iPad mini: HD, but not Retina?

[KieranDotW]

Going along the rumor that the iPad mini will NOT have a Retina-branded display but instead a significantly lower PPI'ed 1024 by 768 display, do you think Apple will still advertise the display as being "HD" because the resolution is still greater than 720p? Would they be "allowed" to seeing as the ratio is still off? Or is using the term "HD" too un-Apple for you all?

 

[Scott2345]

Going along the rumor that the iPad mini will NOT have a Retina-branded display but instead a significantly lower PPI'ed 1024 by 768 display, do you think Apple will still advertise the display as being "HD" because the resolution is still greater than 720p? Would they be "allowed" to seeing as the ratio is still off? Or is using the term "HD" too un-Apple for you all?

Is that better then the iPad 2?

 

[KieranDotW]

Is that better then the iPad 2?

According to the MR roundup, the same resolution but higher PPI due to the smaller screen size. That's why I ask: Apple never used the term for the iPad 2, but would they want to adapt it now that seemingly every other product in their lineup has a Retina screen (just so it wouldn't seem as out of date as it is).

 

[PlutoniusX]

If apple honestly releases a iPad Mini with a 1024x768 resolution on a 7.8 screen size the tablet will be a joke. Anything less than 200 DPI is bloody ridiculousness considering the cheaper android alternatives. It would be pretty embarrising to price your unit 100 dollars more than the competition and release it with a lower resolution screen. Apple is not that stupid. Why would Apple step backwards?

The rumor is that Apple does not want developers to have to deal without another format. If that is the case then why did Apple throw a wrench in the works and release the iPhone 5 with a new resolution and new aspect ratio?

Why wouldn`t Apple release the iPad Mini with a 1280x960 resolution screen or higher? Any older, updated app could just be up-scaled to match the higher resolution. The point is the aspect ratio is the same (4:3). What did older iPad apps do when the iPad 3 was released?

The real point is: If Apple intends to price this thing much higher than the competition, then it has to beat the competition in features and specifications. If not, then it will fail. (Of course the Fanboys will purchase anything).

iPad Mini DPI - 7.8 Inch Screen
1024x768 - 164.1
1280x960 - 205.13 - I expect this or higher for the iPad Mini
1600x1200 - 256.41

Nexus 7 DPI - 215.63




Lastly, where did this 1024x768 nonsense originate from?

 

[Julien]

Going along the rumor that the iPad mini will NOT have a Retina-branded display but instead a significantly lower PPI'ed 1024 by 768 display, do you think Apple will still advertise the display as being "HD" because the resolution is still greater than 720p? Would they be "allowed" to seeing as the ratio is still off? Or is using the term "HD" too un-Apple for you all?

It's not HD. Minimum HD requirement is 1280x720 at 1.78 (16x9). The Mini (same as iPad 1&2) is 1024x768 at 1.33 (4X3). At 1.78 (HD requirement) the Mini will be 1024x576 which is short of HD's 1280x720 minimum.

...Lastly, where did this 1024x768 nonsense originate from?

Apple will (continue to) use the current 1024x768 resolution. A change would require all Apps to be rewritten and mean developers would have to write for 5 iOS resolutions.

 

[PlutoniusX]

It's not HD. Minimum HD requirement is 1280x720 at 1.78 (16x9). The Mini (same as iPad 1&2) is 1024x768 at 1.33 (4X3). At 1.78 (HD requirement) the Mini will be 1024x576 which is short of HD's 1280x720 minimum.




Apple will (continue to) use the current 1024x768 resolution. A change would require all Apps to be rewritten and mean developers would have to write for 5 iOS resolutions.

If that is the case, then why did they change the iPhone 5 resolution to an oddball 1136 x 640. It was even a different aspect ratio!

Besides, if Apple releases such a device with such a low DPI, who would honestly buy it. Its 2012, not 2008.

 

[Zethca]

If that is the case, then why did they change the iPhone 5 resolution to an oddball 1136 x 640. It was even a different aspect ratio!

Besides, if Apple releases such a device with such a low DPI, who would honestly buy it. Its 2012, not 2008.

Adding vertical resolution to the iPhone 5 is a different story. It requires devs to make their apps taller.

The fact of the matter is that consumers will eat this up even with it's 1024x768 resolution. It will be sharper than the iPad 2, which had no problem becoming the best selling tablet ever, and continues to sell extremely well priced at $399.

 

[PlutoniusX]

Adding vertical resolution to the iPhone 5 is a different story. It requires devs to make their apps taller.

The fact of the matter is that consumers will eat this up even with it's 1024x768 resolution. It will be sharper than the iPad 2, which had no problem becoming the best selling tablet ever, and continues to sell extremely well priced at $399.

But the iPad 2 is a 10" tablet competing with other 10" tablets such as the eePad Transformer. The iPad Mini is competing against other 7" tablets. 1024x768 on a 7.8" screen will not look as sharp as the competition (Nook HD, Fire HD, Nexus 7). The iPad set the bar for the 10" tablet, but the Android tablets are setting the bar for the 7" tablet. Apple cannot come in and peddle inferior hardware and expect users to pay 330 dollars for 16gb. Thats just my opinion.

 

[Julien]

....It requires devs to make their apps taller...

Going to embellish what you said.

It only requires devs to optionally make their Apps taller since all current Apps run fine with just a small amount of pillarboxing or letterboxing.

 

[PlutoniusX]

Going to embellish what you said.

It only requires devs to optionally make their Apps taller since all current Apps run fine with just a small amount of pillarboxing or letterboxing.

What about when Apple went with a retina iPad? What happened to all the apps designed for 1024x768 iPads?

 

[Zethca]

What about when Apple went with a retina iPad? What happened to all the apps designed for 1024x768 iPads?

Look, it seems like you don't totally understand the way they've dealt with resolution on iOS devices. 2048x1536 was the only possible resolution for a retina iPad, and it appears Apple had probably anticipated it for a long time. It's about the way scaling works. "Pixel-doubling" gives an infinitely superior result than any kind of wacky scaling that would go on with any other odd resolution. An iPad resolution somewhere in between those two would be extremely unlikely.

 

[PlutoniusX]

Look, it seems like you don't totally understand the way they've dealt with resolution on iOS devices. 2048x1536 was the only possible resolution for a retina iPad, and it appears Apple had probably anticipated it for a long time. It's about the way scaling works. "Pixel-doubling" gives an infinitely superior result than any kind of wacky scaling that would go on with any other odd resolution. An iPad resolution somewhere in between those two would be extremely unlikely.

Then what is the point of releasing a smaller tablet with an inferior pixel density at a higher cost than the competition. Sounds pointless.

 

[Yr Blues]

If they double the PPI, it'll match the iPhone at 326 and have the same amount of pixels as the 9.7" ipad.

They can do it.

If the iPod touch can have 326 PPI, the iPad mini should also.

 

[Zethca]

If they double the PPI, it'll match the iPhone at 326 and have the same amount of pixels as the 9.7" ipad.

They can do it.

If the iPod touch can have 326 PPI, the iPad mini should also.

Not a chance this year.

 

[Italianblend]

Looks like they're saving retina for ipad mini 2, which is both frustrating and understandable. Good business move. Very good business move. But we all know they could've done it. Maybe they wanted to make it cheaper. But we all know they could've done it.