I was on the Playbook bandwagon back when it was first announced...I wanted one and I loved the idea it was 7" vs the larger ipad...however I got an ipad2 instead (very happy with it btw) and I could not imagine using a tablet for my purposes on a 7" screen...again pointless when I have a smartphone.
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Apple Make a 7" iPad Please
- Thread starter Wolfmore
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Funny.
Actually, a 7" screen would have ~4 times the (physical) screen real estate of the 3.5" iPhone.
I don't really think a 7" tablet is that much more portable then a 10".
At 7" it is still too big for a pocket, so i either have to hold it/have it in a case, or toss it in a bag. Same as a 10" ipad(2). It's no more portable, I find it hard to believe the weight of the ipad is limiting portability in any way.
My Kindle (gen 3) is no more portable then my ipad2, if i travel with it it needs to go in my bag because it's too big for a pocket.
At 7" it is still too big for a pocket, so i either have to hold it/have it in a case, or toss it in a bag. Same as a 10" ipad(2). It's no more portable, I find it hard to believe the weight of the ipad is limiting portability in any way.
My Kindle (gen 3) is no more portable then my ipad2, if i travel with it it needs to go in my bag because it's too big for a pocket.
I agree that there's no need for a 7" iPad.
But at the same time, a 7" iPad mini wouldn't fit in a pocket, but it'll be much easier to throw into a purse (for those who have one), or carry with a book, etc.
However, would anybody be mad at Apple if they created one? If it can keep the same 1024x768 resolution, I don't see why it would be a bad idea.
That's the thing I don't get.. it's not like Apple would have to abandon the current form factor in order to create a new option. So, why all the negativity about the possibility?
But at the same time, a 7" iPad mini wouldn't fit in a pocket, but it'll be much easier to throw into a purse (for those who have one), or carry with a book, etc.
However, would anybody be mad at Apple if they created one? If it can keep the same 1024x768 resolution, I don't see why it would be a bad idea.
That's the thing I don't get.. it's not like Apple would have to abandon the current form factor in order to create a new option. So, why all the negativity about the possibility?
I have a Galaxy Tab and an iPad, and agree that for certain tasks, the 7" Tab is better than the iPad. However, for most, the larger screen real estate is essential.
For those that want a smaller iPad, ask yourself this: would you rather it run enlarged iPhone apps or reduced iPad apps? Or, do you want developers to have to create an entirely new format?
For those that want a smaller iPad, ask yourself this: would you rather it run enlarged iPhone apps or reduced iPad apps? Or, do you want developers to have to create an entirely new format?
I guess I'm not sure I get this concern. Developers won't have to create an entirely new format, if the resolution is 1024x768. It's still going to be 72px icons, and all of the graphics would be the same. So, there really isn't an issue with this.
Of course, if we're talking about different resolutions (like the retina iPad idea that people have spoken about), then developers would find it a hard pill to swallow.
I see this more as a MBA 11" debate. Some people will downplay its usefulness and call it names, etc, but at the end of the day, it's just another form factor. No harm done.
EDIT: Come to think of it, when I launch the iPad simulator on my xCode, it is a smaller form factor, and yes I have to admit I don't really like it. ;-)
Apple is in the best position to evaluate the "harm." It's currently competing quite well against the 7" format (and larger format as well) and offering value - and getting margins that it's comfortable with. Introducing a 7" today puts Apple in competition with -- Apple. So whether Apple is satisfied that the 7" format is useful is now a secondary issue.
If they can figure out how to get it in their lineup at some future point, you'll see it. But just because you can't see how introducing a 7" line would be problematic doesn't mean that it wouldn't pose problems for Apple.
True, if you think about "harm" from Apple's (the company's) perspective. It could cannibalize other products for sure.
What I mean is that from the consumer's perspective, there really is no "harm" done, and that is still true.
That's a pretty good idea, although I'm not sure how others will take to that.
For me, I think a 7" iPad mini would be better suited for gaming (both as a standalone and as a gaming controller).
Sure, you can do it with the 10" one, but 7" would be much less bulky.
Obviously, this is all pie in the sky!
I think you got my point in your edit, but just to be clear, an iPhone app running on a larger screen looks horrible and doesn't take advantage of the increased real estate...but, if you're thinking about running an iPad formatted app at the same resolution on a smaller screen, it will either be uncomfortably small or require a lot of zooming and panning.
So, in order to release a 7" iPad with Apple's quality user experience would likely require an entirely different format.
