Apple has replaced the iMacs that were previously on the kids' table at its retail stores with iPads, as first noticed by iMore . The switch is a clear sign of the direction the company is going, particularly with regards to its younger customer base.

As noticed by Apple Bitch , Chinese parts vendor TVC-Mall has begun offering "iPhone 5" home buttons for sale in both black and white . But what the report doesn't mention is that the buttons are indeed slightly different from the round home buttons seen on iOS devices to date. Front of "iPhone 5" home buttons The new home buttons appear to have a rounded square shape much like iOS app icons, but retain the round depression for the button as seen in existing devices.

1Password is a popular password service which offers apps and browser plug-ins for a number of platforms, including Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. The service automatically generates strong, unique passwords whenever a login is needed, keeping them in a keychain under a master password.

Research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has in the past offered accurate information on Apple's Mac product roadmap, recently took on a new position with KGI Securities and has published a new report today indicating that Apple may be preparing to drop the 17-inch MacBook Pro from its lineup due to weak sales.

ifoAppleStore shares some photos of a newly-revamped Apple product display section in an Arkansas Walmart store near the retail chain's headquarters.

AppleInsider reports that Apple CEO Tim Cook paid a visit today to the the headquarters of Valve, the video game firm behind the Steam digital distribution platform and a number of popular PC and Mac games. While the purpose of Cook's visit is unknown, his presence at the company's headquarters in Bellevue, Washington suggests that it may have been of some importance potentially relating to collaboration between the two companies.

Apple today officially announced that the new iPad will launch at 8:00 AM local time on Friday in the United States and nine other countries.

Clkoerner (via OSXDaily ) put together this graphic showing the relative number of pixels offered by various devices, including the rumored iPad 3.