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Looking forward to iPad Mini 5 with an edge to edge display .... but it better not have a bend in it!!!
APPLE!!!! I'm warning you now!!


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I'm guessing that it won't have a headphone jack nor Touch ID (if its edge to edge display).
I think I'd miss Touch ID, unless Apple build it into the display (considering that this tech is now possible).
Force touch would be nice too.
 
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A new iPad Mini would be great. I've been wanting one but I won’t buy an old stock Mini 4. I am currently using a 10.5 but would like something smaller.
 
Quite contrarily, the Surface Go is meant to be a smaller form factor given how people are shifting to larger screens. I know it’s not a 7.9” display and it competes with the regular iPad. However, the Go is meant to be a really portable form factor. It’s extremely light and awesome to use so far. I take it all the time when I travel.

The surface go is flawed IMO, and you guys know I'm the biggest MS cheerleader on these forums. Mainly the battery life is what stunts it. But with that said I feel it's NOT in the same category as the ipad mini, it's significantly larger and not pocketable. Yeah the mini is barely "pocketable", but I can indeed fit it into my back pocket. The Go is more comparable to the regular ipads. It's a great portable solution, no argument there, but not as portable or convenient than the ipad mini form factor in terms of both size and battery life.
 
I'll believe it when I see it, but I'm getting tired of Apple's strategy of selling the current version with a 4-generation-old-chip for top dollar.
Here's a secret: chip speeds have been FINE for almost every purpose for many years now.
People don't NEED to buy for "chip speed" but for stuff like form factor and weight and screen (though screens have been fantastic ever since retina became a thing)
 
I'd be happy to see a new iPad mini and I think they could continue to place it as a cheap alternative without the latest and greatest SoC and camera.
As for the entry level I guess they'll eventually move to the same resolution as the iPad pro 10'' but I'm not sure they'll make a new model next year, a simple specs bump with a new SoC would be enough for the base model.

My bet and hope is that this new mini could be used as a screen that can be a home hub of sorts - placed on a wall or in a kitchen to use it to be a control center of sorts...
 
I was hoping for a display as good as my iPad mini 4 (laminated), A12, 4GB RAM, pencil support and FaceID. Even if it doesn’t have FaceID but has the rest I mentioned, I might bite. If the iPad mini 5 is just the addition of an A12 with a downgraded display and in other words an iPad mini 2/3 with an A12, no sale. I don’t mind paying $500-800 for a mini if the specs are good/current.
 
The surface go is flawed IMO, and you guys know I'm the biggest MS cheerleader on these forums. Mainly the battery life is what stunts it. But with that said I feel it's NOT in the same category as the ipad mini, it's significantly larger and not pocketable. Yeah the mini is barely "pocketable", but I can indeed fit it into my back pocket. The Go is more comparable to the regular ipads. It's a great portable solution, no argument there, but not as portable or convenient than the ipad mini form factor in terms of both size and battery life.

Battery life and processing power are the only concerns with the Go if you want to use it as a daily driver. I believe that there are ways listed on Reddit to stretch the battery life to 7–9 hrs. However, I don’t recommend it because the device might struggle if it’s not optimized like Microsoft makes it.

A true 7” Microsoft device would suck because it’s not enough real estate for point and click imo. Plus, Microsoft products aren’t optimized enough like iPads for just tablet usage.

In reality, iOS can’t be compared to a full fledged x86 OS. The iPad Pro 2018 is too limited for my needs because of the OS not having point and click or x86 capabilities. Though the processor is sufficient enough to run some variation of OS X.

Apple’s refusal to make a touchscreen x86 experience is annoying.
 
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How is it not Apples problem that they unnecessarily change the screen size every year, also changing the aspect ratio this year? Isn’t this what all Apple users made fun of Android devices about? Million different sizes and aspect ratios?

I do agree that the changing from 10.5 to 11 is a bit odd. I don’t really know how the devoplment of apps go, but don’t they have the certain requirement for apps to fit in a certain x1, x2, x3 size design so it scales appropriately regardless of screen size.

And I believe that all the iPads still have an aspect ratio of 4:3. Hasn’t changed since the original iPad. But I haven’t looked at the specs page yet.
 
If the rumors prove to be true. I may trade in my 2017 iPad for a new Mini. While I don't have an issue with my current iPad, I feel it's too big for my needs. For the right price however and more updated specs, I may consider the new Mini.
 
I do agree that the changing from 10.5 to 11 is a bit odd. I don’t really know how the devoplment of apps go, but don’t they have the certain requirement for apps to fit in a certain x1, x2, x3 size design so it scales appropriately regardless of screen size.

And I believe that all the iPads still have an aspect ratio of 4:3. Hasn’t changed since the original iPad. But I haven’t looked at the specs page yet.
The 11” now has a 4.3:3 aspect ratio, hence all the complaints of apps not being updated to support this change yet.
 
