Apple Said to Have Developed 7-Inch iPad Alongside Current Model

[santaliqueur]

I don't doubt there was a 7" iPad developed alongside the 9.7". It may/may not have been true, but I don't doubt it.

If it's true, the 7" wasn't released because Apple didn't need to. Especially not now. The iPad is such a runaway success, I don't know how many people expected it. Even me, someone whose office looks like an Apple showroom, doubted its success. I watched the keynote address, and after, I thought "meh, it looks pretty cool I guess, but I already have an iPhone". Then I bought one on release day anyway...and I can't imagine not having it now. It's by far my favorite piece of technology I've ever owned, and I didn't even know I wanted it at first.

Apple is so far ahead in this game, it's embarrassing (for its "competitors"). Apple resembles a healthy marathoner, and all the other companies are waiting to put their shoes on, in case Apple trips.

Apple doesn't need release the 7" iPad now, it's doing quite well with the 9.7". Apple can do whatever it wants at this point, without limitation.

 

[OyR]

It would NEED to be high density if it's meant to be a small iPad, but I'd almost rather the 7" device be a BIG iPod or iPhone. I think the functionality and approach would be closer to those devices at that screen size.

I agree with you on that one! For me (and lot of folks with not perfect eyesight) the iPhone is just a bit too small. For people who can "think different" it's no big problem to see how a 7" iPad would fit in between the iPhone 3.5 and iPad 9.7...

 

[Rocketman]

"The iPad is the one of the best selling devices in history"

Says who? Apple?

Says third parties who track these things for a living. Let's at least be clear about the specific claim. It is the largest number of UNITS adopted in the shortest time.

It also happens to be the largest growing segment of the electronics gadget field, in a segment it has total dominance of after years of small time players trying to make a dent.

So it is only what it is, but it is rapid unit sales, and rapid total dollar sales for an identifiable segment.

Notably it is also by far, the largest "profit center" within the segment as well as other segments Apple operates in.

You can parse it any other way you want but these seem like pretty central measures of success to me. Particularly the overall unit adoption magnitude and rate.

Rocketman

 

[HLdan]

Wouldn't a 7" iPad cause all kind of nightmare scenarios when it comes to selling apps. For example I really don't think it will be a joy to work in iOS Pages when the screen is scaled back some 25%..

I'm really confused on your post. What does iOS Pages and selling apps have to do with each other, furthermore how does a 7" screen iPad present problems when selling apps, and what do you mean by selling apps?

 

[Bytor65]

The 3.5" screen is too small for my middle aged eyes.

Ditto. It has nothing to do with visual acuity (I am still 20:15), it has to do with how close you can focus, and how close it actually feels comfortable. I prefer holding things 18" away these days and that make 3.5" too small and it makes "retina" ridiculously pointless.

That said, I don't think there is any "one true size". I can see many ranges that a optimized for particular tasks, no one size is best for all.

4"-5" Ideal portable/pocket-able (But kind of small for many uses)
6-7" Ideal one hand grip e-reading form factor (But not fully pocket-able and not big enough for PDF full page).
10"+ Ideal for Full page viewing of PDFs/Comics/Mags.( But less comfortable in one hand)

I would eventually like both something pocketable (but more like 5") and something large for full page viewing. Heck if cheap enough maybe one of each size range.

There simply is no "one true size". I could see buying a different size each generation and keeping them all because different sizes have different usage patters.

While it makes sense that Apple started with one iPad for a launch of a new product niche, now that it is clear that this can be a robust product niche, Apple should start populating more potential areas.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

There is no point of such a thing like an iPod "nano". Why would they do that? Their iPod is selling just fine...

 

[JPark]

Wait, wouldn't the smaller screen be the one with the higher density (assuming the same screen resolution)?

Yeah, that's what I thought. For me a glaringly obvious mistake like that sort of calls into question the whole report.

 

[srxtr]

The 7" iPad is just another bullet for Apple. They won't need it until they really need it.

 

[ctdonath]

how does a 7" screen iPad present problems when selling apps

Scaling. Some applications do not respond well to scaling, esp. when involving an interface that does not scale well (touch).

Imagine a straight scaling of iPad apps like Pages down to the iPhone screen - unusable. The layout of the visuals/interface MUST be changed to work at a different size. That's why (among other reasons) the App Store calls out iPad apps as separate from iPhone types: scaling doesn't map well in many cases.

Of course scaling Pages from 9" to 7" may not be that big a deal ... but it's not no-impact either. Some users may not find it usable at that size.

Ergo, if you write an app, you already have to consider whether it will run on a 9" or 3.5" screen, and perhaps change the layout depending on which ... and tossing another size in the mix means another possible layout when straight scaling is inappropriate.

With a mouse or other mechanical pointer, there is a separation between the user's physical movement space vs. the interface's layout, and people can adjust mouse sensitivity settings or get a bigger/smaller screen as they like, or change resolutions.
With touchscreen, there isn't that mapping/translation buffer: your interface MUST address the physical norms and limits of human touch and precision.

 

[NOV]

I'm really confused on your post. What does iOS Pages and selling apps have to do with each other, furthermore how does a 7" screen iPad present problems when selling apps, and what do you mean by selling apps?

There are a lot apps that work comfortable with a 9,7" screen, but will probably not work so comfortable with a smaller form factor. Think of it like using an iPhone app on an iPad but then the other way around

 

[ctdonath]

There is no point of such a thing like an iPod "nano". Why would they do that? Their iPod is selling just fine...

Sarcasm recognized, Apple did not introduce the Nano until ~8 months after bracketing the product space with the Shuffle.

