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7.85-Inch iPad to Ramp Up Production in September at Foxconn Brazil

Why do people seriously still think that a 7-inch iPad is possible? :confused: Do you not remember what Steve Jobs said in 2010?

Let's go back in time to the day the original iPad was announced. Jobs was explaining to people that in order for the third category of product to exist between smartphone at laptop, it would have to be better at certain things like web browsing, email, watching movies, etc. Then he brought up netbooks and said those sucked because they weren't better at any of those things he listed. The same would go for this "iPad mini" that people seem to want. It's not better at ANYTHING the iPad does. It's just a watered down, cheaper version of the iPad. And we know Apple is not about making watered down, cheaper products.
 
HavocLink said:
Why do people seriously still think that a 7-inch iPad is possible? :confused: Do you not remember what Steve Jobs said in 2010?

Let's go back in time to the day the original iPad was announced. Jobs was explaining to people that in order for the third category of product to exist between smartphone at laptop, it would have to be better at certain things like web browsing, email, watching movies, etc. Then he brought up netbooks and said those sucked because they weren't better at any of those things he listed. The same would go for this "iPad mini" that people seem to want. It's not better at ANYTHING the iPad does. It's just a watered down, cheaper version of the iPad. And we know Apple is not about making watered down, cheaper products.
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You know...they have a 13" 15" and 17" MBPro...

The iTouch (iPad mini) is going to replace the iPod Touch which has really no real category.

Why do you think the iPad Mini is going to be watered down? It will have a retina screen, it will have a nice camera(s), it will have 3G/4G, and it will fit a profile for the size between a iPhone and iPad, which is considered the size that people like to read on, take with them on a daily commute, etc. This also is the market for kids gaming and portables. Something they can slip in a jacket or pants pocket or just carry and play games on.
 
Someone should create a list of everyone who says a 7.85" iPad will never happen and when it gets announced list all those names on a new thread. Maybe some of them will even respond on their new, shiny 7.85" iPad.
 
dampfnudel said:
Someone should create a list of everyone who says a 7.85" iPad will never happen and when it gets announced list all those names on a new thread. Maybe some of them will even respond on their new, shiny 7.85" iPad.
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"Apple took the concept of a 7 inch tablet and did it right. I never said I was against the idea of a smaller iPad, rather I wanted one that Just Worked".
 
Eadfrith said:
It will need a better screen res than 1024x768
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Not really, if it's a lower priced unit and it uses the same iPhone 3GS display sheets, then it'll be exactly 7.85 inches at 1024x768 resolution to give it 163 PPI. 163 PPI isn't exactly retina, but it's higher than the 132 PPI of the original iPad and iPad 2, and we thought that was adequate.

I would be pleased to see it at $199 and as thin as the iPod Touch. It would likely come with the smaller (32 nm process) A5 SoC, and the screen would use even less power.

This way, it'll have the same CPU performance as the iPad 2 and third generation iPad (just as high GPU performance overall), and then it will the same ratio of smaller battery to give it the same 10 hour life.

There is a lot of evidence that all the above will be exactly the case. It's the $199 price that could happen, but I think Apple can charge $249, or even $299, and still sell as many, so they'll go for the higher profit margin as usual. Remember, all the above technologies are already out, the 32nm A5 SoC, the 163 PPI display, and the iPad case (just smaller), so it won't cost Apple as much as it costs the other companies to make a similar product. Plus it'll be a rare 4:3 ratio display on a smaller unit. (Makes it usable for landscape and portrait)

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HavocLink said:
Why do people seriously still think that a 7-inch iPad is possible? :confused: Do you not remember what Steve Jobs said in 2010?

Let's go back in time to the day the original iPad was announced. Jobs was explaining to people that in order for the third category of product to exist between smartphone at laptop, it would have to be better at certain things like web browsing, email, watching movies, etc. Then he brought up netbooks and said those sucked because they weren't better at any of those things he listed. The same would go for this "iPad mini" that people seem to want. It's not better at ANYTHING the iPad does. It's just a watered down, cheaper version of the iPad. And we know Apple is not about making watered down, cheaper products.
Click to expand...

I've tried the mockup, (no not an actual 7.85" iPad, but I checked out the icon sizes and it's usability) and it works fine. It's less than 2 inches smaller! It's the same resolution as the original and iPad 2, the technologies are already out (same 163 PPI display as the iPhone 3GS, and the 32nm A5 SoC), so it'll be inexpensive to make, so it can still be profitable even down to $199 (though I suspect Apple will charge a little more because they can).

