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Eddy Cue Worked to Convince Steve Jobs of Need for 7-Inch iPad in Early 2011
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I've owned every iPad to date, but I don't see myself buying an iPad mini of sorts. I just personally see the need for it. MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad makes sense but the current iPad is a decent ereader as is, I'd hate to lose out on screen real estate, and functionality.
I see this similar to the mp3 player market of the past. Remember when the only iPod was the hdd based model? At that time all the major consumer electronics companies were making mp3 players, most being smaller cheaper flash based models. They weren't ideal but they were cheaper than an iPod and sold fairly well. Then apple came out with the cheaper iPod mini. It wasn't as functional as the regular iPod but it sold well. Then came the iPod shuffle which was even less functional. With those products apple basically killed the market for non-iPod mp3 players. I know there are still plenty of mp3 players out there, but they are mainly disposable chinese junk. You don't see any mainstream consumer electronics makers bothering with mp3 players because no one will pay anything significant for a non apple one. If apple decides to come out with a smaller cheaper iPad I predict the same thing. Android tablets will eventually be limited to sub $100 junk just because the majority of consumers won't pay $250 for an Asus or Samsung tablet when they can pay $250-300 for an Apple one. You can see it now in the full sized tablet market. The only 10" tablets that sell in any numbers have to be discounted significantly.
I am struggling to see how this all works, so here's my take on it.
I have an iPod Touch it's great. I use it as a modern day PDA, like I used to use a Compaq iPAQ for or Palm Pilot. It does everything that my old Psion Series 3c did and lots more. So that's the use case for me. I don't really use it for music. If I wanted a music player for on the go stuff, I'd probably get a Nano, that's a great device for that.
I bought the iPod rather than the iPhone because of price, the features of the iTouch are so good than I can bear having a second dumb phone for calls. I also want an iPad though. I want that for the living room sofa, so I don't have to drag out a laptop. I use the iPod for this, but always wish that, in the sofa use case, the screen was larger.
However now I do have an iPhone the iPod is going to become redundant for me, as the iPhone does everything that the iPod does and make calls. Perfect!
So why do I want an iPad mini?
I'm not sure that I do. The smaller screen size to the new iPad does not appeal. I'm always going to want the larger screen. Except if the price of the 7" mini is £200. The problem, as far as I can see, is that Apple can't do that unless they kill the iPod touch. And if they kill the iPod touch, what do they do about the millions of potential upgraders who have used iPod touches from v1 who don't want a 7" iPad and want an iPod touch?
The only solution I can see to this, is to release the iPhone 5 and then sell a SIMM free iPhone 4 at £200.
iPod touch upgraders would die for that and Apple capture the entire 7" tablet market of people who don't want to pay for the more expensive 10" version.
Somehow I seriously doubt that this will ever happen. It's just fantasy. So I'm still confused about where were going here.
I have an iPod Touch it's great. I use it as a modern day PDA, like I used to use a Compaq iPAQ for or Palm Pilot. It does everything that my old Psion Series 3c did and lots more. So that's the use case for me. I don't really use it for music. If I wanted a music player for on the go stuff, I'd probably get a Nano, that's a great device for that.
I bought the iPod rather than the iPhone because of price, the features of the iTouch are so good than I can bear having a second dumb phone for calls. I also want an iPad though. I want that for the living room sofa, so I don't have to drag out a laptop. I use the iPod for this, but always wish that, in the sofa use case, the screen was larger.
However now I do have an iPhone the iPod is going to become redundant for me, as the iPhone does everything that the iPod does and make calls. Perfect!
So why do I want an iPad mini?
I'm not sure that I do. The smaller screen size to the new iPad does not appeal. I'm always going to want the larger screen. Except if the price of the 7" mini is £200. The problem, as far as I can see, is that Apple can't do that unless they kill the iPod touch. And if they kill the iPod touch, what do they do about the millions of potential upgraders who have used iPod touches from v1 who don't want a 7" iPad and want an iPod touch?
The only solution I can see to this, is to release the iPhone 5 and then sell a SIMM free iPhone 4 at £200.
iPod touch upgraders would die for that and Apple capture the entire 7" tablet market of people who don't want to pay for the more expensive 10" version.
Somehow I seriously doubt that this will ever happen. It's just fantasy. So I'm still confused about where were going here.
