cheaper iPhone's plastic

Purported pictures of cheaper iPhone's plastic rear shell surface

Anupam Saxena, April 19, 2013

Case manufacturer Tactus has shared purported pictures of the rear shell of Apple's much rumored lower-cost iPhone. The rear shell is White in colour and appears to have been made from plastic polycarbonate. This could also open the possibility of the phone coming in multiple colours, as reported earlier. The case maker also informs that the device will be available in Black, White, Blue, Red and Yellow colours, citing the ' factory producing this secretive project' as a source.

Posting an image of the shell on its blog, Tactus informs that the actual phone might be around 9mm thick, 120mm in height and around 62-65mm in width, making it both taller and wider than the iPhone 4 and 4S.

It's difficult to verify the credibility of the image of the case. Accessory makers have produced mock-up cases in the past that have at times turned out to be accurate.

The case maker goes on to report that the budget iPhone will be powered by an A5 processor similar to the iPad Mini with a 32nm diecast and that it will have a 3.5-inch retina screen, like the iPhone 4S. The phone is expected to sport a 5-megapixel rear camera.

It even mentions that the budget iPhone would go on sale October 15th for $300. However, we'd take it with a grain of salt as an accessory maker or anyone part of Apple's supply chain is unlikely to have accurate information of Apple's exact device plans.

Just a few days back KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo came out with a new research report that said that the Phone 5S, low-cost iPhone and iPad mini 2 will begin shipments later than its previous expectation. He had also confirmed a plastic shell for the budget iPhone and had said that Apple was finding it difficult to keep the plastic shell of the low-cost iPhone as thin as it would like.

iPhone 5S

iPhone 5S, cheaper iPhone and new iPad mini reportedly delayed

Surbhi Chawla, April 12, 2013

In the recent months there has been a lot of speculation regarding the tentative launch dates for the next generation iPhone, the 'supposedly' low-cost iPhone and the next generation iPad mini.

As per a recent report by Mac Rumours, Apple is facing a lot of challenges in producing its forthcoming line-ups and these challenges may delay the launch of the new iPhone and iPad mini models.

The website is quoting KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who till a month ago was expecting Apple to launch a new iPhone model by June or July. However, on Thursday he came out with a new research report that cites the company may not be as busy as he had earlier predicted.

Earlier we estimated that shipments of the new iPhone would begin in July (FDD version) and September (TDD version), while iPad mini 2 would hit the market in August. Currently, market consensus for shipments of iPhone 5S, low-cost iPhone and iPad mini 2 is July, July, and August, respectively. But in light of publicly available information and our knowledge of technological trends, we now think all three products will begin shipments later than our previous expectation and market consensus.

Ming-Chi Kuo in his research note has not shared any specific time frame by when Apple may launch its new iPhone, the low cost iPhone or the new iPad mini Furthermore, Mac rumours via KGI Securities notes that Apple is currently facing three major challenges that is causing the delay. The first being production difficulties for the 'retina display for iPad mini'. Kuo believes that the next generation iPad will come with a Retina display, and the company is facing various and technical challenges related to its design and manufacturing.

The second challenge is being cited as 'colour coatings for lower-cost iPhone'. As per Kuo, the economically priced iPhone is likely to come with plastic shell, which will be available in numerous colour options. He opines that Apple is finding it difficult to keep the plastic shell of this iPhone as thin as it would like.

Lastly, Kuo notes that Apple is finding it challenging to manufacture iPhone 5S because of its purported fingerprint sensor. He further states that finding the right colour coatings to prevent interference with the sensor is proving to be a big challenge.

This news report by Mac Rumours comes a day after DigiTimes reported that Apple will be commencing production of its fifth generation iPad in July or August. DigiTimes news report was based on the information that the website had garnered from its sources in the Taiwan-based supply chain.

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley's Katy Huberty has released a report, in which she predicted that Apple will launch the new iPhone in September 2013 after previewing the iOS 7 in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This is in contradiction to what we had heard days earlier, when a report indicated Apple will launch the iPhone 5S in August in more than two colour options.

Apple still on top

Apple still on top, but showing signs of vulnerability

Agence France-Presse, November 10, 2012

Apple, the world's biggest and perhaps most admired company, seems to have lost some of its luster.

Despite the hugely successful launch of the iPhone 5 and iPad mini tablet, shares in the California tech giant have slid some 20 percent from all-time highs, and analysts are questioning whether Apple remains the leader in "innovation."

