Apple Does Have a 7.85″ iPad in their Labs

[TMay]

I agree but what about the iPod touch? I'm thinking Apple would have to kill it off. Maybe thats why they put zero effort into last years model. A $199 8 gig touch makes no sense.

The iPod Touch is still the top of the line for music sans phone which means no contract costs. Great for kids, and I'm guessing an upgrade this fall to incorporate Blue Tooth 4.0 and a better camera (GPS would be nice too).

That's why I'm thinking that Apple will keep building the iPod Touch even as these would be cannibalized to some extent by a 7.85 inch iPad.

 

[iapplelove]

The only reason I even see this as an option would be to compete with the same size kindles other than that the current size is perfect IMO and its sales show

 

[TheWhiteBox]

Developers won't need to remake their apps.

As an App developer, I disagree with this. You can't simply cut the size of the interface in half and expect Apps to still work in a good way. Would every interface element be half as big? Would that be useable?

edit: not saying we would have to "remake" our apps. But It would certainly be a third size. Right now we really have two screen sizes to target: iPhone sized and iPad sized. The resolution is not important, the size is.

 

[apolloa]

This is a stupid story to post Mac Rumors as I'm sure Apple has 'several' prototypes in it's 'labs' that we will never see. It all depends on Apple looking at the finances, will it have a market, will people like it, will developers want it etc etc.
I still don't think they will launch one, but you never know.

 

[bharatgupta]

competitors ought to get worried now

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corresponding to their ipod product business model, i think it would be a great step

however i never saw ipad as an "expensive" device, its very well priced for the stuff it does compared to competition which i dont even bother to look at

smaller ipad or not its still a winning product and comp still have not found the formula to introduce a remarkable product

ipad is amazing for education too.

 

[till]

I understand the technical argument, but I'm still not seeing this as a *product* Apple wants to sell. I'm sure they have some very good protoypes, as good as you can make a 7.85" tablet running identical apps at a higher DPI (wonderful - small text).

But will they ever go forward with it? Hm. *If* they can sell it for $299 and get 10-hour battery life, then maybe yes. It makes sense if their goal is utter domination of the tablet market, and not necessarily maximizing short-term profit.

 

[bharatgupta]

I understand the technical argument, but I'm still not seeing this as a *product* Apple wants to sell. I'm sure they have some very good protoypes, as good as you can make a 7.85" tablet running identical apps at a higher DPI (wonderful - small text).

But will they ever go forward with it? Hm. *If* they can sell it for $299 and get 10-hour battery life, then maybe yes. It makes sense if their goal is utter domination of the tablet market, and not necessarily maximizing short-term profit.

totally agree with u, the ipad 2 which at current dont hav retina display sells at a pretty competitive price, i dont think apple shud cheap themselves as it is already a great device at a remarkable price.

and since ipad 2 has no amazing screen what makes these analyst think that apple will intro smaller tablet with better screen than ipad 2

 

[spcopsmac21]

It's called a bigger and better iPod
Apple is starting to compete heavily with the vita and ds.
Soon you will see larger more console like games come to the iPad that will be direct competition with the vita and ds. And with the new apple tv you can play these console like games directly from a more enhanced iPod and the current iPad.
Just makes sense. The hand held market is something apple can dominate with little effort at all. I will not buy a vita just for the fact I have to pay $30-50.00 for a game that soon will be on iPad/iPhone/iPod in a few months for $5-10.00 marvel vs Capcom is $40.00
Capcom already said and iOS version will be here this summer at under $10.00

No one will see a smaller iPad until the technology in an iPad 3 can fit a 5-7" screen. So sometime like this next year.

 

[iDisk]

people always say this. but this is different. I'm sure they tested 5" and 12" inch sizes too in their labs, but they aren't exploring mass producing those sizes (like they are for the 7.85")

arn

Intresting you imply that they are "imploring mass production of those sizes".

Apple "tested" streaming of iTunes live band content of red-hot chilly peppers in 2011. Though that never was a mass production service for iTunes users.

They also tested lower priced SD TV Shows with the launch of the iPad in 2010, that turned out to be mass produced as a service.

With that said, It's really up in the air whether or not this 7" iteration of the iPad will be mass produced. Daring is a valuable Apple source, but again he's part of something I heard of as a source for "controlled rumors", he's only given information that's been granted access by apple to filter out to the public.

