Rumors of a 7.85-Inch 'iPad Mini' Revived (Again) for Late 2012

[Digital Skunk]

And your point is?

The title of your personal site is "Tell them, my song". You are a broken record. We have heard your song about Apple's copying, lack of openness now so many times that "Friday" by Rebecca Black is a welcome distraction.

I'd rather hear his/her correct and valid points over and over again over some of the garbage that I've been getting on the forums since 2008, especially in the iPhone and PSRI forums.

The point is valid, even if repeated.

So basically a slightly bigger iPhone that doesn't make calls? way to go

More like a smaller iPad . . . . that's not TOO much smaller than the previous model. I'd only welcome it if Apple were going to give us more options with the iPhone. My wife would love the current screen size, but anyone with perspective can see that larger screens are becoming an necessity. The Galaxy Note would be my next phone if it ever came to Sprint.

Did you realize? They even use batteries, for God's sake. That was invented, like, forever ago, and already used in lots of places when the iPhone appeared. Such copying bstards!

Over-reaching someone's valid point is bad way to make your own.

I make one car, the customers are buying my one car.
As the one car I make is selling, then it proves to me that I've no need to make two cars to select from.

Can't you see a flaw in that reasoning?

It's very flawed indeed, very Model T-ish but both Ford and Apple had to do such a thing to ensure that the enduser gets accustomed to a device that was essentially something never seen before (or in Ford's case a manufacturing method).

The flaw DOES come when everyone and their grandmother is now inundated with devices and/or everyone is using the same production method. Now the competition is going to start eating away at the simple things that Apple hasn't catered to. Just like I want a bigger screened phone, others will welcome a smaller screened iPad, or a thinner 15" MBP, etc. . . . .

 

[mrgreen4242]

As an iPad 1 owner who got his first iPhone (4s) after the iPad, I would be very inclined to buy a 7-8" iPad, assuming the following:

iPad 2 or better internals
.75lbs or less
8 hours battery
iPad screen resolution and aspect ratio OR iPhone 4 resolution and aspect ratio*
No more than $299 for a 16gb wifi model, $249 seems like a good base price for last years hardware with a smaller screen, IMO

I use my iPhone way more than my iPad these days, mostly because the iPad is a bit bulky. It's hard to use one handed, and I'm on the verge of buying a kindle for reading because a pound and a half is a bit much to hold for a long reading session. I'm only waiting to see what the iPad 3 looks like and because I've
found that the iPhone is actually a great reader, being light and having such an incredible display.

* so, I'm thinking they could run iPad applications with a shrunken down UI and it would work, but alternatively a 3:2 device running blown up iPhone applications might work too. I think he slightly wider screen would be good for a smaller table, though I don't like the 16:9 devices out there. 3:2 might be a perfect compromise. I feel like it has to be one or the other, though, as a new screen size would split the market up too much.

Come to think of it, a device double the size AND resoultion of an iPhone mightbe pretty good...

 

[apolloa]

I really don't get all this. I'll state right of the bat I am a Kindle Fire fan, because it does everything I want, but I can't get it in the UK... yet. It will hopefully be out in time for my Birthday though and cheap enough to go on my list?

Anyway, I myself cannot compare it to an iPad? They only really compete on user experience and content, eco systems. But from a capability and hardware point they are totally different, as is reflected in the pricing. So why is everyone hell bent on comparing them like for like, then so unsurprisingly, stating the iPad is better?

Apple simply can never compete with the Fires market, it's too cheap. Instead it should just concentrate on what it's currently doing, and considering how good the iPad is do they really need a 7" version? It will still be at the same price as the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus, which is $399 on Amazon, so is still going to be priced out of the Fire and Nook market, and will have limited competition as not many premium priced tablets are 7", I only know of the Samsung and Blackberry, we'll forget about the Blackberry..

So I call bogus on these rumours, to me it makes no business sense, I guess an iPad nano, but I think they will struggle with pricing and selling it.

 

[dethmaShine]

Dual Core chips is simply the natural evolution of technology. It's not like the public at large where screaming: "We want dual core chips" or anything, just that the price/production-capacity reached a poitn where it simply made more sense going for these rather than the singel core chips. And guess what, in a few years there will be even more cores, and it has nothing to do with trends.

Your next three points are mobile standards and has again very little to do with trends or Android specifically.

The last two might be considered trends, and Apple has still to make a move to follow these trends...

People sometimes forget that when the phones were becoming smaller and compact, Apple (and probably LG) brought back the grace with a 3.5" touch screen iPhone. And rest is history.

 

[wolfpackfan]

I know tons of people who would get the 7" at a 299ish price point.

