Rumors are buzzing about Apple’s release of new 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) enabled devices next year in Japan. These will be released in partnership with Japan’s biggest carrier by number of subscribers, NTT DoCoMo. As per Nikkei Business report, iPad 3 and iPhone 5 are scheduled for next year release. iPad 3 will be the first to come out in summer and then followed by iPhone in the fall. Our previous post talked about the clash between these devices for a release date, but it seems the iPad may have won.

2012 fall release of iPhone 5 means about a year gap with the iPhone 4S release. This gap is in accordance with the time frame followed by Apple in its previous releases. DoCoMo is expected to roll out its LTE infrastructure across Japan in the coming months. Though DoCoMo is Japan’s biggest telco, they are unable to add iPhone to their network as they want to pre-install their own popular applications on the device. Also the carrier is concerned over Apple’s unit volume commitment demands. Softbank and KDDI operators have agreement with iPhone and it is proving to be a huge success.

NTT DoCoMo dominates the LTE market and they recently released LTE-enabled Samsung’s Galaxy S II. It is rumored that Apple’s CEO Tim Cook met the NTT DoCoMo’s team last month and they reached to some kind of an agreement. Apple cannot ignore DoCoMo, considering their staggering subscribers and the domination in LTE market.

Reports are buzzing that Microsoft are planning to launch its Office Software suite optimized for iPad next year and there are chances that this will happen even before the launch of iPad 3. Last month Facebook too released its official app for iPad. With iPad occupying around 80% of the tablet market space, even giants like Microsoft are left with no other option. It will be their loss if they don’t release software optimized for iPads.

As per reports from The Daily, Microsoft has plans to bring the Office software suite for iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air also down the line. According to the news agency, the new software versions will bring more revenue to Microsoft. Microsoft is expected to release its tablet-friendly, touch-optimized and tiled-OS Windows 8 next year. Microsoft is pinning up hopes on this release to challenge Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. But with plans for launching Office for iPad, it looks like Microsoft has more than one strategy to beat the competition. It is a 180 degree shift from the days of exclusivity game-play strategy. As per the daily, “The full versions of Office for Mac and Windows 8 are expected to launch near the end of 2012, though the iPad version could come well ahead of that date”.

According to DigiTimes, Samsung, LG and Sharp have already shipped around 1 million high-resolution display panels in October for Apple’s iPad 3. Further 2 million more are to be shipped by the end of November. As per our previous post, these are Retina displays that have a resolution of 2048X1536 pixels and PPI (Pixels per Inch) of 264. This means twice the resolution of iPad 2. These retina displays will be complemented by touch modules from TPK Holding and Wintek . As per DigiTimes Asian sources in the Apple supply chain, TPK Holding and Wintek together will scale up to one million touch modules per month starting from mid-November or December. Once these components are shipped, Apple’s contractor Foxconn will start assembling of iPad 3 in January 2012 for a release in the first-quarter.

Even if the recent rumors and estimates are off by one month, we can clearly see the momentum building towards iPad 3’s release. Recent developments and the increasing competition in tablet space can signify a release timeline of first-quarter of 2012. With the entry of low-cost, 7-inch devices like Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook tablet, the tablet market is just getting hot. In a scenario like this, Apple would definitely like to maintain its annual refresh on time. In the light of this competition, there were even rumors of an iPad Mini.

At the same time there are reports of Apple slashing its orders for iPad 2 displays in the fourth-quarter of 2011. Apple already has an inventory sufficient for assembling 15-16 million iPad’s in the fourth-quarter. Considering iPad 2’s sales in the third-quarter, analysts are of the view that Apple’s production targets are around 3-4 million less than the display parts. Analyst’s view this difference can be due to the shipping of iPad 3 displays which has already started. Do you think these reports can influence the holiday season shoppers and make them wait for an iPad 3 instead of buying an iPad 2?