Apple could have many "noodling" devices in their labs that we're un-aware of.

 

[striker33]

Why are Apple even considering this? Jobs had it right, there is no need for a smaller iPad. A smaller version with a much poorer screen is not only a step backwards, but will only help keep the iPad market fragmented.

Yes I'm sure devs will keep creating 1024 x 768 apps for the iPad 2 for the next year or two, but another release of a retina iPad SHOULD be pushing the market towards having most apps retina enabled, before the old iPads become unsupported, similar to the iPhone 2G/3G.

Its also a very niche market. I mean who would want a shrunken down iPad? Women wouldnt want it so it fit in their handbags, I mean, just look at how huge handbags are these days, you could fit a 17" MBP in them. Business users wouldnt want them as a portable device, since due to the form factor, they still wont fit in a jacket pocket, unlike a Kindle Fire or PlayBook. For school kids? Tbh the 10" screen on current iPads would be much more beneficial.

Honestly dont understand it. It would also need to be ridiculously cheap. As much as we hate to admit it, the Kindle Fire is huge right now, and it would be a lost war if priced above £300.

 

[Tiger8]

8 not 7

If it ever happens, it will probably be advertised as an 8 incher not 7 incher. The iPad is 9.7" but is advertised to have10". If Apple is to do the 7.85", it will definitely be 8"

I actually played a bit with a 8 inch (Sony?) tablet and a 7 inch one at Bestbuy, though one inch bigger, the 8 was much more usable in my opinion

 

[Lesser Evets]

I have no doubt they have a 7" iPad in their labs. Bet they have a 15" iPad in there as well, or something of the sort. R&D does a lot of things, not just developing ONE thing they stick with and never deviate from. People would be amazed how much different stuff is played with and in rough, but never sees a store shelf or even public attention.

This "rumor" is a big DUH.

 

[mbell1975]

These 'rumors' are getting tiresome now.

With all the rumors on this forum lately of 7.8" devices, 5" devices, 4.5" phones, 4" phones....

I'm starting to think Samsung have taken over Apple's design HQ.

Yea because choices of the size of the device you want is a bad thing right? Why doesn't Apple just make one size iMac, MacBook and MacBook air? People dont need to choose what size they want their device right?

 

[Mac-Rumours]

As an App developer, I disagree with this. You can't simply cut the size of the interface in half and expect Apps to still work in a good way. Would every interface element be half as big? Would that be useable?

In half? I think you need a calculator. I'm sure there's an app for that.

A 7.85" inch screen would be 80% of the size of the 9.7" iPad.

 

[ChrisTX]

If they see the Kindle Fire as a credible threat, then this form factor makes sense. However, I'm not so sure that I would need, or want such a small iPad.

 

[CalWizrd]

Steve Jobs would have not approved it.

Why don't people stop with this kind of response already? Not trying to take away what SJ contributed to Apple, and the whole consumer computing experience, but he's dead. Try to understand that. He's dead.

That means he is no longer guiding or running Apple!

 

[drober30]

It should be no surprise to anyone that they have one in their lab. They have all kinds of things in R&D.

 

[Asclepio]

RIP ipod touch

 

[mbell1975]

Why are Apple even considering this? Jobs had it right, there is no need for a smaller iPad. Its also a very niche market. I mean who would want a shrunken down iPad.

Niche market and who would want it? I guess you haven't seen the sale numbers from Kindle Fire and the 5.3 inch Galaxy Note. There is a very large (and growing) number of people who want a device in the 5-7 inch range. Apple will have one sooner than later.

 

[striker33]

It's called a bigger and better iPod
Apple is starting to compete heavily with the vita and ds.
Soon you will see larger more console like games come to the iPad that will be direct competition with the vita and ds. And with the new apple tv you can play these console like games directly from a more enhanced iPod and the current iPad.
Just makes sense. The hand held market is something apple can dominate with little effort at all. I will not buy a vita just for the fact I have to pay $30-50.00 for a game that soon will be on iPad/iPhone/iPod in a few months for $5-10.00 marvel vs Capcom is $40.00
Capcom already said and iOS version will be here this summer at under $10.00

No one will see a smaller iPad until the technology in an iPad 3 can fit a 5-7" screen. So sometime like this next year.

