Apple Issues Invitations for October 23 Media Event

[jrswizzle]

What is everyone's thoughts on the screen resolution for the iPad mini? I have some ideas:

The iPad 2 (1024x768) is 132 ppi while the iPad 3 (2048x1536) is 254 ppi. Putting either of the those resolutions in the iPad mini creates problems - either you put the iPad 2 res. in and you're left with 163 ppi, more than 50 ppi less than you competition (and in the Nook HD's case almost 100 ppi less) OR you go with the iPad 3 screen (a whopping 326 ppi) and the device costs too much.

SO

You go with the middle: 1536x1152. It is exactly halfway between the two iPad screen resolutions so scaling apps shouldn't be too difficult AND it yields an impressive 245 ppi making it the best 7" tablet screen on the market.

They would be able to market it as such - justifying a higher price tag ($299 for 16GB?) while also satisfying those who want a nice Apple display (a war Apple itself started). The pros of the iPad 3 (and up) will still be power (A# vs. A#X chip), battery life and overall size (for those who need the screen real estate). Also the iPad "pro" will still have the best tablet display on the market.

What do ya'll think?

 

[penajmz]

So glad I held off buying the new iPad. EXCITED!!!

 

[fertilized-egg]

You go with the middle: 1536x1152. It is exactly halfway between the two iPad screen resolutions so scaling apps shouldn't be too difficult

It's difficult. That's not an integer. The linear resolution has to increase by an integer (2x, 3x, etc) to make the scaling nice and clean. Apple could break the pattern but so far they haven't shown the willingness to stay away from the formula of 2x.

 

[jrswizzle]

It's difficult. That's not an integer. The linear resolution has to increase by an integer (2x, 3x, etc) to make the scaling nice and clean. Apple could break the pattern but so far they haven't shown the willingness to stay away from the formula of 2x.

Ok - that's what I didn't know. But then riddle me this:

What goes into making an app work with both the iPhone and iPad? There is absolutely NO simple correlation there in terms of resolutions (and now you have a completely different aspect ratio).

And how much of it falls to the developers to do?

 

[tmanto02]

Bought the new iPad under 2 months ago. *types www.craigslist.com*

 

[tWoSour]

iMacs please!!!! My 2006 original intel iMac is on its last legs. I have monies!

 

[apolloa]

Seriously? To say that a 7.85" tablet is outside the 7" market is ridiculous.

No it's not, it's Apple, it will be the same price as the 8.9" Kindle Fire HD hence the comparison. Their is NO WAY Apple is going to start this thing from $199, $299 minimum but I think more like $349, that's actually LESS then the new iPod Touch starts from in the UK, it is priced from $401 with tax in the UK.

Apple is NOT going to sell the iPad Mini from $100 LESS then the new Touch!

 

[Giuly]

What is everyone's thoughts on the screen resolution for the iPad mini? I have some ideas:

The iPad 2 (1024x768) is 132 ppi while the iPad 3 (2048x1536) is 254 ppi. Putting either of the those resolutions in the iPad mini creates problems - either you put the iPad 2 res. in and you're left with 163 ppi, more than 50 ppi less than you competition (and in the Nook HD's case almost 100 ppi less) OR you go with the iPad 3 screen (a whopping 326 ppi) and the device costs too much.

SO

You go with the middle: 1536x1152. It is exactly halfway between the two iPad screen resolutions so scaling apps shouldn't be too difficult AND it yields an impressive 245 ppi making it the best 7" tablet screen on the market.

They would be able to market it as such - justifying a higher price tag ($299 for 16GB?) while also satisfying those who want a nice Apple display (a war Apple itself started). The pros of the iPad 3 (and up) will still be power (A# vs. A#X chip), battery life and overall size (for those who need the screen real estate). Also the iPad "pro" will still have the best tablet display on the market.

What do ya'll think?

1024x768 and arguing that, because you hold it further away from your eyes than a phone, it's still Retina.

 

[jrswizzle]

1024x768 and arguing that, because you hold it further away from your eyes than a phone, it's still Retina.

Except it's not a phone, its an iPad and if a retina iPad is around 250 ppi, the 162 ppi 1024x768 won't cut it.

I think you're probably right (except they won't market it as retina) - just wished you weren't.

 

[apolloa]

1024x768 and arguing that, because you hold it further away from your eyes than a phone, it's still Retina.

1024x768 162 PPI is MUCH less then the higher 216 PPI found on the 1280x800 found on the Nexus 7 and Fire HD. If Apple don't even match this resolution it will be laughable considering the high price they will no doubt charge. In fact it will consistently be compared to the 7" Kindle Fire HD's screen and will no doubt be declared as worst all the time due to the lower PPI and resolution.

 

[rhett7660]

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AuburnApple]

If it has iPad 2 like specs why would Apple continue the iPad 2? The primary reason the iPad 2 is in the line up is because Apple needed a lower priced iPad to be competitive. The iPad mini is designed from the outset to being a lower priced iPad. Smaller screen , smaller case , etc. all lead to lower component costs and hence lower price.

The only reason the iPad 2 is cheaper is because it is almost a 2 year old design. It is "last year's iPad". Next year what would Apple do? Continue to sell "last year's iPad"?

There is a decent chance that as the iPad mini is rolled out worldwide that the iPad 2 will be taken off the product stores in those countries. Some iPad2 will get sold but the product will start to unwind for the iPad mini. By the end of year it would just be iPad (2013 edition) and iPad mini (2013 edition ).

iPad mini gets the $299-499 price range and the iPad gets the $499-899 price range.



