Apple CEO Tim Cook is not worried about Kindle Fire

[kdarling]

It wasn't until reading this thread, that I realized how 7" tablets had snuck in and replaced iPod touches in my home.

As regular readers know, for a couple of years before the iPhone came out I had bought cheap used WiFi-capable smartphones with bad ESNs or radios, off eBay, just to use as portable Slingplayer or browsing terminals around my house.

When the iPod touch came along, I was very happy. I got one for every bathroom and the master bedroom for light browsing.

In the past half year or so, though, we've stocked up on 7" tablets for development work, some with nice daytimer leather cases, and it just hit me that we no longer use the iPods... they've been mostly relegated to alarm clock duties.

We like the larger 7" book format because it's just plain easier to browse the web, read docs, and view videos on, without lugging around an even bigger iPad sized tablet.

--

I would welcome a 5" or 7" iPod touch. I would not be surprised if Apple made one. Even with their secrecy Apple cannot help revealing whenever they're worried about something, since that's when they make derisive remarks about their competition. So it's clear they're worried about Samsung and they're worried about 7" tablets. Samsung they've engaged in court. To combat 7" tablets, they'll have to create a product to fight with.

 

[Mac.World]

It wasn't until reading this thread, that I realized how 7" tablets had snuck in and replaced iPod touches in my home.

As regular readers know, for a couple of years before the iPhone came out I had bought cheap used WiFi-capable smartphones with bad ESNs or radios, off eBay, just to use as portable Slingplayer or browsing terminals around my house.

When the iPod touch came along, I was very happy. I got one for every bathroom and the master bedroom for light browsing.

In the past half year or so, though, we've stocked up on 7" tablets for development work, some with nice daytimer leather cases, and it just hit me that we no longer use the iPods... they've been mostly relegated to alarm clock duties.

We like the larger 7" book format because it's just plain easier to browse the web, read docs, and view videos on, without lugging around an even bigger iPad sized tablet.

--

I would welcome a 5" or 7" iPod touch. I would not be surprised if Apple made one. Even with their secrecy Apple cannot help revealing whenever they're worried about something, since that's when they make derisive remarks about their competition. So it's clear they're worried about Samsung and they're worried about 7" tablets. Samsung they've engaged in court. To combat 7" tablets, they'll have to create a product to fight with.

That is interesting to hear. In all my travelling around Europe and the US, in all the airports from Rome, Paris, London, Jerez, Washington, Atlanta, LAX and so on, I think I have seen a total of two 7" tablets (one was a Nook color though). The vast majority have been iPads. The rest were iPad clones, as I call them.

Just can't see Apple worried about a competitors tablet until one has sold at least 10 million and started effecting iPad sales. Right now, Apple is selling more iPads a day than most manufacturers sell in a quarter.

 

[jsh1120]

That is interesting to hear. In all my travelling around Europe and the US, in all the airports from Rome, Paris, London, Jerez, Washington, Atlanta, LAX and so on, I think I have seen a total of two 7" tablets (one was a Nook color though). The vast majority have been iPads. The rest were iPad clones, as I call them.

Just can't see Apple worried about a competitors tablet until one has sold at least 10 million and started effecting iPad sales. Right now, Apple is selling more iPads a day than most manufacturers sell in a quarter.

I think the point was that the iPod Touch had become superfluous.

 

[smoking monkey]

...but it does have everything that most average consumers need in a tablet.

The ubiquitous ipod set in stone the ability for people to listen to ALL their music on a mobile device. If the Fire doesn't allow this it could cause frustration for the average user. In saying that, do people really listen to music on a tablet? I don't.

What does the average user of a tablet want? I reckon it's something like this -
1. Easy to use
2. Browse the web
3. Email
4. App store
5. Good price with good features

How does the Fire rate on these points?

Kindle people will buy it. But how many people outside the Kindle system will invest in it? They'd be better off with a cheap andriod tablet, wouldn't they?