7 inch iPad - will apple release a superior 1st gen?

[dchao]

There is a gap below the iPad ( surely you've read this). Filling that gap heads off Google eventually selling a Nexus 10 to all those Nexus 7 owners that decide they want something bigger, and it provides an option to people who don't want to spend $500.

For Apple, the real threat isn't going to come from Asus, as they have the least content.

The real competitor is Kindle Fire (2,3,4,5....). Amazon have 100x better content than Apple's iTunes. But Apple have better App store. For someone who doesn't care about Apps, a $200 Kindle Fire is going to be sufficient. Then for everyone else who don't care about iTunes, Amazon, and prefer SD Cards, they can go and buy Nexus, and because users can manage their their own content, and there is no profit in that, frankly Apple isn't even interested in that market (low price and no added value)

 

[IscariotJ]

For Apple, the real threat isn't going to come from Asus, as they have the least content.

Regardless of the maker, the N7 - which doesn't have an SD slot - is a Google device, and Google has it's own store. It may be limited in content ( it certainly is here in the UK ), but I can see that being sorted before long, which is why Google haven't restricted the launch to the US, unlike the Fire.

Apple will fill the gap, as it will want to prevent up selling. If the N7 sells in decent enough numbers, Google will probably launch a larger device ( more than likely at cost ). I could see a lot of N7 owners upgrading. That's two devices, plus content, that Apple have lost out on. Apple are in the unique position of being able to add an iPad Mini and entice owners to "upgrade" to an iPad, an Air, a Mac Mini, etc....

 

[dchao]

Regardless of the maker, the N7 - which doesn't have an SD slot - is a Google device,

My bad, the N7 doesn't have SD card now. My point is Android still has a File System (or a pseudo FS), it will let you plug the device into your computer and still read/write to it, and you can easily manage files on your PC or Mac.

 

[Technarchy]

7.8" display

1024x768 resolution

Everything else taken from the iPad 2, which already has an established supply chain and prices negotiated.

Wifi only, no 3G or 4G radios so you can get it as slim as possible.

Sell for $299

 

[dchao]

7.8" display

1024x768 resolution

Everything else taken from the iPad 2, which already has an established supply chain and prices negotiated.

Wifi only, no 3G or 4G radios so you can get it as slim as possible.

Sell for $299

4G radio module is not that big anyway. Battery is the largest component inside iPad. To make iPad slimmer, you have to cut battery life.

 

[Technarchy]

4G radio module is not that big anyway. Battery is the largest component inside iPad. To make iPad slimmer, you have to cut battery life.

Which you can afford to do if you don't ever have to contend with cellular radios, or LTE, with a smaller screen.

Example being the iTouch compared to the iPhone.

iTouch has a 930 mAh battery, while the iPhone 4S 1430mAh, and the iPhone 4 1420 mAh.

 

[macrominnie]

4G radio module is not that big anyway. Battery is the largest component inside iPad. To make iPad slimmer, you have to cut battery life.

I could see $299 for the WiFi model, more for the 4G/LTE model. Unless the cost really works against it, I'd guess retina display included, to trump the Nexus and Kindle Fire 2.

If "only" the 1024 X 768 is available, I'd guess the price would be close to $199 (since the Nexus and Kindle Fire 2 would have higher resolution).

An iPad mini the same price as a Nexus or Kindle Fire 2 would smoke them both. But Apple probably wants to leverage its supply chain edge for retina displays if possible.

I could see Apple releasing a WiFi iPad mini before the holidays, and an LTE version early in 2013, if as Technarchy notes, the battery permits. The iPhone 5 will probably be released this autumn, plenty to keep the LTE front occupied.

Dchao's point about Amazon content quantity edge is important. Amazon also has the solid-merchandise-delivered-to-the-door edge. The collision course between Apple and Amazon is going to get more obvious.

