Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
1st post here, but I havent heard anyone else dicuss this option so I thought I would throw it out there. Why not have the narrower bezel on the sides to decrease the overall footprint? Why does the screen have to be touch sensitive on the 1/2" or so of the actual screen. Since you rarely need to manipulate the screen using the very edges anyway, just make the screen not respond to touch so that you can have your "bezel" without giving up viewing real estate?
 
I wonder if it is thinner and lighter because it may be OLED based Samsung Note competitor with stylus input option?
 
iPod touch thin!? Holy crap...

If they went this thin I hope they changed the edge. I ended up buying a case for my iPod touch because it was uncomfortable to hold for any length of time. That narrow edge was just too thin.
 
Based on the numbers listed the ipad mini would be a little less than 5.5 inches wide. You can't cradle that in your hand? Go grab a piece of paper and fold it in half, then turn it sideways and hold it. That is 5.5 inches wide.

Excellent demo!
 
Ok so now we know it's going to sit in the iPod family rather than the iPad I wonder what they will call it. My guess is they will drop the iPod Touch name and simply call them both "the new iPod" available in 2 sizes (4" and 7") - just like they do with the MBP, MBA and iMac.

Now the interesting part. Apple seems to be standardising on 2 size models for each product. So come next March what's to say we won't see a larger iPad to add to the current 10" model. My guess would be that they will add a 13" iPad model.

I don't think any of that is on point, sorry.

The new device will be part of the iPad family. It is highly unlikely that Apple releases a smaller iPad, convinces everyone that smaller is better, and then release a larger model than was previously available a few months later. That would cause way too much confusion.
 
For those with iPhones (and are planning on upgrading to the new one soon) plus iPads, would you buy an iPad mini too? I plan on getting the new iPhone and I have a retina macbook and retina iPad, I just don't see how this smaller device will fit in to my device life. How many size screens does one person need?
Plus, it really needs to be retina, I don't see how Apple can release a non retina touch screen device at this stage, as it is now so important to users...
 
After holding my friend's Nexus 7, I hope this rumor is indeed true. It's the perfect size IMO. I currently own the iPad 2 and I wasn't going to buy a new tablet until it stopped working, but if a 7 inch launches I will gladly dump the iPad 2.
 
The game console industry is different. It's always been like that, they sell the consoles at a loss in the beginning, but since the consoles stay the same hardware for much longer they can drop the price in the future as the hardware gets cheaper. That wouldn't be the case with a tablet as there are new versions out on the market each year, and they can't keep making good tablets with new hardware for the price of $199,- each year. And making the price higher is not exactly a very good move either.

Also, in consoles the manufacturer makes a big chunk on each game sold. I don't have the figures to hand but I could guess some rough numbers.

Game to console ratio, maybe 10 games per console over a lifetime? If MS makes $15 per game sold as a fee from developers, that's $150. Now you can add on what they make from selling XBOX live subscriptions and accessories, and you've got a fairly big amount of money there to help pay for the cost of the console - the loss from which will fall over time anyway.

But how would they do this with tablets? Tablet Apps are far, far cheaper. Even Apple, which has a huge user base and gets a cut of the sales of millions of apps, makes a fairly small sum from the App Store. The other question must be, would those in the market for a budget tablet buy as many apps? Apple's customers tend to be higher earners and those with a higher disposal income. We pay top rate for the devices and intend to invest in the ecosystem by buying apps, music and other media. If you're drawn to the Windows 8 tablets by the low price, the ratio of apps bought to tablets sold will likely remain low.

The point is that you can't really do much with a games console without buying games and few would spend the money on an XBOX 360 just to use it to access the internet or send email. We have laptops for that and cheap set top boxes can allow us to use netflix and other internet video services. But a tablet can be useful without spending another penny on the device - if MS is losing money to enter this market then they may never make that up. Add to that, a loss leader strategy would essentially undermine their OEMs.
 
Please stop

Hi,

Please stop these articles about the iPad "mini" like it's a fact. It's not going to happen. I know these sites live off traffic, but please have some self respect. Hint: the fact that other sites also post this ridiculous speculation, does not make it any more likely to happen.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has paid attention to what Steve and Tim have been saying over the last couple of years, can honestly think that Apple would launch a smaller iPad. For example, Steve's comment about how you would need to sand down your fingers to use a 7" tablet. I think that makes it pretty clear how Apple feels about an iPad "mini". Also, if you listened to the last earnings call, Tim made it clear that Apple doesn't see any significant competition to the iPad.

