Apple to launch new iPhone, iPad in March

New York - Apple, which will introduce a new four-inch iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone 5se", and a new iPad Air at a launch event, is unlikely to take pre-orders for the new devices, the blog reported.

Apple is on target to introduce its next iPhone and iPad models on March 15, and aims to start selling the devices in the same week, technology blog 9to5Mac reported, citing sources.
Apple, which will introduce a new four-inch iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone 5se", and a new iPad Air at a launch event, is unlikely to take pre-orders for the new devices, the blog reported.
The technology giant has hit a trough in iPhone demand. The 0.4 per cent rise in shipments in the fiscal first quarter was the slowest-ever increase in iPhone sales since the phone was launched in 2007.
The new four-inch iPhone 5se is designed to spur iPhone hardware upgrades for customer seeking faster devices without upgrading to the far larger iPhone 6s and 6s Plus screen sizes.
Apple could not be immediately reached for comment.
TV series with Dr Dre
Apple is producing an original TV series with rapper and producer Dr Dre, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, as the maker of iPhones and iPads experiments with creating entertainment to sell more of its devices.
Dre, co-founder of Apple's Beats Electronics, will star in and produce the series, called "Vital Signs," said the person, who asked not to be identified because the project is confidential. It isn't clear how Apple will distribute the show, the person said. Options include the Apple Music streaming service, iTunes and the Apple TV set-top box.
Apple has stepped up its investment in entertainment, bankrolling radio programs for Apple Music, a tour documentary starring pop star Taylor Swift last year and exploring the creation of a live TV service. The company also held talks with entertainment executives about obtaining exclusive shows for Apple TV, people with knowledge of the matter said last year.
"Vital Signs" is an experimental one-off and not part of those efforts, the individual said.
Christine Monaghan, a spokeswoman for Apple, declined to comment. Dre's publicist didn't respond to requests for comment.
The series will span six episodes and be semi- autobiographical, according to the Hollywood Reporter, which reported on Apple's plans earlier Friday. Dre, 50, who's real name is Andre Young, sold Beats to Apple for $3 billion in 2014 with partner Jimmy Iovine. He was an executive producer of "Straight Outta Compton," a biopic about the rap group N.W.A.