The march toward the December holidays has been a busy one, especially for Apple. The company this week almost certainly made their final big decisions of the year.
Here are some of the stories during the week that was.
Apple's final decisions for year announced
During the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, companies make their final decisions to end the year. For Apple, this meant releasing products in new markets with new partners, plus finally unveiling a long-promised application.
T-Mobile, the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the United States, may finally get the iPhone this week. Deutsche Telecom, T-Mobile's parent company, could announce the news at the company’s next meeting with analysts, which begins on Dec. 6. If this is correct, it almost certainly is the result of T-Mobile improving their network.
The company has 33 million customers in the U.S.
Meanwhile, nearly 2 1/2 months after it first arrived, an unlocked iPhone 5 is available in the U.S. Apple made the no-contract phones available for sale online with prices beginning at $649.
Unlocked phones aren’t attached to a specific carrier. In other words, you pay the full price for your iPhone upfront and then decide which carrier you’d like to use. This choice can be changed as often as you’d like depending on where you are.
Meanwhile, the largest growing consumer market in the world is about to get three of Apple's newest products. In the next two weeks, China will begin selling the iPhone 5, iPad with Retina display, and iPad mini.
Apple’s latest handset and full-sized tablet will launch in China on Friday, Dec. 7. One week later, the iPad mini will debut. By Dec. 14, the fourth-generation iPad and the iPad mini will be available in 42 countries, while the iPhone 5 will be available in 47.
Finally, Cupertino has finally released iTunes 11. First introduced by Apple in September, iTunes 11 is a radical departure from past versions. It includes a redesigned player, and a new mini player.
Additionally, it offers two new views, library and expanded, plus Facebook integration. And for the first time, iTunes is without its traditional toolbar on the left side of the screen.
The free download also comes with a fancy new way to redeem iTunes Gift Cards on a Mac.
Hints for 2013
Though 2012 may be remembered as the year of the iPad mini, 2013 is shaping up to be the year of the iTV. After many rumored delays, an actual television created by Apple could arrive late next year. If it does, the Apple television will almost certainly include Time Warner programming. The CEO of that company, Jeff Bewkes has come out in support of an iTV. His support could go a long way to convince other companies to come on board.
Time Warner is the second-largest media conglomerate behind only The Walt Disney Company. It owns New Line Cinema, HBO, TBS, Warner Bros., CNN, Cartoon Network, and more.
Meanwhile, the week saw an Apple television concept that includes a la carte entertainment programming published. In it, the writer, who goes by the screen name Knowledge, suggests the hardware and software components Apple should put into the company’s long-rumored television set. The result is something that looks quite stunning, as our original post showed.
