Rumor Roundup: Another unannounced Apple product 'delayed'

Apple trademark update suggests company may enter jewelry business, hinting at rumored 'iWatch' (AppleInsider)

Apple first applied for the iWatch trademark last year. Then, as now, this trademark application is not proof that Apple intends to launch a device with that name. It could just as easily be a defensive measure preventing some shameless copycat from launching a product with that name.

Leonardo DiCaprio may take lead role in Steve Jobs biopic with Danny Boyle at the helm (AppleInsider)

Cool, the rumor blogs are expanding into new territory now. Not content with poorly-sourced rumors about Apple technology, we're now subjected to even more poorly-sourced rumors about Apple films.

Honestly, I don't see DiCaprio as being suitable to playing Jobs. On the other hand, it wouldn't be difficult for him to outdo Ashton Kutcher.

Taiwanese media claims 5.5inch iPhone 6 to be very thin, special battery components causing delays (9to5 Mac)

The inevitable has happened... some Asian publication has come out with a claim that an unannounced Apple product is "delayed" because of some technological hiccup. The only thing about this report that's out of the ordinary is the fact that Digitimes isn't the source; they're usually the ones projecting doom and gloom for Apple product timelines.

Unannounced products which are unconfirmed to even exist cannot, by definition, be "delayed." Get real.

Apple and Nike reportedly developing a 'smart band' with gesture controls (BGR)

This is according to "sources familiar with Apple's plans." Of course, ever since news came out that Nike axed its entire Fuelband division, speculation has run wild that the "iWatch" was the real reason, so these "sources familiar with Apple's plans" could very easily be some total randos spitballing their pet theory.

iWatch May Ultimately Replace iPod, No iPod Updates Expected in 2014 (MacRumors)

Some analyst claims the iWatch "will essentially replace the iPod." This is apparently newsworthy for the singular reason that some analyst said it. We've never heard of this analyst before, or the financial group he represents, and his "report" is pretty much a total guess.

But it's still worth spreading around, because he's an analyst, you guys. Analysts don't get paid to just spread any old BS around. They totally know what they're talking about. They're never wrong.

On Opposites Day.

Rumor: Apple taps Catcher for metal casings on next-gen 'iPhone 6' (AppleInsider)

Another pair of analysts claim to have inside knowledge of next-gen Apple hardware. It's seriously not even worth expending calories tapping more keys than necessary to refute this nonsense, so I'll just leave it at this: analysts have no (expletive deleted) clue what they're talking about. Ever.

iOS 7.1 code indicates Apple working on Siri for Apple TV (9to5 Mac)

Unlike the typical nonsense rumors, these "we found code snippets in iOS code" rumors pan out more often than not. That's not to say they always pan out, but the track record for these is definitely way higher than typical rumors.

Rumor: Apple's 'iPhone 6' may sport curved edges, display glass (AppleInsider)

This is the third year in a row someone has claimed the iPhone will have curved edges and glass. Guess what? We'll probably be hearing the same thing again next year.

Rumor Roundup: Validity not confirmed

New report says iWatch will be significantly cheaper than expected (BGR)

BGR once again plays fast and loose with the definition of "report" by citing some analyst's evidence-free predictions of how much the nonexistent iWatch will cost.

The good news that comes with this "report" is analysts have now covered both ends of the pricing spectrum, from "It'll be cheap and subsidized" to "It'll be a luxury item that'll cost thousands of dollars." Whichever of these turns out to be true -- if either one does -- one analyst or another is going to end up looking like an idiot. And that's something everyone can enjoy.

Apple reportedly negotiating with carriers for $100 price increase on iPhone 6 (MacRumors)

Here's another so-called "report" cited from some analyst. Except this time it's sourced from Peter Misek, an analyst who, over the past year or so, has been wrong 100 percent of the time when he talks about Apple. Along with Digitimes and Gene Munster, Misek is part of an elite corps of sources who should never, ever be taken seriously on anything remotely related to Apple.

New Photo of Alleged iPhone 6 Manufacturing Mold Hints at 4.7-Inch Display (MacRumors)

The mold pictured in this post could be meant for almost literally anything. It could be meant for a Samsung device, for all we know. But logic doesn't drive pageviews; breathless speculation and ridiculous attempts at getting all CSI on meaningless "leaked" photos is what drives eyeballs to your site these days.

LG Again Rumored to be Sole Supplier of Flexible Displays for iWatch (MacRumors)

Another day, another "report" sourced from Asian supply chain sources claiming to have inside knowledge on a device not yet confirmed to exist. Mark my words, a few months from now some other Asian publication will chime in claiming LG can't produce displays for the iWatch in the quantities Apple needs, so it will have to turn to Samsung in order to meet its quotas. All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again.

Rumor: First photo of supposed 'iPhone 6' front panel surfaces (AppleInsider)

Oh, look, someone else in China has a pirated copy of Photoshop.

Alleged iPhone 6 Batteries Photographed in Production Tray (MacRumors)

From the article: "While the validity of the image cannot be confirmed, the batteries do appear to share similar physical characteristics with other iPhone batteries." Also, all lithium batteries for all portable electronics everywhere, ever.

Here, let me fix that quote for you: "While the validity of the image cannot be verified, we're going to claim these batteries are somehow associated with the iPhone 6 anyway, even though there is no proof to support that claim whatsoever, because pageviews."

Closer look at alleged 'iPhone 6' front panel suggests 5.1" screen with 16:9 ratio (AppleInsider)

From the article: "Whether it's legitimate or not, a newly revealed front panel claimed to be for Apple's next-generation iPhone appears to show a part for a 5.1-inch display with a screen ratio of 16 to 9."

Here, let me fix that quote for you: "Whether it's legitimate or not, it doesn't matter. We're still going to get twice the pageviews from this incredibly sketchy rumor, because there's a sucker born every minute. While you're here, sucker, why not like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter? LOL."

Another Alleged iPhone 6 Case Surfaces with Cutouts for Moved Power Button, New Volume Controls (MacRumors)

Another case maker's best guess as to what the next-gen iPhone might look like is taken as gospel by the rumor blogs for what the next-gen iPhone will look like.

Apple Said to Prepare Song-ID Feature for IPhone Software (Bloomberg)

Apple is supposedly working on integrating the functionality of third-party iOS app Shazam into iOS 8. Shazam allows users to identify a song that's playing by taking a short audio sample and working some tech magic to match it up with a song in its database.

It does make sense for Apple to bake this feature into iOS; although it's available in the standalone Shazam app, identifying songs this way would be a lot more "discoverable" of a feature if users didn't have to download a third-party app first.

How Apple Could Make the Move to 4.7" iPhone Displays (MacRumors)

MacRumors gets more mileage out of last week's speculative tripe from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with an analysis of his claims for the next-gen iPhone's display resolution.

My favorite part of Kuo's claims is how extremely specific they usually are. It makes it so much easier to go back and point out all the things he gets wrong. By the way, how is everyone enjoying the A7X processor and 8-megapixel camera in their iPad Airs? Great stuff, right? I mean, that's assuming you shelled out for the full-size iPad instead of going for the budget-model iPad mini that totally launched last year. Assuming you had any money left over after buying a MacBook Air with a Retina display, that is.

Alleged iPad Air 2 Front Panel with Integrated Display Shown in New Photos (MacRumors)

Ever since this type of display was introduced for the iPhone, it's been rumored for several generations of iPad. It has several advantages - it's thinner for one, and it helps reinforce the illusion that things on screen sit on the "surface" of the device rather than under layers of glass. With no way to know if this photo (or part) is legitimate or not, I wouldn't get too excited about this just yet.