 

[mikechan1234]

I see this quote being true



when sales start to slow down, maybe then they will release a smaller form factor to excite people again, but not now, not wile they are still selling like hotcakes.

Also agree

 

[rumplestiltskin]

You read it here first:

Look for an Apple iPad in the 12-14" range by Q3 2011. If you don't own an iPad you won't know why. If you do own one, you'll understand why this makes sense.

 

[skellener]

I agree that 9.7" is indeed way too big for many of us.

Yeah, that 8.5 x 11 paper size is killing me.

 

[huntercr]

The only question is: WHY the heck would someone want to buy a 7-inch iPad when there are already 2 Apple-produced multitouch devices with 3.5 and 9 inches? To fit it in cargo pockets?

This rumor makes absolutely no sense in terms of market segmentation; I call it pure BS.

I must disagree. When the final round of a tablet wishlist rumors came out... when was it... early 2009? The specs for the iPad were leaked ( though none of us knew it at the time ) and you could not stop the moaning about how 9.7 inches ( I think it was described as 9.5 ) was way too big. Many people suggested that 6.5inches was the sweet spot, in part because that's exactly the diagonal of a pocket paper notebook ( 3.5 x 5.5 )

I have a feeling people at Apple also thought there was some truth to this in their experiments and use testing.

I think more power to apple for this.... we have multiple laptop screen sizes for multiple purposes... why not a middle sized ipad?

I would just be happy with an iPod touch with HDMI out. I've been waiting for a true "video ipod" for about 4 years now.

 

[fjose1929]

Right

Baloney.

The competition thought they could be different and create a form factor that would obliterate the iPad. Too bad. No amount of jawboning from the media whores will legitimate the fake iPad. DOA.

 

[vastoholic]

So basically you think the Apple continuum should be whittled down to:

iPhone
iPad
17" laptop

Because there's obviously no reason for segmenting the market further with, say, 13" and 15" laptops.

Sheesh.

Yeah, but the current sizes in laptops offer more or less power than the others. Do you think they will make the iPad even less powerful with a smaller screen? I don't think they would want to do that at all. That's the main selling points behind the different sized MacBooks and iMacs. The bigger it is, the better it is. I don't think this is a good move on Apple's part if they do that with iPads. Otherwise, what really is the benefit of a smaller screen? I know my argument is pretty crappy, but it's just why I think Apple won't make a 7" device.

 

[Yankee617]

Most folks can hold a 7" iPad in one hand.

I think there is good reason for a 7" model. The iPhone is a bit too small for many tasks. The 9.7" has plenty of screen real estate, but it's somewhat awkward to hang on to and it still needs a separate carrying bag/case. A 7" model could bolster the same screen real estate (albeit more pixel dense), but the key is the ability to grip with one hand and slip into a jacket pocket. Realize 7" is the screen diagonal size, so the device size might be closer to 4"x5.5" (?) It would probably not need the full bezel if you can grip in one hand... maybe more like the iPhone, just on the ends.

Current 9.7" iPad is 7.47" wide. A proportionately-shrunk 7" iPad would be 5.39" wide.

(Take an 8.5x11" sheet of paper and fold in half to get 5.5". This indicates I could hold
a 5.4" wide device in one hand. I think my hands are average, or perhaps a little on
the small side of average.)

Current 9.7" iPad is 1024x768 with 132 PPI. A proportionately-shrunk 7" iPad with the
same 1024x768 would only require 183 PPI; much less than the 326 PPI of a retina display.

Current 9.7" iPad is 1.5 pounds. A proportionately-shrunk 7" iPad would be about 1.1 pounds.

 

[Fraaaa]

At first I though that the 7" would be a good idea because a lot of people would like something more portable then the original iPad; however, how much portable would that be?
It's a bit silly having a smaller one that still doesn't fit in the pocket, a 5" would be another not so good factor in my opinion for Apple having already the iPhone. Moreover a 7" display same resolution of the 9.7" would probably be more expensive and would outclass the iPad, and having a smaller resolution just doesn't bring any breeze.

 

[MartiNZ]

Great, good to see further rumour around this; in my experience playing with iPads, a smaller form factor would be a very nice thing, just to get that weight down a bit and make it less annoying to hold for long periods ... and hopefully to make it feel less ridiculous playing tilt games .

 

[RT2020]

It's a stupid iphone without a phone.... it will scale up to 7 inches... 9 inches... 15 inches.. whatever.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

I just hope they make this iPad a little more powerful and not overprice it like the old one.

I think you need to smoke another joint. How is the current model overpriced? When it was introduced, Apple got nothing but praise for the low price points. It's time to graduate from pot to crack, my friend.

 

[leroypants]

I think you need to smoke another joint. How is the current model overpriced? When it was introduced, Apple got nothing but praise for the low price points. It's time to graduate from pot to crack, my friend.

Please stop chugging the apple kool-aid, the only people praising the "low price points" are apple fan boys who praise apple no matter what. Most intelligent people know and will admit that aevery apple product has an "apple tax".

 

[Laird Knox]

The only question is: WHY the heck would someone want to buy a 7-inch iPad when there are already 2 Apple-produced multitouch devices with 3.5 and 9 inches? To fit it in cargo pockets?

This rumor makes absolutely no sense in terms of market segmentation; I call it pure BS.

A 7" iPad would fit nicely in my camera bag and show photos better than the iPhone.

 

[MrMoore]

I guess a 7" iPad would work if the intent was to make it lighter so it could be used as a reader. The 9' is a little heavy to be held in one hand for reading. Maybe making a 7' could put it in Kindle weight and size.