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Its still too big to fit in a pocket, or too big to be a phone+, so whats the point in it exactly?

People with smaller hands lol?

People with smaller budgets . . .

My guess is, it might replace the iPod Touch as a gaming machine.
Since there are no rumors about new Ipod Touches, maybe the line will run out or will at least cease to evolve.

This is what I think they've got in mind. Axe the iPod Touch, shifting the market to the Mini. Much better gaming device than the iPhone, not big and goofy as a gaming device like the iPad. Better reader, maybe. Better internet portal, I think the regular iPad still trumps all.
 
i just dont get this...

does the world really need a smaller iPad?

Sure Apple tell us every year what we actually want....but im not sure we need this.

Im sure they will sell really well initially, but im pretty sure after a good run of sales, the full size iPad eat up all the sales.

Its a stupid product. Why design a tablet, tell the world how mazing everything is this size in your hand, then later on say, actually we can do it smaller too..

Its still too big to fit in a pocket, or too big to be a phone+, so whats the point in it exactly?

People with smaller hands lol?

Actually, a lot of people want or need this product. One thing the 'experts' in this forum do a lot is look at only thier needs and not the needs or wants of the entire population. Who would want an iPad mini?

1. People who like iPad but cannot afford the $500.
2. People who live in a multi-person household where a second iPad for simple e-reader, web surfing duties will suffice.
3. People with small children
3a. (your small hands comment was spot on here).
3b. $500 is too much for something that may get destroyed by kids within a year
4. People just want an e-reader, textbook reader, emailer and like the Apple system

Thats a big market. Apple is smart for doing this. And they will make a good product and get their premium and margin on this.

And since you didn't ask, I'm getting two. :) For reasons 2 and 3 above.
 
"'iPad Mini' Cases Consistent with Rumored Design Details"

Would we expect case makers to design cases that weren't consistent rumored design details? :confused:
 
A 7" device is not held like an iPhone though. Not even close!

While this is true, if you pick up a standard sized iPad it is possible to hold it with one thumb on the bottom bezel and four fingers wrapped around the back. On something that's 10 inches and fairly weighty that's not a comfortable grip for very long, but on something a fair bit lighter and smaller that grip could be completely natural.

I suspect Apple's design team has done it's research on this. In the past Apple has always been criticised by people who don't know much about ergonomics for having too large a bezel on their iDevices (all the way around for the iPad and top and bottom for the iPhone). In reality they have always been comfortable to hold for that very reason - Apple doesn't skimp on bezel for the sake of making the screen look comparatively larger. If they have chosen, this time, to trim the bezel on the sides of the device we can be pretty sure they didn't do it lightly.
 
Well, the cases look promising. Which means, an "iPad mini", with a 7.85" display, is certainly a possibility.
 
people do realise these cases are made for speculation right? I mean these cases will have only been made to measure the "leaked" dimensions a month or so ago right? cases mean nothing till apple actually say something personally I don't believe till I see that way hopes are not raised too high
 
The bezel size depends on the size/weight of the thing. the iPhone bezel is quite small. That's because you don't need your thumb to brace the device. So, a large bezel isn't automatically necessary -- it depends on the device heft.

arn

I think it also depends on the size of your hands. If you got big manly hands, then a bigger bezel might be necessary. But for females and children, the bezel is quite thick.
 
We've seen these before and the product never got released (the supposedly anticipated iP5 when the iP4S appeared).

All honesty though, an iPad mini wouldnt be significantly cheaper in proportion to its size. Really, it'll be more expensive as the same parts have to be smaller (generally more expensive to buy) and production costs would go up as it could be more fussy to put together not being human-sized for human-hands.

I personally hope it doesn't get released, but if it does; it'll either seriously sink (if too expensive) or swim if extremely competitive to kill off the newest 7" products to hit the shelves (Nexus 7 etc). I'd never want one or buy one just because my hands are too big for that sized device. Especially if the iPad/iPad 2 res is shrunk and the interface is not adjusted accordingly (pretty unlikely as it would cause too many developer headaches). Also, this would kill the prev-gen 8GB device that appears after every new iPad release.

I'll finish off with; if you want a book reader, get an e-reader. If you want a media/business device, get a 10" tablet. Don't buy a 7" tablet at all. :D
 
This is what I think they've got in mind. Axe the iPod Touch, shifting the market to the Mini. Much better gaming device than the iPhone, not big and goofy as a gaming device like the iPad. Better reader, maybe. Better internet portal, I think the regular iPad still trumps all.

