iPad

In addition to scoring rumors about the low-cost iPhone on Thursday, Japanese blog Macotakara also published the latest news on the fifth-generation iPad, which it says will likely launch after Apple releases the iPhone 5S in September and will feature a rear microphone located directly next to the camera, similar to the design of the iPhone 5. AppleInsider notes that early prototypes of the iPad mini also had a rear microphone but that this design was apparently ditched for the final version of the product. Earlier rumors have indicated that the fifth-generation iPad will take more design cues from the iPad mini, such as having thinner side bezels.

It’s never surprising when Apple decides to make new versions of its products lighter and thinner than earlier models but a new report from Digitimes suggests that the company could really outdo itself with the fifth-generation iPad. Digitimes‘ sources say that the next iPad will be between 25% and 33% lighter than the fourth-generation model and will go on sale starting in September. Given that the fourth-generation iPad weighed in at 652 grams, a 25% reduction in weight would mean that the fifth-generation model would weigh just 489 grams. The publication’s sources also say that Apple will start production of the new completely redesigned tablet in July and that “LG Display, Samsung Display and Sharp are expected to be the suppliers of display panels” for the device.

Despite increased competition from Samsung, Amazon and other rivals, Apple’s iPad is still America’s favorite tablet according to J.D. Power and Associates’ most recent survey. The organization released Volume 1 of its 2013 U.S. Tablet Satisfaction Study on Monday and found that the iPad still ranks highest in customer satisfaction among all tablets, albeit by a narrowing margin. J.D.Powers’ latest survey polled 1,857 consumers in the U.S. and found that Apple’s iPad scored 836 out of a possible 1,000 points. Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet line scored 829 and Samsung’s tablets retained their No. 3 position with 822 points. A graph that illustrating the results of the survey follows below. More →

Apple’s fifth-generation iPad hasn’t yet been unveiled, but at this point we likely have a fairly good idea of what to expect. The new “iPad 5″ will be thinner and lighter than Apple’s current model — which seems like an obvious assumption unless you consider the fact that the third-generation iPad was both thicker and heavier than its predecessor — and it will seemingly have a smaller overall footprint as well. In line with a series of earlier leaks, a newly published photo from case maker Tactus allegedly shows the next-generation iPad’s rear shell. It also reinforces numerous earlier reports suggesting the iPad 5 will feature a big redesign that adopts the iPad mini’s design aesthetic. According to a recent report from KGI Securities, which has a solid track record when it comes to information about unannounced Apple devices, the next-generation iPad will launch this coming August or September.