iPad

Photos of what is claimed to be the front glass and bezel assembly from Apple’s (AAPL) fifth-generation iPad leaked on Wednesday, reinforcing earlier reports of a major upcoming redesign. An image of the new iPad’s purported rear shell was published this past January, showing a redesigned case that closely resembles the iPad mini. Now, French blog Nowhereelse.fr has photos of what it claims to be the new iPad’s front bezel and glass display cover. While their authenticity is not guaranteed, the photos show a new thinner bezel that aligns with earlier reports suggesting the new iPad will have a smaller overall footprint while maintaining the same 9.7-inch display size. An additional photo of the purported fifth-generation iPad bezel follows below. More →

While the tech press awaits invitations for a fifth-generation iPad unveiling rumored to take place later this month, a new report claims the new Apple (AAPL) tablet won’t be launching anytime soon. Citing multiple unnamed sources in Apple’s supply chain, Digitimes on Tuesday reported that volume production of Apple’s fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad will not begin until July or August. Earlier reports stated that Apple’s next iPad would launch in April but this new report, if accurate, suggests the tablet won’t be released until this fall. Apple’s fifth iPad is expected to feature a complete redesign that adopts the iPad mini’s design identity and reduces the overall footprint of the device.

Apple’s (AAPL) iPad has one big advantage going for it that the iPhone can’t match: it doesn’t rely on wireless carriers to be distributors. Barron’s points us to a new note from Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi outlining the reasons why it’s “highly unlikely” that Apple’s share of the tablet market will ever fall to the level of its smartphone market share. The most important factor, writes Sacconaghi, is that ”the iPad has stronger global distribution through Apple stores, carrier partners and network of resellers, including third-party retail outlets (e.g., Best Buy, Wal-Mart, carrier stores) and third-party websites (e.g., Amazon.com).” In contrast, the iPhone is distributed by just 240 carriers worldwide, which Sacconaghi notes is “significantly lower than Samsung (005930) and Nokia (NOK), which have essentially global distribution, and Blackberry (BBRY), which is distributed by >2x the number of carriers.”

Apple (AAPL) has long been rumored to be prepping a completely redesigned full-size iPad that will debut this year, and the new tablet will reportedly be unveiled at a press conference later this month. A number of well-known Apple bloggers held a public discussion on social site Branch on Tuesday, and they covered a number of topics. Among them were Apple’s efforts to overhaul the user interface in iOS 7 and the company’s plans to unveil its next-generation iPad during a press conference this month. Earlier reports suggested that Apple will release a redesigned iPad this year and images of a purported rear shell from the fifth-generation iPad leaked in January, revealing a new design resembling Apple’s smaller iPad mini tablet.

The iPad mini might be a much hungrier cannibal than Apple (AAPL) had anticipated. Unnamed sources have told Digitimes that Apple has drastically cut its 9.7-inch iPad shipment estimates from 60 million to 33 million in 2013, due largely to the unanticipated popularity of the iPad mini. According to Digitimes‘ sources, Apple is ramping up iPad mini production and has boosted its projected shipments from 40 million to 55 million this year. However, Apple’s supposed new estimates also show a possible drop in overall iPad demand since it now projects to ship 88 million iPads and iPad minis this year, down from the 100 million reported earlier.