A flubbed mobile maps program and a major shakeup in key management have also tarnished the image of the firm that had seemed nearly invincible just months earlier.

A more competitive landscape for mobile phones and tablets, including the surge in devices using the Google Android operating system, have also changed the outlook for Apple.

Last month, Apple parted ways with Scott Forstall, the executive in charge of mobile software, following embarrassments over its glitch-ridden maps program, as well as John Browett, who headed Apple's real-world shops.

Some analysts say the company lacks the vision and commitment to excellence after the death last year of its admired chief Steve Jobs.

Apple stock hit a record high above $700 in September, but have since slumped more than 20 percent to $547.06 on Friday.

"Investors are confused and have lost faith in Apple management," said Trip Chowdhry, analyst at Global Equities Research.

"Apple today is not as customer centric as it used to be, and the rate of innovation is declining when the rate of innovation of competitors has dramatically risen."

Others argue that it is too soon to say Apple has peaked.

Charles Golvin at Forrester Research said that in a season filled with product launches from Amazon, Motorola, Nokia and others, Apple has been able "to exert a superior gravitational pull on its customers and partners than its competitors."

And Forrester's Sarah Rotman Epps said Apple "is entering the 2012 holiday season with its strongest product lineup ever, with wider retail distribution than it has ever had.

"Apple is already leading every game it plays. But these products will maintain Apple's momentum," she added.

Yet Apple has lost market share both in the tablet market, which it created with the iPad, and in smartphones.

Research firm IDC said Apple held a 50.4 percent of the tablet market in the third quarter from more than 65 percent in the second quarter, as rivals like Amazon and Google gained in the growing market.

IDC's Tom Mainelli said many consumers interested in buying a tablet "sat out the third quarter" waiting for the new iPad mini.

"We expect Apple to have a very good quarter. However, we believe the mini's relatively high $329 starting price leaves plenty of room for Android vendors to build upon the success they achieved in the third quarter," Mainelli said.

In smartphones, it was a similar story with Android grabbing 75 percent of the market and the Samsung Galaxy S3 getting the crown as the world's top selling smartphone, based on surveys.

IDC said Apple's smartphone market share slipped to 14.9 percent in the third quarter from 16.9 percent the prior period.

Even though the figures came as Apple launched the iPhone 5 -- which combined with the iPhone 4S, outsold the Samsung flagship -- the news was sobering for the Cupertino, California firm.

Many analysts remain bullish on Apple and say the recent stock slump is nothing to fret over.

"The selloff in Apple's stock in recent weeks has spooked investors but this correction is similar to the three others experienced over the past 13 months, all of which proved to be attractive buying opportunities," said Brian White at Topeka Capital Markets.

Gregori Volokhine of the investment firm Meeschaert said one problem for investors is that Apple, because of its huge success in recent years, has become the largest holding for nearly every investment fund in the US and elsewhere.

That means any move is likely to be amplified as investors follow the trend.

"Having too much of one stock means portfolio managers will sell on declines to reduce exposure," Volokhine said. "It's a vicious circle."

Angry Birds Star Wars

Angry Birds Star Wars becomes top iPhone, iPad app within hours of release

NDTV Correspondent, November 08, 2012

It's barely been a few hours since the latest edition of the Angry Birds franchise was released, and it has already become the top paid app for iPhone and iPad.

Rovio released Angry Birds Star Wars Thursday for iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle, Windows Phone 8, Windows 8, Mac and PC. In case the name doesn't make it clear, the game combines two of your favourite franchises: Angry Birds and Star Wars. The game is set in a galaxy far, far away, where a group of desperate rebel birds face off against a galactic menace: the Empire's evil Pigtroopers.

Rebel birds, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Imperial Pigs. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the PIG STAR, and are racing to deliver the plans to the Rebel Birds. You are armed with Star Wars themed weapons from 'The Force' to the lightsaber, in your quest to blast away the Pigtroopers on an intergalactic journey from the deserts of Tatooine to the depths of the Pig Star. Your ultimate face off is against, who else, but Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Pigs.

Angry Birds Star Wars is available as a free download on Android, $0.99 on iPhone and Windows Phone 8, $2.99 on iPad and Kindle Tablet, $0.99 on PC and $4.99 on Mac.

Head to Rovio's website to download the game.