I know I would buy one even though I have an iPad now. Every time I pickup my wife's Nook Color, I say to myself I sure wish my iPad was that size. In fact, I've been thinking about getting a Kindle Fire and replacing my iPad with it. The iPad to me is just too big and bulky and the Touch is too small. If Apple comes out with a 7+ inch iPad I'd get one in a heart beat.

I'm not sure why Apple people are so against the concept. Why not have two models. Apple is loosing sales to both Amazon and B&N on this. There ARE people who will not buy an iPad because of it's size and price.

 

[brdeveloper]

iPad 3 will be launched for what iPad 2 retails for right now (about $499) and iPad 2 will go on sale after launch for about $299 to compete with the prices of Amazon Kindle Fire and Nook.

iPad 3: Retina display, Siri, tweaked look

iPad 5: 3d Retina display, Siri in portuguese, 3d video capturing, iOSX 7 Ocelot... maybe I'll buy an iPad that day. For the time being I'll spend money in travels, gastronomy and take a bigger cycle for electronics replacement.

 

[wolfpackfan]

I guess folks haven't seen this market study.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...to_push_ipad_below_60_market_share_in_q4.html

 

[apolloa]

I'm not sure why Apple people are so against the concept. Why not have two models. Apple is loosing sales to both Amazon and B&N on this.

Apple are only loosing sales due to it's pricing, trust me. But everyone knows what Apple's pricing is like, and as I stated above, Apple will find it difficult to price a smaller iPad, it will be at least $399 to compete with the other premium 7" tablets.

 

[vitzr]

If this happens it will be a credit to Tim Cook for being open minded and wise.

Many good ideas ran afoul of Steves ego.

 

[mijail]

Over-reaching someone's valid point is bad way to make your own.

My point was that the original point by Whinny was over-reaching itself. (really? cloud computing and tethering? System 7, whose latest version was in 1997, copying Windows Explorer? Oh pretty please. Burying an interesting point in hyperbole doesn't help it at all.)



----------

I make one car, the customers are buying my one car.
As the one car I make is selling, then it proves to me that I've no need to make two cars to select from.

Can't you see a flaw in that reasoning?

Another not very different flaw would be "I make one car, it sells. So if I make n different cars, they will sell".

 

[tigres]

I make one car, the customers are buying my one car.
As the one car I make is selling, then it proves to me that I've no need to make two cars to select from.

Can't you see a flaw in that reasoning?

No, no I can't. Apple success is derived by having a minimal but strong product line- it's perfect actually. Of course new products will be out next year to be sure, but as they are the richest tech company on the planet; yet how many laptops do they have in their line? Desktops?

I see no reason to offer a smaller iPad, especially if the iP5 gets a bigger screen.

The car analogy is old and is not a good comparison when it comes to . In fact, it's a perfect one to show how bad it worked out for GM to have as many divisions with the same damn car from each.

 

[balamw]

I guess folks haven't seen this market study.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...to_push_ipad_below_60_market_share_in_q4.html

Less of an issue if the overall market is growing. Other indications are that KF is more a threat to other Android devices than iPad. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1287115/ and some indicate that its success may actually drive new iPad sales. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397227,00.asp

B

 

[TallManNY]

I use my iPad 1 nearly every day, but I would be intrigued by a 7" version. Right now I have to carry a bag or briefcase with me everyday to carry the iPad. A 7" would fit in my winter coat pockets easily. That would be something I'd consider, especially if the price could be brought down to $350 or so. Also, if they kept same resolution, the screen would be sharper at that smaller size. Reading would be that much easier.

Jobs was adamant that the 7 inch size was too small, but I never really was convinced by that argument. I look at newspapers (focusing on the columns) and paperbacks and I see a lot of reading material that is much smaller than 8 by 11 letter-sized sheets.

 

[superfula]

I'd rather hear his/her correct and valid points over and over again over some of the garbage that I've been getting on the forums since 2008, especially in the iPhone and PSRI forums.

First, they aren't correct. Laughable at best. Second, it has absolutely nothing to do with the topic.

 

[tigress666]

Honestly, I think there is a market for it. Of course this is limited to my personal bias so I'm not saying I have a smart reason for it. Just judging from my personal experiences.

I have a roommate who is a pilot that would absolutey love an iPad, it has software on it he'd love to take advantage of (and he likes iOS, he has an iPhone as well). But for his purposes the iPad is just too big (it won't fit where he needs it to fit for use on the plane). He's been saying if they make a smaller one he'd totally snap one up in a second.

I personally would be more tempted by a smaller iPad cause I think the one now is kinda big and unwieldy to hold. If I were to get a tablet, I'd want something small and light and easy to hold up, especially for use as an ebook reader but I'd want something more multi purpose than a Kindle.