Is a fight between iPhone 5 and iPad 3 on the cards in getting a first release date? Apple’s traditional release map had gone haywire this year as iPhone’s release date was pushed from summer to fall. And we can be pretty much sure that the two won’t be released back to back. But many decision-making factors like Apple’s 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) roadmap, quad-core A6 processor, Apple’s next gen iOS 6 and partnership between Apple and T-Mobile are common to both iPhone 5 and iPad 3.

Apple needs next generation antennas to release 4G LTE devices with decent size and a good battery life. Apple might be building these devices on its own. In that cases Apple can incorporate LTE in both the upcoming devices – iPhone 5 and iPad 3. iPad sales figures indicate that more and more iPad buyers are going with the 3G enabled model. These numbers affirm that mobile networking will be a significant factor in the iPad 3 also and not only just in iPhone 5. Both iPad 2 and iPhone 4S run on dual-core A5 processor. Its successor quad-core A6 will be ready by next year. This high-power processor can boost the performance of iPad 3 and iPhone 5 and their apps and experience.

Till now, iOS releases debuted along with a new iPhone. As of now we are not sure of either iPhone 5’s release date or the progress of iOS 6. iPhone 5 coming before iPad 3 might change the iOS pattern this time. In the meanwhile, the talk of an iPad 2S can change the equations all together. The technical and marketing teams of Apple will definitely work it out to make sure that there’s enough space between the launches of these widely-awaited products of 2012.

But could it mean a product gets pushed back even later into 2012?  We will have to wait and see

In our previous post, we told about how analysts are predicting an early 2012 release of iPad3 based on the increased estimates of iPad builds. Now the latest buzz as per a report from Taiwan United Daily News is – that Apple is contemplating with the idea of a 7.35-inch tablet. Could this be an iPad Mini – a new category of product from Apple?

This could be a surprising move, because Steve Jobs previously dismissed the idea of a tablet with this size. He was joking that these tablets should come with sandpaper so that users can sand down their fingers to use these devices. As per Jobs, Apple did extensive user testing and they know their stuff in this area. Considering this, what could be the reason for a move like this now? It is possible that the soon to be released 7-inch Amazon Kindle Fire might have changed the equations. Apple might be thinking to take Kindle Fire head on and maintain its supremacy in tablet market.

There’s another point of view also. Brian White of Ticonderoga feels that ‘mini’ might be from the price perspective – a tablet around $200 range. This is also very much possible, as a move like this will help Apple in taking on the Android based tablets. While iPad caters to the high-end market, with a low-cost iPad Mini Apple can have best of both worlds. In this quarter, iPad sales crossed 10million for the first time since its launch and this indicates the future potential of tablet market. We have to wait and watch if Apple will indeed launch an iPad Mini. But if it does, do you think consumers will queue for them also?

Steve Jobs died this week, but his influence on technology and society will help to shape the coming century. His visionary welding of technology and design revolutionised the way we view them. Not only was he one of the greatest thinkers of our times he was also possibly it’s most successful business man. At the time of his death Apple was the most valuable company in the world.

It is difficult to summarise just how Steve jobs changed the world because his impact has been felt in so many areas. The introduction of the iPod and iTunes revolutionised not only the way music is delivered, but the entire music industry itself. The iPod meant for the first time the owner could take their entire music library with them where ever they went. It was iTunes that helped to kill off the already dying music megastores and forever changed the way people gather and distribute music. The music industry was already in trouble before Steve Jobs influence was felt. Piracy seemed a scourge with no answer. However iTunes produced the first viable model to monetise digital downloads. It also gave Jobs a huge amount of influence over the industry.

This was just one area in which Steve Jobs genius impacted the world. Another example was the introduction of the iPhone. Again this had a huge impact completely changing the telecommunications landscape. And this was not all, with the creation of his movie company Pixar he had a massive impact on the way modern films are made. Three major industries film, telecommunications and the music industry would never be the same again after Steve Jobs entered them.

