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I don't know how to make it any simpler. The reason the iPhone target objects are not too small is because it is scaled for the iPhone. Therefore the iPhone is not an example of how the iPad can get smaller easily

The iPad touch targets on iPad apps scaled down to the 7.85 screen size would be no smaller than the size of the touch targets of iPhone/Touch apps running on their current devices -- you get the more functional iPad apps scaled down to work on a more portable device, while keeping the touch targets within the Apple user interface guidelines.
 
Using the same technology as iPhone 3GS

According to John gruber

I had say it is well planned and executed to bring the costs downs, it is very well in production now, at least the parts if not the entire assembly...

iPhone 3GS is 480x320 in 3.5 inch display

What is the iPad mini display size at 1024x 768 ?

How they got the 7.85 inch not any other size?
 
Don't buy it, even if it is posted by Bloomberg. It would fragment apps even more, and Apple can already command the lower end tablet market with the iPad 2, which still sells very well.

Um, no. Having a smaller tablet with the same aspect ratio and resolution as previous model iPads will, obviously, not fragment apps (because continuing to downscale apps to support the iPad 2 and 1 fragments the apps hurrr).
Furthermore, $399 is not the lower-end tablet/pad market; it'd be more sensible to label that as the mid-range market. $199 to $299 would be considered low-end; Apple would be wise to appease this market with a form factor suited to a large number of people.

8GB 7" iPad: around $199
16GB 7" iPad: around $249/$299
16GB iPad 2: $399

A nice spread if I ever saw one.
 
According to John gruber

I had say it is well planned and executed to bring the costs downs, it is very well in production now, at least the parts if not the entire assembly...

iPhone 3GS is 480x320 in 3.5 inch display

What is the iPad mini display size at 1024x 768 ?

How they got the 7.85 inch not any other size?

I posted it earlier, here it is again:

http://temes.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/the-difference-between-7-and-7-85-is-everything/

It's the new iPod Touch XL, not the iPad "Mini"....
 
I hope you're posting this as a joke -- because it's a pretty good one.

Sorry, as Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) would say, mathematics does not lie...

And I don't really care if it's a scaled up iPod/iPhone or a scaled down iPad, just as long as it's about 7" diagonally, and does what I need it to do, for between $250 and $350....

Either way I've every confidence that Apple will give it punch & wow factor, and make it the best 7" tablet device out there...

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Sorry, as Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) would say, mathematics does not lie...

And I don't really care if it's a scaled up iPod/iPhone or a scaled down iPad, just as long as it's about 7" diagonally, and does what I need it to do, for between $250 and $350....

Either way I've every confidence that Apple will give it punch & wow factor, and make it the best 7" tablet device out there...


And, watch as all the Macolytes and Apple fanboys will say "See? We were right! St. Steve said that there would never be an iPad smaller than 10", and there's not! He just never said that that there wouldn't be a bigger iPod! And now there is! All glory to Apple! Now give me my 7" iPod Touch! I must have it or I will die, die, die!"
 
Sorry, as Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) would say, mathematics does not lie...

And I don't really care if it's a scaled up iPod/iPhone or a scaled down iPad, just as long as it's about 7" diagonally, and does what I need it to do, for between $250 and $350....

Either way I've every confidence that Apple will give it punch & wow factor, and make it the best 7" tablet device out there...

I'm still not sure if you've done this, but if you read through the first five comments, even the author of the blog realizes he's got it wrong and reverses his position.
 
I'm still not sure if you've done this, but if you read through the first five comments, even the author of the blog realizes he's got it wrong and reverses his position.

There are other articles pointing out the same mathematics involving the alleged components and parts...

An upscaled iPod Touch just makes more sense than a scaled down iPad. You can give it WiFi and not have to worry about all the cell carrier hassles, and that will allow them to offer it at a lower price point and still make a profit

People will buy it it droves because it will be lighter, easier to carry, yet won't really replace their iPad. It will be a much better gaming and eReader platform than the current iPod Touch. If they need to go somewhere without Wifi, they'll take their iPad; If they don't, they'll take the iPod XL. Or maybe they will take both, and use what works best as they travel. Either way, Apple wins.

It will happen. Apple just isn't going to cede the 7" device market to Android/Google. They know if they offer anything in that class, it will quickly blow out the competition...

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I'm still not sure if you've done this, but if you read through the first five comments, even the author of the blog realizes he's got it wrong and reverses his position.

