Apple Reportedly On Target To Unveil New IPhone And IPad In March

(RTTNews) - Apple (AAPL) is currently on target to start selling its next iPhone and iPad models the same week that the new products are introduced in March. Apple is planning to introduce a new 4-inch iPhone dubbed the "iPhone 5se" and a new iPad Air at an event on Tuesday, March 15th, then put the products up for sale online and in retail stores as early as Friday, March 18th, technology blog 9to5Mac reported, quoting sources.

Apple is unlikely to offer pre-orders for the new devices, the report said.

The new 4-inch iPhone 5se is designed to spur iPhone hardware upgrades for customer seeking newer technologies and faster devices without the need to upgrade to the far larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6s and 6s Plus screen sizes. While the iPhone 5se's body will be nearly identical to the 2013 iPhone 5s, the new smartphone is said to include Apple's latest A9 and M9 processors, an NFC chip for Apple Pay, support for always-on Siri activation, the iPhone 6's camera system, and the ability to take Live Photos.

The iPad Air 3 is said to include a Smart Connector and support for Apple-branded accessories, which could mean that updated Smart Keyboards and Apple Pencil support for the 9.7-inch device are in the pipeline. The new iPad is also expected to include a variant of the A9 processor, an upgraded camera system, and potentially a rear flash for brighter photos. At its March 15th event, Apple is also planning to unveil a series of new Apple Watch Sport Band colors, a Space Black Milanese Loop, and NATO-style nylon bands.

Separately, the wall street journal reported that is developing its first TV series, as a way to bolster its subscription music service.

Quoting people familiar with the matter, the report said that the six-episode "Vital Signs" is expected to be available only on Apple Music, the $10-a-month streaming service, and star Dr. Dre, the pioneering hip-hop producer and senior Apple executive. Dr. Dre joined the technology giant in 2014 when it paid $3 billion for Beats Electronics and Beats Music, both of which he co-founded.