Macotakara’s Chinese sources say that Foxconn will handle 85 percent of next-gen iPad orders, while Pegatron will take on the remaining 15 percent. While the blog hasn’t always been 100 percent accurate with its reports, it has been right on multiple occasions, including when it called the iPad 2′s March launch, and today’s report is very much in line with what we have been hearing elsewhere. Macotakara reports the initial batches will use Sharp LCD display panels, echoing a rumor that cropped up in late December. Sharp was reported at the time to have secured a contract to provide Apple with new IGZO-based panels that allow for high-res, 2048 x 1536 displays without adding additional bulk.

The new report also claims that, as recent rumors suggest, the next iPad will be visually similar to its predecessor and shouldn’t offer any noteworthy changes in terms of its case design. Tight-fitting cases might not fit, according to Macotakara, which is what iLounge’s Jeremy Horwitz also reported this week, but the Smart Cover and most other accessories should still be compatible with the iPad 3.

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Blacked out Apple Store in Durham, NC, before the iPad 2 launch

Earlier this week, BGR cited a “solid” source concerning a possible “major product launch” in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Apple retail. Details focused on mysterious “hardware” that had already been received, overnight shifts this weekend, black helicopters curtains, and the always insanely tight security. Of course, the longtime Appleologist would be rightly be skeptical at the company launching a new product on a Monday, unless the new product was the Apple Store itself.

Like pieces in a puzzle, additional rumors are putting together a picture of a new retail experience to start the second decade of the Apple Store. 9to5 Mac has coined it the “Apple Store 2.0 event,” citing a source that provided “a load” of tantalizing unconfirmed information.

9to5 Mac asserts the new retail experience has been in planning for a while, led by CEO Steve Jobs and VP of Retail Ron Johnson. That makes sense, as the original Apple Store design was heavily influenced by those two. Supposedly, Apple industrial design wizard Jonathan Ive has also been involved with the planned changes.

Those changes reportedly include more emphasis on personal services relating to new products. Last quarter, Apple set up more than a million products for customers for free. Supposedly, a dedicated part of the store will be used for personal setup going forward.

In terms of the shopping experience, signage next to Apple products like Macs will be replaced with iPads, presumably to provide information displays. There will also be new, “huge” displays in some stores, as well as new sound systems. A few stores currently have wall-screen projectors. There will also be a new Apple Store app, if that’s not being too redundant, that will help guide consumers through a local shopping experience.

AppleInsider, citing sources “familiar” with Apple retail, suggests Apple is preparing to have employees use iPads on the floor. It’s unknown whether the iPads would replace the current EasyPay terminals used with the iPod touch, or perhaps be complementary. Those iPads could be the hardware BGR referenced.

It’s looking more and more like these rumors will pan out. That means besides a press release on Monday, expect some kind of carefully staged unveiling at a flagship store with at least some Apple executives present, if not Steve Jobs himself.

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Citing a “trusted source” at a “major educational institution,” iLounge is also now also predicting a MobileMe relaunch in April. A new, free version of the online service will apparently coexist alongside the current paid version for the next year. Presumably, that would cover those like myself unfortunate enough to have recently renewed their MobileMe account, but without Apple having to offer refunds or credits. However, a deprecated service running alongside a free one seems confusing and very much out of character for Apple, and I think it’s more likely a free service would coexist alongside other paid tiers.

The possibility of an imminent iOS 5 preview does seem likely, too. Last year, the iOS 4 preview showed multi-tasking, Game Center, iAd, and AirPrint, though the last was eventually scaled back from its earlier incarnation. Perhaps we’ll get an update on AirPrint this year in iOS 5 that expands support beyond a few select printers.

As for MobileMe, the recent discontinuation of retail boxes is probably the best indicator of an imminent relaunch. Besides that, it’s been widely rumored that some kind of storage “locker” for media content, music and video, will be part of the service. The most interesting social networking feature that’s been talked about for the service is a new personal homepage, dynamically updated based upon where you are and what you are doing.