Steve Jobs impact though is probably most acutely observed in the melding of design and technology. Steve Jobs was the first person to realise that aesthetics of personal technology was just as important as its functionality. Prior to him engineers held sway who had little interest in creating technology that was actually nice to look at. Steve Jobs changed all that and the impact was massive. Because iPhones, iPads and iMac are highly desirable based on their aesthetics people couldn’t get enough of them. Steve Jobs made it cool to like technology. No longer was it the sole domain of nerds now technology was for everyone. This gave apple a huge advantage over its competitors. People buy Apple products simply because they are made by Apple. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say the buy Apple products because they are made by Steve Jobs. His influence on apples products can be seen in every element of the design.

Steve Jobs was also a great business man. With some business leaders it is easy to say “He was lucky.” Or “He was there at the right time” But with Steve Jobs these throw away statements are not simple to declare. He was thrown out of the company he founded only to return to the company in 1997. The stock price tells the entire story. When he returned to the company the stock price was about $5 by the time of his death it was $375, and Steve Jobs had created the most valuable company in the world.

Steve Jobs influence on the world will be felt for many more years to come. While he maybe gone, his presence fundamentally changed the world we know.

RIP

Tuesday October 4th 2011 was an exciting day for iDevice fans around the world. During Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone Event” in California, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the public to the iPhone 4s. Though AT&T has received over 200,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 4s, not every Apple fan is ready to upgrade. The previously rumored iPhone 5 had many iPhone owners anticipating a completely redesigned iPhone. In reality, the iPhone 4s is physically similar to the iPhone 4, but the new iPhone does have some major hardware upgrades and some new software. Before making an upgrade decision, all iPhone 4 owners should take a good look at the new features and decide if the iPhone 4s is right for them.

Better Call Quality

The poor signal and bad call quality of the iPhone 4 caused a great deal of customer dissatisfaction. Dropped calls, slow download speeds, and overall connection problems made it difficult for some iPhone customers to enjoy the full iPhone experience. Apple has blamed this major problem on a poorly designed internal antenna. The new iPhone 4s has two antennas which will provide users with a more consistent signal. In addition to fewer dropped calls, iPhone 4s users will also have download speeds of up to 14.4Mbits/s (twice the speed of the earlier iPhone models) thanks to the HSDPA (enhanced 3G mobile technology) upgrade.

Camera Improvements

One of the most serious iPhone 4 flaws was the phone’s camera. Customers often complained about the low picture quality of the 5-megapixel or 3-megapixel iPhone 4 camera, and the substandard 720p video capture. In response to customer feedback, Apple has improved the camera on the iPhone 4s. The new iPhone model has a 8-megapixel camera and can record 1080p videos.

Greater Capacity

Storage and memory have always been a major concern for iPhone owners. Having to constantly delete or transfer files to make room for new pictures, ebooks, or music can severely impact a person’s ability to enjoy their iPhone. The iPhone 4s has more storage capacity options and the 8GB internal storage option has been removed entirely. iPhone 4s owners can choose between the 16GB, 32GB, and the brand new 64GB internal memory drive options.

New Processor

One of the most important changes made to the iPhone 4s is the new processor chip. The iPhone 4s uses the new Apple A5 chip. Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing Philip Schiller claims the dual-core processor will provide twice the power of the single-core A4 chip used in the iPhone 4. Apple has also stated that the iPhone 4s A5 chip will boost the graphics performance to at least seven times speed of the iPhone 4.

Operating System

Apple announced the new IOS 5 operating system during the Apple iPhone 4s product launch. The new operating system improves social media integration and claims to have a better screen lock. However, the IOS 5 operating system will also be available for iPhone 4 users before the iPhone 4s goes on sale October 14th 2011. While Apple says the new operating system will perform better on the iPhone 4s, it is useable on the iPhone 4.

Voice Control

In an effort to make iPhone use more convenient for users, Apple has created Siri, a voice control program designed for use with the iPhone 4s. Siri can perform basic tasks such as send a text message or initiate a call making it similar to other voice recognition programs. However, Siri can also be used to perform more advanced tasks such as answer questions, schedule meetings, and even set alarms. During the Apple “Lets Talk iPhone” event senior vice president of iPhone Software Scott Forstall demonstrated the new Siri technology by asking for restaurant recommendations, checking the NASDAQ and more.

