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Debunk: September iPads, gold iPhone scratch tests, Apple products in Iran, more

This morning, news is circulating regarding claims of a September iPad launch, gold iPhone 5S scratch tests, Apple products being allowed to be imported into Iran, and Apple potentially disrupting the way that mobile carriers work. Let’s take a look at each of these claims…

1) First, Apple is now rumored to reveal its next-generation iPads alongside the new “iPhone 5S” and “iPhone 5C” at its September 10th media event. This is based on the following paragraph from today’s Bloomberg story about an upcoming Tokyo Apple Store:

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, plans to introduce new versions of its phone and tablet at a Sept. 10 event, a person familiar with the matter has said, and the company promised “several more game changers” in the product pipeline as it tries to fend off Samsung Electronics Co. (005930) and Chinese makers selling cheaper handsets.

The above paragraph makes mention of both new iPhones and iPads arriving at this upcoming event. First of all, it is highly unlikely that Bloomberg would bury such a scoop several paragraphs down in a story about a single new Apple Retail Store (Apple already has over 400 stores).

This also directly contradicts a report from the very-well-sourced Bloomberg WestThe Bloomberg report from two weeks ago explicitly states that the next-generation iPads will be unveiled after the new iPhones.

The new iPhone will be unveiled at a Sept. 10 event, according to a person with knowledge of the plans who asked not to be named because the timing isn’t public. Updated iPad models, including an iPad with a thinner body design and an iPad mini with a high-resolution screen will be unveiled later, two people said.

It also contradicts everything we’ve heard thus far about Apple’s fall iOS Device launch plans from our sources. Apple plans to announce at least two new iPads and two new iPhones this fall, and it would be highly unprecedented for Apple to reveal all four models at a single media event. In fact, Apple announced its 2012 iPhones and iPads at two separate events: the iPhone 5 was unveiled at a September 12th event, and the new iPads were announced at an October 23rd event.

Why would Apple couple the launch of its two blockbuster products when it could own the news cycle for two consecutive months? They almost certainly would not.

2) Next, gold iPhone scratches. A video has made the rounds this morning showing “brutal” scratch testing to a purported gold iPhone 5S shell. The video shows that the gold iPhone 5S scratches are much more noticeable on the backplate than those to a slate/black iPhone 5 backplate. Of course, there’s no telling if the gold iPhone 5S shell is legitimate or if it is even properly anodized to Apple’s manufacturing requirements. Until someone does a scratch test on a gold iPhone 5S sold by Apple, there is no way to tell how susceptible the device is to damage.

Image (2) iOS-5-advert-iMessage-three-users-iPhone-iPad-iPod-touch.jpg for post 72529

3) Also making the rounds today is news of Apple being granted the ability to sell products to customers for use in Iran. This is mostly old news. The United States embargo over bringing products into Iran was lifted on May 30th of this year, and Apple updated its website to reflect this back in early July. This is based on our searching through search engine caches and web archives. Nonetheless, it seems that Apple felt now was the best time to comment on the matter.

4) Lastly, news is spreading this morning regarding an Apple trademark filing for the word “Startup” in Australia. Some have gone as far to say that Apple has trademarked this word to disrupt the global phone carrier industry.

This is not true. “Startup” is a word that Apple trademarked all the way back in 2011 in the United States. It refers to the area in Apple Stores in which Personal Setup is conducted. This is the process in which an Apple Store employee will help a new Mac and iOS Device customer with setting up their purchase. 

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Comments

  1. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple start consolidating it’s announcement events. They used to have one early in the year in what, February? Late January? Even after they stopped going to Macworld, they held their own event. So far this year it was just WWDC in June. Maybe they’ll announce the iPads on the 10th and say they’re coming early next year or this holiday season. I agree it’s unlikely, but it wouldn’t be unheard of.

    • Not to mention the stock hit they’ll probably take if they don’t have new iPads for this holiday season

    • PMZanetti - 11 years ago

      That’s absolutely absurd in every sense of the word.

    • rettun1 - 11 years ago

      I don’t think they’d announce a product like a new iPad and not release it for months. They’re iPad sales would tank.

      Now for a product like the Mac Pro, it’s a little different. Mac Pro has been long overdue for an update and it’s sales were dwindling because of it. Plus it made for a pretty exciting announcement at WWDC

  2. PMZanetti - 11 years ago

    1) Not “almost”. It is an absolute certainty that Apple wouldn’t even consider launching iPhones and iPads at the same event. It isn’t even conceivable, since there is not one positive factor in such a dumb idea.

    2) The iPhone 5 is already a scratch and dent mess. Why should the 5S be any different? Today’s reports don’t exaggerate anything, they just amplify what is already known.

    3) Yes, old news.

    4) Barely news.

  3. chris230291 - 11 years ago

    “Scuff-gate”!? What a complete moron. That “paint” is an anodised finish. It’s completely normal for it to wear over time. If you look you can see the same thing has happened to his knife. It’s also common on paintball markers where it’s referred to as “bunker rub”. It’s just something that happens to anything that’s not hard anodised. Even then it can still happen given enough time and abuse.

  4. Simone A. Pozzi (@sawlls) - 11 years ago

    Golden Gate?

  5. mkimid - 11 years ago

    We may can think differently,

    I think, The reason why Apple has anouce iPad 4/mini on OCT 2012, because of the hardware has not been ready. and, the hardware has been ready long time ago, there is no reason to killing time for 6~8 weeks.

    There is not many anounceable issues with 5S and 5C, basically, 5C is a plastic case version of iPhone 5, and everybody know well about iPhone 5. and, 5C will have improved processor, camera with dual flash light, and (MAYBE fingerprint sensor, personally doubt).

    Actually, iPad 5 should more anounceable issues than i5S due to the changing of design, weight, and size. and runtime with smaller battery, and addtional technology to improve the size and performance. new camera.

    Anyway, we will get an answer on Sep, just guessing and rumors are meanless now.
    because of just 10 days only.

    But, some questions, most user agree about iOS7 for iPad

  6. Brad Crystal - 11 years ago

    My guess is that the white iPhone 5 case would have held up better than the black and gold models they tested. Wonder why they didn’t include the white one in the scratch test..