If by console quality you mean PS2 graphics, then sure.

There is are no physical controls. Therefore they can not compete with the Vita. The DS on the other had, is a casual gimmicky handheld for overweight Mom's and 6 year olds. Apple can currently compete in neither market.

I'm sick of going into detail as to why gaming will never be console like on iOS anytime soon, but these are the 3 main points:

• No full games on the App store (e.g. no 20 hour long Uncharted game etc).
• No physical controls, and not portable.
• Storage space / internet bandwidth. Flash memory isnt cheap, and downloading a huge 5GB+ game isnt exactly convenient.

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Niche market and who would want it? I guess you haven't seen the sale numbers from Kindle Fire and the 5.3 inch Galaxy Note. There is a very large (and growing) number of people who want a device in the 5-7 inch range. Apple will have one sooner than later.

If you read my full post, you'll understand, instead of just nitpicking.

 

[chochazel]

I do really believe this will be a good idea. Choosing between iPad '3' and iPad 2 might not be as easy as choosing between an iPhone 4 and 4S. At 1024 x 768 pixels, a smaller iPad will inevitably have a better display quality, comparable, if not as good as the new iPad's Retina Display.

The display quality will be nowhere near iPad retina.

http://members.ping.de/~sven/dpi.html

iPad original - 132 dpi
7.85 inch iPad - 163 dpi
iPad retina: - 264 dpi

It's the same pixel density as the iPod classic. 23% better than the original iPad, but not 100% better like the iPad 3rd gen

 

[Yr Blues]

"7.85 inch iPad that runs at 1024×768"

Anyone know what the pixel density (ppi) is?

oops, thanks chochazel

 

[econgeek]

Gruber has offered accurate information in the past and seems to have many contacts with Apple

arn, I challenge you to give us a single example of Gruber offering accurate information-- that wasn't previously a common rumor. ( also challenge you to man up and give me the apology you owe me, that I messaged you about.)

Gruber just repeats rumors, after sifting them for plausibility. He doesn't have any inside contacts at apple. Or he didn't at the time you started thinking he was some big source. (now, because you and a lot of other people are so gullible, Apple previews things for him but that's only a week or two before announcement... and its embargoed. You think he'd actually give a real leak and lose that access?)

In fact, that's proof right there that Gruber doesn't have an inside source. IF he was leaking inside info, Apple would cut off his advanced access to things. He's free to engage in speculation, however.

The idea that Gruber saying this is some sort of confirmation is just asinine. You're taking his confirmation-- when he's never had accurate advance info before-- as confirmation?! Gullible!

You're repeating a rumor, being spread by a rumor monger, who has no actual sources, and taking it as confirmation. This is the very definition of believing your own press.

I've made this challenge in the past, and you've just said "he gave accurate information". The reality is, I can give you that same accurate information if you wanted. In fact, my track record is more accurate than grubers. For instance, I correctly and precisely predicted the iPad 18 months in advance.

But the difference is, I'm not a flaming liar. I put what I said out there as a prediction. I didn't pretend to have inside sources like gruber does.

Shame on you for giving that fraud more attention.... and this just shows the circular nature of these rumors.

Some taiwanese magazine wants more clicks so they claim Apple's working on a 7" iPad, you report it because you want more clicks, other people report it because you reported it, then gruber claims that Apple is testing one, pretending like he has a source.

You are so gullible you think this is "inside information" but it obviously is not. If no 7" iPad ever comes out, then there's no way to know that they didn't ever test one. If one does come out, then you think that Gruber had some advanced knowledge.

Either way, gruber is confirmed as a source for you, even though he had no real info.

GULLIBLE!

 

[bpaluzzi]

In half? I think you need a calculator. I'm sure there's an app for that.

A 7.85" inch screen would be 80% of the size of the 9.7" iPad.

Might want to check your math again. And remember that the diagonal of a rectangle is not linearly proportional to the area of a rectangle.

It's actually about 65% the size. So not quite 50%, but also not 80%.

 

[Yr Blues]

iPad original - 132 dpi
7.85 inch iPad - 163 dpi
iPad retina: - 264 dpi

Smaller iPad means closer user distance. Needs to be better than 264 ppi for retina quality.