iPhone rumors start out stupid and outlandish in the early part of the yearly cycle. The closer we get to the actual announcement, the less stupid and outlandish they get -- with the notable exception of analysts, who remain stupid and outlandish pretty much forever.
The iPad rumor cycle this year was markedly different. I couldn't motivate myself to do the same nearly year-long deep dive I did for the iPhone rumor cycle -- even insomniacs need to sleep eventually -- but I did delve back as far as late May to see what shook out of the iPad/iMac rumor tree.
Because I didn't go back farther than a few months, I likely missed several of the more wild-ass rumors that always eventuate at the start of a cycle. I'm okay with that, because I think we all know and understand the pattern by now.
The iPad rumors were neither as numerous nor as inaccurate as the iPhone rumors. There was a notable dearth of analyst nonsense, and mockups were remarkably accurate several months before the iPad was announced.
Clearly, Stephen Colbert has his work cut out for him as Apple's new rumor control czar.
May
KGI: Every new iOS device this year will be equipped with Touch ID, sensors to be more durable (9to5 Mac)
Source: Everyone's favorite "accurate" analyst
True: Yes
June
Source: Asian publication
True: Yes
Photos: Purported physical mockups for new iPad Air show recessed volume rocker & Touch ID (9to5 Mac)
Source: Mockups
True: Yes
Next Generation iPad Mini Depicted with Touch ID (MacRumors)
Source: Terrible Photoshopping
True: No, not really
MAJOR LEAK: Next-gen iPad Air shown up close in new leaked pic (BGR)
Source: Some guy on Twitter
True: Not enough detail to tell
July
HUGE iPAD AIR 2 LEAK offers our best look yet at Apple's next tablet (BGR)
Source: Mockup
True: Yes
Questionable Claim of 30% Slimmer 'iPad Mini Air' Launching in Late 2014 (MacRumors)
Source: Taiwanese publication
True: Not even close
There isn't a single thing in this report that turned out to be true.
August
Claimed next-gen iPad Air rear shell photos show redesigned speaker, recessed volume controls (9to5 Mac)
Source: Parts leak
True: Yes
Bloomberg says new iPads (with anti-reflective coating) go into production (9to5 Mac)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
Second-Generation iPad Air May Get Memory Boost to 2 GB (MacRumors)
Source: Taiwanese website
True: Yes
September
Digitimes says iPad Air 2 will be 'thinner' and have 'improved fingerprint recognition' (9to5 Mac)
Source: Digitimes
True: No
Sorry, I'm not awarding Digitimes any points for predicting a next-gen Apple product will be thinner than the previous model. That is literally the easiest, most softball claim anyone can ever make about forthcoming Apple products.
KGI report claims both iPhone 6 models to offer 128GB storage; iPad Air 2 launch on same day (9to5 Mac)
Source: "Accurate" analyst Ming-Chi Kuo
True: No
I'm referring here specifically to Kuo's claim that the iPad Air 2 would be announced on the same day as the iPhone 6. That obviously did not happen.
Report claims Apple will hold Oct. 21 event for new iPads and Yosemite (Updated) (9to5 Mac)
Source: Some guy on some website
True: No
This was debunked literally within hours of being published. Fail.
iPad Air 2 Rumored to Launch in October, Updated Retina iPad Mini May Come Later (MacRumors)
Source: Taiwanese website
True: 50/50
The iPad Air 2 launched in October, all right. The iPad mini 3 did too, unfortunately for this source's accuracy record.
New Mac Mini Finally Coming in October Alongside New iPads? (MacRumors)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
Apple rumored to launch 27" iMac with 5K Retina display at October media event (AppleInsider)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
Test code hints at future iPads with Touch ID and Apple Pay (Engadget)
Source: Deep dive into iOS beta code
True Yes
Bloomberg corroborates reports of gold iPad coming with next hardware revision (9to5 Mac)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
October
New report claims to reveal release date for iOS 8.1 and Apple Pay (BGR)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
Apple to Hold iPad Event on October 16 (re/code)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
HUGE iPAD AIR 2 LEAK reveals everything there is to know about Apple's next tablet (BGR)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
Dummy unit shows expected 'iPad Air 2' design ahead of Apple's rumored Oct. 16 event (AppleInsider)
Source: Mockup
True: Yes
Hidden graphical assets in iOS 8.1 beta 2 hint at 'Retina HD' iPads (AppleInsider)
Source: Deep dive into iOS beta
True: No
The next-gen iPads have the same display resolution as the previous models.
New Images of iPad Air 2 Parts Show Touch ID Home Button Cable, Logic Board With A8X Chip, and More (MacRumors)
Source: Parts leak
True: Yes
No Retina MacBook Air at Thursday Apple Event (re/code)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: Yes
More Second-Generation iPad Air Part Leaks Point to A8X Chip, 2GB RAM, 16GB Storage Option (MacRumors)
Source: Parts leak
True: Yes
Retina iPad Mini 2 Reportedly Coming Alongside iPad Air 2, New Smart Cover and Case Colors (MacRumors)
Source: Japanese website
True: Yes
Apple Likely Planning October 24 Launch Date for New iPads (MacRumors)
Source: "People familiar with the matter"
True: -ish?
Apple announced a date for pre-orders, but try (and Google) as I might, I can't find any reference to a launch date in physical stores.
Source: "Accurate" analyst
True: 50/50
The 27" iMac did come out with a Retina display, and the iPad mini 3 was a minimal update over the previous model. The other stuff is too far in the future to call either way.
Digitimes still thinks the Retina MacBook Air is coming tomorrow, says Apple logos going 3D (9to5 Mac)
Source: Digitimes
True: HAHAHAHA no.
Is there really any doubt remaining that Digitimes is the laughingstock of the tech media?
No. No there is not.
'iPad Air 2' and 'iPad mini 3' with Touch ID & Burst Mode confirmed, show up early in iTunes (9to5 Mac)
Source: Apple
True: Yes. Oops.
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