Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for Friday:
China Now Top Purchaser of Apple Handhelds: Despite some business friction, China has fast become the world’s top activator of new iPhones and iPads. According to Bloomberg, of Apple‘s (NASDAQ:) handhelds last month — averaging 23% of the world’s new activations above America’s 22%. The same phenomenon apparently was true around activation of Google‘s (NASDAQ:) tablets and smartphones, with China’s percent of monthly Android activations climbing to 23% against America’s 22%. Evidence points toward China rapidly becoming a voracious consumer of smartphone and tablet technology — as recently as January 2011, China only accounted for 8% of the world’s activations while the U.S. held 28%.
iPhone 5 May Get External Redesign, Launch Soon: According to a release from eWeek.com, the. Rumors are circulating that the next generation of Apple’s smartphone might feature a 4.6-inch “Retina Display” screen, replacing the iPhone’s traditional 3.5-inch fixture. There also is speculation that the iPhone 5 will debut with wireless LTE compatibility, as that feature was ingrained in the new iPad. While unconfirmed, rumors are building around a possible launch date in the second quarter of this year.
Next-Gen Macbooks in October?: PopHerald reports that in addition to a possible 2012 iPhone 5 launch, as well. There is building premonition that Apple is planning 2012 as a debut spree — with consumer buzz sustained by next-gen Macbooks premiering in sequence with the iPhone 5. Apple recently has been gaining laptop market share, gradually siphoning customers from main competitors Dell (NASDAQ:) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:).
Adam Patterson is an Assistant Editor of InvestorPlace. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. For more from the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.