Well, he reversed himself in saying that it would be a scaled down iPad instead of a scaled up iPod, but not that there would not be a 7" device at all. And that also leads to this link:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/05/seven-inch-ipad/

Which makes the compelling broad-based argument for any 7" Apple device..

It will happen. I just hope that I don't have to wait until after Christmas to get mine...
 
Well, he reversed himself in saying that it would be a scaled down iPad instead of a scaled up iPod, but not that there would not be a 7" device at all. And that also leads to this link:

http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/05/seven-inch-ipad/

Which makes the compelling broad-based argument for any 7" Apple device..

It will happen. I just hope that I don't have to wait until after Christmas to get mine...

I agree it's coming.
I also agree with the commenter on the the blog that if you look at how this actually works out, it's hard not to think that the mini was not baked in from before the iPad was released. There might just be some pretty clever people working at Apple...
 
Well this is very likely to happen... a 5-inch iPad, 7-inch iPad and the 9-inch iPad. To be consistent with the MBA 11, 13 and 15 and MBP 13, 15 and 17. :D

Seriously, why complicate the product range with an awkward 7-inch model? I'm happy with the way it is now thank you very much.
 
I don't know how to make it any simpler. The reason the iPhone target objects are not too small is because it is scaled for the iPhone. Therefore the iPhone is not an example of how the iPad can get smaller easily

Apple provides a guideline for the developers with regards to the size of target object, which is 44x44 points and moreover that figure is identical for both iPad and iPhone. Thus if the developers followed Apple's guideline, the app touch target should be fine.
 
Well this is very likely to happen... a 5-inch iPad, 7-inch iPad and the 9-inch iPad. To be consistent with the MBA 11, 13 and 15 and MBP 13, 15 and 17. :D

Seriously, why complicate the product range with an awkward 7-inch model? I'm happy with the way it is now thank you very much.

Awkward for you, but not for millions of other people. For them, the 10" iPad is awkward, and the 7" would be a joy.

To each his (or her) own...

Why do you feel the desire to deny other something that will enable them to share the Apply joy? Why to you feel the need to impose your 10" iPad satisfaction on those who want a 7" iPad?

Can't you just enjoy your 10" iPad and let us enjoy our 7" iPad? Having a 7" iPad in existence will not prevent you from buying or using your 10" iPad in any way, shape or form! Go! Use your 10" monstrosity!

Don't impose your will on the rest of the world because it's what you want.

Who died and made you ruler of the world?
 
Amazon is losing money per device and Google is going to make nothing on their tablet. Can Apple get the margin needed in this market?
 
Why do these images always show the iPad being held in the worst way imaginable?
If you hold the device so the corner sits in to your palm then you can still use your thumb and you don't get hand cramps from holding the device. The screen could come closer to the edge. So the 7.85inch new iDevice (iNote?) could be maybe ~8 inch diagonal instead almost 10 if it keeps the same bezel.

Then on the next new iPad knock the bezel down to expand the screen to 11.5 inch.
 
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Apparently I don't "get it" because I don't agree with you.

Yes, the idea is great. If the iPad mini is perfect, by all means release it. If its the cheaper steak that is the same quality, do it.

But there is a strong possibility that it cannot be the same quality.

If the target elements are too small and thus create a frustrating user experience, it will damage the brand and shouldn't be released

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releasing something cheaper and compromise on quality, user experience is not the apple way of business.

it might happen with dell, hp, and all of their competitors like making a high end notebook such as alien ware, but in the other they're making a cheap netbooks too.

i don't think apple will compromise on quality. they must have found a way to give a good user experience too when releasing iPad mini.

iPod nano is so small, but they don't compromise on quality.
 
Awkward for you, but not for millions of other people. For them, the 10" iPad is awkward, and the 7" would be a joy.

To each his (or her) own...

Why do you feel the desire to deny other something that will enable them to share the Apply joy? Why to you feel the need to impose your 10" iPad satisfaction on those who want a 7" iPad?

Can't you just enjoy your 10" iPad and let us enjoy our 7" iPad? Having a 7" iPad in existence will not prevent you from buying or using your 10" iPad in any way, shape or form! Go! Use your 10" monstrosity!

Don't impose your will on the rest of the world because it's what you want.

Who died and made you ruler of the world?

Fortunately for you, I'm just expressing my opinion. As you said, to each his or her own. Just because I said what I said means I'm imposing my will on anybody.
 
Amazon is losing money per device and Google is going to make nothing on their tablet. Can Apple get the margin needed in this market?