No one else sells Macbooks so why are there four screen sizes? It's called options and once this market matures, there will be customers who buy a 7" tablet from a competitor that Apple would rather have buy from them.
Because the assumption that Apple would add a 7" inch tablet to the lineup is full of uncertainty. It's just as possible that should Apple ever go to a 7" model, it'll be in replacement of the current 9.7" model. Because quite frankly I don't think it's beneficial to Apple to produce both. The 7" inch would cannibalize the 9.7" audience to some undetermined extent, and then at best you've possibly split your sales among 2 iPad devices, or at worst you've created a new version that fails miserably or one that irreparably damages sales of the larger model.
All of the other tablets haven't sold well enough to prove that a 7" model would pull in that great of a new, non-Apple-user audience, so those of us preferring the 9.7" model (seemingly the majority), have much to be concerned if Apple is even considering a 7" model.
1) The debate over whether a 7" screen is good enough is just silly. If one size did fit all, Apple would make one size of MacBook and one size of iMac. They don't. They have different screen sizes for different needs. There's no reason the same logic can't be applied to the iPad.
2) I think the biggest issue making a 7" iPad unlikely is cost. The PlayBook costs virtually the same as the larger iPad, which leads me to believe Apple would be able to sell a 7" iPad for much less than they could the 10" model. But I think consumers would expect a smaller iPad to cost less. So it's unlikely imo we'll see a 7" version until they can cut the cost on producing that version substantially.
2) I think the biggest issue making a 7" iPad unlikely is cost. The PlayBook costs virtually the same as the larger iPad, which leads me to believe Apple would be able to sell a 7" iPad for much less than they could the 10" model. But I think consumers would expect a smaller iPad to cost less. So it's unlikely imo we'll see a 7" version until they can cut the cost on producing that version substantially.
They could sell several million more if they'd make a 6" (5.99492969039") 4:3 iPad. Same resolution as the original, just on a smaller screen. Call it the wePad (or iPadz, or play on the Golden Ratio maybe). Bundle two in every box for $499. Add multiple user accounts. Put face recognition in the front facing camera. The one who picks it up (and is identified by the camera) finds THEIR home screens, apps, contacts, accounts, etc., when they turn it on. Make one model only (16gb maybe) but enable Home Sharing to work over the internet whenever you are connected. That'll be the key to multiple user accounts working. WiFi only but they will automatically tether to your iPhone's data connection should you have one on the same itunes account.
Keep the bezel, but make it thinner on the long ends leaving room for cameras, sensors, and Home Button on the short ends. Golden Ratio their difference in width. Make the back a slightly textured (shark skin maybe?) aluminum, but make the bezel chameleon so user can set its color, and even change it later if they want. Heck, the bezel could change based on the app it is running or your mood (sensed by the camera and based on your facial expression) or room light. Any app could effect it. NOT backlit, so it appears just as if the color changed on a current iPad bezel.
(C) 4DThinker, 4/30/2011.
Keep the bezel, but make it thinner on the long ends leaving room for cameras, sensors, and Home Button on the short ends. Golden Ratio their difference in width. Make the back a slightly textured (shark skin maybe?) aluminum, but make the bezel chameleon so user can set its color, and even change it later if they want. Heck, the bezel could change based on the app it is running or your mood (sensed by the camera and based on your facial expression) or room light. Any app could effect it. NOT backlit, so it appears just as if the color changed on a current iPad bezel.
(C) 4DThinker, 4/30/2011.
Well it's a simple analogy. It makes sense to do a variety of screen sizes with a mouse OS as it doesn't change the way the user interfaces with the computer or the software. However, with an iPad it does, as the screen is also the interface, and the screen size is inherently linked not just to the size of touch elements (buttons, sliders, etc.) but to the software as well.
In short, to create a 7", or any other screen size iPad, would require a redesigned GUI with resized elements, and completely different apps from either iPhone or iPad apps.
The current size is perfect. Anything bigger would be too big and anything smaller would be an iPhone/iPod Touch.
That's a great point. A lot of people think it's simply a matter of making a smaller screen. Regardless of the screen size, the UI touch elements have to be approximately the same physical size(millimetres, not pixels).
Making a 7" screen whilst not changing the UI elements, would mean that the elements would be almost half the physical size they are, which is one of the(many) reasons why Windows on a tablet doesn't work.
I'm not saying it can't be done, of course it can, but it'll require iOS to branch off into a third tier of fragmentation, after iPhone/touch & iPad.