by Adam Patterson | March 23, 2012 11:27 am
[1]Here are your Apple rumors[2] and AAPL news items for Friday:
China Now Top Purchaser of Apple Handhelds: Despite some business friction[3], China has fast become the world’s top activator of new iPhones and iPads. According to Bloomberg, China surpassed the U.S. as the top activator[4] of Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL[5]) handhelds last month — averaging 23% of the world’s new activations above America’s 22%. The same phenomenon apparently was true around activation of Google‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG[6]) tablets and smartphones, with China’s percent of monthly Android activations climbing to 23% against America’s 22%. Evidence points toward China rapidly becoming a voracious consumer of smartphone and tablet technology — as recently as January 2011, China only accounted for 8% of the world’s activations while the U.S. held 28%.
iPhone 5 May Get External Redesign, Launch Soon: According to a release from eWeek.com, the iPhone 5 might feature a renovated screen[7]. Rumors are circulating that the next generation of Apple’s smartphone might feature a 4.6-inch “Retina Display” screen, replacing the iPhone’s traditional 3.5-inch fixture. There also is speculation that the iPhone 5 will debut with wireless LTE compatibility, as that feature was ingrained in the new iPad. While unconfirmed, rumors are building around a possible launch date in the second quarter of this year.
Next-Gen Macbooks in October?: PopHerald reports that in addition to a possible 2012 iPhone 5 launch, new Macbooks might be coming this year[8] as well. There is building premonition that Apple is planning 2012 as a debut spree — with consumer buzz sustained by next-gen Macbooks premiering in sequence with the iPhone 5. Apple recently has been gaining laptop market share[9], gradually siphoning customers from main competitors Dell (NASDAQ:DELL[10]) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ[11]).
Adam Patterson is an Assistant Editor of InvestorPlace. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities[12]. For more from the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors[13] stories.
Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/03/friday-apple-rumors-china-now-worlds-top-iphone-purchaser/
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