What can we expect from Apple Inc’s product launch event tomorrow?
Technology blog AllThingsD.com on Oct. 9 reported that Apple is expected to unveil a next-generation iPad and iPad Mini at the Yerba Buena Center for Arts in San Francisco, California, with the iPad 5 likely to feature a thinner design with an improved camera and running on Apple’s new 64-bit A7 chip, while it is anticipated that the iPad Mini 2 will have a retina display, and also feature the A7 chip.
According to AllThingsD.com, the US company will also release updated versions of the MacBook Pro line of desktop computers powered by Intel Corp’s latest Haswell processor plus a new Mac operating system, OS X Mavericks.
SUPPLY CHAIN
However, Yuanta Securities Corp (元大證券) analyst Vincent Chen (陳豊丰) said it is unlikely a new iPad Mini with a sharper retina-level display will be launched tomorrow, citing the brokerage’s recent supply chain checks.
“Although the supply chain may have shipped some related components for an iPad Mini with a retina display, the volume is small leading us to believe that Apple will not launch it on Oct. 22,” Chen said in a client note on Thursday.
“If Apple does in fact launch it on Oct. 22, we believe shipments will be limited in the fourth quarter of 2013,” he said.
CHANCE
Fubon Securities Co (富邦證券) analysts led by Arthur Liao (廖顯毅) also suggest that the chance of seeing an iPad Mini 2 equipped with a retina display is low.
“The new iPad 5 will have a sharper retina display of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, but we expect the iPad Mini 2 with retina will be launched in the first quarter of 2014, and the new iPad Mini will have 8-gigabyte storage,” Liao said on Wednesday.
As a result, the upcoming launches of the new iPad and MacBook Pro are likely to benefit several supply chain companies such as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd (鴻海), Largan Precision Co (大立光), Parade Technologies Ltd (譜瑞), Flexium Interconnect Inc (台郡), Quanta Computer Inc (廣達), Catcher Technology Co (可成) and Shin Zu Shing Co (新日興), Yuanta and Fubon analysts said.
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