Except for the iPhone 4S... and the iPod Classic... and the iPod shuffle...
It'll be a while till the 30-pin is gone.
Except for the iPhone 4S... and the iPod Classic... and the iPod shuffle...
It'll be a while till the 30-pin is gone.
Shuffle doesn't have a 30-pin. 3G and 4G iPod Shuffle have used a USB-to-headphone-jack connector.
iPod Classic is the lowest-volume seller in the line.
The 4S is the only widely-sold product that would need a retrofit.
Apple can lower the barrier further by offering a small chalkboard styled to look like an iPad and sell it for around $35.00.
1. I agree 100%. I feel this could kill the iPad2.1) The iPad2 occupies a pricing sweetspot that will be duplicated with the iPad mini (low end models of which might actually come in at a slightly lower price than the iPad2). There's no need for two products addressing the same pricing point.
2) Apple would like to dominate the 7" market, so why reduce sales into this market by having the distraction of offering potential buyers the alternative of the iPad2?
3) Apple's revision of the 3rd gen iPad will undoubtedly include a Lightning connector. This will mean the mainstream products (iPhone 5, new iPods, iPad mini and revised iPad) will all be on the new connector.
How far will Apple go with the revisions on the 3rd gen iPad? Personally I think it will be limited to the connector and maybe 4G LTE for additional countries. No point in annoying customers who bought in the last few months, and the company might as well keep its powder dry for a major revision next year.
The 16GB ipod touch starts at 299. If they price the ipad mini at the same price, then the ipod touch sales would be hit hard. I know that they are different form factors, but any one who has money for just one of those, will prefer a ipad mini for a ipod touch.
Since ipod touch is already selling for 299, I would say 349 as the starting price for the mini.
And btw, apple is a greedy company. I dont see them giving up on price so easily.
And here it is for only $35 each.
3. I don't think the iPad (3rd Generation) will be updated in a few days time. I think it'll be possibly a mini only addition to the iPad line.
An iPad Mini prices at $399 is dead on arrival.
Unlike when the iPad was initially introduced and Apple could define the value proposition, the 7" tablet market has already been defined.
Nexus 7 Specifications:
Quad Core Tegra 3
7", 1280x800 IPS Display
NFC, GPS, Gyroscope
Microphone
Front Facing Camera
8GB storage
etc...
All the for the price of $199. (16GB version is $249)
Apple needs to match this price point or come close to it to eliminate the Nexus 7 and the FireHD as competitors.
This would be a very bad idea. The mini is a mini. It lacks the beautiful large display and touch surface of the full size iPad. Having an iPodTouch, a mini and a full size iPad gives people different options. Apple is trying to appeal to older users who previously didn't have computers and to aging eyes. Aging eyes like the larger print. The large display is wonderful for looking at photos and videos.
If anything Apple should expand with a iPadMax (a maxipad) that would be even larger, say 17" or so which could be hung on the wall as a picture, used as a desktop computer (with full MacOS integration) with a keyboard, etc.
Apple needs to match this price point or come close to it to eliminate the Nexus 7 and the FireHD as competitors.
dream on, but sonner or later they might just merge OSX and iOS together so 27" mobile imac in 10 years or so, who knows. (Well the people who know the long term roadmaps know, but they are not going to tell us, are they?)
If anything Apple should expand with a iPadMax (a maxipad) that would be even larger, say 17" or so which could be hung on the wall as a picture, used as a desktop computer (with full MacOS integration) with a keyboard, etc.
It makes a lot of sense to me. $299 touch, $399 mini, $499 iPad. Don't like price point, but Apple sets their own market.