September is going to be a big month for Apple fans, with more confirmation today revealing that an official media event is scheduled to take place Wednesday, September 12th. Apple is expected to announce the next iPhone at the event and then make the smartphone available the following Friday, September 21st.
While a new iPhone is on the cards, there seems to be slightly less assurance that we’ll see the rumored 7-inch iPad mini. There has also been some whispers that Apple will also announce an updated version of the current third-gen iPad in September, which seems even more far-fechted.
Details may be up for debate, but Apple is definitely up to something in the iPad space. A new report today reveals that Apple has instructed authorized resellers to triple display space for the iPad on the store floor. The alleged deadline for this new requirement? September 12th.
MacRumors cites anonymous sources from Apple resellers in Europe:
MacRumors has received word from multiple Apple Premium Resellers in Europe that Apple has requested they set aside additional table space for iPad displays over the next few weeks. One of the sources specifically cites September 12 as the Apple-imposed deadline for the adjustments to be made, while another source indicates that their store is already at work on tripling the amount of display space dedicated to the iPad.
We’re told that the emphasis on iPad display space is coming at the expense of Apple’s Mac Pro and Mac mini computers, which are reportedly being removed from display entirely at these locations. Displays of iPods and associated headphones are also reportedly being trimmed back to release space for the iPad.
Tripling iPad display space definitely raises some eyebrows. Something like the iPad mini would warrant marquee store displays for sure, while a current iPad update with smaller dock connector seems like less of a big deal.
Also, Apple giving resellers such information this early in the game is a pretty big hint that whatever Apple announces next month will ship right after its announced. There’s typically a waiting period of several weeks before a new product comes to market after the unveiling, but Apple could be ramping up production for a full throttle assault on the tablet market this fall.
Source: MacRumors
Image: Bloomberg
