Next-Generation iOS Device Rumors: New iPods Soon, Smaller iPad and iPhone 5 in Early 2011?

[baleensavage]

I for one would love to see a smaller iPad or a bigger iPod touch. I have very little interest in the existing iPad because they are simply too bulky. They are fine for short periods of time, but they are too big to sit with and hold in one hand for a long time. I'd love to see a paperback book sized iPad. It's one thing that the Kindle has had right from the beginning is form factor. The iPod touch is great for a pocket device, but it's really too small to browse the internet comfortably with. I would love to see a device that falls in between the two.

With that said, I doubt Apple will be introducing a smaller iPad any time soon. They have long history of favoring a simplified product line with only a handful of models. The only reason I could see that they would introduce a smaller iPad would be to put a retina display on it, but then they will make their flagship iPad have a lesser display which would be highly unlikely.

 

[MRU]

splitting the demand between 7" and 10"... possibly as well as releasing a new iPod touch, which should be an iPad 5"...

That might help them keep up with demand, instead of having trouble keeping up with 10" demand, with screen supply speed issues.

Some folks who want something in a 7" size may be buying 10" size just to get something.

The limiting constraint of the current iPad is supply of the 9.7" IPS screen. As a different sized model, the 7" unit would have its own supply constraints. There haven't been any rumors of silicon shortage. As the production volumes increase, the costs come down. As long as the suppliers are capable, Apple benefits from selling oodles of iDevices.

Also, this makes it more difficult for Apple's competitors if Apple gobbles up all of the high-capacity NAND chips.

Personally, I don't think the 7" iPad would come next year. I'm thinking that it might be announced this fall, at the same time or shortly after the traditional iPod refresh (September/October).

Note that Apple is supposed to release iOS 4 to the iPad sometime "this fall" (possibly as late as November). This might coincide with a second iPad model.

You both make valid points.


My biggest objection would be if a 7" device had either a camera or retina display,because the bitching that will erupt on the forums will be unbearable

 

[baryon]

A smaller iPad may be a good idea... We would have everything ranging from the iPod Touch / iPhone to the large iPad in size. It's a good size to fit in your bag and almost take with you everywhere.

Not sure about the new iPhone, at least I'm sure Apple wouldn't call it the "iPhone 5" if the only change would be an improved antenna. If they do change it, they won't make a big deal about it.

I doubt the iPod Shuffle would get a screen, it's meant to be extremely small, and that screen would make it bigger. Maybe another iPod... But I also doubt that iOS would go onto the Nano or the Classic, since the screens are too small to run any real app basically. Maybe a limited version of iOS, but in that case it would just be like the iPod OS with touch-integration.

The iPod Touch will get a camera, and a few more sensors like the iPhone 4, and I guess the design won't change much. I like the thin rounded design, if they square it off it will be as "thick" as the iPhone 4. It should get the retina display though.

 

[stagmeister]

Wouldn't a smaller iPad just be ... an iPod Touch?

 

[cdp1276]

Apple has discontinued carrier exclusivity in many markets. Each and every time, they have always offer the handset to other GSM/UTMS mobile operators. Thus, if AT&T loses iPhone exclusivity, the handset is likely to show up on the T-Mobile USA network before Verizon and Sprint.

For Apple to make a CDMA-compatible iPhone, it is likely that they would need multiple mobile operators in large markets to adopt the handset. Just shipping to Verizon probably wouldn't be enough to make it worth their while.

Aren't you forgetting that Verizon launches their 4G non-CDMA network in January 2011 so why would Apple need to make a unique phone for Verizon? Also remember they are over 100 million customers with most survey's finding that 40-50% of those customers want an iPhone. So that is HUGE market share that Apple is currently missing.

 

[cvaldes]

My biggest objection would be if a 7" device had either a camera or retina display,because the bitching that will erupt on the forums will be unbearable

I doubt that we'll see a Retina Display in an iPad for a couple of years. It's a prohibitively expensive part in the larger sizes right now.

Plus, suppliers are already unable to keep up with Apple's demand for the 3.5" Retina Display part. There would not be enough production capacity to meet Apple's needs for a larger display.

With the debut of FaceTime, it is likely that there would be a front-facing camera in future iPad models.

 

[elpmas]

:O
If it is true...great. If not...great. Either way it's great :]

 

[Minimoose 360]

I'll be damned if a new iPhone comes out that soon.


At this rate it will just be the white iPhone 4

 

[cvaldes]

Aren't you forgetting that Verizon launches their 4G non-CDMA network in January 2011 so why would Apple need to make a unique phone for Verizon? Also remember they are over 100 million customers with most survey's finding that 40-50% of those customers want an iPhone. So that is HUGE market share that Apple is currently missing.

