The past week’s rumor cycle has consistently pegged early December as the date when Apple would simultaneously introduce iOS 4.3, iTunes in-app subscription support and News Corp’s new iPad-only magazine, The Daily… but according to sources, that date is very likely aggressive, and the actual rollout has been delayed until early 2011.
Delaying until 2011 makes a lot of sense. A new iOS update hot on the heels of iOS 4.2.1 (which had an undeniably troubled birth) is already aggressive, but timing a major new release of both iOS, a major change to the way iTunes purchases work and launching a new iPad magazine at the same time companies are slowing things down in preparation for the coming holidays seems, in retrospect, like a bit more than even Apple could chew. Better to do it right in the New Year than do it wrong before Christmas.