Each week, there are dozens of Apple rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what's coming out of Cupertino next. Some are legit, but many are totally bogus. As always, we've parsed the week's rumors, ranking them in order from 'utterly ridiculous' to 'duh, of course.' First up...
DON'T COUNT ON IT: Apple iWatch to Use Silver Nanowire and Curved 3-D Glass A report from the China Times possibly sheds some light on what materials Apple could be using in its rumored iWatch wearable device. The iWatch's display will be flexible AMOLED covered by a protective layer of 3-D glass. That's as in 'not flat' glass - curved, most likely, according to prior rumors. As for its touch-sensing, the display will use silver nanowire technology. This stuff doesn't sound too far-fetched, but the China Times has a hit-or-miss track record when it comes to Apple leaks.
ASK AGAIN LATER: More Uses for iPad's Magnetic Tech In a patent application titled ' Magnetic Attachment Unit,' Apple describes how the magnetic technology currently used in iPads to attach its Smart Cover and turn the display on and off could be used for other applications. A specific arrangement of magnets could be used so that the iPad could be attached to other cases or stands, including gaming controllers and detachable keyboards. It could also be used in conjunction with a stylus, enabling or disabling a 'stylus mode' for the device. This does sound like something Apple could implement pretty easily, if it were something Apple wanted to.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: 4.7- and 5.6-Inch iPhones on the Way Apple's next handsets will be 4.7 and 5.6 inches in size, according to a Taiwanese report. We've been hearing time and again that Apple is working on a larger handset for its next iPhone, and also that it would come in two different sizes. The report says they'll arrive in Q3, like the past two iPhone launches. Interestingly, it also adds that the larger of the two handsets won't be branded as an iPhone. This sounds a bit more far-fetched. If it's still a phone, why wouldn't Apple just name it iPhone [something, something] like it did with the iPhone 5s and 5c?
SIGNS POINT TO YES: iPad 2 Dead, iPad Air Getting Updated, No New Mini in 2014 KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi-Kuo has a string of predictions for Apple's iPad plans for the upcoming year that align with previous rumors and reports, and otherwise just sound pretty reasonable. Kuo expects the second generation iPad will be officially discontinued in Q1 of this year, and the fourth-gen iPad will go back into production instead, likely as a cheaper option for consumers the way Apple resurrected the iPhone 4 for some markets this past year. Kuo expects the iPad Air will get an update in the third quarter which will include an A8 processor and Touch ID - both things I'd expect the flagship iPad to get as well. He also thinks a new iPad mini isn't likely because of how popular the iPad Air is, and that a 12.9-inch large iPad is also unlikely because Apple is focusing its efforts on the iWatch rather than an extra large tablet. The latter will become more clear as the year progresses; if we start seeing 12.9 inch Retina displays in the supply chain, we'll know more surely that a large iPad will arrive this year.
WITHOUT A DOUBT: Apple's Been Investigating Wearable Health Tech for Years Apple's recently hyped push into the health and fitness wearable space has much deeper roots than we might expect. A patent originally filed in 2007 and granted to Apple this week illustrates a pair of sensor-filled headphones that monitor health stats like temperature, perspiration, and heart rate. An accelerometer inside could also track movement data, and offer hands-free communication using head gestures (that doesn't sound awkward at all). Tracking health statistics in a wearable device is something Apple's been looking into for years - perhaps we'll finally see the fruits of all that R&D within the next year or two.
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