While “free” is likely the most anticipated potential feature of a new MobileMe, I’d personally prefer Apple-hosted domains. What features are you looking for in a new MobileMe?

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The WSJ’s Yukari Iwatani Kane and Ethan Smith write:

Apple Inc. is working on the first of a new line of less-expensive iPhones and an overhaul of software services for the devices, people familiar with the matter said, moving to accelerate sales of its smartphones amid growing competition.

One of the people, who saw a prototype of the phone late last year, said it is intended for sale alongside Apple’s existing line. The new device would be about half the size of the iPhone 4, which is the current model.

The authors don’t elaborate on what “half the size” means (half the screen real-estate? half the thickness?) though it’s hard to imagine an iPhone with such a small screen being particularly practical. Sure, the new iPod nano leads the way in tiny touch-screen form factors, but, by necessity, has only a tiny subset of the functionality and flexibility of an iPhone.

The new phone [...] would be available to carriers at about half the price of the main iPhones. That would allow carriers to subsidize most or all of the retail price, putting the iPhone in the same mass-market price range as rival smartphones, the person said.

Apple doesn’t usually try to beat rivals on price, so I’m not sure, even in today’s increasingly competitive smartphone market, that they would start now. Apple has long maintained that it isn’t interested in selling the most devices, but rather, selling the best devices. Despite the Wall Street Journal‘s reputation, I’ll remain skeptical about a new miniature iPhone appearing this year.

Still, it sounds like a mighty interesting device, even if it is only a prototype:

The person who saw [the prototype] said the device was significantly lighter than the iPhone 4 and had an edge-to-edge screen that could be manipulated by touch, as well as a virtual keyboard and voice-based navigation.

Revamped MobileMe

Last year, Steve Jobs reportedly said in an email to a customer that MobileMe was going to get a lot better, and the WSJ touches on this, too:

Apple is considering making MobileMe a free service that would serve as a “locker” for personal memorabilia such as photos, music and videos, eliminating the need for devices to carry a lot of memory…

MobileMe [...] could become a focal point for a new online music service that Apple has been developing for more than a year, the people said. Social networking would be another key component, one of the people said.

This sounds far more plausible, and makes much more sense. Remember that Apple bought Lala in early 2010 only to close it down a few months later; it seems likely the acquisition was more about getting Lala’s engineering talent into Cupertino to work on some kind so streaming music ability.

What’s more, Apple’s heavy dependence on flash-based storage in iPhones, iPads and now MacBook Airs (and, presumably, in upcoming MacBooks) greatly enhances the need for cloud-based, pervasive data storage and over-the-air access and synchronization. Flash storage is still too expensive to allow for 500 GB or terabyte storage capacities in MacBooks and iMacs without contributing significantly to their purchase prices.

It makes sense to use flash memory — it’s a much faster and more energy-efficient technology than the traditional hard disk drive — but to keep prices down, storage capacities will likely remain modest.

So with MobileMe’s (now) rock-solid Mail, Contacts and Calendar functionality in-place, and a hugely successful ecosystem of flash-storage-toting iOS devices selling faster than they can be manufactured, the stage is set for a much more sophisticated, cloud-based data and media-streaming service from Apple.

There is just one annoying fly in the ointment:

The new MobileMe file-storage and music service could be available as early as June, depending on the progress of licensing talks that are in their preliminary stages.

Streaming a user’s iTunes content requires a new — and complicated — set of distribution licenses between Apple and content creators, and that’s likely to take a lot of time to work out. Indeed, Kane and Smith write that Apple intended to launch this service a year ago — if I were a betting man, I’d wager the delay has been entirely due to the legal wrangles between Apple and content creators.

Even if this summer’s iPad refresh is only a modest upgrade, and the iPhone nano doesn’t materialize at all, this new MobileMe could still be huge news. After all, who else could possibly compete with such a service?

