 2013, the situation is quite different. They have the cash in hand which will take them years, if not decades, to burn the money if they decide to stop selling all products as you read this.

So, here’s to new technologies that revolutionize the world around us. Let me know in the comments section below, what you think about Apple’s road-map for 2013; and if you’re excited to see any of these products coming to life sooner than later.

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