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HazyCloud

macrumors 68030
Jun 30, 2010
2,779
37
They may release it in stores in March, but you won't be able to purchase it until some time in Q4 of 2013.





Whenever it is announced, it'll be available within a week or so for purchase.
 

saving107

macrumors 603
Oct 14, 2007
6,384
33
San Jose, Ca
Is march when the iPad mini2 is suppose to go on sale or just be released?

Isn't "sale" and "released" in this context the same?

unless you meant to say Announced vs. Sale?

Either way as has been the case for several years, no one here knows anything of inside Apple or of their road map.
 

Ztormie

macrumors regular
Oct 30, 2009
119
5
They can barely keep up with the demand for the iPad Mini and then they would release another one in March? Some of you are just into this wishful thinking stuff..
 

maxosx

macrumors 68020
Dec 13, 2012
2,385
1
Southern California
Apple typically announces a new product formally, then makes it available in no particular time frame. At times its relatively soon, other times it ends up being quite a ways out. Its a situation that's highly variable.
 

WilliamLondon

macrumors 68000
Dec 8, 2006
1,699
13
There's nothing (credible) to indicate a March announce or release is forthcoming.
 
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maflynn

macrumors Haswell
May 3, 2009
73,418
43,305
With the mini rumored to be outselling the regular iPad 2 to 1, why would apple make any changes to a winning product?

There's been a clear lack of rumors, or information from parts sellers to indicate that we'd be seeing anything in a couple of months and secondly as I mentioned it doesn't make business sense.
 

PBG4 Dude

macrumors 601
Jul 6, 2007
4,256
4,467
With the mini rumored to be outselling the regular iPad 2 to 1, why would apple make any changes to a winning product?

There's been a clear lack of rumors, or information from parts sellers to indicate that we'd be seeing anything in a couple of months and secondly as I mentioned it doesn't make business sense.

This is what they said about the iPod mini. Remember how it was sold out for months? Remember how the killed it and replaced it with the iPod nano? Yea, Apple will make changes (or kill) a winning product if they have something better up their sleeve.
 

Buckeyestar

macrumors 6502a
Sep 17, 2011
804
39
Apple typically announces a new product formally, then makes it available in no particular time frame. At times its relatively soon, other times it ends up being quite a ways out. Its a situation that's highly variable.

It's more predictable than variable. When they announce a product that won't be available for months, as with the original iPhone and iPad, they're building hype. But when upgrading an existing product, they'll only announce a week or two in advance in order to keep from killing sales of the current model.
 

Bear

macrumors G3
Jul 23, 2002
8,088
5
Sol III - Terra
Is march when the iPad mini2 is suppose to go on sale or just be released?
It may not even be March. Rumors are rumors and not facts. But to answer your question generically, Apple tends to have iPads shipping within a week or 2 of being announced. It has happened that the cellular models have shipped a couple of weeks after the WiFi models.

With the mini rumored to be outselling the regular iPad 2 to 1, why would apple make any changes to a winning product?

There's been a clear lack of rumors, or information from parts sellers to indicate that we'd be seeing anything in a couple of months and secondly as I mentioned it doesn't make business sense.
A change in parts availability could cause Apple to release a new version of something sooner. A better less expensive screen combined with an improved battery would be one reason for updating. Also, the chip driving cellular communications may need to be changed and sometimes a new model is better to indicate the differences there.

All in all, Apple will update the product either when they need to or want to or both.
 

Appl3FTW

macrumors 603
Nov 15, 2012
5,552
1,252
They may release it in stores in March, but you won't be able to purchase it until some time in Q4 of 2013.




Whenever it is announced, it'll be available within a week or so for purchase.

UHmmm this doesn't make sense.. :rolleyes:
 

WilliamLondon

macrumors 68000
Dec 8, 2006
1,699
13
There's nothing (credible) to indicate there won't be a release in March either. Basically, we don't know.

That's not true at all. In the run up to an announce or release we get all sorts of information, leaked photos, leaked descriptions, supply chain issues, prototypes (winning designs and not), credible journalists writing about imminent announcements, speculation about dates of such announcements, new SKUs and part numbers, etc. We've had none. Last year when the iPad was announced, a month before the speculation wasn't about the details of the device any longer, that'd already been leaked to death, it was all about what date the announcement was going to be.

Looking at it from a business and product strategy perspective, you don't cut off a revenue stream that is going so well that you can't meet demand with your current supply by introducing a new product (which takes weeks to months to stockpile enough of around the globe for launch day adequate supplies). It's not good business sense to kill a product that is selling out, in fact it's beyond stupid to do such a thing, and companies (even the most stupid) don't do silly things like this.
 
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maxosx

macrumors 68020
Dec 13, 2012
2,385
1
Southern California
It's more predictable than variable. When they announce a product that won't be available for months, as with the original iPhone and iPad, they're building hype. But when upgrading an existing product, they'll only announce a week or two in advance in order to keep from killing sales of the current model.