Why do people keep bringing up the iPod touch as if it is a competing product? The iPod touch is a pocket sized personal media player while the iPad mini would be a smaller tablet device.

Yes, they have some shared functionality but so do a jumper and t-shirt! That doesn't make them competing products or more generally alternative choices for the same customer - a customer who wants a tablet will buy the iPad and one who wants a pocket sized pmp will buy the iPod touch.
 
The bezel size depends on the size/weight of the thing. the iPhone bezel is quite small. That's because you don't need your thumb to brace the device. So, a large bezel isn't automatically necessary -- it depends on the device heft.

arn

You still need two opposed forces to hold something. With the iPhone, a single hand can be wrapped around the device and apply force on both sides.

That can't be done with a tablet. You'll need to apply the two opposed forces on the front and rear of the device, not the sides. Your thumbs need to apply force somewhere on the front of the device if you're holding it vertically, regardless of the weight of the device.
 
A 7" device is not held like an iPhone though. Not even close!

No, but you can palm it more easily and do not need to grip it as firmly.

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You still need two opposed forces to hold something. With the iPhone, a single hand can be wrapped around the device and apply force on both sides.

That can't be done with a tablet. You'll need to apply the two opposed forces on the front and rear of the device, not the sides. Your thumbs need to apply force somewhere on the front of the device if you're holding it vertically, regardless of the weight of the device.

Yes, one of those opposed forces is gravity, the other is your hand. Your thumb merely keeps it in place.
 
How could anyone get excited about this product is a small iPad or a large touch running the same OS. boring.

Excited? No. Intrigued? Yes. I carry a lot of equipment around, and will surely have both an iPad and a Surface Pro by January. An iPad Mini could replace my current iPad if it has a nice enough display, lightening my load.

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i just dont get this...

does the world really need a smaller iPad?

Sure Apple tell us every year what we actually want....but im not sure we need this.

Im sure they will sell really well initially, but im pretty sure after a good run of sales, the full size iPad eat up all the sales.

Its a stupid product. Why design a tablet, tell the world how mazing everything is this size in your hand, then later on say, actually we can do it smaller too..

Its still too big to fit in a pocket, or too big to be a phone+, so whats the point in it exactly?

People with smaller hands lol?

Less weight? Lower price? Competes with Kindle Fire and Nexus 7? Is it that hard to figure out the point or did you purposefully not try?

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I was thinking a dual microphone but your idea has merit. A IR port would make this device an ideal TV remote among other things but it would be the first time for an IR port. Hope it has it.

I think RF to IR bridge/blasters are still the best for that.
 
You still need two opposed forces to hold something. With the iPhone, a single hand can be wrapped around the device and apply force on both sides.

That can't be done with a tablet. You'll need to apply the two opposed forces on the front and rear of the device, not the sides. Your thumbs need to apply force somewhere on the front of the device if you're holding it vertically, regardless of the weight of the device.

I'm not sure about this so please, if the maths doesn't add up, do tell me, but a 7.85" device with this ratio would be, what, 5 inches from bezel to bezel - screen size that is. If that's the case, and if the device is very light, you can hold it with your thumb on the front of the lower bezel and the centre of gravity will be nicely balanced, resting on your index finger. With the larger iPad this isn't a very comfy way to hold it because it's much taller and heavier.
 
People with smaller budgets . . .



This is what I think they've got in mind. Axe the iPod Touch, shifting the market to the Mini. Much better gaming device than the iPhone, not big and goofy as a gaming device like the iPad. Better reader, maybe. Better internet portal, I think the regular iPad still trumps all.

They will not axe the iTouch - it has too many applications that a bigger model cannot perform. It's an iPod, for one, and fits in iPod/iPhone docks as well as straps on your arm if you want to go for a jog. There's no reason to remove that device.
 
Yes, one of those opposed forces is gravity, the other is your hand. Your thumb merely keeps it in place.

That's only true if you're holding it horizontally. Vertically, gravity is perpendicular to the force you apply on the rear of the tablet, so it's completely useless.

You can't hold a tablet completely vertically without your thumbs unless you "squeeze" the right and left sides with your palms, but nobody holds their tablet like that because it's totally unstable. Another way would be to put your pinky fingers under the tablet while the other fingers are on the rear, but that's a bit awkward too.