I think Apple have several aces up their sleeves here:

  • (Sir) Jonny Ive and the Apple design team.
  • The ability & desire to sell premium products (in terms of the actual build quality).

But, I think the biggest one they have is in Tim Cook, as he is a supply chain & logistics guru.

It's no coincidence IMO that there were not the shortages of yesteryear when it came to the iPad 3 release and I'm sure the same will apply when the next iPhone is released.

If anyone can put out a product, with high/top end build quality and design and for this supposed nirvana of £200/£$300, then it's Apple with Tim Cook at the helm.

I'm fairly sure that most people given the choice, would take a smaller/cheaper Apple iPad over an Android/Amazon tablet and Apple realise that I'm sure.

They also realise, that the more people they can get into the Apple ecosystem in the short term, the more people they can "up sell" to in the long term.

How many people here started off with one Apple product, decided they were great and added to their collection?

I did, that's for sure.

I started with an iPhone 2G, then to a 3G (when the 3GS was launched), then to a 4 on launch day and then a 4S about 6 weeks ago (thanks to a freebie from my network provider, although I probably would have stuck with the 4 in honesty until the 5 came out).

I also added an iPad 1 2 years ago, sold that in February this year and got an iPad 3 in March.

Add to that a 27" iMac in January of this year (complete game changer for me) and I'm now thinking of getting myself a (refurb) MacBook Air.

I reckon I'm a fairly typical Apple owner in that respect and although I don't personally have a want/need for a smaller iPad, if I was Tim Cook I would certainly be aware of how many people were buying 7" Android tablets.

Not because they specifically wanted an Android tablet over an ipad per se, but because they want/need a tablet, but they can't afford to spend £300/£400 on an iPad.

That's a massive untapped market for Apple and as I say, the more people they can get onto an Apple product, the more people they have to sell the rest of their products to (not to mention, it's one less person buying an Android device-whether it be a tablet or a phone).

Isn't it true what they say-"One you go Mac, you never go back"!?
 
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Isn't it funny that Apple hasn't updated the iPod touch in a while? Is there a coincidence? I think there is and it has to do with rebranding it to the iPad line.

iPod touch will become the iPad nano for $149 to $299. Marketed for maximum mobility.

A new device called the iPad mini will be a smaller iPad for $299 to $449. Marketed for content consumption.

And the iPad price will drop from $499 to $449. Marketed as a "pro" device.

The iPad 2 will be dropped.

Too confusing
 
As well argued as something like this has been, I still want one. Yes this rumor has been around forever, and I'm sure when Steve denounced smaller tablet sizes, I think there was some merit, but as this type of tech gets more and more robust and miniturized and resolution soars, it's only natural that the market needs change, and what was a sound exclusion then, is now perhaps something finally worth reconsidering.

I love the idea of using my iPad as a convenient device in my studio and as a reading/browsing anywhere I want kind of thing, but as-is it's just kind of usually a smidge too big to be comfortable, imo. The weight is another thing entirely, but it's shape usually lends itself to need to be put down, not held for any length of time. This is the opposite of what I want. I want something bigger than my phone but still in that easy to hold for a good period of time area. I really like the smaller design concept of this with the same resolution in a smaller space. iPad Mini would be an ideal reader for me amongst all the other things I like to use mine for.

(Here's still hoping...)
 
Been lurking a long time, but I'll bite...

Let's suppose it has an aspect ratio of 1.5:1 like the iPhone, instead of 4:3 like the iPad.
The iPod has a resolution of 960 x 640. Could they double that to 1920 x 1280 and bump the size? What size would it have to be to be considered Retina or for that 44x44 HIG? I know people did the math for resizing the iPad, but what about this? Also to those mathematicians out there, what if it was that 16:9 ratio rumored for the iphone(what resolution would that be?), what size could it be then?
In comparison, the nexus 7 has an aspect of 1.6:1 and a resolution of 1280 x 800. I also remember comments out there about nexus 7's os being more phone than tablet due to it's size. Perhaps we should embrace the whole bigger iPod for the whole usability reason.
 
...
That's what people think until they have the reality in their hands. A few of my clients insisted on having big, powerful 21+" screen laptops....
Bigger is not always better....

And how does this relate to a 13" tablet?

10" tablets (like my iPad) are fine, but too small for reading regular PDFs, or for browsing most magazines (both PDF or from services like Zinio). Hell, they are too small even for browsing the web comfortably.

7" tablets are useless (Steve Jobs said it). Too small for anything useful, on the market mainly because they are cheap.
 
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