Apple iPhone 5 screen leaks claimed ahead of October release

 

Joining the raft of iPhone 5 rumours, new images have hit the web pointing towards a new 4-inch display landing on the iPhone 4S replacement

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Adding to the flurry of Apple iPhone 5 rumours, new reports have claimed to leak the upcoming handset’s front panel, once again hinting at a potential 4-inch display.

Far from the first time the long awaited iPhone 5 has been tipped to sport a new, larger screen, the latest leaked images suggest Apple will incorporate a 4-inch Retina offering that is slimmer that past units allowing for a more compact handset design.

Cutting down on size by integrating touch sensors directly into the LCD panel, the next-generation Apple iPhone is seemingly set to come in for a complete redesign with the iPhone 4S follow-on to land thinner than ever.

Apple iPhone 5 Rumours

Long the thing of much rumour and speculation, the as yet unconfirmed Apple iPhone 5 has been previously tipped to sport everything from a Samsung Galaxy S3 rivalling quad-core processor to 1GB of RAM and a new, metal-backed form factor.

With an Apple iPhone 5 release date expected to follow its 4S predecessor a hit stores in early October following a late September unveiling, Apple has been rumoured to be working on improving the camera optics its likely iOS 6 packing handset.

What would you like to see Apple incorporate within its next-generation iPhone 5 device? Let us know via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

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Sales pinch? 6 Apple stores for all of China

Apple has a remarkably meager store-to-customer ratio -- 216M citizens per store -- that could curb the technology giant's growth if it doesn't ramp up its mainland expansion.

by Zack Whittaker

Here's how you make your way into one of Apple's Shanghai stores.

(Credit: Apple)

Apple has only one retail store per 216 million Chinese citizens.
In 2010, then Apple retail boss Ron Johnson, who has since departed to join J.C. Penney, said there would be at least 25 stores in China by this year.
Two years after he left, there are only six stores: two in Beijing, three in Shanghai, and a recently opened store in Hong Kong.
In comparison, Massachusetts has 10 stores for a population of around 7 million, while London has half the number of stores for about the same population.
The population of China stands at 1.35 billion, yet Apple earns a fifth of its revenue from China.
A Reuters report warns that a slow expansion to push down the extremely high store-to-customer ratio could harm "more than just sales." A further investment in the retail store space could see Apple's profits soar even more than they already are.
While Apple products can be bought through its online stores, a retail presence solidifies a relationship with a country or region. Many customers prefer to test products before they buy at a retail store location, but the few stores per capita makes it difficult for Apple to not only keep up with demand, but also for store visitors who traveled long distances to buy Apple's products.
Red tape and government bureaucracy play a part, it goes without saying. China has already shown its reluctance to aid non-Chinese companies in expansion or during legal proceedings, by often favoring Chinese companies over foreign firms in intellectual and trademark infringement cases.
However, the Chinese government said Apple is looking to open further stores in Chengdu and Shenzen districts; the latter being is home to Proview, a company Apple has seen recent battles with over the 'iPad' trademark.

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook's recent trip to China could open the gates for further diplomatic ties between the country and theiPhone andiPad maker --- two of the company's flagship products.
For now, Apple needs to refocus its investment in China: treating it as a traditional emerging market, but one that has a vast developed population base. By doing so, it can secure a hold on the burgeoning market, but also keep competitors like Samsung at bay.
This story originally appeared at ZDNet under the headline "Apple's China store-to-customer ratio could 'harm sales'."