Earlier this week, reliable source John Gruber suggested Apple would likely hold two separate media events for its upcoming product range, and Jim Dalrymple – famous for his "yep" responses to Apple rumors – appears to agree with Gruber’s sentiments.
Gruber suggested Apple will first invite shareholders and spectators to an event concerning both the iPhone 5 and iOS 6. Said event is set to fall on September 12th, and will see the significantly altered next iPhone introduced along with the sixth edition of the Cupertino company’s mobile OS.
Once the dust settles on the iPhone – which is expected to release nine days after announcement – the reviews will then offer a second wave of iPhone-centric attention, according to Gruber. Then, a couple of weeks later, he reckons Apple will announce the iPad Mini at its traditional music event in early October.
It was initially presumed the iPhone and smaller iPad would be announced contemporaneously, but it now seems as though the unveiling and showcasing of the two pivotal devices will be staggered by around a month.
Dalrymple’s response to the prose of Gruber was simply, "Oh that Gruber is a smart fellow." Given the track record of both when it comes to Apple gossip, we can be pretty darned sure there will indeed be two separate events.
The smaller iPad, which initially didn’t seem likely, now looks to be a certainty, and with price being the key factor, could be one of the most successful gadgets of all time. The Google-ASUS Nexus 7, which boasts a quad-core processor as well as Android Jelly Bean (4.1), has seen strong sales and rave reviews in its first month or two on sale, and the iPad’s dominance has never looked as precarious as it currently is.
If Apple can deliver a decent device at a price affordable to the masses, it would be, for the time being at least, game over for any other tablet vendor. One of the main gripes consumers have with Apple’s iOS devices are the sky-high prices, with many unable – or unwilling – to pay a premium when other vendors offer more for less. But with rumored prices of $249-$299, the smaller iPad could easily push the numbers Microsoft managed with the Kinect.
(source DaringFireball)
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