Apple has thought long and hard before they decided on the iPad size. Like them, I think it's just perfect for surfing the web or watching a movie in bed.

If you still dream about an iPad "mini" - get ready for disappointment.

Daniel
 
Hi,

Please stop these articles about the iPad "mini" like it's a fact. It's not going to happen. I know these sites live off traffic, but please have some self respect. Hint: the fact that other sites also post this ridiculous speculation, does not make it any more likely to happen.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has paid attention to what Steve and Tim have been saying over the last couple of years, can honestly think that Apple would launch a smaller iPad. For example, Steve's comment about how you would need to sand down your fingers to use a 7" tablet. I think that makes it pretty clear how Apple feels about an iPad "mini". Also, if you listened to the last earnings call, Tim made it clear that Apple doesn't see any significant competition to the iPad.

Apple has thought long and hard before they decided on the iPad size. Like them, I think it's just perfect for surfing the web or watching a movie in bed.

If you still dream about an iPad "mini" - get ready for disappointment.

Daniel

This site is called MacRUMORS. Get it?

Stop saying that there won't be an iPad mini like its a fact. <--see what I did there?

I shall save this quote for if/when this iPad mini is announced.
 
Hi,

Please stop these articles about the iPad "mini" like it's a fact. It's not going to happen. I know these sites live off traffic, but please have some self respect. Hint: the fact that other sites also post this ridiculous speculation, does not make it any more likely to happen.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has paid attention to what Steve and Tim have been saying over the last couple of years, can honestly think that Apple would launch a smaller iPad. For example, Steve's comment about how you would need to sand down your fingers to use a 7" tablet. I think that makes it pretty clear how Apple feels about an iPad "mini". Also, if you listened to the last earnings call, Tim made it clear that Apple doesn't see any significant competition to the iPad.

Apple has thought long and hard before they decided on the iPad size. Like them, I think it's just perfect for surfing the web or watching a movie in bed.

If you still dream about an iPad "mini" - get ready for disappointment.

Daniel

no matter how hard you try to wish it away, when Gruber and the Wall Street journal are weighing in on it, it's fact... Sorry to burst your bubble
 
I really wanna see where they price the different versions of the iPad Mini (assuming it is real)...

Also, I think the mock up with the thinner bezel on the sides looks pretty good.
 
I find it hard to believe that anyone who has paid attention to what Steve and Tim have been saying over the last couple of years,
They also said that the iPhone doesn't need multitasking and look what happened there.

Steve Jobs (among other things) was a great salesman and it was in his best interest to marginalize smaller tablets. It now be time for Apple to re-evaluate that stance.

I don't take any CEO's words as gospel when they state positions on a given product. Every word they say is calculated to promote their current products and this is the case. they don't have a 7" tablet (yet) and so they dismiss the 7" as too small.
 
Hi,

Please stop these articles about the iPad "mini" like it's a fact. It's not going to happen. I know these sites live off traffic, but please have some self respect. Hint: the fact that other sites also post this ridiculous speculation, does not make it any more likely to happen.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has paid attention to what Steve and Tim have been saying over the last couple of years, can honestly think that Apple would launch a smaller iPad. For example, Steve's comment about how you would need to sand down your fingers to use a 7" tablet. I think that makes it pretty clear how Apple feels about an iPad "mini". Also, if you listened to the last earnings call, Tim made it clear that Apple doesn't see any significant competition to the iPad.

Apple has thought long and hard before they decided on the iPad size. Like them, I think it's just perfect for surfing the web or watching a movie in bed.

If you still dream about an iPad "mini" - get ready for disappointment.

Daniel

You do realize you're on a rumors site, right? Nobody is taking it as fact. Some people in the industry think it is, and MacRumors is reporting what they're saying.

