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Don’t expect any new Apple products any time soon: despite rumours, the iPad and iPhone company says there’ll be no new kit before this autumn or even next year — but we can expect “a lot more surprises”.
With the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S4 — out this week — putting pressure on the iPhone, rumours began to circulate that Apple would reveal the new iPhone earlier than usual, perhaps in the summer. But Apple has played down those suggestions, pointing to the end of the year and into next year too.
“Our teams are hard at work,” said Apple boss Tim Cook, “on some amazing new hardware, software and services we can’t wait to introduce this fall and throughout 2014.”
“We’ve got a lot more surprises in store.”
It has been a while since Apple dropped a stone in the pool of an existing technology market in the form of a disruptive product like the iPod, iPhone or iPad. None of them were new technology, but they transformed the market. Cook harks back to the “culture that brought the iPhone and the iPad”, suggesting something more exciting and different than a smaller iPad or yet another slight iPhone update.
Those surprises could include a smart watch, dubbed the iWatch, or perhaps the long-rumoured Apple television.
Smart watches look like they could be the next big thing, with Google, LG and Samsung all reportedly working on high-tech timepieces. Hit play on our video below to see what wrist-worn wonders are on their way.
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iWatch Rumours
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Apple money
Cook dropped the hints about new kit while discussing Apple’s recent financial performance, which saw profits positively nosedive to a paltry $9.5bn. Chickenfeed! They’ll be lucky to still be around next year!
But despite these results, let’s not forget that Apple is still making money hand over fist — not to mention sitting on a pile of cash that would make the veins in Scrooge McDuck’s eyes itch.
“What many forget though is Apple’s safety net of $137bn cash and liquid assets,” says Professsor Loizos Heracleous, of Warwick Business School. “Apple could easily buy any new technologies that appear to pose a threat to it, that offer synergies to its own offerings, or that can open up new markets for it.”
Should Apple release something sooner rather than later to challenge the S4 and other rivals? What surprises would you like to see? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
