Friday Apple Rumors: Updated iPads to Debut by April’s End

by Christopher Freeburn | February 15, 2013 1:06 pm

[1]Here are your Apple rumors[2] and AAPL news items for today:

Upcoming: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL[3]) will introduce its next-generation of iPads by the end of April[4], AppleInsider notes. That prediction comes from Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC[5]) analyst Gene Munster, who bases it on an analysis of Apple’s history of product debuts. Munster expects the a re-designed 9.7-inch iPad that will borrow some of the iPad Mini’s exterior styling, including reduced bezels and a thinner profile. He also says the company could release an updated iPad Mini with a retina screen. The updated iPad Mini, however, might be delayed until later in the year due limited supplies of the current model during the holiday shopping season. Munster also predicts that Apple will update its Apple TV media streaming box prior to launching its own-branded TV set, possibly by the end of the year.

Big Bets: Greenlight Capital, the hedge fund that is now suing Apple, increased the number of Apple shares it held by almost 50% during the final quarter of last year[6], the Financial Times notes. Greenlight, run by David Einhorn, is suing to prompt Apple to return more of its surplus cash to shareholders in the form of preferred shares. In the last quarter of 2012, Greenlight increased its holding in the company to 1.6 million shares, a 46% rise, while most rival hedge funds were selling Apple shares. Earlier this week, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook dismissed Greenlight’s lawsuit as a “silly sideshow.”

Retail Deal: Office supply shoppers will soon be able to buy Apple devices[7] at Staples (NASDAQ:SPLS[8]), the Mac Observer notes. Staples executives tweeted news of the deal with Apple. The office supply chain has carried Apple products at its stores in Canada for some time, but a new agreement with Apple will permit it to carry iPads, iPhones and Mac computers in the U.S. Apple products are sold at a number of other retail chains in the U.S., including Best Buy (NYSE:BBY[9]), Target (NYSE:TGT[10]), Radioshack (NYSE:RSH[11]) and Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT[12]), as well as at its own popular chain of Apple Stores.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors[13] stories.

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/02/friday-apple-rumors-updated-ipads-to-debut-by-aprils-end/

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