Try to hold your iPhone with two hands without using your thumbs and you'll see what I mean.
 
We've seen these before and the product never got released (the supposedly anticipated iP5 when the iP4S appeared).

All honesty though, an iPad mini wouldnt be significantly cheaper in proportion to its size. Really, it'll be more expensive as the same parts have to be smaller (generally more expensive to buy) and production costs would go up as it could be more fussy to put together not being human-sized for human-hands.

I personally hope it doesn't get released, but if it does; it'll either seriously sink (if too expensive) or swim if extremely competitive to kill off the newest 7" products to hit the shelves (Nexus 7 etc). I'd never want one or buy one just because my hands are too big for that sized device. Especially if the iPad/iPad 2 res is shrunk and the interface is not adjusted accordingly (pretty unlikely as it would cause too many developer headaches). Also, this would kill the prev-gen 8GB device that appears after every new iPad release.

I'll finish off with; if you want a book reader, get an e-reader. If you want a media/business device, get a 10" tablet. Don't buy a 7" tablet at all. :D

I'm sure Apple has already thought of all of these points, aren't you? As far as what it costs, 90% of the iPad is the battery...this would be exactly the same with a smaller screen (cheaper), smaller housing (cheaper), and smaller battery (cheaper). The rest of the components do not need to shrink.
 
How could anyone get excited about this product is a small iPad or a large touch running the same OS. boring.

This is my thought too. I love all my Apple devices, but the home screen for example on iOS has just become so dated now. Really wish they stepped up the game on iOS 6, but it's a dull update at best. I don't need something in between the size of my iPad and my iPhone.

Also, you know developers are going to rape customers with yet another overpriced version of iPhone apps.
 
Other images show the usual microphone opening at the top of the device, though there is also an extra upper-back opening, the purpose of which isn't clear.

ipad-mini-silicone-case-leaked-in-china-1-500x334.jpg

It looks pretty clear: it's a lanyard loop hole.
 
I'm hoping this comes in at $250 or below. At $300 it becomes a harder decision as you are $100 over all the other 7" tablets and $200 from a full sized iPad with retina. Also $100 from an iPad 2 if they are still shipping them.

I like the size of the device, but the main issue is that on-screen typing will be much worse. On iPad I can touch type, but just barely as the keyboard width is about the same size as a normal keyboard. On a 7" device the keyboard is going to be quite a bit smaller. Possibly still usable, but we'll see.
 
That's only true if you're holding it horizontally. Vertically, gravity is perpendicular to the force you apply on the rear of the tablet, so it's completely useless.

You can't hold a tablet completely vertically without your thumbs unless you "squeeze" the right and left sides with your palms, but nobody holds their tablet like that because it's totally unstable. Another way would be to put your pinky fingers under the tablet while the other fingers are on the rear, but that's a bit awkward too.

Try to hold your iPhone with two hands without using your thumbs and you'll see what I mean.

First of all, I never said you don't use your thumbs. Second, this device is light enough that a thumb on the bottom or top can stabilize it. Have you never held a paperback book from the bottom? Honestly, I can't believe you're even trying to argue this point as if the engineers and design team hadn't tested it.

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This is my thought too. I love all my Apple devices, but the home screen for example on iOS has just become so dated now. Really wish they stepped up the game on iOS 6, but it's a dull update at best. I don't need something in between the size of my iPad and my iPhone.

Also, you know developers are going to rape customers with yet another overpriced version of iPhone apps.

My guess is that it would run apps at an already available resolution.

If you don't need this then it's not for you, don't buy. I may replace my iPad with this if it does what I need it to, however.

As far as the home screen goes, what are you looking for? Animated backgrounds? If something increased its actual functionality like folders did, I'm all for it. Wasting system resources so people can play with their OS? I'd rather just have a nice app.
 
This is one product launch that's going to be difficult to predict...

I can imagine it being more the 5th iPod touch... or a totally new device... but an iPad mini seems strange. The idea you'd walk into a store and say "I'd like an iPad" and they ask you which screen size you'd like seems unimaginable.

Or even that they'd release a new form factor halfway through an upgrade cycle, rather than have the 4th-gen iPad in two sizes.

I guess we'll see in the next month.

Also, has anyone tried iPad apps running on a smaller screen size - like testing iPhone apps on the rumoured 4" screen size?
 
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