Decoding Apple's WWDC 2013 logo

The typeface
Apple's WWDC 2013 logo design differs quite dramatically from previous years. First up, Apple has ditched the Apple logo, which featured in the logos for its previous two WWDC events. Additionally, Apple has used a new typeface, which looks cleaner and more modern than the Myriad font used by the company in the past.

It's been suggested that this new typeface signals the start of a "flatter design" for iOS and OS X, which is expected to be introduced under the leadership of Apple design guru Jony Ive. Ive took on software design responsibilities, in addition to his roll as head of hardware design, following an executive shakeup at Apple in October. It's thought that Ive intends to remove skeuomorphic design aspects from Apple's operating systems in favour of a more minimalist look.

Roman numerals
This year, Apple has gone for Roman numerals to detail the date (MMXIII is the roman numeral for 2013). It's an unusual move for the company, and does remind us of Samsung's use of roman numerals for its Samsung Galaxy S smartphones.

The Roman numerals are depicted as a sort of reflection of WWDC, which some here in the Macworld UK office have suggested could relate to similarities between iOS and OS X, or perhaps improved AirPlay mirroring functionality.

Several of our Twitter followers think that the Roman numerals could hint at an iWatch, which has been circling the rumour mills for a while now, following reports that Apple has a team of 100 designers working on such device. SEE: iWatch release date, rumours and leaked images

While we'd love to see Apple launch an iWatch in June, Apple CEO Tim Cook's comments that the company is working on "amazing" new products in "exciting" new categories ready for release in Autumn and throughout 2014 suggest that we won't be seeing a venture into a new market from Apple until later this year, at the earliest.

The shape
Aside from the typography, the shape of Apple's WWDC 2013 logo is also interesting.

The shape of the logo is familiar, with the rounded square resembling iOS icons. We already know that iOS 7 is likely to make an appearance at WWDC this year, so this could be an indication that we'll be seeing some new iOS functionality.

It's expected that iOS 7 could see a complete user interface redesign, and reports have suggested that Apple may also launch a 'killer app' in the form of an 'iRadio' music streaming service, or perhaps a mobile payment system with the iOS update.

The shape is also shared by the Mac mini and Apple TV, so we could be in for an update of one or both of those Apple products.

The colours
When it comes to the variety of colours shown in the logo, it's been suggested that this could be a hint at the introduction of new colour options for the next-generation iPhone, dubbed iPhone 5S or iPhone 6. The colours shown in the logo are various shades of green, orange, blue, yellow, purple and red.

Earlier this year, Topeka Capital analyst Brian White wrote in a research note that "checks are pointing to more choices on the way with the next iPhone," including more colour options. "By providing customers with greater choices with the same high quality and performance of the iPhone, be believe Apple has the potential to further expand its market share in the rapidly expanding smartphone world," he said.

The latest generation of iPod touch introduced several new colours for the first time, expanding on the black and white versions previously offered, so Apple could extend these colour choices to its other products, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPad mini.

Additional thoughts
Creative Bloq suggests that the use of semi-transparent rounded suqares could relate to a new feature in the iOS interface, while Architosh thinks it might suggest 3D technology.

Of course, there is always the possibility that Apple isn't hiding any clues in its WWDC 2013 logo at all, but it wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun if we thought about it that way, would it?

The tickets for WWDC  sold out within two minutes. Some developers who were unsuccessful in purchasing a ticket (which will cost you £1,050) have reported that they've been contacted by Apple with the offer of a second chance to get their hands on one.

Sharp To Start Making Apple iPhone5S LCD In June

The capacity of Kameyama plant has not been fully utilized because of the decline in the LCD business of Sharp. The plant has used only 40 percent of its total capacity of 600 million units per month.

The declining revenues of Sharp Corporation have been a high concern, and the company has taken the investments from companies like Apple Inc. suppliers Foxconn and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung is the largest foreign stakeholder in Sharp.

Not only Sharp but a company in Japan, Japan Display, which is the combined display division of Sony, Hitachi, Toshiba and LG Display has also garnered orders for mass production of the display screens. LG Display is the worlds largest LCD panel maker based in Seoul.The display of the next generation phone from Apple Inc. will be identical to that of the earlier iPhone. The new features will have a fingerprint sensor, faster A7 SoC and the phone will run on iOS 7 mobile operating system.  In April, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that there can be delays in the launch of the iPhone 5S due to various hurdles coming up in implementation of the fingerprint sensors along with delay in iOS development.

