Now that we're officially less than a week away from WWDC, all the attention has rightly turned towards what Apple will announce at the event. With the Beats acquisition finally announced recently, that also means that it's one less rumor to go around, leaving WWDC to get all the attention.
Various reports have already suggested that this year, Apple will be releasing a myriad of new and exciting products. From the iPhone 6 to the iWatch, iPad Pro to the 4th-gen Apple TV, the blogosphere as been inundated with rumor and speculation. Indeed, Tim Cook already noted earlier on in the year that Apple had some exciting "new product categories" lined up, and now his sidekick and SVP Eddy Cue has added that the fruit company's forthcoming roadmap comprises "the best product pipeline that [he's] seen in 25 years at Apple."
Following on from a report yesterday by a supply chain-connected analyst, who noted that Apple's iWatch would include a round watch face and begin production in a couple of months' time, another blog has noted that a further supplier has sent the device's wireless charging coils off for certification, and is currently awaiting approval.
Apple's annual WWDC event is only a matter of days away, and as developers and journalists descend on The Moscone Centre in San Francisco the anticipation of what Tim Cook and his executive will introduce is starting to grow exponentially. If this particular analyst's predictions ring true then a cheaper iMac as well as an iPhone 5s with 8GB of internal storage could make an appearance during the conference.
We told you yesterday on the news that some iPhone users in the United States and Australia had reported that their iPhones were being held ransom by someone going by the name of Oleg Pliss, and that the situation was somewhat unclear. With users having their devices locked remotely via Apple's Find my iPhone feature, initial thoughts were that iCloud had potentially had a breach in security with accounts being compromised as a result.
Earlier on in the month, it came to light that Apple had struck a deal with Beats Electronics to purchase the audio-focused company, in a union that would serve as the Cupertino's costliest acquisition by some margin. Now, Apple has issued a press release offering official confirmation on the takeover, worth a cool $3 billion.
In terms of pricing, Apple's product line-up is inaccessible to many, and in particular, students. Beset by fees and general student debt, the purchase of a product like the iPad Air or iPad mini with Retina display is largely out of the question, and as such, Apple frequently offers discounts to those studying in university or college. Apparently, those two aforementioned slates are now subject to the Cupertino's special education pricing structure, with prices starting at $469 for the iPad Air and $379 for the Retina iPad mini.
New details are beginning to emerge regarding the elusive iWatch, which has been mentioned frequently in tech circles but as yet, conceded precious little by way of evidence. One analyst has taken a trip to Taiwan, where Apple's inaugural smartwatch is apparently being manufactured, and as well as learning that the device will spawn more than one model, has also discovered that it will have a round watch face.
It's almost that time of year again. The time of year where everyone sits down and feverishly flick between all the live blogs to try and get the lowdown on what is going on at WWDC. With this year's event kicking off on June 2nd, all eyes are now on the Moscone Center venue where Apple holds its yearly developer conference.
Apple's Touch ID technology may currently be something that is only enjoyed by those carrying an iPhone 5s, but according to the latest report coming out of KGI Research, that should be about to change.