Actually it was Oracle's CEO Larry Ellison who told that story at All Things D in a retrospective on Steve. He was the neighbor and it's how he met Steve; he's been along described as Steve's best friend. According to his telling, the peacock was a gift from Steve's girlfriend at the time. That remarkable thing about the clip is when he relates the story you can "see" or "hear" Steve.
Oh the irony. Love how so many of the blind followers called Samsung copycats and unable to innovate. Now you have full solid proof that Apple have used a Galaxy Tablet to convince them that a 7 in tablet is "compelling." With proof that they have used Sony and now Samsung as sources of inspiration and direction, will the blind followers concede Apple is no different than any other company out there when it comes to feeding off the competition? Not an effing chance. 
Ipod touch doesn't have to go anywhere. If people like that size thats fine. Some people like myself want a smaller iPad. Ten inches is so big to hold with one hand when standing up. However, a 7 inch iPad would be a great idea for people who want to stand up or walk around while on the go. It's small enough that you can hold it with one hand and big enough that you do surfing and reading very easily. I have a 10" iPad 3 and I love it. However, I would prefer a 7" ipad. If Apple doesn't come out with one then I may have to buy the Nexus tablet instead. It fits my needs better than the 10 inch iPad. I think a 10 inch iPad is for people who want to do work on it.... it has keyboard, mouse & trackpad support. So it can behave like a monitor or it can be the input device.
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Oh the irony. Love how so many of the blind followers called Samsung copycats and unable to innovate. Now you have full solid proof that Apple have used a Galaxy Tablet to convince them that a 7 in tablet is "compelling." With proof that they have used Sony and now Samsung as sources of inspiration and direction, will the blind followers concede Apple is no different than any other company out there when it comes to feeding off the competition? Not an effing chance.
The problem with Samsung's 10" Galaxy Tab is that it looks identical to the iPad. I know because I went to the Samsung store to try it out for myself. It looks and feels like a blatant copy of the iPad. The current Nexus tablet google released looks nothing like an iPad and it works great. Apple's new iPad will look just like their old one accept that it's 7 inches since there is a market for a 7 inch iPad.
The 7 inch all black Galaxy Tab looks nothing like the iPad IMO. However the 10 inch Galaxy tab look exactly like the iPad. I thought Samsung had the design right the first time. If they had an all black 10" tablet... it'd be much harder for Apple to make their claims of infringements on their design patents.
Even Google thought the 10" Galaxy Tab was a blatant copy of the iPad. They did right by going to some other company who could build a good tablet without having to steal someone else's IP.
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LOL! Don't go confusing the discussion with facts.
There is nothing wrong with giving your users access to the good features other platforms came up with or have. Nothing wrong with it at all. In fact I encourage it. I like that Apple puts its own spin on the features other platforms have when they add it to their own platform. This is better for the end users.
What's with the Apple fan boi's having this not invented here syndrome?
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Sounds logical but I don't think it's the same thing. Before people didn't have the same options as they do now. The other MP3 player options simply weren't acceptable. Android exists now and is acceptable. Some people are just fans of Android. These companies who utilize Android maybe need to come up with a business plan that relys on selling less at least until they get some winners in the tablet arena. You don't have to be #1 to be profitable no matter what those worthless MBA programs tell you. Apple keeps proving that.
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I think that you'll find that many here, if not most, think that Android copied the features from iOS, even though Android had them first. You can read it day in and day out here on most any subject concerning Apple. And if all else fails, someone starts bragging about how much more money Apple makes than company x.
Let me fix that:
A recent example is:
It was easy to find many laptops with 3G and LTE built in, but the Apple fan didn't think to look.
The world is greater than your needs.
No need to struggle with the concept of a iPad mini, just don't think about it. Every product is not for every user.
Let me fix that:
A recent example is:
It was easy to find many laptops with 3G and LTE built in, but the Apple fan didn't think to look.
And they don't like facts either.
Gee thanks for the insight. /s
My point is about the obvious issue of price and cannibalisation. If the iPad mini is cheap, this will obviously cannibalise the iPod touch, which has been a massive seller. Don't doubt this, just look at Apples history. How a new device will 'fit' will be interesting.