Both of our points are valid.

Over the two decades I've been an Apple customer, there's been plenty of times when they not only announced a product, but also announced (during a keynote) when they would begin shipping. Only to sell out within hours, thereby making the other buyers wait as much as a month or more.

Extremely clever with words, they convince they had an ample inventory upon launch, but simply didn't anticipated the huge demand... yeah right :)

Conversely as someone who works in a large scale enterprise with products we make and sell, I do understand all that can cause unforeseen delays. So my point is I'm not bashing Apple, but instead I do give them credit for the exemplary way they manipulate the customers expectations.

It's been their key to success for years. Apple is nothing if not one of the best marketing forces in the world.
 

Samtb

macrumors 65816
Jan 6, 2013
1,490
32
That's not true at all. In the run up to an announce or release we get all sorts of information, leaked photos, leaked descriptions, supply chain issues, prototypes (winning designs and not), credible journalists writing about imminent announcements, speculation about dates of such announcements, new SKUs and part numbers, etc. We've had none. Last year when the iPad was announced, a month before the speculation wasn't about the details of the device any longer, that'd already been leaked to death, it was all about what date the announcement was going to be.

Looking at it from a business and product strategy perspective, you don't cut off a revenue stream that is going so well that you can't meet demand with your current supply by introducing a new product (which takes weeks to months to stockpile enough of around the globe for launch day adequate supplies). It's not good business sense to kill a product that is selling out, in fact it's beyond stupid to do such a thing, and companies (even the most stupid) don't do silly things like this.

Most predicted a ipad mini launch but did anyone predict an ipad (4th generation) launch 2 months before? People expected the ipad (4th gen) this coming March. SKU numbers were only leaked a few weeks before that. Although I agree partly that a mini 2 and ipad 5 launch are more likely in the summer or fall, Apple do tend to be unpredictable at times with their strategy.
 

WilliamLondon

macrumors 68000
Dec 8, 2006
1,699
13
Most predicted a ipad mini launch but did anyone predict an ipad (4th generation) launch 2 months before? People expected the ipad (4th gen) this coming March. SKU numbers were only leaked a few weeks before that. Although I agree partly that a mini 2 and ipad 5 launch are more likely in the summer or fall, Apple do tend to be unpredictable at times with their strategy.

iPad 4 pics were actually leaked before the launch, not 2 months before but March isn't 2 months away it's less than 1-1/2 months, and more importantly, though, I would say that the iPad 4 was an anomalous release (a minor spec bump motivated not by adequate features to warrant a normal upgrade but by other factors, i.e. mini release & resetting the refresh cycle).

We're back on normal track now with the iPad, so they will release a product which is a significant change toward the end of this year (which is their usual refresh cycle duration), and same goes with the mini and we'll all know when those releases are imminent - it'll be as obvious as it normally is (in this world/forum of rumours), especially considering that it's logical to expect a redesigned iPad 5 with new slimmer mini-like chassis (meaning lots of leaked photos of backs, fronts, prototypes, drawings, dimensions, etc.) and a retina mini (meaning lots of the same leaks). If they stick to an end Summer/beginning of Autumn announce/release, I'd expect lots of rumours to start appearing in the Summer - just like we had last year (remember they were doing roundups of iPad mini rumours in mid-August!).
 

Samtb

macrumors 65816
Jan 6, 2013
1,490
32
iPad 4 pics were actually leaked before the launch, not 2 months before but March isn't 2 months away it's less than 1-1/2 months, and more importantly, though, I would say that the iPad 4 was an anomalous release (a minor spec bump motivated not by adequate features to warrant a normal upgrade but by other factors, i.e. mini release & resetting the refresh cycle).

We're back on normal track now with the iPad, so they will release a product which is a significant change toward the end of this year (which is their usual refresh cycle duration), and same goes with the mini and we'll all know when those releases are imminent - it'll be as obvious as it normally is (in this world/forum of rumours), especially considering that it's logical to expect a redesigned iPad 5 with new slimmer mini-like chassis (meaning lots of leaked photos of backs, fronts, prototypes, drawings, dimensions, etc.) and a retina mini (meaning lots of the same leaks). If they stick to an end Summer/beginning of Autumn announce/release, I'd expect lots of rumours to start appearing in the Summer - just like we had last year (remember they were doing roundups of iPad mini rumours in mid-August!).
I think that leak was towards the end of October a week or 2 before its release. A March release doesn't necessarily have to be at the start of March. It could be at the end or in April. In my opinion, a new iphone in March would make more sense, given the falling iphone 5 sales and the competition, many of which will be releasing new smartphones in Q1 but like I said, you cant really predict Apple so well just have to see what they release in March/April, if anything at all. Rumours seem to suggest a summer launch for iphone. You also have to remember that they may not be able to release products at the time they wanted to because of delays in their supply lines etc.
 
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