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CNET is reporting the MacBook Air will be transitioning to Sandy Bridge, Intel’s latest microprocessor architecture, as early as June. While Sandy Bridge and Core “i” series CPUs offer improved performance, especially with Intel HD integrated graphics, a hardware flaw related to SATA ports temporarily slowed shipments this month. While the issue has been resolved, it likely pushed back MacBook Pro updates until mid-March. Depending on whether or not that update happens will set the stage for Sandy Bridge for the MacBook Air in June.

There’s still a degree of uncertainty, because there remains some debate as to whether Sandy Bridge supports OpenCL, the programming framework favored by Apple that allows use of the graphics processors. If the 13-inch MacBook Pro moves to Sandy Bridge, Core i3, and Intel HD graphics, Sandy Bridge for the MacBook Air is a certainty. If the 13-inch MacBook Pro gets a discrete GPU in addition to Intel HD, like the other MacBook Pros, that probably means trouble for the MacBook Air. If Sandy Bridge doesn’t fully support OpenCL, Apple will have to wait for Ivy Bridge. Ivy Bridge is the die shrink of Sandy Bridge that supports OpenCL, which is on track to be released in the second half of the year.

Apple could well just wait for Ivy Bridge. According to DigiTimes, Apple is doubling orders of some “hot-selling” models of Mac laptops. That would be the MacBook Air, which has been credited by analysts as largely responsible for the record 2.9 million Mac laptops sold during the holiday quarter. Clearly, the use of an older microprocessor architecture isn’t hurting sales, and arguably only the die-hard tech crowd would even care if Apple held of on updating the MacBook Air until late this year.

As a member of that crowd, the thought of not getting a Core i3 MacBook Air this summer with OS X 10.7 is hurtful indeed. Would you be upset if Apple skips a mid-year spec bump?

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Keeping track of iPad rumors is tough, but there are a few sources that are almost always worth paying attention to. One of those is the Journal, where Apple has been known to intentionally leak advance product information in the past. In fact, immediately preceding the announcement of the first iPad, the WSJ ran an article confirming the device’s existence and promising a January announcement and March release (this ended up falling in early April, but late March could’ve been the original target). Following that announcement, former Apple marketing manager John Martellaro wrote that such articles were often examples of “controlled leaks” employed by Apple to intentionally bolster interest in its upcoming products. Martellaro said that Apple will contact “trusted friend[s]” at major news outlets. The WSJ article announcing the original iPad’s existence was co-written by Yukari Iwatani Kane, as was the one published today discussing the iPad 2.

This definitely feels like an intentional leak, since it’s light on details, busts some of the loftier expectations floating around (no high-res display or Sprint/T-Mobile compatibility) and mainly re-treads established anticipated features (front-facing camera for FaceTime). It also doesn’t mention any specific dates or timeline for release, but if Apple is beginning production now, a March or April release is most likely, which is in keeping with a one-year update cycle and existing rumors.

One thing that’s conspicuously absent from the WSJ’s description of the iPad 2 is a rear-facing camera. Maybe Apple is of the opinion that it isn’t much use on a 10-inch tablet. What do you think? Would a single, front-facing camera on the iPad 2 disappoint?

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DigiTimes is reporting that the Chinese-language Economic Daily News claims the iPad 2 will definitely include five new features, including a video phone, better mobility (presumably a smaller form factor), USB port, Retina Display and 3-axis gyroscope. USB is really the only surprise on that list.

FaceTime is widely expected to make its way into the next iPad iteration, and if it doesn’t, I’ll be very surprised. A smaller physical footprint is in keeping with Apple’s general upgrade strategy. Both the iPhone and the iPod touch continue to get a little bit smaller with each new case update. The Retina Display isn’t as sure a bet, since it could be fairly pricey on the supply side to bring 336 ppi resolution to the 9.7-inch screen, but Apple does seem quite committed to the technology. A 3-axis gyroscope is an obvious choice, since one already ships in both the iPhone 4 and latest generation iPod touch.