The Kindle Fire would almost be perfect except 1. I'd prefer iOS, I already have apps for it, I like it, I like the ecosystem and I'd love to be able to take advantage of iCloud with my iphone and the iPad and 2. the Fire is frikkin heavy. For something that is an ebook reader with extra functionality, the heaviness is a huge turn off for use as an ebook reader honestly. It's also why I don't like the iPad for that (and that's probably the functionality I'd like most out of the iPad) and prefer my iPhone as an ebook reader to tell the truth. I mean one of the biggest advantages I like about using ebooks over real books is the smaller and lighter to hold (and being able to hold in one hand and change pages with the same hand). Having to hold some big, heavy device totally kills that, I'd prefer just a book at that point.

But even without using it for an ebook reader I'd still prefer something smaller and more portable (and lighter and easier to hold). I mean the size it is now I'd rather just take my laptop around if I'm going to carry something that size (I have 13" MBP and for the advantages the MBP gives me it's worth the small bit of extra I'd have to carry around).

 

[Wolfie Scooter]

All the rumors suggest Apple is moving to Retina displays on everything. If the iPad 3 does get an upgraded display (2048x1536), that amounts to 264ppi for the 9.7" screen. To maintain at least 264ppi with the current iPad resolution (1024x768) dictates a maximum screen size of ~4.85". This falls in line better with a 5" class iPhone than a 7" class iPad.

 

[DotCom2]

No, the rumors are coming from an Asian tech publication purportedly relaying information from suppliers. Both have reasons to "leak" such information: the former for page views, the latter for stock price inflation.

Digitimes' track record is highly suspect, so I'm guessing that they are doing it to promote page views.

We've heard rumors of non-standard size iPhones and iPads for years from the "supplier chain." This is business as usual: nothing believable. Especially because the source is Digitimes.

Totally this!
Especially the Digitimes comment!

 

[wordsmith27]

i want a 7 inch tablet... i'd get it.

 

[ekwipt]

I wish they'd make a bigger version for audio controller apps etc, maybe 2 inches more in width and another 1/2 as long, it would be totally amazing. I doubt they'd ever do it, as the mass market would buy it but there's a lot of "artists" that could benefit from a bigger size.

Also a Wacom style version of iPad would totally sell for GFX designers, 3d artists etc.

 

[divinox]

I know I would buy one even though I have an iPad now. Every time I pickup my wife's Nook Color, I say to myself I sure wish my iPad was that size. In fact, I've been thinking about getting a Kindle Fire and replacing my iPad with it. The iPad to me is just too big and bulky and the Touch is too small. If Apple comes out with a 7+ inch iPad I'd get one in a heart beat.

I'm not sure why Apple people are so against the concept. Why not have two models. Apple is loosing sales to both Amazon and B&N on this. There ARE people who will not buy an iPad because of it's size and price.

Likewise. I dont see myself buying a 10" tablet pretty much ever (Read: next 2-4 years). A 7" at a reasonable price? Sold!

 

[Crissov]

20cm

Digitimes once again revives talk of a 7.85-Inch iPad.

That’s 20 centimetres, Merkins!

 

[divinox]

All the rumors suggest Apple is moving to Retina displays on everything. If the iPad 3 does get an upgraded display (2048x1536), that amounts to 264ppi for the 9.7" screen. To maintain at least 264ppi with the current iPad resolution (1024x768) dictates a maximum screen size of ~4.85". This falls in line better with a 5" class iPhone than a 7" class iPad.

The iphone and iPad run on different ratios. a 5" class phone per your suggestion would still be a small pad, not a big phone. Further, screw maintaining retina resolution. Obviously, non-retina 7" tablets are selling well (KF, Nook). Use the cheaper component cost to drive prices down instead.

Take the iPod touch. Slam a larger battery on it. add a 7" ipad-res screen. Done. No reason why it couldn't meet the $299 with the baseline, heck no reason to believe they can't go to 16GB at that point. The UI-problems caused can't be that hard to fix - and if, Apple shows extreme lack of foresight - and extreme need of rewrite to get rid of the current burden of legacy. Plus, worst case they can always opt for a "bigger phone" (that way, nothing will run risk of being too small).

 

[Sol]

A smaller iPad with its denser display would be a great product for children with their smaller fingers. It would also be cheaper so parents would be more likely to consider it for their children than the current iPad. I can imagine schools making them mandratory in order to distribute their textbooks as ebooks, apps, audiobooks, etc.

 

[SerrQ]

I don't think this is happening
I personally rather want a bigger iPad like 13" or something but that wont happen either

 

[Dbrown]

Anybody could predict that quad-core and 5G phones are coming someday. You're not a genius for putting them on the market slightly before the others. They're just numbers and don't change the concept of a phone.

And anyone could predict that a tablet computing device is going to be a flat rounded rectangle too, right?