Rumors

Accessory makers used to be a great source for next-generation iPhone rumors, but they lost most of their credibility after the teardrop iPhone 5 debacle of 2011. This is why I wouldn't get too excited about Elago Design's "Slim Fit 2 Case" for the iPhone 5C that has recently popped up on Amazon. In case you missed the memo, the iPhone 5C is the rumored name for unannounced "low-budget iPhone" Apple is expected to launch in the Fall.

We got the first glimpse of the iPhone 5C name and logo in an alleged leaked photo of its packaging over the weekend. Apple has not confirmed or denied that they're releasing a low cost, plastic iPhone, so it is hard to know if the image is legit. However, this hasn't stopped Elago Design from listing their iPhone 5C case on Amazon, but they have seemed to stop taking pre-orders for the accessory.

An image of what could be packaging for Apple's rumored low cost, plastic iPhone has popped up online. The alleged photo came from the Chinese WeiPhone forum (via CNET). The image shows a pile of iPhone 5C boxes, with an odd logo that looks like it could belong to a Chinese Apple knockoff. However, the new logo could also be part of an updated Apple design to fit in with the revamped look of iOS 7.

Apple is expected to announce the successor to the iPhone 5, dubbed the iPhone 5S by the press, alongside a budget iPhone this fall. Rumors have suggested that the plastic iPhone will be available in an array of rainbow-like colors like the iPod touch. The leaked image of the alleged budget iPhone packaging also has an iPod-like feel.

Excitement for the upcoming iPhone 5S has been lackluster when compared to the hype surrounding the iPhone 5, however, this doesn't mean Apple won't sell tons of iPhones this year. 2013 could be the year of "budget" IOS products, which would help Apple compete in the mid-tear market currently being dominated by Android devices. The iPad rumor mill suggests that Apple will release a more affordable iPad mini in 2013, followed by the iPad mini 2 with Retina display in 2014. Apple is also allegedly working on a "mid-tier" iPhone to release alongside its next-generation handset in the fall.

AllThingsD John Paczkowski's has confirmed Jefferies analyst Peter Misek's report that Apple has began production of its next-generation iPhone for a fall launch. However, Misek also claims that Apple is splitting production of 25 million to 30 million units between the iPhone 5S and its planned budget handset. Misek doesn't think Apple will be competitive in the low-tier market, so he is predicting that the company is aiming for the middle, where both Paczkowski and Misek believe there is plenty of room for growth.

After taking on Twitter by introducing 15-second video to Instagram, Facebook has set its sights on the popular mobile application Flipboard. According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, the social media giant has been working on a new service called "Reader". Facebook Reader will display content from Facebook users and publishers in an aggregated format, much like the popular iOS app Flipboard already does. Evelyn M. Rusli of the WSJ said Facebook has been working on the mobile app for more than a year, and that they are focused on building it for Apple's operating system.

Flipboard is a social network reader that allows users to easily collect and flip through content from popular websites. The Flipboard iOS app already offers both Twitter and Facebook support, so it is hard to see why people will want to switch to a Facebook-branded news reader. Especially since Team Zuckerberg's track record with mobile services has not been very good this year. Facebook Home hasn't really taken off, and not to mention, how many Facebook apps does one person really need?

Back in April, PocketGamer claimed Apple secretly met with developers at the annual Game Developers Conference to discuss production of an unnamed iOS "joypad". It was then discovered at the Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, that Apple had added MFi (Made for iOS) game controller support to iOS 7. Apple followed up the MFi announcement by holding a 45-minute long session on Tuesday, where they showed developers app frameworks and hardware mock-ups for third-party iOS controllers, according to Apple Insider.

The event was entitled "Integrating with Game Controllers", and Apple revealed that both Logitech and Moga were already collaborating on some prototypes. Apple also showed two mock-ups of a "form-fitting" design, and a standalone device for both the iPhone and iPad. Both controllers featured the standard D-pad and dual analog sticks seen in most home console controllers these days. The form-fitting model turns the iPhone into a gamepad that and frees up space on its smaller display, and the standalone mock-up is a wireless device that does not need to connect to the iPhone or iPad to work. Both controller mock-ups featured a dedicated pause button, pressure-sensitive buttons and non-drifting D-pads.