I think the iPad mini will be a budget device.
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I suspect the iPad mini will just be a spec bump and sport apple pencil support ala the entry level iPad.
I agree with this. I think it will loose the laminated display.
 
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I think the iPad mini will be a budget device.
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I agree with this. I think it will loose the laminated display.
That said, given Apple's zeal in pushing for Face ID over Touch ID, it's not impossible that Apple wants a standardised iPad line-up next year comprising of reduced bezels, usb-c and Face ID.

It might be budget the same way the iPhone XR is Apple's "budget" flagship. Cheaper than the other options, but still not cheap.
 
Fingers crossed the Mini 5 will have a nice, high-quality, laminated display like Mini 4 and not a low-quality display with ugly air gap like the “new iPad”.
Yep I can’t use an iPad without a laminated display anymore. I’ll hold onto my iPad mini 4 until it dies if the new one has a cheap panel.
 
Coming to think of it , May be a 7.9 iPad mini would be a very good gaming machine with A12.
 
Coming to think of it , May be a 7.9 iPad mini would be a very good gaming machine with A12.
Apple limiting Bluetooth device support would limit that.
Look at how the Apple TV has failed to become a gaming platform even for casual gamers.

If you could pair in iPad Pro with Mouse, Keyboard and a Console Controller, it would be great,
Even the iPad would be totally different.

But Apple needs to push the touch-only and pencil interface to meet its own App guidelines.
The iPad Pro could be the most powerful device, but Apple has other plans for it.

What plans, you ask?

Partner with a limited number of big companies to allow them to publish their Apps, with Apple being able to "update" special features to showcase these Apps.

Meaning, no independent creator will be on the App Store, because it is not viable unless Apple pushes your idea.

If you think I'm talking BS, do you remember the remote controlled cars running on a real track and using the iPad to virtually control them?

That was great, but it did not fit Apples business model. It was way too "independent" as a revenue stream for toys.
So Apple partners with Adobe and a handful of others instead.

I don't know Dropbox metrics, but it has become less and less attractive to use dropbox in an Apple ecosystem.

It has become less and less attractive to develop a full document management app for iOS.
It is literally impossible to create a great third-party Mail App, Word Processor or Spread Sheet (aka Office Suite)

We could continue include real photo Apps, Video Apps excluding iMovie etc.
And yes, I know Pixelmator and the other Apps I'm blanking on now.
They are the few big players Apple likes.

You could do it, but you would fail economically.


By the way, paring BT devices to any iPad and Apps that are able to operate in a desktop like environment with a user account and a filesystem would be a dream. But we will never see that.

The hardware is capable, Apple is not.
The platform is dead, except for stuff Apple likes to push.


Gaming makes no money for Apple, except In-App gold coins etc.
But bug game studios do not like sharing revenue.

Have a great holiday.
 
Apple limiting Bluetooth device support would limit that.
Look at how the Apple TV has failed to become a gaming platform even for casual gamers.

If you could pair in iPad Pro with Mouse, Keyboard and a Console Controller, it would be great,
Even the iPad would be totally different.

Gaming makes no money for Apple, except In-App gold coins etc.
But bug game studios do not like sharing revenue.

Have a great holiday.

I was thinking of PUBGMobile. While having Keyboard and Mouse would be insanely great, most casual gamers just prefer touch interface.

And Gaming makes LOTS of money for Apple, precisely as In App purchase.

Have a great holiday.
 
And Gaming makes LOTS of money for Apple, precisely as In App purchase.
Yes I know, but the big game distributors do not share 30% with Apple just because of In-App.
That was the point I was trying to make.

Take care.
 
Sweet. I definitely want to update my dying ipad mini 2.

Hope it gets Apple Pencil support this time. Wish it would be for the Apple Pencil 2 tho...but that would require a complete redesign.

I believe Apple will Eventually phase out the first Apple Pencil. I can’t see them continuing to carry two different pencils for that much longer. So that would mean future regular ipads and possibly ipad minis will adopt the flat edged ipad pro design most likely to be able to charge the new apple pencil. Wether Apple does it with this next update remains to be seen. Hope i am wrong, but i have a feeling they will wait until the 10th anniversary of the regular ipad in 2020 for the redesign. I think the updates coming in March will most likely be a modest speed bump.

But i would seriously love an ipad mini with a flat edged design, face id, apple pencil 2 support and thinner bezels. The question is, would Apple increase the screen size of the current 7.9” ipad mini to something like 8.5” but keep the same footprint? Or would they just shrink the size of the device but keep the current screen size? Hmmm. I think if they are increasing the regular ipad to 10.5” then they’d most likely increase the mini screen size to 8.5” but with slimmer bezels.

Just guessing tho.
 
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