More Network Capabilities

Apple’s new iPhone 4s will not be limited to AT&T customers like the original iPhone 3GS, and it will not just be available for AT&T or Verizon customers; the iPhone 4s will be available on the Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon Wireless networks. This change has made the iPhone a viable option for a large group of wireless customers. The iPhone 4s will also support GSM and CDMA networks making it a worldwide phone.

Same Size

The iPhone 4s is not much different from the iPhone 4 or even the iPhone 3GS when it comes to size. Apple’s latest iPhone has the same physical dimensions of its predecessors (4.5×2.3x.4) and weighs only one ounce more (4.9 oz) than the iPhone 4. The screen size also remains the same staying 3.5-inch with a 960-by640 display.

Battery Life

Like many smartphones the iPhone has been plagued by a poor battery life. While the iPhone 4 had a better battery life than the iPhone 3GS, the question is; will the iPhone 4s have a better battery life? The answer is yes and no. Apple has focused on promoting the 8 hours of talk time on the iPhone 4s since that talk time is one hour more than the iPhone 4. Unfortunately, that manufacturer estimate is only for 3G talk time meaning the talk time when using the enhanced HSDPA 3G may be less than 8 hours.

The iPhone 4s talk time on 2G remains the same along with the 6 hour battery life when transferring data at 3G speeds. Sadly, the battery life when transferring data using WiFi has dropped to 9 hours for the iPhone 4s. Worse, the total standby hours of battery life have gone from 300 standby hours for the iPhone 4 to just 200 standby hours for the iPhone 4s.

The Bottom Line

Apple’s iPhone 4s has many exciting features that will make using the iPhone more enjoyable for many users. The faster speeds, better call quality, accurate voice recognition, and larger storage capacity all make the iPhone 4s worth the upgrade. However, any person who is not ready to upgrade to the iPhone 4s will benefit from the October 14th 2011 release. The iPhone 4s launch will lead to a price drop on the iPhone 4, and some of the new features (such as the IOS 5 operating system) can be used on the iPhone 4.

If you love your iPad 2, you are sure to be eagerly awaiting the iPad 3 and all of its new features. While you are waiting for the iPad 3 release date, you may want to see what kinds of apps are most popular for your system. Each of these ten apps were released in 2011, and offers a range of services from fun to useful.

Keynote

The Keynote app allows users to create powerful graphic presentations that feature everything, from 3D bar graphs to picture slides. Over 2500 people have downloaded this app, and it has been rated as in the top hundred most useful apps for the iPad. While you are waiting for the iPad 3 release date, you can find hundreds of ways to use this app.

My Sketch

Individuals with an eye for art are sure to enjoy the free My Sketch app. All you will need to do is supply a picture, and this app will convert it to a sketch. In most cases, you will not need to make many adjustments in order to come up with an attractive and realistic sketched image. This app has been downloaded over 4000 times.

Skype for iPad

If you routinely use Skype to keep in contact with friends and family, then you are sure to want Skype for iPad, while you are waiting for the iPad 3 release date. This particular app has been downloaded over 5000 times, and has a reputation for being a solid performer.

Smurf’s Village

Even though the content for Smurf’s Village is not free, it is a fairly popular app with children. Therefore, if you are excited about the pending iPad 3 release date, you can put this app on your “must have” list.

Numbers

If you are looking for a powerful, elegant spreadsheet app, Numbers will suit your needs. No matter whether you need to create tables, or complex formulas, this app makes it easy. This app is ideal for anyone wondering which apps to use after the iPad 3 release date.

Angry Birds Rio

This exciting game was only released on August 31, 2011, but has already received over 3500 downloads. Angry Birds Rio allows you to share the adventures Jewel, Blu, and the Angry Birds in Rio de Janeiro. With 135 exciting levels, this game is ideal for anyone that wants an increasing level of challenge. If you are waiting for the iPad 3 release date, you may just find that you will want to transfer this addictive little game to your new iPad as soon as possible.