I don't think Apple is worried much about an iPad mini cutting into the iPad3 market. Even if the iPad mini becomes the hot seller, Apple will have great margins on their 32GB & 64GB minis.

Many people have overlapping Apple products, a sort of one of everything from the iPhone to iPad to MBA to iMac. I believe Apple has a clear roadmap of how to sell customers multiple sized devices and keep functions different enough to drive sales of each. They are delighted that the intermediate market is open between iPhone/pod & iPad. Tall venti grande. They are even better prepared than they were at the start of the iPhone & iPad, so it will be a more mature (superior?) product at the start.

It's all interesting to think about.

 

[Soulman]

I hope they don't include a back camera for cost. I also wouldn't mind a non-Retina display. I just want a good, fast tablet that's small and has cellular LTE.

Me too...

 

[turtle777]

None of the current mini iPad "rumors" confirmed a retina display. John Gruber made a great point regarding the display being 1024 × 768 pixels. It's going to be that.

Re: price point: Apple doesn't need to go head-to-head with the Nexus or Kindle Fire 2, so I doubt we're going to see a $199 iPad mini. My guess is $250-$300 for the basic models.

-t

 

[macrominnie]

None of the current mini iPad "rumors" confirmed a retina display. John Gruber made a great point regarding the display being 1024 × 768 pixels. It's going to be that.

Re: price point: Apple doesn't need to go head-to-head with the Nexus or Kindle Fire 2, so I doubt we're going to see a $199 iPad mini. My guess is $250-$300 for the basic models.

-t

Yes, I'd seen Gruber's post and am glad to have the reminder. Technically, I understand the rationale for a 1024 × 768 pixel screen. It seems a little odd for Apple, in a new market where competitors could get a big foothold, to release a machine with lower specs (Nexus/new Fire higher ppi-1200X800 in a smaller screen) when they have such a manufacturing advantage. Growing Nexus/Kindle share leads to growing Android/Amazon ecosystems, at the expense of iTunes.

A mini at $250 would give Apple a nice profit margin, based on Gruber's cost estimates. And remember, Apple will be making much more on their higher GB models, and, if they have them, their LTE models.

A 1024 × 768 pixel screen would leave enough battery capacity to handle LTE. I have to think if the 1024 × 768 screen mini is released that Apple pushes hard to do an early update to iPad Mini 2, unless sales are really good.

 

[Technarchy]

Yes, I'd seen Gruber's post and am glad to have the reminder. Technically, I understand the rationale for a 1024 × 768 pixel screen. It seems a little odd for Apple, in a new market where competitors could get a big foothold, to release a machine with lower specs (Nexus/new Fire higher ppi-1200X800 in a smaller screen) when they have such a manufacturing advantage. Growing Nexus/Kindle share leads to growing Android/Amazon ecosystems, at the expense of iTunes.

A mini at $250 would give Apple a nice profit margin, based on Gruber's cost estimates. And remember, Apple will be making much more on their higher GB models, and, if they have them, their LTE models.

A 1024 × 768 pixel screen would leave enough battery capacity to handle LTE. I have to think if the 1024 × 768 screen mini is released that Apple pushes hard to do an early update to iPad Mini 2, unless sales are really good.

Also with 1024 x 768 out the gate there will be thousands of apps to access.

This is critical

 

[Glideslope]

Apple will deliver all the features we know now with the most probable exception being Retina. I just see them sticking to first gen display tech and leveraging Retina next year when there will be cooler running GPU that can push those 4x pixels.

Precisely. No LTE (3G only), No Retina. Most likely an A5X chip.

----------

None of the current mini iPad "rumors" confirmed a retina display. John Gruber made a great point regarding the display being 1024 × 768 pixels. It's going to be that.

Re: price point: Apple doesn't need to go head-to-head with the Nexus or Kindle Fire 2, so I doubt we're going to see a $199 iPad mini. My guess is $250-$300 for the basic models.

