Apple could be on track for a much stronger year than most analysts predict in 2012, according to a recent survey of U.S. consumers. iPhones and iPads in particular appear to be so in demand that the devices will easily smash records next year.

On Friday Apple quietly increased the discounts on refurbished iPad 2s, offering some considerable savings just in time for the holidays. The 16 GB Wi-Fi iPad 2 now starts at $419, which is $80 cheaper than buying it new.

The iPhone 4S is being hailed by pretty much every quarter as a success these days, including users, carriers and analysts. But Apple is also making gains in a less brightly lit area of smartphone sales: the world of gray market devices on prepaid contracts.

The iPhone 4S is being hailed by pretty much every quarter as a success these days, including users, carriers and analysts. But Apple is also making gains in a less brightly lit area of smartphone sales: the world of gray market devices on prepaid contracts.

AT&T said on Wednesday it expects to break its record for smartphones sold during a single quarter, based in part on the success of Apple’s iPhone 4S, which prompted a very high number of upgrades among its users and remains a strong seller.

Analysts are making bold predictions about Apple’s performance during its current quarter, saying the company has had its “best November ever.” That’s according to Ticonderoga’s Brian White; Canaccord’s T. Michael Walkley also crowed about Apple’s recent sales success, albeit with a caveat.

Apple’s iOS App Store will almost certainly see a lot of sales this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, but when are the best times to shop the store in general? That’s one question European advertising network madvertise set out to answer in a new study released Wednesday.

Details of Apple’s Black Friday sales have reportedly been leaked online, and in terms of Apple’s own products, there are few surprises. What might be more exciting are the accessory deals, however, some of the best of which offer heavy discounts for premium gear.

Apple will now be publishing weekly rankings for the App Store in the UK. In partnership with the Press Association, the charts will appear weekly and detail the top 10 in four categories, providing a slightly different perspective than the up-to-the minute internal App Store rankings.

For the current quarter, Apple is set to break Mac sales records yet again, according to figures released Monday by NPD. The Mac, though no longer Apple’s flashiest device category, is its least volatile in terms of competition and growth.