IMHO, Apple isn't really going at the 7" models. It is the 8.9-9.1 (Kindle , Nook HD+ ) models that are the bigger issue for the mini. The "sold at cost , 7 inch " market Apple isn't going to try to compete with at all. It is questionable that market will even last for an extended period of time. Nor it is the kind of pissing match that Apple enters (e.g., the netbook craze a couple of years back. Apple answered that with something different, but with higher margins; the iPad. ).

That's exactly what Apple will do next year. Sell "last years iPad". That's what they did with the iPad to iPad 2 transition, and now with the iPad 2 & 3. It's what they've done with the iPhone line since the iPhone 3G/3GS. I'm not sure I follow your disbelief they will continue to do so. Apple knows that there is a huge group of people out there that are price sensitive and are OK with last year's technology. Even with the iPad mini as a low cost option, many will still want the larger 10" screen.

Ultimately Apple can't get the iPad mini in the $300 price range without making some sacrifices in specs. Shrinking the screen, case and battery alone won't get them there cost-wise. Yes, I do think the mini will have specs very similar to the iPad 2 (ie A5 procesor, 512MB RAM). The obvious exception will be LTE. What I'm curious about is what screen resolution they choose. My hope is they increase the ppi on the screen more than just shrinking the iPad 2's 1024X768 screen down to 7.85". The pessimist in me says that's what they will do to avoid adding another resolution for Developers to worry with. The optimist in me says they will go "Retina" seeing as how the "budget" tablets have impressive ppi numbers. If they don't match that they will have a hard time differentiating the mini and justifying the premium.

I agree that Apple isn't trying to race to the bottom to compete with the 7" $199 tablets, but they are most certainly trying to go after many of the same consumers that are currently buying those tablets. They will never win over the people looking for the cheapest option, but they also know that a huge segment of people will pay the small premium to get an iPad mini. They want the consumer out there that own iPhones or other iDevices that want a tablet but don't want to spend $500, or simply want a smaller tablet with all the ecosystem benefits of the larger iPad.

 

[skellener]

1024x768 162 PPI is MUCH less then the higher 216 PPI found on the 1280x800 found on the Nexus 7 and Fire HD.

Apple could always just do 1200x900 or 1280x960.

 

[baummer]

Keynote :
- great iphones sales numbers, thank you
- sorry for map
- mac line refresh (mini, retina 13, imacs)
- new ipad a6 lightning igzo
- sorry for ipad3 owners
- books
- one more "mini book reader" thing

Apple won't apologize. Instead they'll use some kind of line about how it's getting better everyday.

 

[UnfetteredMind]

iPad Mini with various memory, connectivity, and colors(matching with new iPod line)

new Mac Mini with better processor, better i/o, more memory

new iMac retina display, better processor, memory, and storage, slimmer design, better i/o, available in different configurations of screen size and power

Macbook Pro 13 inch with retina display

all of these things, along with new iPods and iPhone 5 will lead into a great holiday season for Apple that will shatter records

No holiday time off for workers in China, Brazil and wherever else they may be producing them So many new products (assuming all rumors are true), it's pretty crazy.

 

[baummer]

No holiday time off for workers in China, Brazil and wherever else they may be producing them So many new products (assuming all rumors are true), it's pretty crazy.

Well, and from my understanding, most Chinese workers do not celebrate the November and December holidays we celebrate in the US. Brazil might be a different story - I'm not terribly familiar with the importance of religion in Brazilian life.

 

[Adidas Addict]

I'm not terribly familiar with the important of religion in Brazilian life.

I'm pretty sure they ain't heathens

 

[tigres]

What an ugly designed invitation.

Yuk

I don't think I have ever an apple ad as ugly- ever.
It's a new direction over there, just look at the tv ads.

 

[Adidas Addict]

I'm not terribly familiar with the important of religion in Brazilian life.

I'm pretty sure they ain't heathens

 

[TheGenerous]

I hope they call it the "iPad Little"

I thought the same. Perhaps another option could be;
iPad Read(er), or
iPad S(mall)

I always liked "iBook" though

 

[mrfrosty]

At first I started reading into the colors. It seems like there are 7 colors representing the 7" iPad. But then I thought, it's the colors of the rainbow.. reading focused event.. Reading Rainbow perhaps?? That, or I'm just reading too much into it.

Looking at the picture it seems they are going to show us an American football flying either into or out of some poor souls bu..

 

[jouster]

Apple won't apologize. Instead they'll use some kind of line about how it's getting better everyday.

What? They already did.

 

[Tomacorno]

"We've got a LITTLE more to show you"
Thats the giveaway for the iPad mini, Mac mini, and 13 inch Retina Pro.

"We've got a little MORE more to show you"
Thats the giveaway for the iPad maxi - the long awaited 24" iPad. Now that NASA is licensing exoskeleton technology it is a done deal.

 

[gatearray]

iPod Touch 7
or
iPod Touch HD

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.


Sigh.

I like the way you think. Steve said 7" was too small for a tablet, so call this new 7 incher an iPod and instantly marginalize the Fire and N7 as "fake" tablets, keeping the iPad name whole and intact.

I have thought this would be a really clever idea all along, I hope Apple does too.

 

[Anki]

Depends, did you take the blue pill or the red????

I didn't even take the pill. OMG!!! What is this?

No. You're a DORK. Dude, you slapped a fi-ish!

Dude, I want whatever pill you took.