The iPhone 5S is said to be a low priced phone, which would be available for the larger segment. The phone will be available in various colors with enhanced camera and processor.

128 GB iPads now on sale at Apple online store

Apple's new 128 GB iPads are now on sale at Apple's online store. The new iPads were 

and mark the first time users can buy an iPad over 64 GB in size. 

The new 128 GB models begin at US$799 for the Wi-Fi version.

The Wi-Fi + Cellular version will set you back $929. 

Currently Apple is showing a 1 to 3 day ship time for the Wi-Fi model and 3 to 5 day 

ship time for the Sprint and Verizon Wi-Fi + Cellular models. The AT&T Wi-Fi + Cellular

model is listed as shipping in 1 to 3 days.

Apple iPhone 6: Rumours swirl about mid-year launch?

The US technology giant Apple Inc . is reported to have started preliminary builds of the next iPhone, dubbed iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S. The new iPhone is likely to be launched in June or July, said a report.

The report on macworld.com.au said: "Apple is currently testing two new iPhone prototypes, Jefferies analyst Peter Misek told investors in a note this week. One of the prototypes is the 'iPhone 5S', said Misek, while the other is likely to be the widely speculated cheaper iPhone."

The analyst has reportedly predicted that the next iPhone will be 0.8 inches bigger than the iPhone 5 's at 4.8 inches diagonally, adding "Similar to the iPad mini, we expect a concentrated low-cost iPhone rather than a 'cheap' one. Likely specs: polycarbonate case with 4in non-Retina display and no LTE."

Recently, Apple overtook Samsung to become the largest mobile phone vendor in the US in the fourth quarter of 2012.

In its latest report, research firm Strategy Analytics estimated that Apple shipped 17.7 million mobile phones in the US for a record 34 percent share of the market in the fourth quarter of 2012, making the tech giant the No.1 mobile phone vendor by volume in the US for the first time ever.

Samsung, Apple's arch-rival, shipped 16.8 million handsets for a 32 percent market share in the country, reported Xinhua.

The report said Apple's success has been driven by its popular ecosystem of iPhones and App Store, generous carrier subsidies and extensive marketing around the new iPhone 5 model.

However, Apple's hard-won victory is expected to be short-lived. Samsung had been the No.1 mobile phone vendor in the US since 2008 and it will surely be keen to recapture the title this year by launching improved new models such as the rumored Galaxy S4, Strategy Analytics said.

Meanwhile, the report pointed out that despite a solid fourth-quarter performance, the US mobile phone market had contracted for the first three quarters of 2012, making annual mobile phone shipments fall by 11 percent in 2012 from the year of 2011.

Earlier the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had halved its orders for the iPhone 5. The report led Apple's share price to dip below $500 per share on Monday, but some suggest that the WSJ report was flawed, and that there may have been some stock manipulation involved.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/apple-iphone-6-rumours-swirl-about-mid-year-launch/1/248877.html

Prominent Apple developer on why a 4.94-inch 'iPhone Plus' makes sense

Big screen phones have become wildly popular over the last couple of years. The likes of Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X started the trend with displays around the 4-inch mark, and Samsung pushed the envelope further with the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Note II, with screens in the 5-inch territory. Other manufacturers have followed suit, and many have cited screen size as a big reason for picking Android-powered phones over the iPhone.

Apple responded to clamouring for a bigger iPhone with what seemed like a half-hearted attempt of increasing the screen size with the iPhone 5. While the phone has gone on to become the best-selling iPhone till date, it hasn't quite managed to stop the exodus of people moving away looking for large screen phones. It is clear Apple needs an even-bigger sized phone to cater to the demands of an ever-growing segment, and if a prominent Apple developer is to be believed, Apple recognises this demand and is likely working on an answer in the form of 'iPhone Plus'.

Marco Arment, creator of Instapaper and a prominent voice in the Apple developer community, has penned his thoughts on the subject and come to the conclusion that a 4.94-inch iPhone Plus with 16:9 aspect ratio makes a lot of sense. Arment further states that the screen will likely have a 640×1136 resolution, and a pixel density of 264ppi.

Arment goes on to the state that the said iPhone Plus will not replace the existing iPhone, instead will lineup alongside the iPhone 5 as an additional option for buyers.