Apple is widely rumoured to unleash its first phablet-size smartphone, the iPhone 6, in the first three months of 2014 but is it possible that the company CEO, Tim Cook, will not be around for the same occasion?

Citing reports by Fox Business, Apple Insider has indicated last week that members of the Apple Board of Directors are unhappy with the current product cycle of the tech giant. The board, the same report said, is "deeply concerned that a perceived dry period of unique products could hurt the company."

It appears too that the board is weighing down on Mr Cook to come up with innovative products and they want to see results real soon, the Apple-centric tech site said.

And if further delays mar the company's innovation efforts, would it trigger another shakeup that could lead to Mr Cook's departure even before the iPhone 6, which according to analysts represent a major from the already stale iPhone model, scheduled rollout next year?

Under the more reserved Mr Cook, Apple uncaged fewer innovations when compared to his flamboyant predecessor, the late Steve Jobs and "that concern is basically manifesting into pressure on Tim Cook to basically innovate - do something fast," the Fox report was quoted by Apple Insider as saying.

In the June 2013 quarter, Apple saw its chief rival Samsung romping its way to the top by outselling all the iPhone models. Galaxy smartphones lured some 71 million buys from April to end of June this year while Apple only shipped out over 31 million units.

The Galaxy S4, Samsung's 2013 flagship, posted more than 23 million sales while Apple did not report how many iPhone 5s were snapped out in the same period though Mr Cook has indicated that by far, the handset remains as the most popular iPhone model.

Also, research firms have reported that Apple's tablet market share shrunk in the second quarter of 2013, coming from the first quarter, blaming what they described as the tech giant's product drought season.

After the iPad 4 and iPad Mini releases in October 2012, Apple fell silent though experts noted that the company is only keeping with its production and release calendars that were revised late last year.

The company is supposed to host a media event on Sept 10 and Mr Cook is only expected to take the lead of what is anticipated as the grand introduction of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C (or iPhone Lite).

But will he be on hand to take charge on the iPhone 6 release date next year, which should be quickly followed by the iPad Mini 2 issuance?