iPad Mini Event Said to Focus on iBooks

[Chupa Chupa]

I was never bothered by reading on my iPad, though it is superior on the kindle. The question for me is whether the iPad mini provides enough benefits to justify the cost or would the kindle paperwhite be a better fit for me

I suppose we'll have to see what kind of screen it has. If Apple is going to push iBooks with it then I have to think it will be more conducive to book reading than the "big" iPad.

I'm still using my 4 y.o. Sony Reader for books. If the mini screen doesn't burn my irises then I'll switch since I'm already heavily "invested" in apps. Having another iPad around the house would be useful. But I'm skeptical that will happen. If it doesn't then and eInk reader is still the reigning book reading champ.

 

[Lukkee24]

People keep saying the iPod Touch starts at $299/£249, which the new one does, but that's for 32GB - there's a cheaper 16GB model which is cheaper.

I could see the iPad Mini start at $299/£249 for 16GB - the same price as the 32GB iPT, then $399/£329 for 32GB - the same price as the 64GB iPT and 16GB iPad 2. Then if there's a 64GB model, it could be $499/£399.

I hope so anyway, wouldn't want it to be more expensive than that!

 

[etrinh]

Notice how the complaint of Android fragmentation has slowly disappeared over the last 6 months. Apparently it's OK now.

As for the iPad mini, I always thought the iPad was too big to read in bed. Clunky. The iPad mini should help in this regard, but I still prefer my iPhone for this.

I don't see why "fragmentation" is an issue if the iPad mini renders the ipad2 content into a smaller form factor. Even the iPhone 5 has letter boxing for apps. Is fragmentation even an issue on Android? App Developers please speak up

 

[Rocketman]

What's really ripping off customers is the fact, that a digital copy of a book costs exactly the same as a printed one!
Why is that?
Printing, shipping, storing, etc. doesn't apply, but they still charge the same.
If they want people to adopt to ebooks they need to price them lower, 1/3 of the printed copy!

I author books. I sell them in physical and virtual format. The costs that normally go to the roughly 50 cents to print the books more than goes toward marketing in the new and not well evolved electronic distribution model.

The old physical distribution model has directories, lists, co-ops and other "collectives" to distribute awareness of and a synopsis of books as they come out, which is retained for books of old as "library" books. Or back titles. I cite for example "Books in Print".

From the perspective of the content owner, the format is overall a small portion of the price to begin with, and the shift to eBooks requires an entire second layer of labor and expense to implement IN ADDITION to the physical format which is still a primary needed format for many people.

That may change over time, but the fact the format is a small portion of the author's selected price is not.

I have written several well thought out posts with figures over a year ago on this topic. I hope interested readers can search for them and post some links to address the issue from the producer side.

Supposedly iBooks makes discovery easier. My experience so far is it does so for the top 50 most popular titles. The old way did it for every little insignificant title ever. Needs fixin'.

Rocketman

 

[etrinh]

This better be a huge hit so i can make more money on my apps.. iOS6 is killing off alot of indie devs!!

Please tell us more

 

[faroZ06]

the reason i got a kindle after my new iPad was mostly due to the fact that i couldnt read shiat on the iPad outside and that my focus would drift away from reading after 5 mins cuz the iPad does too many other entertaining things ^^

plus better battery life

basic kindle for books
else iPad

You should try putting the iPad in inverted colors mode and reading. I have to do that sometimes with my MacBook because the backlight is ridiculously weak.

 

[kas23]

I don't see why "fragmentation" is an issue if the iPad mini renders the ipad2 content into a smaller form factor. Even the iPhone 5 has letter boxing for apps. Is fragmentation even an issue on Android? App Developers please speak up

If you visited these forums 1-2 years ago, when all sorts of Android phones were coming out everyday, you would have thought "fragmentation" was a 4-letter word. One huge knock on Android. Quite mysteriously, we really don't hear about it anymore.

When a competitor does something = bad.
When Apple does the exact same thing = good.