It's funny that you want others to stop takig the rumors about the iPad mini as truth, and yet you're putting your own info out there as truth. Stop pretending that you know what Apple is thinking. You don't. Steve and Tim can say whatever they want. Apple wasn't working on a phone. Apple wasn't working on a TV. Those things were said, and yet we now know that those products were being worked on. The current iPad might be ther perfect size for you to surf or watch a movie in bed, but a smaller iPad would be much better for people that want to use it outside the house. There IS a market for it. Not everyone is willing to pay $500 for something that isn't easily portable. A lower price point and smaller size will be very enticing for a lot of people.
 
Hi,

Please stop these articles about the iPad "mini" like it's a fact. It's not going to happen. I know these sites live off traffic, but please have some self respect. Hint: the fact that other sites also post this ridiculous speculation, does not make it any more likely to happen.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who has paid attention to what Steve and Tim have been saying over the last couple of years, can honestly think that Apple would launch a smaller iPad. For example, Steve's comment about how you would need to sand down your fingers to use a 7" tablet. I think that makes it pretty clear how Apple feels about an iPad "mini". Also, if you listened to the last earnings call, Tim made it clear that Apple doesn't see any significant competition to the iPad.

Apple has thought long and hard before they decided on the iPad size. Like them, I think it's just perfect for surfing the web or watching a movie in bed.

If you still dream about an iPad "mini" - get ready for disappointment.

Daniel

No offence but I think you are going to look very silly on Sept 12. Yes this is a rumour but it has been all but confirmed by several sources known to have inside knowledge on these matters. If I'm wrong I will gladly hold my hand up and say so but I don't think I am. I hope you will come back on Sept 12 either way and do the same.
 
Solid Point

Well because there are a lot of people who simply won't buy a $500 device, who might buy a $200-$250 device. Maybe Apple thinks they're approaching the point where all the people who can afford a 10" iPad have already bought them, and sales will start to slow? Sure, right now they're selling great, but I assume they have to be projecting into the future and doing the math.

If they can (just for example) sell 1.5X as many $200 devices while selling 1/2 as many $500 devices, they come out ahead. Let's say they were selling 10M $500 10" iPads over a certain time period. That's $5B in revenue. But if instead they could sell 5M 10" iPads ($2.5B) plus 15M $200 8" iPad Minis ($3B), they end up with $8B, a lot more total revenue. Not to mention bringing more people into the Apple ecosystem at the same time, and not ceding this large market to others who might prefer an Apple device but don't have the option.

This is exactly the reason why this rumor holds some weight. In the end its a no-brainer when it comes to revenue. I am a iPad 1 owner and none of the new iPads have given me much reason to switch. I love HD movies but to shell out another $899 for a replacement to play the same games and movies doesn't seem practical to me.

HOWEVER, an iPad mini with a price point of $299. I'm sold. My son has almost taken over my iPad as it is so now I have a reason to get another tablet AND I can't stand the Android platform. Plus I am a Mac only house so its not even a consideration. And I am sure I am not alone, many existing iPad owners or consumers who feel $500+ is just out of reach, will take part and purchase one of these so I don't see how it will disrupt sales.
 
With the specs being this crazy thin does this mean the iPad Mini will be less powerful processor wise than the full version? I can't imagine not being able to run everything available to the larger one.

Anyone?
 
I don't think any of that is on point, sorry.

The new device will be part of the iPad family. It is highly unlikely that Apple releases a smaller iPad, convinces everyone that smaller is better, and then release a larger model than was previously available a few months later. That would cause way too much confusion.

Maybe - I'm really looking forward to Sept 12 to find out.

I don't think it's necessarily a point of convincing anyone that smaller is better or one product is better than another, I think it's simply about having a product and a price point to suit everyone.

In my scenario we would have 2 sizes of iPod, iPad, MBA, MBP and iMac. That just seems like a logical synergy to me.

If we agree that the iPad is a "post-PC" device then it has to appeal to a wider audience - namely people who would otherwise buy a laptop for the larger screen. In that sense a 13" iPad makes perfect sense to me.

There is also the issue of product differentiation. I think Apple wants to differentiate the iPod from the iPad. I think they would like the iPod to be seen as an entertainment device whereas the iPad is an educational and productivity device. The idea being that you will buy an iPod and an iPad rather than one or the other.

I haven't been this excited about a forthcoming Apple event for a while now. This is going to be a real humdinger of a presentation if all the rumours are true.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.