-t

$249.00

 

[Rodster]

For Apple, the real threat isn't going to come from Asus, as they have the least content.

The real competitor is Kindle Fire (2,3,4,5....). Amazon have 100x better content than Apple's iTunes. But Apple have better App store. For someone who doesn't care about Apps, a $200 Kindle Fire is going to be sufficient. Then for everyone else who don't care about iTunes, Amazon, and prefer SD Cards, they can go and buy Nexus, and because users can manage their their own content, and there is no profit in that, frankly Apple isn't even interested in that market (low price and no added value)

All I can say as an iPad and Kindle Fire owner my Fire gets used every day to check on the FAOTD, play games, read free books and watch free media content as an Amazon Prime subscriber.

And you touched on something. I think that's what's really missing from Android devices which is the tie in to the ecosystem. That's what set's the iPad apart from every other tablet and that's what sets the Kindle Fire from every Android tablet on the market.

I'll definitely upgrade to the Fire 2 when it's announced, which should be July or August.

 

[irDigital0l]

Yep, they can do anything they like.

Including: **FREE** with a two year data contract (similar to iPhone 3G)

New matrix
-------------
iPad 2 (Wi-Fi) 8GB - FREE
iPad 3 (Wi-Fi) 16GB - $399
iPad 4 (Wi-Fi) 16GB - $499

But that wouldn't work because iPads don't need cellular.

 

[dchao]

But that wouldn't work because iPads don't need cellular.

Oops Correction:

iPad 2 (AT&T) 8GB - FREE*

small print: * with a X year contract.

 

[BoredAtWork]

all they need to do is this:

-make a bezel-less ipad2 with the same screen in 1024x768 (if 1280x800 even better)
-no rear camera.
-Run the new A5 chip with as with 32nm
-$249 for it in 16gb

The device will be 8" tablets sizes (samsung tab 7.7, tab 8.9 size), but have a big screen.
no retina and A5X means no need for bigger battery. and less heat.

All the tech is there already.and its essentially a large ipod touch with more memory. Makes perfect sense to me as it will slide right between the $199 8gb ipod touch, and the 399 ipad 2.

This will be good competition with 8" screen and pricing of 249 and to compete with 7" google tablets.

 

[ActionableMango]

The best argument I've seen for an iPad Mini

Full article is here.

Basically, the premise of the article is two-fold:

1) Apple has a reputation for only catering to the high-end crowd, but this is carry-over thinking from the Mac line. When it comes to portable consumer devices they do indeed cater to all price points: In the iPod line they sell from $50 to $400. In the iPhone line they sell from $0 to $800.

2) Tim Cook recently said "one thing we'll make sure is that we don't leave a price umbrella for people". In context, this meant that he doesn't intend to leave an opening for competition to sneak in with lower prices and build a non-iPad tablet market.

This graph from the article dramatically illustrates exactly what the iPad line needs in order to not leave a price umbrella for the competition:

 

[Catalepsia]

I just don't see Apple offering an iPad mini in the $200-250 range. Who would drop $500 for a new iPad if you could get a slightly smaller one for half the price?

I'm thinking it will be more like $350 and no retina display, pretty stripped down. Then after a refresh the first gen minis would be closer to $250, catering to the people who would shell out a little more for an older device from an elite company, but can't justify $350 for the newest model with improved features.

Then after two refreshes, that first gen mini is starting to look outdated but if you absolutely want to have a piece of Apple magic of your own and don't have or can't justify much money, it's comparable to that $200 price point. (Although I kind of doubt $200 will be the price to be in two years.)

Also I think Apple would have some marketing spin up their sleeves...this sounds really cheesy, but maybe playing up their new Maps and how a more portable iPad could be like a super-mega-ultra GPS that also happens to do ten zillion other things, and a general focus on advertising portability in situations where an iPhone's too small and an iPad's too cumbersome. But without making it seem like a mini is superior to a full iPad.

Just my guesses