iPhone 6 Touch ID sensors reportedly enter production in Q2

A recent report suggested that Apple may be planning to debut a new iPhone phablet as soon as this coming May ahead of its iPhone 6 launch in September or October. While it seems increasingly likely that Apple is indeed working on more than one new iPhone model following a number of solid reports to that effect, the odds of one of the new iPhones launching in May were just severely decreased.

According to a new report from Digitimes that cites unnamed industry sources, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has just landed a contract with Apple that will see the chip fabricator begin producing Touch ID sensors for Apple’s next-generation iPhones in the second quarter this year. Unless Apple is having its fingerprint scanners for the iPhone phablet produced elsewhere, it is almost certainly not planning to launch the device in May.

TSMC also produced Touch ID sensors for Apple’s iPhone 5s handset, which debuted last year.

The report states that TSMC will handle the fingerprint scanners as well as the backend wafer level-chip scale packaging process. That process had been outsourced to third parties for the iPhone 5s Touch ID sensors according to the report, but TSMC will handle it in-house this time around in order to ensure that it can meet Apple’s demands for production volume.

iPhone 6 Frame Revealed

iPhone rumors are a dime a dozen between product launches, but the popular Chinese tech site C Technology has a penchant for picking up on some of the more believable ones. The latest leak is very dubious, especially considering the fact that it’s the first of its kind, but C Technology claims that this image shows off the frame of one of the rumored larger iPhones releasing later this year. The frame is not only noticeably larger than that of the iPhone 5s, but also significantly thinner, possibly lending credence to the idea that Apple will expand its Air branding to even more products. The leaked photos can be found below.

New Details about iPhone 6 emerge

While other smartphone makers continue to focus on megapixel counts with their new cameras, Apple is reportedly taking a different approach with the iPhone 6. Samsung’s Galaxy S5 will likely feature a 16-megapixel camera compared to the 13-megapixel unit on the S4. Sony’s recent high-end smartphones feature 20.7-megapixel cameras. And then there’s Nokia’s flagship Lumia 1020, which features a 41-megapixel shooter. But just like the iPhone 5s before it, Apple’s iPhone 6 will reportedly feature an 8-megapixel camera when it debuts later this year.

The China Post on Thursday relayed market chatter suggesting that Apple’s next-generation iPhone 6 will not feature a 13-megapixel or 16-megapixel camera as had been previously rumored. Instead, the upcoming handset will apparently sport an 8-megapixel unit that touts improvements in other areas.

“According to Nomura Securities, Largan’s recently lagging performance in the market is caused by rumors that Apple may adopt an 8 mega-pixel (MP) camera with improved optical image stabilization on its upcoming handset, instead of the 16 MP upgrade anticipated by industry observers,” The China Post’s Ted Chen wrote. “Apple’s decision is based on the design requirement to retain the handset’s more portable form factor, said Nomura Securities.”

The latest rumors suggest that Apple is prepping two new iPhone models that will debut this year. The first is supposedly an iPhone phablet that could launch as early as May, and the second is the iPhone 6, which will supposedly be thinner than the iPhone 5s and will feature a larger 4.7-inch display that reaches nearly to the edges of the device on either side.

A photo of what is reportedly the iPhone 6′s chassis leaked earlier this week, and it indeed supports rumors that the iPhone 6 will be thinner and wider than its predecessors.

Apple's Crystal Ball says 2014 is going to be a huge year for them.

In a memo to employees, Cook said, "We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love."

It would be easy to dismiss this as bluster from the CEO. What else would he say to employees: Hey guys, great year, let's take 2014 off to recharge?

In this case, though, the key phrase from the earnings call is "new ones," as in new product categories, which hints at something other than an iPhone or an iPad in 2014. 

Cook has been fairly forthright about Apple's product timeline. In April, he said,  "We will have some really great stuff in the fall and all across 2014." A day before fall officially began, Apple started selling the iPhone 5S and 5C. 

He also warned that Apple wouldn't release a cheap iPhone. And sure enough, Apple didn't release a cheap iPhone.

So, we're expecting new products in 2014, and a new product category. 

Here, specifically, is what we're expecting:

• A bigger iPhone. The rumor mill is cranking hard on this one. We'll be stunned if the iPhone only comes in 4-inch and 3.5-inch sizes next year. We expect Apple to make a 5-inch iPhone. There's talk Apple will do a big, 6-inch phablet-style phone as well. We're not expecting a phablet, but we we would love it.
• The iPad Pro. Rumor mill cranking hard on this one, too. There's talk of Apple doing a 12-inch iPad. There's also talk that it's going to redefine the laptop. There's a good chance these two rumors overlap, and Apple creates some sort of hybrid product. 
• A better Apple maps. Apple didn't hire a bunch of people with mapping expertise to sit on their hands. They better release a radically improved Apple Maps next year. 
• A new look for Apple's Mac operating system. It's weird that Apple's design language is inconsistent. We expect uniformity with the Mac OS matching iOS in 2014.