ITV Player

If you want to use your iPad for watching TV, ITV Player will enable you to achieve that goal, it is fairly versatile and easy for most users to work with.

Pages

Would you like to create invitations, business cards, or holiday cards with elegant calligraphy? Pages will provide you with access to a wide range of beautiful fonts that will liven up just about everything you create. Pages has been downloaded by over 2000 people, and is considered essential for anyone waiting for the iPad 3 release date.

Garage Band

If you are musically inclined, Garage Band is a “must have” app. No matter whether you want to compose music on the run, or create music with a wide range of synthesizers, this app will enable you to achieve your goal. Garage Band was released on June 1, 2011, and has over 1200 downloads to its credit even before the iPad 3 release date.

The Times

If you are in the habit of keeping up with the news, few sources will satisfy you as much as the Times. Not surprisingly, over 5000 people downloaded The Times app. Individuals waiting for the iPad 3 release date are sure to be interested in this app.

If you want to use your iPad 3 for a wide range of purpose, you are bound to find yourself downloading and installing a number of apps. Interestingly enough, if you know which apps are favored by others, you may find that one or more of these apps will also be of use to you. Therefore, while you are waiting for the iPad 3 release date, you can take advantage of this information in order to determine which apps you want to try out first.

While some rumors remain just that, the build situation regarding Apple’s iPad seem to inch closer to fact and reality. According to Peter Misek of Jefferies & Co., “we have confirmed the iPad 2 build plans have been scaled back.” From an estimated 13.6 million units, this has been reduced to just about 12 million units for the last quarter of the calendar year.

As for reasons, Misek claims a few, although with going too deeply into his sources. He claims that

1) iPad 2 HD was canceled (~1M units retooled); 2) Sooner-than- expected iPad 3 launch in late Jan; 3) Retail inventory caution due to potential demand slowdown; 4) Some production shift to Brazil. We see 29M iPads shipped in H2 vs. 14M in H1. We trim our 2011 global tablet forecast from 70M to 65M.

Peter Misek

He said that the lower iPad shipments may still compensated for by the sales of iPhones. His iPhone estimate is 28.7 million units, a figure that is higher by 3 million units for the fourth quarter. This number will improve gross margin. And so Misek raised his December-quarter EPS estimate from $8.85 to $9.17. Today, Apple shares are up $2.38 at $401.64.

Holding a press event in October tells us that this is Apple’s last even for 2011. And since all the talk circled around the iPhone, it’s not rocket science to guess that there’s no chance in hell consumers will be able to but an iPad 3 off store shelves this holiday season. However, rumors still can play on the chance that Apple would release a modified iPad 2, albeit shinier and prettier. Whether it would sport a spec boost or just a shiny case, the event is still short of something as big as the iPad 3. There are a lot of reasons why Apple would opt to delay the release of the much-awaited next gen iPad.

First, the iPad2 still outsells the competition. While Android tablets seem to be competing for the same minority marketshare, the HP TouchPad sold so bad that it was canceled. Meanwhile, Amazon is about to launch a tablet which doesn’t even plan to compete with the iPad. In other words, there is no reason for Apple to hurry releasing an improvement to something that sells, and sells very well. Many have speculated that because the iPad 2 was no more than a mere revision, Apple may have been secretly working of a new and revolutionary iPad design that is sure to awe even the Apple skeptics. They think that with more than a year being kept secret, the redesign should surely be ready by now. But just like all assumptions, the frequency it is talked about will not turn it into fact. Apple’s concern is the holiday shoppers looking forward to buy whether the existing iPad2 or the coming iPad3. The fear that they might buy something that would immediately be replaced by a newer model, the very exact scenario that happened with the iPad. But Apple can avoid this dilemma with an improved iPad2 to serve as a buffer or an intermediate iPad. This could be a transitional iPad from iPad2 to the iPad3. This is what Apple may exactly end up doing, although quietly. Whatever happens, you shouldn’t expect to see the iPad 3 before the year ends.