It's quite damning for the loyalist to read indisputable evidence that Apple has been taking a followers approach to Samsung and Sony for various reasons. I for one have no problem with Apple doing this, as all companies look and take from their competition in one form or another. I think the shameful part is when they market their iProduct as "original" and are quick to sue the competition. Then you throw in the loyalists who live and breathe the marketing words of Apple to the point it becomes their religion. The back pedaling can be tiring. For example, 4 inch display is bad, no it's good; 7 inch display is bad, not it's good; stretched screen is bad, actually it's growing on me....etc. I mean really, people, it's hard to keep up. It's coming to the point where we really need a Current Etch-A-Sketch Moment sub forum.
yes they do. have you forgotten how they claimed 3.5 inches was the best phone size???
Not necessarily. Why would it cannibalize the iPod touch? It wouldn't cannibalize the iPod touch necessarily. People's needs are different. I can put an iPod touch in my pocket easily. The only thing 7 or more inches that will fit in my pants is....
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In Samsung's case I felt like they really did copy Apple lock stock and barrel. That was the original selling point for buying a Samsung device was "it's just like the iPhone/iPad". Even Google felt Samsung's product design was too similar to Apple's designs based on their emails. When will the Apple detractors understand that fact. HTC and Motorola made the 4" screens popular and it differentiated the design of their products from the iPhone will still being desirable alternatives to the iPhone.
Well the point of my post was to bring to light the indisputable evidence that Apple looked at Sony for design ques and used the Galaxy Tab to realize that a 7 inch tablet is desirable. Can you see what I'm getting at? They followed Samsung's example on a 7 inch tablet. This is FACT. How much more clear does it have to be? But the Apple loyalist will completely ignore it and pretend they never read the FACTS.
My other point I was making was in regards to how embarrassingly the Apple loyalist flip flop with their opinions regarding screen size and features.
But some how you completely missed the points I was making and went off on a tangent. If you think I''m wrong in my observation then say it, if not, then don't respond to my post if it doesn't have anything to do with the point I was making.
Cheers.
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Apple has now admitted under oath that they do in fact do market research and listen to customers through surveys. This was part of the evidence they wanted sealed. Sorry if that destroys your belief that "Apple knows best". Nope, Apple is just like the rest of them.
You are right in parts of your observation of some Apple fans. I am challenging your view that it's damning that Apple takes a follower's approach as it relates to Samsung. On that point I can't co-sign. There are many of Apple users me included who would prefer to have a 7" tablet as opposed to a 10 inch tablet from Apple. To date Apple doesn't have a product out yet for the 7" iPad category. That is a FACT. If they release a 7" tablet then you can say that Samsung maybe inspired Apple to make a 7" tablet. The size of a tablet doesn't qualify as infringement of a patent. You can't patent a size. You can only an overall design. Apple markets their design and the quality of their hardware and software together as original. It is original. What did smart phones look like before Apple got into the market? What did tablets look like before Apple got into the market?Well the point of my post was to bring to light the indisputable evidence to light that Apple looked at Sony for design ques and used the Galaxy Tab to realize that a 7 inch tablet is desirable. Can you see what I'm getting at? They followed Samsung's example. This is FACT. How much more clear does it have to be? But the Apple loyalist will completely ignore it and pretend they never read the FACTS.
My other point I was making was in regards to how embarrassingly the Apple loyalist flip flop with their opinions regarding screen size and features.
But some how you completely missed the points I was making and went off on a tangent. If you think I''m wrong in my observation then say it, if not, then don't respond to my post if it doesn't have anything to do with the point I was making.
Cheers.
I am challenging what you stated in your previous post much of which simply doesn't align with the facts. I'm certainly going to respond when what you are saying isn't true.
So what if Apple looked at Sony's product. Does the iPhone look like Sony's product? Does it behave like Sony's product? I'm sure Apple looked at Blackberry's and any other phone that was out on the market at the time of the original iPhone development.
Again one only has to see what tablets & phones looked like before Apple's entrance into the tablets & phone market and after? I think you are more in denial of the facts here.
Apple should be suing Samsung for making and selling blatant copies of Ipad and Iphone designs unlawfully. Everyone here knows that Apple products are chalked full of Samsung products. No one denies that Apple innovates on top of what Samsung does. Samsung is free to innovate on top of what Apple has done. That's how we got to a 7" tablet market in the first place.
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