Here's other stuff we're expecting, but we're not certain will happen:

• The iWatch. We're not 100% certain we'll see an iWatch next year. It seems like Apple started staffing up for the iWatch team this year. To get a product out the door in 12 months would be amazing. But, you may say to yourself, didn't Tim Cook say "new" product categories in 2014? The iPad Pro would technically fill the "new" product category slot for Apple. So, maybe the iWatch is a 2015 thing.
• Changes to the Apple retail stores. Apple's retail stores need some polish. With a new retail chief we expect subtle changes next year. A bigger revamp is probably coming in 2015.
• Something with TV. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster thinks a physical television is coming. We're skeptical, about that, but we think something happens. Maybe it's opening up the Apple TV (the little box) to developers. Maybe it's updating the Apple TV to be motion controlled. Maybe it is a 60-inch Apple television. Who knows! We just think it will be something.
• Refinements to iOS 7. It's amazing Apple put out iOS 7 in 2013. It seems like it overhauled its whole OS in ~8 months. When you rush, you make some mistakes, and we expect Apple to clean up the mistakes next year.
• A Retina iMac. Everything else is Retina with Apple, so why not the iMac?
• A Retina MacBook Air.  See above.
• A 4K monitor. Zzzzzzz, we know. But, Apple should have a sharp monitor to match its new Mac Pro.

And that's about it! It should be another big year for Apple.

While we're here, it's worth noting that what we're expecting in 2014 from Apple will be thanks to the combination of Tim Cook and Jony Ive as the company's leaders.

It's possible that in 2014, Apple will make gadgets with screen sizes of 2-inches, 3.5-inches, 4-inches, 5-inches, 6-inches, 7.8-inches, 9.7-inches, 11-inches, 12-inches, 13.3-inches, 21.5-inches, 27-inches, and 60-inches.

That's an almost-Samsungian level of product variety. And it's only possible because Cook has the logistical and organizational discipline to make it happen.

Ive's job is to dream up the gadgets. Cook's job is to make them an affordable reality.

In 2014, we should see this in full effect.

Samsung reportedly working on Galaxy phone with wraparound display

The Galaxy Round is Samsung’s first commercial attempt to bring a curved display to its smartphones, but the next evolution of the new technology might be right around the corner. Bloomberg reports that Samsung is planning to release a Galaxy smartphone with a wraparound display in 2014 that will make use of the Youm technology currently featured in the Round. According to Bloomberg’s sources, “the three-sided display may be used in the S or Note series of premium handsets or may be the first in a new line.” Each of the three sides will function independent of one another.

This report lends some credence to the rumor that the Galaxy Round is nothing more than a prototype. Samsung might have beaten LG to the market, but if Apple plans on releasing its own curved display devices next year, the competition is going to become significantly more intense.

“Samsung is the dominant player,”  said analyst Lee Do Hoon. “That gives it a competitive advantage over Apple in the race to make phones with bendable displays.”

Apple releases iOS 7.0.4 Possible jailbreak?

Apple has just released its iOS 7.0.4 update for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch lineups. The new software version is now available to all users with an iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPad Air, iPad (third and fourth generations), iPad 2, iPad mini or fifth-generation iPod touch. The release is a minor update with bug fixes including a fix for a FaceTime issue that impacted all devices. It follows iOS 7.0.3, which was pushed out in late October with a number of updates, not the least of which was the ability to disable the zooming transition animations that were making some users sick.

iOS 7 was first released in September and according to Apple, it took less than a week for the new operating system to be installed on more than 200 million devices. We said in a preview that iOS 7 is more about renovation than innovation, but we also found it to be the perfect balance of new design details and familiar functionality. Not everyone agrees, of course, and the new mobile platform has been panned by several experts and developers.

iOS 7.0.4 is available starting immediately as an over the air (OTA) update, and it can be installed by navigating to General > Software Update in iOS’s Settings app. The update can also be downloaded and installed using Apple’s iTunes software on a computer.

Apple's iPad Mini with Retina Display Available Today

Apple announced that its new iPad Mini with a Retina Display will be available starting today at Apple's online store. The tablet, which was announced last month, still has a smaller 7.9-inch display than the full-size iPad, but now that display has significantly better resolution.
The 2048 x 1536 resolution screen is much crisper, making photos, videos and text appear sharper. The tablet starts now at $399, rather than the $329 the original Mini cost. However, Apple is still keeping that original, lower-resolution Mini on shelves for $299.
Of course, the two smaller tablet siblings are also joined by the iPad Air, which has a larger 9.7-inch display and a higher $499 starting price. The Air and the new iPad Mini with Retina really only differ in size. They both have Apple's new A7 processor, a similar design and Retina Displays. Apple will also still offer the iPad 2 for $399.
Though the new iPad mini goes on sale today, brick and mortar Apple stores won't sell it to walk-in customers directly. Instead, customers will need to place an order online and request in-store pickup, instead of just buying one on the spot at an Apple store. However, the new iPads will also be sold through AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

It's Going to Be an iPad Christmas

That's four iPads available from Apple this holiday season to fight on the competitive tablet battlefield. Microsoft's Surface 2, Amazon's Kindle Fire HDX and Google's Nexus 7 are all being marketed by the respective companies as better alternatives to the iPad. However, while Apple's iPad sales slowed last quarter with 14.1 million sold versus the 14.6 million in the previous quarter, Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that he expects this to be an "iPad Christmas."

"We continue to view the tablet market as 'huge.' We see it as a large opportunity for us. We are not solely focused on unit share, as we've said many times, but on usage and customer satisfaction and other things that are very important to us," Cook said last month on the company's earnings call.
And analysts and reviewers tend to believe the same, that Apple continues to have the lead in the competitive market. While the other companies have come up with clever new hardware and software features, Apple's new thinner and lighter tablets and the availability of over 475,000 apps continues to put the tablet pioneer in the lead, even if the prices are higher.
"At $399, the new iPad Mini is certainly one of the more expensive 8-inch tablets on the market and a few multiples of the price beyond the least expensive Android tablets," Ross Rubin, principal analyst for Reticle Research, told ABC News. "However, it includes premium components including the high-resolution display and high-end A7 processor."