Basically, the only rumored feature without precedent among the rest of Apple’s iOS devices is the new USB port. From a UX perspective, obviously, it’s a no brainer. You wouldn’t have to get Apple’s Camera Connection Kit to import photos from your digital camera, and in theory, you could use wired keyboards with the iPad 2, along with potentially many other hardware peripherals.

But USB on an Apple portable has always made good sense from the perspective of the consumer, yet we’ve never seen it before. That’s because Apple’s dock connector has long been the only data-compatible port on any of its iOS devices. It keeps the accessory ecosystem under control, and allows Apple greater say over how, with what, and for what purposes users can access their devices.

If Apple was going to introduce USB anywhere in its iOS lineup, the iPad 2 would be the most likely suspect. That’s because people use the Apple tablet more like they would a PC than a smartphone. A USB port that allows compatibility with more computer peripherals then makes sense, in terms of attracting more potential notebook buyers to the iPad 2 instead. Also, design-wise, there’s much more real estate on the iPad’s case edge than on the iPhone’s or iPod touch’s, so adding a port wouldn’t be as much of a compromise for Steve Jobs’ decidedly minimalist tastes.

I still think USB is a longshot, but if it makes sense anywhere in Apple’s mobile lineup, it makes sense on the iPad 2. Do you think we’ll actually see it included? Existing iPad owners, do you think it would even add that much to your experience?

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Rumor has it that Apple has already filmed ads for the next version of the iPad. According to 9 to 5 Mac, British photographer David Sims (see video below) was chosen to create the ads late last month at New York’s Pier 59. As you can imagine, security was reportedly tight on the set. So much so that current generation iPads were used during filming, and will be replaced with newer models in post production, and all involved were required to sign non-disclosure agreements.

The choice of director is in keeping with Apple’s recent spate of hires for its commercials. Sam Mendes was responsible for the iPhone 4 FaceTime spots, and David Fincher shot some earlier iPhone advertisements. Apple doesn’t skimp when it comes to talent.

While the current iPad is undeniably a groundbreaking device, many are already wondering when features like the Retina Display and FaceTime will make an appearance on the tablet. News of these ads could be evidence that the wait will soon be over.

One concern is that, given the lack of any real tangible evidence of a forthcoming iPad 2, this could perhaps be a last minute holiday ad, as has happened before with what appeared to be new product shoots. Still, the timeline does fit, since Apple announced the first iPad last January, and only had to delay release three months to allow production to build up to levels sufficient for launch. This time around, with a robust production queue already in place, we could see the device reach consumer hands much sooner.

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The original rumors of a new MacBook Air can be traced to Taiwanese newspaper DigiTimes. Citing sources in the supply chain, DigiTime predicted an 11.6-inch MacBook Air, featuring an ultra-low voltage processor from Intel’s Core i-series. The new MacBook Air would also have “an even slimmer and lighter design,” and use new technologies that will eventually proliferate across Apple’s portable lineup.

Some of those new technologies could include “amorphous, non-crystalline, metal alloy” from LiquidMetal Technologies, whose IP Apple recently acquired. That would mean a MacBook Air enclosure that is both lighter and stronger than the current aluminum unibody model. In a contradictory report, AppleInsider refers to “chatter” suggesting the new MacBook Air enclosure will instead be using carbon fiber and weigh as little as 2.7 pounds.

AppleInsider is also reporting with confidence that the new MacBook Air will have neither a conventional mechanical drive, nor a solid-state drive. Instead, it will use an “SSD Card,” which “more closely resembles a stick of RAM,” but may not be accessible to the user. As the MacBook Air currently has its RAM soldered to the system board, this wouldn’t be a surprising development.

A display size of 11.6 inches is being reported by many outlets, including CNET. The site reports that the new MacBook Air will continue to use “older” Core processors from Intel, along with NVIDIA’s MCP89 chipset, like the current model. What’s not the same is the price, which will be “significantly lower” than $1,499, the starting price of the current MacBook Air.

