Rumors

Soon enough, iOS 7 users will be greeted with dramatic new changes to the familiar interface, at least according to the latest details offered up by 9to5Mac.

Based on a peek at an early beta of iOS 7, 9to5Mac said it discovered the much-rumored new "flat" design adopted by Apple. A couple of mockups created by the blog site show that Apple has taken the edge off the icons that populate the home screen. Some of the icons also sport a new logo and color.

Apple may get a bit colorful with its much-rumored low-cost iPhone.

In an investors note out Thursday, analyst Brian White cited research suggesting that the low-cost iPhone, aka "iPhone Mini," would come in five different colors. White told CNET that he believes four of the five colors will be white, black, pink, and blue.

The analyst also expects the low-cost phone to arrive before the iPhone 5S, which is likely to debut in September assuming Apple follows its usual schedule.

Rumors have run rampant over the past several months about a low-cost iPhone, with several analysts and Apple … Read more

The World Wide Developer's Conference is next week, and preparations are already under way. While Apple is predictably tight-lipped about what exactly it will announce, it's all but certain we'll hear about an update for iOS 7. The question is, will the new features and tweaks be enough to keep people from jumping ship to other smartphones?

Tune in to CNET's live blog on Monday, about an hour before the 10 a.m. PT start time:

Probably the biggest rumors are about a newly redesigned look … Read more

A boost in hiring from one of Apple's key suppliers could be yet another sign of a low-cost iPhone.

Pegatron, which makes the iPhone and iPad, said that it will build up its workforce in China by up to 40 percent during the second half of the year, Reuters reported Thursday. Such a huge increase suggests that the company could be equipping its factories to produce the much-rumored low-cost iPhone, which could launch sometime in the third quarter.

Certain suppliers have already told Reuters that Apple is prepping a less-expensive model of its smartphone geared toward developing markets. Several … Read more

A low-cost iPhone could see unit sales of 75 million in 2014, projects Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

In an investors note released today, Munster said he expects Apple to sell a $300 non-subsidized iPhone starting in September. Such a device is likely to trigger a 30 percent cannibalization rate, which means that for every three low-cost iPhones sold, one full-price iPhone is cannibalized.

As such, Apple's share of the high-end smartphone market may dip to 37 percent next year from 43 percent last year. But its share of the low-end (under $400) market will rise to 11 percent … Read more

Apple may shake up the next version of iOS with the introduction of a true mobile wallet, forecasts Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty.

Dubbed a "killer app" by the analyst, the mobile wallet feature would surface as part of iOS 7, which Apple is expected to preview at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Huberty's prediction echoes that of fellow Apple analyst Gene Munster, who also thinks a digital wallet is in Apple's future. However, Munster believes the technology won't surface on iOS devices for another year or two.

Apple got its feet wet in … Read more

iPhone 5S buyers could have their choice of screen size, according to Topeka analyst Brian White.

Citing information from a meeting with a "tech-supply chain company," White said today he believes Apple will unveil the iPhone 5S in at least two or possibly three different screen sizes.

"We believe Apple is coming around to the fact that one size per iPhone release does not work for everyone, and offering consumers an option has the potential to expand the company's market share," White said in an investors note released today.… Read more

Apple will unveil its next iPhone on June 20 and kick off sales in July. At least, that's the claim from Japanese Mac enthusiast site MacFan.

Marking its 20th anniversary as a Mac-oriented Web site, MacFan suggests that the next-generation iPhone will take the stage at a Apple event on Thursday, June 20. The new iPhone will then go on sale a few weeks later in early July, as reported by Electronista.

The report further claims that Apple will launch the much-rumored low-cost iPhone in August and target it as a pre-paid device for developing markets such as China … Read more

Apple will likely bring out its next iPhone in late June, projects Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster.

Assuming that forecast comes true, Munster believes Apple will sell 4 million units of the new phone before the month and the quarter are over. That estimate compares with the 5 million iPhone 5 handsets sold during that model's opening weekend.

The analyst expects Apple to sell 30 million iPhones over the June quarter, a 15 percent increase over the same quarter a year ago.

What will the iPhone 5S offer over its predecessor?

Like most analysts and Apple watchers, Munster expects … Read more