Apple is reportedly cutting iPhone 5c production in half from 300,000 units to 150,000 units per day, according to claims by C Technology, which leaked a number of photos of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c ahead of their launches last month. As highlighted by Unwired View, gray market pricing for iPhone 5c units has also been falling as availability has remained solid...
Read the full story here... Source: Mac Rumours
According to AllThingsD, a production ramp up of the next generation iPhone should begin around the end of this month, confirming a recent report from Jefferies' Peter Misek.
Misek believes that Apple started small batch production of the iPhone 5S last month, but with the company now gearing up for mass production, it appears to be making final preparations for a launch later this year.
A report from earlier today suggested that iPhone 5S supplies will be constrained at launch, as it is with many new Apple product releases, perhaps because of low yields on a new fingerprint sensor that is expected in the device.
Some iPhone 5S prototypes have previously leaked, showcasing features such as a dual-LED flash and a slightly larger battery, as well as an A7 chip. Misek, for his part, believes that the 5S production ramp is in addition to one that's in progress for the rumored lower-cost iPhone. From AllThingsD:
Interestingly, Misek says that iPhone production ramp up will follow one that’s already under way for Apple’s long-rumored lower-cost iPhone, a device he figures the company will price somewhere between $300 and $400 — without a subsidy. He estimates production plans at 25 million to 30 million units, split pretty much evenly across the 5s and its new lower-cost sibling. And he says the new entry probably won’t be competitive with the truly low-end handsets popular in emerging markets.
Last year, at roughly this same point in the July, we saw similar reports of increased production ahead of the release of the iPhone 5.
Source: Mac Rumours
It's still a bit light on specifics, but Microsoft announced today that it's increased production of the Surface with Windows RT and is planning to expand its retail presence beyond Microsoft Stores "as early as mid-December." That retail availability will initially be limited to the United States and Australia, with availability in additional countries promised in the "coming months." In a statement, Microsoft's Steve Schueler says that "our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year,' but added that "based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier." If those locations don't cover you, Microsoft's also announced that it will be extending its current holiday stores into the new year, with "several" of those said to be transitioning to permanent stores. As before, the tablet starts at $499, with the Touch and Type Covers sold separately.
Update: That certainly didn't take long. Staples has now chimed in and confirmed that it will be offering the Surface RT at its retail locations and online store as soon as tomorrow, December 12th.
Update 2: And now, Best Buy has noted that it'll begin offering the Surface beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12:00PM CST and in all Best Buy and select Best Buy Mobile specialty stores nationwide this Sunday, December 16th.
[Source: Engadget]
The gears could start to turn as early as this month for the production of a smaller iPad.
Production of the 7.85-inch display slated for use on a smaller version of the iPad should begin in August, an analyst told CNET.
"We expect panel production to start in August, with production ramping up to high volumes (more than a million units per month) in the fourth quarter," said Paul Semenza, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, in response to an e-mail query.
Semenza said this is DisplaySearch's "understanding of the activity for the 7.85 [inch] panel expected to be used in the iPad Mini."
If this production schedule plays out, it could indicate a late 2012 launch, he said.
Recent reports say the so-called iPad Mini will launch in September.
While the downsized iPad is being characterized as a 7-inch tablet like the Google Nexus 7, a screen size falling between 7 and 8 inches -- such as 7.85 inches -- would likely make the Apple tablet closer to the larger 8.2-inch Motorola Xyboard.
No solid word yet on pricing, though a report claimed it "is likely to sell for significantly less than the latest $499 iPad."
Whatever the exact price is, it's safe to say that the $199 Google Nexus 7 would be seen as a direct competitor to a smaller iPad.
[Source: cnet]
Digitimes seemingly confirms a previous report that the next generation iPhone has already started production in China. 
Pegatron has begun production of a new version of the Apple iPhone at its factory in Shanghai, eastern China, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
The newspaper cites "industry sources" for the knowledge.
Earlier this month, Japanese blog Macotakara first reported that the next generation iPhone had already gone into production. These reports do somewhat conflict with a BGR report that the next generation iPhone is still in an engineering verification test. BGR believes that the new iPhone will carry 1GB of RAM as well as both LTE and NFC support. Regardless, it seems there are ongoing signs that the next iPhone is approaching.
The next generation iPhone will likely launch in the September or October -- approximately one year after the launch of the iPhone 4S.
[Source: MacRumors]