Each week, there are dozens of rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what’s coming out of Cupertino next. This week, there are even more than usual thanks to a host of analyst predictions and Apple's impending WWDC. Some are legit, but many are totally bogus. As always, we’ve parsed the rumors, ranking them in order from “utterly ridiculous” to “duh, of course.” First up…
DON'T COUNT ON IT: Apple Considering Buying Square Payment Platform
Sources with Square, the mobile payment platform started by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, tell ReCode that Apple (and Google) have seriously considered acquiring the startup over the past year. Google is rumored to be the more serious of the two bidders. I think that Square is too high profile now for an Apple acquisition -- Apple usually likes to buy smaller, lesser known startups and either incorporates their technologies into its own products, uses their IP, or puts their talented staff to work on existing Apple projects. As with iBeacons and NFC, Square is a platform that Apple can work around to create its own unique solution.
ASK AGAIN LATER: Flexible iWatch Circuit Boards Nearing Production, Coming in Two Sizes
Digitimes reports that three companies, Zhen Ding Technology, Flexium Interconnect, and Holding and Career Technology, are shipping the flexible circuit board (FPCB) proofs destined for the iWatch to Apple before they go into mass production. The much-anticipated device is expected to launch in September, according to Digitimes' industry sources. This report could be true, but there's no way to validate. Apple's supply chain dealings, especially this early on, aren't easy to read. A second rumor this week, a research note AppleInsider found from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggests that the device will come in two sizes (1.3 and 1.5 inches), which makes sense. The device is expected to feature a Sapphire crystal display and monitor various fitness and health stats.
ASK AGAIN LATER: Apple's Inventive Status Indicators Could Save Battery Life
Apple developed some creative ways to notify users about the status of their mobile device or laptop, according to a European patent application uncovered by Patently Apple. The patent describes how a status indicator, like a blinking LED light, could ring around the circumference of a smart pen, or be hidden underneath "transparent windows such as logo-shaped windows" (think the Apple logo on MacBooks). It goes on to illustrate how the bezel of a notebook could become a status indicator, relaying information about the date, time, temperature, and battery percentage -- things that normally take up screen real estate. In this case, the bezel would be touch sensitive so that you can interact with those data fields. This tech could be employed using "liquid crystal droplets," polymer droplets ranging in size from 1 to 10 microns. The patent outlines a handful of other new status indicator ideas, which you can explore for yourself here.
ASK AGAIN LATER: iTunes to Get Major Overhaul Following Lackluster iTunes Radio Reception
Apple could be dramatically revamping its iTunes Music Store, according to Billboard. With music downloads declining, the company had hoped its own streaming service, iTunes Radio would help staunch the bleeding, but it appears that hasn't worked. Only one to two percent of users end up buying tracks after listening to them. And so, the report says "Apple is being forced to consider options that would have been out of the question a few years earlier," like iTunes Radio or even creating an iTunes Store for Android users. It's not exactly clear how iTunes could or would change, though, especially considering the company redesigned its interface last year. A string of iTunes-related engineering hires also bolsters the rumor that iTunes is getting some sort of overhaul -- but not necessarily immediately.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Apple Baseband Chip Development Likely
Apple hired a couple senior RF engineers from Broadcom this year, which adds more heft to speculation that Apple will start developing its own baseband chips. But a JP Morgan analyst doesn't think we'll see the fruits of this R&D until at least 2015, since broadband processor development is "notoriously difficult." Apple does seem to be bringing more processor design and development in house, so these speculations could prove accurate.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: What to Expect From iOS 8 and OS X
9to5Mac's Mark Gurman outlined everything we know about iOS 8 and the next version of OS X. Most of the highlights we've heard before -- Apple Maps is going to see some big improvements, iTunes Radio will be getting its own standalone app, Text Edit and Preview will be getting iOS apps, and Voice over LTE support is likely. OS X 10.10 is also expected to be more heavily influenced by iOS 7 design-wise, which should be interesting to see.
SIGNS POINT TO YES: Leaked Slides, Analyst Insight Suggest Apple Working on Larger iPhone
Based on various supply chain reports, it seems very, very likely that the next iPhone is going to be larger -- the word is with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch display sizes. And according to internal slides revealed during the current bout of Apple v. Samsung trials, Apple could indeed be working on these larger handsets. Why? The slides include data about the iPhone’s shrinking growth rates, and say “Customers want what we don’t have.” They also note that the areas of largest smartphone growth are in inexpensive and large screen handsets. On top of that, KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo says that he expects two iPhones from Apple this year: a 4.7- and 5.5-inch version, the larger of which will sport a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel display, an A8 processor, and TouchID. Kuo also thinks they will feature NFC, but I'm still dubious on that point.
WITHOUT A DOUBT: 2014 iPads to Have Touch ID, Larger iPad in 2015
Another prediction from oft-correct KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo: 2014's batch of iPads will include Touch ID and an A8 processor. A larger 12.9-inch version won't debut until 2015, he says. While earlier this year, rumors pointed to a larger iPad arriving this fall, there are a lot of reasons why it would make sense to hold off on releasing it. With two sized iPhones being an almost guarantee, folks who may not feel they need a tablet now, but want a larger screened mobile device, may opt for the larger 5.5 inch model. Studies show people aren't upgrading their tablets as often as they used to, with processor speeds and performance as good as they are now. In short, the market for those looking to upgrade their iPad to a new model -- or add a larger model to the mix -- may be larger next year, when processor and battery life gains will be even more noticeable than with this year's models.
WITHOUT A DOUBT: Apple Exploring New Set Top Box
We’ve been hearing that Apple is working on a new set top box for months now. But that extensive rumor gets some additional validity this week by way of a Comcast/Time Warner FCC filing. “Apple tablets are viewing platforms for cable services even while Apple offers an online video service, Apple TV, and explores development of an Apple set-top box,” the filing states. According to Daisuke Wakabayashi, who uncovered the filing, due to the nature of the document, that statement is likely not speculation. KGI Securities' Kuo also thinks this box will include motion controls so you don't need to use a physical remote. Sounds plausible.
