This Week's Apple Rumors, Ranked From Dumbest to Most Plausible - Wired

Tim Cook introduces the iPad mini at a 2012 media event. Photo: John Bradley/WIRED

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 most are totally bogus. We parse the week’s rumors for you, ranking them in order from “utterly ridiculous” to “duh, of course.” First up…

ASK AGAIN LATER: Big Changes to Apple Device Displays in 2014

A report from Korean site ET News suggests Apple has some major changes in store for its display lineup next year. Some items make more sense than others. On the more likely end: The iPad mini will get Retina display treatment, Apple will increase the efficiency of its notebook LED displays, and the company could deliver an iPhone with a larger screen. The report also suggests Apple will begin adopting OLED displays, which CEO Tim Cook has shunned in the past for not reproducing colors accurately. It could make sense on a smaller wearable device, though. Apple could also be working on a 12- or 13-inch iPad model, a rumor we’ve heard before. On the less plausible side, the report says that Apple is going to increase reliance on Samsung for displays, which doesn’t make sense — Apple has been diversifying its manufacturing portfolio to decrease reliance on its top rival in recent months. It also says the next iPhone will feature a display larger than 5 inches. While that’s the Android phone trend, I’m still skeptical that Apple would go that large with the iPhone’s display because it makes one-handed use considerably more difficult. Then again, maybe Apple has a clever way to get around that in mind.

ASK AGAIN LATER: New iPads Could Be Getting 8 MP Cameras

We’re not the biggest fans of the whole taking pictures with your tablet thing, but if you are, you may be pleased to hear that the next round of iPads could feature 8-megapixel shooters with a larger aperture. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who seems to have fairly reliable insights into Apple’s supply chain, is the source of this report. Apple could include the same camera the iPhone 5s was recently upgraded with, which features an f/2.2 aperture.

SIGNS POINT TO YES: Apple Acquired Personal Assistant App Cue

Apple may be bringing in an outside team to beef up Siri and Notification Center’s smarts. The company reportedly acquired personal assistant app Cue this week. Cue’s iPhone app, which was similar in function to Google Now, shut down on Tuesday of this week. The acquisition has been confirmed by multiple sources, but Apple is keeping its lips sealed on the matter.

SIGNS POINT TO YES: Fifth Gen iPad Shown Off in New Videos

The next generation iPad must be close to launching, because each week we see more and more photos and leaks. This time, we’ve got purported video hands-ons with the yet-to-be-released device. Both videos come from sources that have leaked accurate parts in the past, and with rumors of another Apple event scheduled for mid October, it’s possible they could be the real deal.

WITHOUT A DOUBT: Retina iPad Mini Supply Will Be Limited

Apple’s highly anticipated high-resolution Retina display iPad mini may be facing supply chain delays, according to Reuters. The pint-sized iPad is reportedly only now going into mass production, which means there will likely be shortages through the holiday season. When Apple introduces a new product — particularly a new Retina display one — there’s always production delays at the start. We saw that with the third generation iPad, and we saw it with the Retina display MacBook Pro, too. We’re expecting the tablet to be unveiled at Apple’s next media event.

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