Apple looks like it is planning to dominate the holiday season with new gadgets to waiting customers.
According to Apple Insider, Apple will unleash eight new products set to go on sale, including the iPhone 5, iPad Mini, new iPods and updated Macs.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo with KGI Securities, September is also likely to see the unveiling of a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, a new iPod touch, and a new 21.5-inch iMac.
Then, in October, reports have indicated that Apple is planning to hold a second media event at which it will unveil a smaller iPad with a 7.85-inch display. Joining the so-called "iPad mini" in October, according to Kuo, will be a new iPod nano, a "modified new iPad," and a new 27-inch iMac.
As for the "new iPad" that Apple is apparently planning to launch, Kuo said the hardware will look largely identical to the current model. He said the most noticeable change will be adoption of the new 9-pin dock connector Apple is expected to feature in the new iPhone, iPod touch and iPad mini.
The new iPod touch and iPod nano will also feature new panel technology and sport all-new designs this year, according to Kuo. In particular, the new iPod nano is expected to feature wireless connectivity that will allow it to download content from the iTunes Store and iCloud.
Finally, as for the new Mac hardware, Kuo said the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will feature an all-new design and an entry price between $1,100 and $1,300. He expects strong demand for the new notebook will make it difficult for Apple to meet market demand prior to mid or late October. However, the new iMac will not have Retina display, just updates and improved display quality.
Many are looking forward to the hotly anticipated iPhone 5.
t is rumored that Apple will launch the new iPhone 5 on Sept. 12, and then release the phone at Sept. 21 in the U.S.
Apple is also expected to launch a new iPad Mini that will rival directly with the Kindle Fire 2 on the same iPhone 5 special event. Some reports are now saying that Apple will not announce it on the same day as the phone, and that it will launch in October.
Reports say that the new iPhone 5 will have a bigger display, be thinner and lighter than the iPhone 4S, and will be able to run on 4G LTE technology. It was also said that it will feature a 19-pin mini connector and it will be equipped with a new technology called in-cell, which integrates touch sensors into the LCD, making it unnecessary to have a separate touch-screen layer. This creates a thinner screen and improves the quality of displayed images. It will also feature tiny SIM cards called nano-SIMS.
As for the iPad Mini, Reports say that the new little iPad will feature a 7 to 8 inch IGZO display with 330 pixels/inch. It will be more affordable. It is also assumed that the new tablet will feature Apple's upcoming operating system, iO6, which includes a new, Google-free Maps app, and Passbook, and promises better Facebook integration, better maps, and better video conferences that use cellular data, according to Entrepreneur.com. It is also said to have a smaller dock connector and thinner bezel.