The biggest benefit, is that it could literally weigh less than half the full size iPad. That is significant at $249 for an iPad that has the same resolution, 10 hour battery life and performance as the iPad 2.
 
...

What i would like is the same physical size ipad with less bezel and a bigger screen. It would be tough to use in some instances without touching the screen but for lap use would be great
 
Renzatic said:
1280x960 would give you 204 PPI, and wouldn't be terribly expensive to produce. If Apple were to release a small iPad, I'd expect them to start at least from there.
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That is also a sensible resolution, it's 4:3 and above 200 PPI. But it's a completely new display, so it'll cost more ($49 extra could absorb that) and it could be IPS too, instead of the iPhone 3GS display technology. The A5 can support that a little better than the A5X can support the 2048x1536 display also.

So, not only IPS, but it can show the full resolution of 720p video too with 1280x960. Makes sense.

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newdeal said:
What i would like is the same physical size ipad with less bezel and a bigger screen. It would be tough to use in some instances without touching the screen but for lap use would be great
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I thought of that, and you're exactly right, the whole point of the somewhat large bezel is to grip with.

Though I can easily see software support to see the difference between a thumb grip and a finger touching the edge of the screen. That would also be useful to todays iPads! I've sometimes accidentally touched the display with my thumb, and it's annoying. So that software to ignore the thumb grip would be nice for all iPads.

Though, I only see this for the iPad mini, I don't picture the full size iPad getting a larger display and smaller bezel. (It would only lower the Pixels per Inch)
 
HavocLink said:
Why do people seriously still think that a 7-inch iPad is possible? :confused: Do you not remember what Steve Jobs said in 2010?

Let's go back in time to the day the original iPad was announced. Jobs was explaining to people that in order for the third category of product to exist between smartphone at laptop, it would have to be better at certain things like web browsing, email, watching movies, etc. Then he brought up netbooks and said those sucked because they weren't better at any of those things he listed. The same would go for this "iPad mini" that people seem to want. It's not better at ANYTHING the iPad does. It's just a watered down, cheaper version of the iPad. And we know Apple is not about making watered down, cheaper products.
Click to expand...

Let's also go back in time to when Jobs said no one would ever watch video on an iPod and no one reads book any more, just before Apple released an iPod that played video and opened the iBook store.
 
Renzatic said:
"Apple took the concept of a 7 inch tablet and did it right. I never said I was against the idea of a smaller iPad, rather I wanted one that Just Worked".
Click to expand...

More Like:

Apple saw the money to be made in a 7" tablet, so launched one even though it was priced out the market....


I'll believe a 7" iPad when I see it. And if they do launch one then they will either have to increase the iPad price, or drop the iPod Touch range. Considering the 8GB iPod Touch in the UK is £10 more then the 8GB Nexus 7...

Then again, most of you lot on here are pretty dumb because you have conveniently forgotten the small fact in America the 8GB iPod Touch is $199 plus tax I guess?
So yeah, about your predictions for a $249 iPad mini........... NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. The iPad 3 starts from $499, a 7" iPad will be AT LEAST $299 and up but more likely $349 and up.

So as I said, Apple will price themselves out of the market and will have to rely on it's reputation, iOS and the app store for sales.
 
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apolloa said:
More Like:

Apple saw the money to be made in a 7" tablet, so launched one even though it was priced out the market....


I'll believe a 7" iPad when I see it. And if they do launch one then they will either have to increase the iPad price, or drop the iPod Touch range. Considering the 8GB iPod Touch in the UK is £10 more then the 8GB Nexus 7...

Then again, most of you lot on here are pretty dumb because you have conveniently forgotten the small fact in America the 8GB iPod Touch is $199 plus tax I guess?
So yeah, about your predictions for a $249 iPad mini........... NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. The iPad 3 starts from $499, a 7" iPad will be AT LEAST $299 and up but more likely $349 and up.
Click to expand...

Assuming theres a September music even launching updated versions of the iPod and iTunes product lines we'll already know what Apple has there and focus will turn to what their features mean regarding an iPad mini.
 
HavocLink said:
Why do people seriously still think that a 7-inch iPad is possible? :confused: Do you not remember what Steve Jobs said in 2010?
Click to expand...

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P.S - When a fan politely emailed "Steve" to ask whether users would be able to select the functionality of the iPad Mute switch (to be able to choose orientation locking), he stubbornly replied "Nope".

In the next software update, the option was there. In short, this guy had a tendency dismiss good ideas and make then make them his own.
 
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tpelton said:
Cover the range of practical screen sizes (avoid losing a substantial part of the market that would prefer that size)

Offer a less expensive option - desperately needed to win the education market in the end.

