Mikey Campbell
Apple is expected to start rolling out new products starting in the second quarter, says one informed analyst, including the much rumored iWatch, redesigned "iPhone 6," a 12-inch MacBook Air and a low-cost iMac.
According to a research note obtained by AppleInsider, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the third quarter is going to be a big one for Apple as the company is primed to release revamped iPad Airs and iPad minis, the iWatch in two sizes, an all-new 4.7-inch iPhone, an Apple TV upgrade, an all-new 12-inch MacBook and an update to the MacBook Pro lineup.
With the glut of new products, not to mention new product categories, Kuo expects the third quarter to be a hugely important time for Apple and how the public perceives its future.
"We believe the rumored iWatch will be Apple's most important product this year, carrying much more weight than iPhone 6," Kuo writes, adding, "as market feedback for the product should reveal whether Apple still has the ability to continue making game-changing products with Tim Cook at the helm."
If iWatch is a hit, Kuo believes that in five to ten years Apple's competition in the sector will no longer be tech companies, but fashion brand vendors.
The analyst says Apple's success hinges on five key factors: replacement demand from larger iPhones; whether the new iPads' minor upgrades will carry momentum in 2014; whether the all-new 12-inch MacBook Air will redefine the notebook user experience; how much low-price iMac can boost overall shipments; and App Store availability on Apple TV.
Chip Loder
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
60 Comments
I understand if there are logistics reasons for releasing everything around the same time at the end of the year but this seems more like a choice than bad luck with finished products you don't want to sit on for another 3-9 months. I really wish Apple would go back to spacing out their release cycles as well as having more events. [quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/178070/apple-to-roll-out-glut-of-new-products-in-q3-including-iwatch-in-two-sizes-all-new-iphones-starting#post_2513438"]...informed analyst[/quote] That made me laugh then I realized it wasn't suppose to be a joke.
[quote name="SolipsismX" url="/t/178070/apple-to-roll-out-glut-of-new-products-in-q3-including-iwatch-in-two-sizes-all-new-iphones-12-macbook-and-more#post_2513443"] That made me laugh then I realized it wasn't suppose to be a joke.[/quote] I will never understand the Kuo-loving at AI. You'd think they'd practically promoted him to ghost writer.
The last time we saw a timeline like this, EVERY SINGLE POINT ON IT WAS WRONG. WHY WOULD WE CARE ABOUT ANOTHER ONE?
Perhaps they need to release ios8 before they can support the watch, TV and new phone features?
GLUT: Overload, overfill, related to glutton, an oversupply
Apple to roll out an OVERLOAD OVERFILL OVERSUPPLY WAY TOO MUCH THAN WHAT PEOPLE NEED in Q3
That's what you wrote, dude. Heavy duty editorializing rather than just reporting
Why the negative word? How about POSITIVE words if you must editorialize? Suggestions include:
Apple to roll out CORNUCOPIA of new products
Apple to roll out WONDERLAND of new products
Apple to roll out PLENTIFUL BLESSED ABUNDANCE
TREASURE TROVE of new products
Apple to roll out NEW PRODUCTS APLENTY!
AHOY APPLE GOODNESS! FANTASYLAND of innovation and candy-colored RAINBOWS of invention coming in Q3
Okay, does that sound inappropriately biased? Well so does GLUT