No, I am well aware of Verizon's LTE plans. It would still have to be different hardware from the existing iPhone 4. Verizon LTE wouldn't be available in all of its markets; they would need to fall back onto CDMA.

Apple doesn't base its business plan on capturing raw marketshare. It's about finding a profitable market at Apple's desired gross margins. They are very willing to concede certain markets where the margins are razor thin (e.g., netbooks).

The decision to release a CDMA-compatible iPhone has multiple factors including carrier partnerships, multiple markets, cost considerations, R&D time and effort, etc.

My gut feeling is that Verizon isn't in the driving force to bring CDMA to the iPhone. It would be China Mobile.

 

[Scarpad]

I just would like a Larger size nano 32gb or 64gb please, I use it in my car for my Kenwood that supports it and I'd like to retire a 30gb 5g that is there now with Flash.

 

[cmaier]

You do realize that makes zero sense what you wrote. People are doing almost the same things on their iPhone and iPod Touch as they do on the iPad so the smaller screen has been a success so far, so why not a 7" iPad? Besides the iPad is a bit big for many people to carry around daily and now that the Kindle is touting off it's smaller screen model, it would make sense for Apple to make a smaller iPad.

I think a 7" ipad would be great, mostly because of the reduced weight. I do worry, however, that on-screen controls might be too small since it presumably wouldn't increase their size automatically for existing ipad apps.

 

[old-school]

I will be pissed if a new iPhone comes out in January. I can't see this happening unless they are seeing reductions in sales. As far as I'm aware the iPhone 4 has been the best selling product in Apple history?

I wouldn't be surprised at all if a smaller iPad comes out. Lower price point and maybe higher res screen. I think a smaller tablet would appeal more to the business market/organiser/PDA. I've thought they would offer a smaller version eventually since it came out. Makes good sense to me.

 

[Bregalad]

Wrong size and shape

There are three types of mobile devices:

1. small enough to fit in a pocket (iPod, iPhone)
2. large enough to justify being too big for a pocket (iPad)
3. powerful enough to justify being 5 pounds and needing its own bag (MacBook)

The 7" iPad mini depicted in this article is in "no man's land", smaller than the iPad without being any more portable. It's simply too wide. Apple will not do that.

What Apple might do is make a larger iPod touch. The taller, narrower shape could be expanded in size and still fit in pockets and small purses.

If you take the iPod touch display, increase it by 50% both vertically and horizontally (480x640 using the current pixel density or 960x1280 as a Retina Display) and then put the standard iPod touch bezel around it you get a device that's roughly 3.3" wide and 5.75" tall that would easily slip into a pocket and fit in all but the smallest of hands.

I call it the iNotePad.

The iPad is very nice and the data plans are affordable, but it's too big to go with me everywhere. The iPhone screen is too small for anything but apps and mobile websites and the cost of ownership is too high for me.

 

[nemaslov]

I will be pissed if a new iPhone comes out in January. I can't see this happening unless they are seeing reductions in sales. As far as I'm aware the iPhone 4 has been the best selling product in Apple history?

I wouldn't be surprised at all if a smaller iPad comes out. Lower price point and maybe higher res screen. I think a smaller tablet would appeal more to the business market/organiser/PDA. I've thought they would offer a smaller version eventually since it came out. Makes good sense to me.

Pissed? Boo hoo. I suspect they will put out a 4.5 or something like they did with the 3GS. Not a fully redesigned phone but with slight revisions based on all the press crap about the antenna.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Aren't you forgetting that Verizon launches their 4G non-CDMA network in January 2011 so why would Apple need to make a unique phone for Verizon? Also remember they are over 100 million customers with most survey's finding that 40-50% of those customers want an iPhone. So that is HUGE market share that Apple is currently missing.

While yes verizon is going LTE there CDMA network is still going to need to be supported on any phone that works on their network for at least the next 10-15 years. Gsm phones still have to support the signal type used in 1990 because the network os built put for it and it the phone of new to can fall back on to it.

 

[pcharles]

Hmm!

I would need to see the iPad "Mini" before making a final judgement, but I am not sure where this really fits. It is still too big for your pocket and now too small for a "full" keyboard. I wonder if they plan to use the "retina" display on the smaller device? It would certainly be closer to the tricorder size format we see on Star Trek.

Now if we can just swipe off our touch screen iMac on to the iPad like they do in Avatar!

Is it true that Verizon cannot support simultaneous Data and Voice? Would that not be a problem for iPhone users?

It would be a laugh if Apple picks Verizon and their network crumbles in the same way that AT&T's did. AT&T would laugh their ringers off! Then I suppose everyone will want T-Mobile or British Telecom!

 

[sishaw]

I think a likely scenario could be Apple dropping the low-end 16 GB 9.7" iPad models for a 7" iPad in both WiFi and 3G versions.

