Apple’s iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se are said to be launching on March 15. So there’s not much longer to wait, according to those pesky “people familiar with the matter.”
The new iPad Air gets some features from its bigger Pro brother, and the new iPhone is the older 4-inch form-factor, with hardware from the 6s. That’s according to the rumor mongers, anyway.
In IT Blogwatch, bloggers come to praise Apple (then stab you in the back 60 times). Not to mention: Doctor Who Wars: The TARDIS Awakens...
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment.
Is it time for a breathless exclusive? I think it is! Mark Gurman has the scoop—Apple eyes March 15 event for iPhone 5se, iPad Air 3 & Apple Watch updates:
Apple is currently aiming to unveil the new 4-inch iPhone 5se [and] iPad Air 3...at an event on Tuesday, March 15th, according to sources. ... As the scheduled event is still a month-and-a-half away, the date could conceivably still shift.
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Apple is planning to reinvigorate the 4-inch iPhone...by replacing the iPhone 5s with [a] 5se that includes an A9 chip, improved cameras...Live Photos, and Apple Pay...starting at $450 for 16GB. ... The Air 3 is expected to include iPad Pro features like enhanced speakers and a Smart Connector [plus] the possibility of a rear-LED flash.
I've got another puzzle for you. As always, John Paczkowski pokes fun—Apple To Debut New iPad, Smaller iPhone At March 15 Event:
Apple has finally set the date for its first big event of 2016: The Ides of March.
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Sources say the event will be a smaller affair than Apple’s last one. ... Presumably that means it will occur at Apple’s Town Hall in Cupertino.
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Apple declined comment.
Anything else? Andrew Cunningham jumps the shark—Report: Apple to reveal smaller iPhone and new iPad Air at March 15 event:
Mark your calendars.
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We'll supposedly be getting a few new Apple Watch models...in the form of new color and band options. ... The most reliable rumors suggest that we won't see a fully redesigned Apple Watch [yet].
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We can probably expect a few minor software updates. ... tvOS 9.2, OS X 10.11.4, WatchOS 2.2, and iOS 9.3 are all significant updates...and they'll probably be the last major feature updates any of them get before we see all-new releases at WWDC in June.
I'm still dubious about this out-of-cycle mini-iPhone rumor. Roger Fingas hands Gene Munster the baton—Munster: 4" iPhone doesn't make sense for rumored Apple event in March:
Were Apple to launch a phone in the spring, it would quickly look outdated following the iPhone 7's...launch, Munster wrote in an investor memo.
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The analyst suggested that Apple will instead concentrate on a second-generation Apple Watch and a third-generation iPad Air. [This is] at odds with recent reports indicating that Apple is not only preparing to launch a new 4-inch phone...but that the device is already in production.
What else should a new iPad have? Here's a compelling idea, from CodyMcRockAwesome:
Yes please, I honestly don’t care about the resolution...but give me some Pencil support.
I have a Surface Pro 3 for work and the girlfriend loves using the stylus. If the Air 3 has Pencil support it will be a no brainer. ... If it doesn’t have Pencil support I will probably just grab a discount Air 2.
And Finally...
Doctor Who Wars: The TARDIS Awakens
You have been reading IT Blogwatch by Richi Jennings, who curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites… so you don’t have to. Catch the key commentary from around the Web every morning. Hatemail may be directed to @RiCHi or itbw@richi.uk. 
Opinions expressed may not represent those of Computerworld. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. E&OE.