Apple is preparing to surprise buyers with the release of 8 new devices, which will include: a new iPhone, iPad mini, new players and updated Mac computers. Expert Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities said on Friday that the schedule for new Apple products in the fourth quarter of 2012 will be very tight.
The main novelty, of course, is the so-called "iPhone 5", which will be unveiled, presumably at a special media event on September 12th.
According to Kuo, we will probably see a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a new Retina display, an updated iPod Touch player and a new 21.5-inch all-in-one iMac in September.
Then, in October, according to reports, Apple plans to host a second media event featuring the iPad mini with a 7.85-inch display. In addition to the iPad mini, Kuo said a new iPod Nano, a "modified New iPad" (iPad 3), and a new 27-inch iMac will be released in October.
Such activity on the part of Apple in the third quarter is due to the difficulties in assembling new devices that the company had at the beginning of this year. Kuo noted that some of the products were slated to ship in the late second quarter or early third quarter of 2012, but production problems have led to internal delays.
According to Kuo, the main issue in the production of the iPhone 5 was the assembly of the device itself. The expert said that the touchscreens they plan to use for the next iPhone were not a problem for production.
Kuo also noted that the software of the modified iPad 3, which Apple plans to release in the near future, will be identical to the current model. He said that the most significant change will be the adoption of a new 9-pin connector, which is expected to appear in new smartphones, iPods and tablets released by Apple.
The new iPod touch and iPod Nano will receive a redesigned design. For example, the iPod Nano is expected to be augmented with wireless connectivity that will allow it to download content from the iTunes Store and iCloud.
A likely delay in the release of the "nano" version of the iPod could be the installation of a Wi-Fi chip. Kuo believes the problem has been resolved. This will allow Apple to launch the product in mid-October.
Finally, in terms of software for new Macs, Kuo said the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will be redesigned and sold in a price range of between $ 1,100 and $ 1,300. He believes it will be difficult for Apple to keep up with the high demand for a new laptop until mid or late October.
