It’s been said that the
mark of a good craftsman is being able to make their work appear effortless.
. With this metric in mind, I’d like to make the following statement: DigiTimes
makes their job look incredibly difficult.
Earlier this
month, DigiTimes claimed that Apple would release a larger, 5-inch iPhone this
year made of cheaper parts and aimed towards emerging markets. More 5-inch
iPhone rumors came in from the East yesterday, claiming that Apple could release
as many as 3 new phones this year.
Today, DigiTimes is backing
out of their previous cheap, 5-inch iPhone claims, backing a more common rumor
issued by the Wall Street Journal.
Now, DigiTimes is still
claiming Apple will release 2 new iPhones, but said they’ll both be 4-inches
instead of 5.
“Previously it was said that
Apple would release a lower-cost version of its iPhone with a bigger screen in
2013. But the sources claimed that Apple is indeed developing an iPhone with a
bigger screen, but that will not be among the models to be launched this year,”
writes DigiTimes in their report today.
According to 9 to 5 Mac, it’s
likely DigiTimes simply saw HTC’s latest unreleased smartphone, assumed it was
an iPhone, and began reporting that Apple would release a 5-inch iPhone sometime
this year.
Today’s DigiTimes report also
claims that one of these 2 new iPhones will “target the midrange market,” a
notable difference from all these “cheap” iPhone rumors which are flying around
like mad.
According to DigiTimes, each
of these 2 new iPhones will feature Apple’s new in-cell display technology, the
very same technology which has been rumored to cause a logjam in iPhone 5
production.
“However, the sources noted it
is still yet to be determined if Apple will have adequate supply of in-cell
touch panels in 2013 for a lower-cost version of the iPhone due to mass
production issues from the technology in 2012. The iPhone 5 took a hit in sales
during 2012 as a result of poor yields for in-cell technology, but the sources
are now saying those yields are improving,” reads the DigiTimes
report.
Though this report does come
from DigiTimes, which has a storied knack for getting things wrong, it is
refreshing that this rumor makes no mention of the “iPhone Math” or some other
cheap, plastic iPhone aimed towards emerging markets.
On Sunday, Chinese sources
claimed that Apple would release a 4.8-inch device called the “iPhone Math.”
These rumors were quickly dismissed for several reasons. First, these rumors
made no mention of the resolution of the screen, an important piece of data
which would accompany a valid rumor. Secondly, this rumor cited components
suppliers.
As far as the “iPhone Math”
moniker is concerned, these suppliers would have no idea what Apple plans to
call their unreleased iPhone. Finally, the notion of Apple releasing 3 new
phones in one year, the last of which merely features a better camera, is very
difficult to believe.
Today’s report from DigiTimes
should still be taken with that proverbial grain of salt; but it seems like
they’re finally getting closer to reality, which is nice.
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