 

[henjin]

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]

Image​

The Next Web is reporting that the rumored iPad Mini event scheduled for October 23rd will have a heavy focus on iBooks. The iPad Mini will be aimed at smaller tablets like the Kindle Fire, that are generally used to consume content including books and movies......
Article Link: iPad Mini Event Said to Focus on iBooks

A little late to the party: I do not use the iBook store on my iPad as Kindle offers cheaper books. Apple is in danger of cutting into iPad3 sales as it is. I also own a Kindle Fire because of Amazon Prime not because it's better than my iPad 3 which it is not.
Apple will sell millions but it is still late to the game. Google's Nexus 7" has AGPS will the iPad Mini offer that? Apple's iBooks brand was damaged by price fixing allegations settled out of court. Not a great time for Aplle despite its sales.
Apple cannot compete with Amazon Prime let alone Nexus Voice Navigation or Samsung Wacom like Stylus tablets.
I cannot see the profit unless they plan to lose money and gut iPad 3 sales along with the new Touch.
Amazon Prime is prime

 

[charlituna]

I want to hear that we can "loan" out books like can be done with Amazon and Kindle. The bookstore needs more books as well. Too many times I cannot find the one I am looking for and go to Amazon instead. Not a big deal for me, but it is for Apple.

The main reason for both of those issues is contracts. Until those run out there's little Apple can do.

Same with movies, TV shows etc

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Is there any way we could convince someone going to this event to just ask about it?

You assume
1. They get to ask questions
2. There is someone out there willingly to risk getting Gizmodo'd

 

[APlotdevice]

I don't see why "fragmentation" is an issue if the iPad mini renders the ipad2 content into a smaller form factor. Even the iPhone 5 has letter boxing for apps. Is fragmentation even an issue on Android? App Developers please speak up

The fragmentation issue for Android relates mostly to the different versions of the OS and how manufacturers and carriers are inconsistent with how they implement them. This was never an major problem for iOS because Apple is the only company to produce hardware and carriers don't control the update cycle.

Now resolution is something which has rarely fragmented Android. The only time it was really an issue was with early low end devices, where the resolution was too low for many apps. Otherwise Android adapts well to many different types of displays. iOS however has been much more rigid. As is in fact demonstrated by the letter boxing effect you get with the iPhone 5 (or the iPad for that matter, when displaying iPhone apps). iOS developers must specifically include support for each resolution.

 

[KnightWRX]

I suppose we'll have to see what kind of screen it has. If Apple is going to push iBooks with it then I have to think it will be more conducive to book reading than the "big" iPad.

It's going to be the same plain IPS LCD type of screen used in all their iDevices. They're simply going to position it as a "proper" reading device : ie, lighter weight so more comfortable to hold in a reading position.

Then they're going to pimp iBooks because obviously it's not working out as good as they'd hope (not every Apple service/content works as well as the iOS App Store).

Don't expect "earth shattering" revelations here. The iPad Mini itself is the revelation. It's going to be a A5 based 7.85" device sporting a lightning connector, a few cameras.

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I don't see why "fragmentation" is an issue if the iPad mini renders the ipad2 content into a smaller form factor. Even the iPhone 5 has letter boxing for apps. Is fragmentation even an issue on Android? App Developers please speak up

No. The API is made in a way that fragmentation is not an issue :

http://developer.android.com/training/multiscreen/index.html

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The fragmentation issue for Android relates mostly to the different versions of the OS and how manufacturers and carriers are inconsistent with how they implement them.

This also isn't an issue. It's again baked into the API :

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element.html

Android fragmentation is a talking point for iOS users that want to put Android down for some unknown reason. People that use iOS but somehow feel insecure because there's something else on the market. Why this makes these guys insecure ? I'll never know. You bought an iOS device, enjoy it and stop trying to piss in other people's cereal.

 

[APlotdevice]

It's going to be the same plain IPS LCD type of screen used in all their iDevices. They're simply going to position it as a "proper" reading device : ie, lighter weight so more comfortable to hold in a reading position.

