Although it's still a month or two away from the launch of the new iPad, and another two months until WWDC, there's still plenty of buzz surrounding the tech giant.
In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, well-known tech insider Mark Gurman revealed that following the abandonment of its car project, Apple is once again in the hunt for new product directions. Amidst slowing iPhone sales growth, Apple is feeling the pressure to find its next big thing.
While Wall Street emphasizes Apple's growing service revenues, these businesses rely entirely on iOS devices, necessitating Apple to stay at the forefront of hardware innovation.
Gurman disclosed that Apple is still harboring grand ambitions in the smart home sector. Discussions have included home automation features and equipping Apple TV with a camera for video conferencing and gesture control. Additionally, Apple has begun small-scale production trials for a "lightweight smart display" resembling an entry-level iPad, which can be moved and plugged in anywhere in the house. However, the company has yet to decide whether to proceed with this product.
Apple still aims to create a unified smart home strategy. Gurman noted that the release of Vision Pro previously diverted resources from the smart home team, but this obstacle has now been removed.
As for Gurman's mention of the "Apple personal robot project" last week, he provided more details: Apple's hardware engineering and AI teams have a subgroup researching robot technology, with the latest project involving a home robot capable of following people around the house.
Some members involved in the project even suggested that Apple could venture into humanoid robots to build one capable of household chores. Gurman revealed that such progress may take a decade to achieve, and Apple doesn't seem to have agreed to pursue this direction.
New iPad Pro could see a price hike
For investors awaiting updates on the iPad product line, news of its release in early May should be reassuring. A brand-new iPad Pro, iPad Air, as well as Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil updates, are all possibilities.
According to Gurman, the specific release date could be in the week of May 6th. Apple retail stores are preparing to receive new marketing materials later that week, indicating an imminent product launch.
The most noteworthy upgrade for this year's new products will be the screen: OLED screens already used in iPhones will officially debut in the iPad (Pro) lineup. Gurman excitedly noted that when this technology is applied to larger iPad screens, the display quality will be even more impressive. However, this enhancement comes with a cost – the current starting price for iPad Pro is $799, and the pricing of the new models may increase.
As for the entry-level iPad and iPad mini, which many are anticipating, Gurman also revealed that both products are in development and may not be released until the end of the year. The biggest update for the iPad mini may only be a processor upgrade.
Interestingly, Apple also appears to be researching a foldable iPad, but it's still in the early stages. Unlike competitors like Samsung, Apple is trying to find a material that won't produce screen creases. If this issue can't be resolved, Apple may completely abandon the concept of a foldable device.
There's also a bit of personnel gossip
Gurman also casually mentioned some personnel changes at Apple: With the cancellation of the car project, Kevin Lynch, who led the project for the past few years, has now begun reporting to John Giannandrea, who oversees AI at Apple.
(Apple executive Kevin Lynch, Source: Social Media)
For the past decade, Lynch has been reporting to Apple's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams. Apart from the car project, Lynch also heads the software engineering for Apple Watch.
According to sources cited by Gulman, Lynch's move aims to bring order to Apple's AI business, which has long been a headache for the company, much like when Lynch took over the Apple car project in 2021. Sources say that if Guadrian, the senior vice president in charge of machine learning and AI strategy, eventually leaves Apple, Lynch, who has been waiting for a promotion to senior vice president, could become his successor, leading Apple's development of large language models and AI tools.