Seeming to contradict everyone else, there’s the image of an alleged MacBook Air prototype from Engadget showing a 13.3-inch enclosure. It appears to have USB ports on both sides, a Mini DisplayPort, an SD card slot, and power connection. There doesn’t appear to be any kind of drive enclosure on the system board, but instead a curious stick of RAM near the top left.

All these rumors are impossible to reconcile in just one new MacBook Air, but maybe not if Apple ships two distinct models. AppleInsider reports this will be the case, with the 11.6-inch model “a more aggressively priced option.” Further refinements will include a button-less trackpad, and the elimination of the port door housing the USB and Mini DisplayPort. Both models will continue to be extremely thin.

Internally, the larger model is expected to continue to use the Core 2 Duo and NVIDIA chipset. If so, it’s likely the more aggressively priced model will do the same, which would be unfortunate. With Intel’s new microprocessor architecture just two months away, the new MacBook Air will be two generations behind the rest of the world and suffer in performance and battery life because of it.

One MacBook Air or two: find out the truth with TheAppleBlog on Wednesday, starting at 10:00 a.m. PST.

UPDATED:

Cult of Mac now cites “independent confirmation” of two traditional 13.3-inch MacBook Air models, and a new 11.6-inch model. The 13.3-inch form factor will not be as “curvy,” as the current Macbook Air, but “boxier, like the iPhone 4 design.” Although the new MacBook Air will still have an aluminum unibody enclosure, it will weigh less than the current model’s three pounds.

The case will feature two USB ports, one on each side, an SD card slot, a MiniDisplay port, and a new MagSafe port. A larger battery will provide eight to ten hours of power. An “amazing” boot time suggests some sort of solid state storage. There will be two models, running at 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz with 2GB and 4GB RAM. Pricing will be as low as $1300. These 13.3-inch models would be in addition to a 11.6-inch model, which allegedly will start at $999.

It’s hard to believe Apple is about to “blow up” its pricing model, but in just two days we’ll know.

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On the agenda were discussions of Apple’s control of the mobile market, and what the two companies might be able to do together to make sure Cupertino didn’t go unchallenged in that space. According to the NYT’s sources, which it cites as employees and consultants to both companies involved with the discussions, one of the topics of conversation was a possible acquisition of Adobe by Microsoft.

In the past, Microsoft had considered an Adobe acquisition, but didn’t think the move would hold up, owing to antitrust fears by industry regulators. Now that Microsoft isn’t the biggest kid on the blog any longer, and considering the rate at which Google and Apple have been buying up companies, an Adobe purchase is probably worth a second look for Redmond.

A spurned Adobe is the perfect target for Microsoft’s overtures. First, Apple’s complete shutout of Flash from its wildly popular iOS mobile platform must mean that Adobe is missing out on an incredible amount of potential revenue. And even though Apple recently relaxed its App Store rules to allow apps created with third-party tools like Adobe’s Packager, Narayen admits that the resulting effect on his company’s bottom line has been negligible.

Whether Microsoft actually does end up acquiring Adobe, or just forms a much closer partnership with the interactive media firm, both would be an effective means of striking at Apple. The Mac-maker’s roots are in creative tech, after all, and Adobe is a huge part of that legacy, whether or not Apple is willing to admit it. Try to find a photography or design professional who doesn’t use Adobe’s Creative Suite in some capacity.

In a worst-case scenario for Apple, Microsoft would buy Adobe, and though it probably wouldn’t be able to make CS Windows platform-specific, it could hobble the software on OS X the same way it seems to have done with MS Office in the past. A slow erosion of Apple’s creative user base could also undermine the reasons it became a success to begin with: “Think Different” is a slogan born of the Mac’s appeal to the artistically minded.

On the other hand, Apple’s focus is moving more and more toward the consumer market and away from creative professionals, thanks to the growing success of iOS devices. It might be content to let the chips fall where they may with Microsoft and Adobe, since neither seems like a significant player in the mobile market at this juncture, even with Windows Phone 7 poised to drop just next week.

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