Apple Inc. (AAPL): Summer Release for a Couple of New Devices After All?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) just loves to throw us all off the scent. CEO Tim Cook probably disappointed a few people during the last quarterly earnings call when he stated (what we thought was categorically) that the company had no plans to release any new devices before the fall. While that normally would have sent the stock down, the company seemed to make up for the disappointment by announcing its $100 billion cash distribution program to stockholders and did characterize that the wait would be worth it because he alluded to the greatness and amazing-ness of the new devices that were coming.

Well, let’s face it, giving stockholders cash is always a good pacifier and has definitely helped bide some time for Apple Inc. and its stock, which rallied a bit from 52-week lows and has parked in the $430 to $450 range of late. Another rally  back into the $500 range and beyond may not come until there is a real catalyst – namely, new devices and especially an innovative new device. But hey, just hang in there until the fall, right?

Well, maybe we don’t have to wait quite that long. There is a pretty serious rumor going around that Apple Inc. suppliers and manufacturers are in process right now in developing a budget iPhone and the iPad Mini 2, and that both devices could be shipped sometime in August. And there is more talk that Apple may go very budget on its budget phone – like, it is considering offering the budget iPhone (the one cased in plastic) for as little as $99 and could come is as many as six different colors.

So what about some other devices? Well Apple Inc. has apparently been focusing so much on iOS 7 and these  mini-priced devices that items like a new iPhone and iPad seem to be scheduled for early 2014 launches. What are your thoughts? Give us your feedback in the comments section below.