Digitimes is reporting that Apple will “completely overhaul” such product lines as iPad, iMac, iPhone, and MacBook Air in 2012. It’s not known if this is an all-inclusive list, as the MacBook Pro (which is expected to see a big update in the near future), Mac mini, and iPod lines are absent.
Needless to say, running up to the iPhone 4S announcement in October, there were many rumors that the iPhone would see a complete redesign this year. That didn’t pan out, and wouldn’t be a surprise if it happened in 2012.
The iMac last saw a major redesign in 2007, with a semi-major redesign in late 2009. It’s arguable that a redesign is due for the iMac, but what such a redesign could entail remains uncertain. After all, it’s more or less a display with a Mac strapped to the back of it.
The iPad, with it’s two years on the market, has seen two major designs. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Apple to redesign the iPad for next year as well.
Least likely, to my mind, is the MacBook Air. It just saw a major redesign in late 2010, and it would seem unlikely that Apple could change the enclosure, to a positive end, at this time. Any changes made would almost certainly be superficial, and Apple doesn’t change designs just for looks. Look no farther than the Mac Pro.
That leads me to the product lines not listed. It seems that Apple is allowing the iPod lines to dry up, and the Mac Pro, as reported earlier, may be on the chopping block at Apple. The MacBook Pro however, seems to be due for a redesign, and will likely resemble the MacBook Air going forward, as Apple looks to to eliminate hard and optical drives from their machines.
This would also be a political move, showing that a Job-less Apple can still carry on without him. It looks like 2012 is shaping up to be an amazing year already.
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TAGS: iMac, iPad, iPhone, MacBook Air
