14 DAY TRIAL // Tim Cook and his troops are preparing to make history this year with the release of an army of revolutionary products. However, one of them has been delayed ‘till next year, according to a research note from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo has often been accurate in his predictions about Apple, and he is known to have solid ties to the supply chain in Asia, where many of the components for iDevices and Macs are manufactured and the end-devices get assembled.
So it’s pretty much a given that the media will pay attention to anything this guy has to say about Apple’s roadmap for 2014. He has released a white paper to show investors what he and his firm believe Apple will do this year, and it looks very promising from a shareholder standpoint.
But it looks equally exciting from a customer’s position as well. The roadmap is spotted with new products like iWatch, a revamped Apple TV, two redesigned iPhones – one of which is essentially a phablet –, and various upgrades for existing products like the all-in-one iMac or the MacBook line of laptops.
One product in particular is mentioned as in the cards but not for 2014: the 13-inch iPad for business, creatives, and education.
Rumored to launch this year, the device has been in the news enough times to consider it a probability, not just a geek’s wet dream. Apple was even said to have started sampling display panels for the thing, but it turns out something’s wrong and the company is pushing its launch into 2015.
From Kuo’s research note:
“We believe Apple is working on a 12.9” iPad to generate new growth momentum. Apple will want to boost shipments and profits by offering a better entertainment and productivity experience with a 12.9” iPad. But we think this product is unlikely to come out this year. With the 12.9” iPad, we think Apple will come up with a new user interface that’s more innovative and intuitive, so that input will be as efficient as a device with keyboard.”
As the savvy reader will notice, Kuo is making a reference to an all-new operating system, perhaps a hybrid OS combining key features from OS X and iOS. Although Apple’s head of software engineering, Craig Federighi, has denied such plans in a recent interview, who’s to say he’s not lying in the interest of his company’s welfare?