Actually the LCD used in the iPod touch is only a TN, not an IPS.

 

[KnightWRX]

Actually the LCD used in the iPod touch is only a TN, not an IPS.

Nit pick to be sure. They aren't going to use a TN panel in an iPad Mini.

EDIT : current iPod touch uses IPS :

http://www.apple.com/ca/ipod-touch/specs.html

 

[TC400]

Oh boy just what we need.

Sense the sarcasm there?

 

[APlotdevice]

This also isn't an issue. It's again baked into the API :

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element.html

Android fragmentation is a talking point for iOS users that want to put Android down for some unknown reason. People that use iOS but somehow feel insecure because there's something else on the market. Why this makes these guys insecure ? I'll never know. You bought an iOS device, enjoy it and stop trying to piss in other people's cereal.

It is most certainly an issue when the app you want needs 4.0 and your five month old phone is still stuck on 2.1.

 

[Mackan]

Just waiting to see how Apple cripples this iPad mini in some way, forcing you to own both an iPad and iPad mini despite you shouldn't have to.

 

[Infinitewisdom]

Just waiting to see how Apple cripples this iPad mini in some way, forcing you to own both an iPad and iPad mini despite you shouldn't have to.

Excuse my Swahili, but they can't force me to do *****. Apple needs to convince ME why I need an iPad Mini as an ebook reader even though the Kindle does me just fine. And then Apple also needs to convince me why I even need my iPad 3 anymore, given my iMac, Macbook and iPhone all cover my needs pretty well. I really don't need another device around just because.

 

[theBB]

A smaller iPad is as irrelevant as a 30-inch iPhone; there is absolutely no need for it

Try hanging on with one hand and hold a 10'' iPad with other when you are commuting on the train and all the seats are taken. Then, tell me whether there is any need for a smaller tablet for watching a movie or reading a book.

 

[Bokes]

What's really ripping off customers is the fact, that a digital copy of a book costs exactly the same as a printed one!

Why is that?

Printing, shipping, storing, etc. doesn't apply, but they still charge the same.

If they want people to adopt to ebooks they need to price them lower, 1/3 of the printed copy!

Why?
The content and material in the book is what you're paying for.
Why should a digital copy cost less and a paper version cost more?
The market will set the price.

 

[50548]

Try hanging on with one hand and hold a 10'' iPad with other when you are commuting on the train and all the seats are taken. Then, tell me whether there is any need for a smaller tablet for watching a movie or reading a book.

That's what your 4-inch iPhone is for.

 

[NT1440]

Apple's iBooks brand was damaged by price fixing allegations settled out of court. Not a great time for Aplle despite its sales.

That's funny, I just got an email this morning from Amazon telling me that they owe me money because they were in the exact same price fixing case.

At least figure out what you're talking about before putting it up online.

Also, who the hell cares that one Android device has aGPS? That's the make or break for you? What exactly do you do with your 7" tablet?

 

[kkent25]

I don't see why people think an iPad Mini makes no sense? Based on that logic Apple never should have made the iPod nano, iPod Shuffle or Mac Mini. An iPad mini would fit in nicely to their product line. Has for Steve shooting the 7" size down as silly we don't really know what his motivation for saying that really was. Could it be that he was discouraging competitors from releasing a 7" model all the while planning for Apple to release one down the road? Or maybe he was just flat out wrong as when he said iOS should not be opened up to 3rd party developers.

 

[damir00]

Same pattern as always.

7" tablet was useless when only Android had one. Now that Apple will have one, it's a natural size.

Round and round we go...

 

[yegon]

That's what your 4-inch iPhone is for.

You're suffering from the "it doesn't appeal to me, therefore it's pointless" attitude methinks.

 

[iGrip]

Steve said a lot of things then did a 180. He was great at many things, but first and foremost he was a salesman so you always had to take what he said with a grain of salt when he came out against something.

The greatest thing about Steve was that he knew how to get money out of the pockets of consumers and into the pockets of stockholders. For that, he will always be remembered.