It would also fit right in between the high-end iPod Touch and larger iPad models in pricing and product line makeup.

Just a guess.

I think Apple may also drop the WiFi only and just put both radios in all models.

 

[nightpwnsj00]

Ugh, I really hope the iPod rumor isn't true, especially the death of the Classic. I have a huge library (~100 GB), and I loved carrying around everything in my old 160 GB Classic, which died a few months ago. I've been surviving on a 16 GB 4G Nano, but it really isn't the same, and I hate having such a little portion of my library on me, not to mention no videos whatsoever. I'm hoping that the touch-screen rumor isn't true as well - I hate playing music on iOS. Click-wheels are far superior when it comes to simple music playing, IMO. =)

 

[hugguh]

Last year there was rumors of a new iPhone in January, and then it got released in June .

rumors are rumors.

Here is a link of a rumor from last year: http://www.itproportal.com/portal/n...ll-apples-32gb-iphone-3g-coming-january-2009/

 

[steve2112]

I've had two HD based iPods, 1st and 3rd gen, as well as an original iPhone, and now an iPhone 4.

Hard drives had greater capacity. That is not really the case anymore, if Apple were to commit to it.

I was worried on more than one occaision that a spinning hard drive would be damaged by a jolt or a jostle. Moving parts in a device like that, are not a great thing.

the iPod Classic (including all the HD models back to the original) was an amazing device. It revolutionized an industry or several. But it can rest on it's laurels now. Solid State can take over well.

An iPod Nano could be equipped with over 100GB of flash memory, if Apple wanted to. iPod Touch or an iPad-labeled successor to it could also have quite a bit of flash memory on-board, just as platter drives are gradually being replaced by some SSDs. if the iPod Classic sunsets after a long, great life, the flash-based players would stand to increase in capacity without duplicating product stats.

NAND takes less power, is more impact resistant, and allows smaller devices with larger and longer duration batteries.

That, as well as devices being much more versatile now. Even if you don't use lots of apps, you can clear off all the apps you don't use, or at least hide them on later screen "pages" to be out of sight and out of mind.

But I will say... going from a dumb cell phone, and a classic-style iPod, to my previous iPhone... it was SO NICE to be able to look things up on the internet on the fly, instead of having to say "I'll have to remember to look that up when I get home to my computer..."

I have yet to fill my iPhone 4 32GB, even though I have over 80GB of iTunes Library. I don't listen to THAT much music on the fly, and I tend to leave off the most obscure stuff, and album-filler stuff that I don't rate all that highly. that I don't really feel the burning need to listen to at any given moment. And I sync often enough to fiddle about with that from time to time.

If I had ~128GB of space on my iPhone, like some new SSDs, I would probably just load the whole library by default. And still not listen to the obscure-to-me stuff very much at all.

Here's the thing: I like having all my stuff at my fingertips. Sometimes I get the urge to listen to something, and I want it available anytime. I have a 16GB fist gen Touch, and it was great. However, since I got my Android phone (my first smart phone), I haven't used the Touch at all. It does everything the Touch does, and it's a phone. You can substitute any smart phone in there. They do what the Touch does, and more.

I do, however, use my 160GB Classic every day. It's usually connected to my car stereo, home stereo, dock, etc., so I don't need the pretty interface, the apps, or the internet access. I just need it to connect to stuff and play its contents.

 

[celo48]

In my humble opinion Apple is not doing well with the sales of iPhone 4 because of the antenna problem. They feel like no matter what they do, people will always be thinking iPhone4 = antenna problem. Therefore, I would not be surprised if they released the iPhone5 on January like the article says. I also think they would change the design a little so that people don't think it is a
re-bagged iPhone4 although probably it would be.

 

[THX1139]

If these upcoming release rumors are true, then it will explain why Apple did such a crappy job with the recent Mac Pro update. Most of their resources are going into developing consumer toys.

 

[markcres]

This is all BS designed to boost Apple's share prices for a while.

Don't fall for it !

 

[lkrupp]

Wow this is going to piss off a lot of people!

Yes, all .55% of them.

 

[Westside guy]

The basic Kindle has a 6-inch screen. I'd think a 6-inch iPad (yeah I know the rumor said 7") would be great for those of us who think the new one is too big, but also think the iPhone/Touch are too small for comfortable reading.

I tested my wife's Kindle for pocketability - it slides into a cargo pant pocket quite nicely width-wise. A 6" iPad would not be as long as a Kindle because it wouldn't require the keyboard - so it would pass the pocket test that the current big model fails.

For those people who think the current iPad is the perfect size... good for you. Keep buying the big one. But some of us find it too big - for me, it's too close to the size of my MacBook Air to make sense. I'd buy a 6 or 7 inch iPad rather than another iPod Touch. If I still wanted a standalone iPod, I'd probably just get the Nano in that case.