Remember when the iPad was first announced. Many saw it as simply a big iPod Touch and thought it would only have a limited market. Pundits were speculating that total sales would be very low. But it was a paradigm shift. It was a computer for the masses. My 86 year old MIL loves hers. They sold tens of millions.

Now look at the education market. $500 is too much to spend on a child or ask a parent to spring for. $250 isn't much more than we used to expect in terms of graphing calculators. They have smaller fingers, and are more comfortable working on small screens. This has to happen to capture the education market.
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I think you make a valid point with the education segment and associated pricing. I've seen first graders using iPad's in advertisements as well as real world situations. The majority of comments in this thread have centered around adult usage patterns and preferences.

Looking forward in regards to education and technology it would be wise not to overlook all of the "little people" with little hands and little fingers in lets say grades K-6. World wide that's a huge group of individuals.
 
HavocLink said:
Why do people seriously still think that a 7-inch iPad is possible? :confused: Do you not remember what Steve Jobs said in 2010?

Let's go back in time to the day the original iPad was announced. Jobs was explaining to people that in order for the third category of product to exist between smartphone at laptop, it would have to be better at certain things like web browsing, email, watching movies, etc. Then he brought up netbooks and said those sucked because they weren't better at any of those things he listed. The same would go for this "iPad mini" that people seem to want. It's not better at ANYTHING the iPad does. It's just a watered down, cheaper version of the iPad. And we know Apple is not about making watered down, cheaper products.
Click to expand...

Could you provide a link to his comments you're talking about here? I'd like to hear his exact wording.

Also please check out his comments on this page:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1398184/

where he left an awfully large opening for the "Mini"

Edit: From what you are saying, he had zero regard for the iPad as a productivity device at this point. That could be just from you're retelling.
OK - I guess you're just talking about the Keynote. I'm re-watching right now.
 
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I'm looking forward to this. At 7.85" or whatever it's really not that much smaller. I have the new iPad and it's uncomfortable to hold especially with one hand. Too heavy/awkward and apple knows it.
 
daneoni said:
Shame it'll be 1024x768 resolution which is weak to say the least.
Click to expand...

The iPad 2 gets along fine with that res. The advantage here is you have the entire catalogue of iPad apps that are designed for 1024x768. On a device like the Nexus 7, you don't even have apps that take advantage of the latest software features of Android 4.0, much less tailored to the larger screen.

Apple's advantage here is again the screens aspect ratio of 4:3. The Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 will be great for reading text novels and watching movies, but the iPad's 4:3 screen shines when given PDF, magazine or textbook content, which is all designed for that ratio. Oh yes, also don't forget the web.

On an iPad portrait orientation for the web works great. On a Kindle fire the screen is too thin in portrait, and too short in landscape, making for a terrible web experience (Not even counting the mediocre zooming/scrolling). The Nexus 7 should be better as it is 16:10 I believe. But 4:3 allows for adequate resolution in both portrait and landscape modes.
 
The iPad Mini needs to happen for the education market. At ~$249, schools are finally going to be able to start replacing textbooks with iPads for each student. Anything priced higher then that will not work for most k-12 schools.

I would not buy one without a retina display, but they would still sell millions of them. If Apple does not do an iPad Mini soon, they are just giving this market away for free to Google.
 
haravikk said:
I think that Apple's time is better spent on making the iPad thinner and lighter, as 7.85" isn't really anymore portable
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A work friend went to Google IO and came back with a Nexus 7 (not sure how, since I don't think they're released yet). Having seen this device first-hand, I can say with confidence you're flat-out wrong.

A 7" or 8" device is significantly more portable than the iPad. It's not appreciably bigger than my Kindle 3 - it'll fit in a coat pocket. You can easily hold it with one hand when you're on the bus or train. And, frankly, the silliness about it being too small to use effectively with your fingers is simply bunk.

A lot of people like the current sized iPad; but for me, it's larger than optimal (and I've used my wife's iPad a fair bit, so I'm not just guessing). If Apple announces this smaller iPad, I'll be pre-ordering it the first day.

On a side note - if the smaller iPad has 3G and a camera, it doesn't need to be the same price as the Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire.

apolloa said:
I'll believe a 7" iPad when I see it. And if they do launch one then they will either have to increase the iPad price, or drop the iPod Touch range. Considering the 8GB iPod Touch in the UK is £10 more then the 8GB Nexus 7...
Click to expand...

I do wonder if this rumored device, should it be launched, will just replace the iPod Touch.
 
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