Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:
Screen Issues: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) priced its new iPad Mini above most analysts’ expectations due to the cost of its touchscreen, DigiTimes says. Unnamed sources at Apple’s Asian component manufacturers say the GF2 Dito technology used to make the thin displays has proven difficult to mass produce, raising costs. In fact, the iPad Mini’s displays are estimated to be only $5 cheaper than the touchscreens used on the 9.7-inch iPad. Apple unveiled the new iPad Mini at a special media event on Tuesday. The iPad Mini is priced at $329 for its most basic version. Many analysts had expected Apple to price the smaller-iPad below $300 to effectively challenge 7-inch tablets from Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Samsung.
Trademark Secured: Apple has finally been granted the Granny Smith apple logo once held by the Beatles’ Apple Corps, Patently Apple notes. Obtaining the rights to the logo is the final step in the resolution of a long-running battle between Apple and Apple Corps. Under a 2007 settlement, Apple Corps agreed to transfer ownership of all of its logos to Apple. The agreement paved the way for Apple’s exclusive deal to sell the Beatles’ catalog on iTunes, now in its second year. The Granny Smith logo became a registered trademark of Apple on Oct. 24.
Supplier Shift: The majority of the displays used in Apple’s iPad Mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro and updated iPad will be made by LG Display (NYSE:LPL), AppleInsider notes. AU Optronics (NYSE:AUO) will also supply some displays for the iPad Mini, though reports say AU is experiencing manufacturing problems with the displays and has received a much lower share of the orders compared to LG. Reportedly not included in the orders is Samsung, a long-time Apple supplier. Relations between the Apple and Samsung have become so strained over patent-infringement litigation that Samsung had to recently deny reports that it had canceled its LCD supply contract with Apple.
For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.
