"It's been way too long" reads the invitation Apple sent to tech media today, presumably to unveil some sort of new iPad type thing.
Perhaps that line was intended somewhat ironically, as media gathered in Cupertino just last month to hear all about the iPhone6 and Apple watch. This (far less sexy, let's all admit it) event, scheduled for 10 a.m. on October 16 at Apple's Cupertino campus, has tech pundits not just pondering what's up with iPads, but has them expecting new desktop computers and info on a new operating system.
According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the entire tablet industry's been in a bit of a slump, and Apple's current line of iPads peaked in the last quarter of 2013, at $11.5 billion in sales. That's the same quarter that Apple had its last tablet product launch, the iPad Air, which was announced on October 22 of last year. Compare that to last quarter this year, when Apple only made $5.8 billion in iPad revenue, and the downturn is clear. So, yes, it's probably time for some new product blood.
So what will be announced at the October 16 event? Rumors include:
- A gold iPad color option
- An iPad Touch ID fingerprint scanner
- A faster, thinner and lighter iPad and iPad mini
- A larger 12.9-inch iPad aimed at the enterprise market
- A 27-inch retina iMac
- The official launch of OS X Yosemite, with which "iPhones and computers can better pair off to start a call or text conversation on one device and continue it on the other."
