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

[kdarling]

1) Those of us who use both sizes all the time, know that while larger paper-sized 9-10" is great in the living room or office or chair, the book sized 7-8" is nicer for carrying around and for reading in bed. And at least when you fall asleep surfing, it doesn't knock you out from its weight

2) Apple has no problem forcing developers to embrace a new resolution. Just look at the way they refused to let people run Retina iPhone apps on the iPad, instead making developers create iPad-specific apps.

This is like when people said that the leaked iPhone 4 shape could not possibly be an Apple design.

 

[peterdevries]

Thanks also =)

That's pretty much it, except you think the new sales of the iPad Mini would be high enough to make a profit, while I think the market isn't big enough.

No no. I say that I don't know. It could be big enough, but you might be right too. I'm just saying that I don't know.

 

[MythicFrost]

1) Those of us who use both sizes all the time, know that while larger paper-sized 9-10" is great in the living room or office or chair, the book sized 7-8" is nicer for carrying around and for reading in bed. And at least when you fall asleep surfing, it doesn't knock you out from its weight

2) Apple has no problem forcing developers to embrace a new resolution. Just look at the way they refused to let people run Retina iPhone apps on the iPad, instead making developers create iPad-specific apps.

This is like when people said that the leaked iPhone 4 shape could not possibly be an Apple design.

That was with a new type of device though, they don't release phones with different resolutions. The iPad Mini would just be a slightly smaller iPad.

No no. I say that I don't know. It could be big enough, but you might be right too. I'm just saying that I don't know.

Ah okay, I wasn't saying I know either, just that's what I think.

 

[PracticalMac]

Since when is Apple a trend follower?

Their is a few things Apple picked up from Windows (Alt-Tab for instance).
Besides, Apple "borrowed" a lot of other technology for its products.

The only thing it would be competing with would be their own products, and undercutting their own profits. As a stockholder, this is the kind of reactionary leadership I'm watching out for as a company without a true leading visionary tries to find its way. Apple needs to lead its following, not answer them. If a bigger iPhone isn't best for the experience and product line stick to what you know. If a smaller iPad is going to be less profitable and a lesser user experience, don't give the masses the disappointing product they're clamoring for.

OMG! that is so narrow minded!
One less person getting a 7.7" Andriod is one more getting a 7.7" iPad!
By now Apple as seen enough for the smaller tabs to know what works and what does not and make a mini iPad that will still deliver.

Besides, in case you have not noticed, Apple makes:
2 sizes of iMac
2 sizes of MacBookAir
3 sizes of MacBook Pro.

I bet we will see a smaller iPad.

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iPad is 4:3 so the difference is somewhat less pronounced.

Still don't see any reason why they would need to do a smaller tablet. The magazine states "competition" but Apple have the market - there is no competition.

Um, all because iPad dominates Tab's does not mean there is competition.
(Points to Fire)

1) Those of us who use both sizes all the time, know that while larger paper-sized 9-10" is great in the living room or office or chair, the book sized 7-8" is nicer for carrying around and for reading in bed. And at least when you fall asleep surfing, it doesn't knock you out from its weight

2) Apple has no problem forcing developers to embrace a new resolution. Just look at the way they refused to let people run Retina iPhone apps on the iPad, instead making developers create iPad-specific apps.

This is like when people said that the leaked iPhone 4 shape could not possibly be an Apple design.

1: Right on! iPad is not as comfortable to carry around outside house.

2: Yes, but with iPad Mini case do not have to. Same resolution, just smaller size.

 

[charlituna]

Let me clarify. Apple certainly had 20+ empty shells sitting around Ive's office just to play with form factors.

They would have likely done more than just have a bunch of empty shells. And given that this 7" rumor has been around for a while, the prototypes in question could have been created ages ago.

That this isn't a new rumor, nor is the whole 'simple one now, PRO one later in the year', makes me put this on the 'i'll believe it when Jonny is on the stage presenting it' list.

And even then I don't think it will be a 7 inch iPad so much as a 7 inch iPod Touch if it happens. Scaling up is likely much easier than scaling down for the apps (especially since it's already in the OS) and a 6-7 inch model would put the Touch in the running as a more viable model for gaming etc. But for the productivity type stuff that Jobs was saying is less than awesome if you try to squeeze a usable UI into a 7 Inch screen, you have the 10" iPad as your option.




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I never understood why some people think that just because THEY personally don't see a need for something ......it shouldn't exist.

Here we see more of the flip, folks think that because they need it (although the site represents a group that is at most 5% of the possible users) then it MUST exist or Apple is stupid, will fail etc.

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This is the perfect time to say "I Told You So".

Saying "I told you so" off a rehashed rumor from a source with an unreliable track record is the way to get yourself laughed off as a total dummy.

Save that for when Jonny, Scott and Tim actually announce it.

 

[kdarling]

I never understood why some people think that just because THEY personally don't see a need for something ......it shouldn't exist.

Plus there are some people who haven't been around long enough to know that when Jobs said he didn't like 7" tablets, it simply meant that Apple wasn't selling one at the time. He was the ultimate focused salesman.

He was infamous for putting something down as unnecessary or undesirable until the very second that Apple had it, at which time it suddenly became a magical thing. Intel CPUs, video iPods, MMS, 3G, multitasking, third party apps, etc.

 

[divinox]

My first tablet experience was with a $200 Nook Color which I've totally loved owning, rooted it & played with many custom roms. I liked having an e-reader, loved watching Netflix in bed. That $200 investment proved to me that tablets are useful in my life.

A 7.85 inch ipad at a lower price point would bring a lot of folks who are tablet curious into the Apple eco-system & might also sell well with current ipad owners who want a second,smaller device for travel.

Exactly. And, like stated earlier, Apple could probably get a baseline out there at the $299 price point (component re-use). They'd sell millions and millions. It would be the "new iPod" in terms of getting people in to the ecosystem. Heck, if they released that, i'd re-buy stock in an instant.

Not sure if the iPad ratio is that great though. I'm afraid it might be too wide. Then again, they have the phone ratio to fall back on. Existing retina resolution (ip4) should perform alright at a 7" device.

(personally, i'd prefer a 16:10 - but yeah... i don't see Apple adding a third ratio in the near future).

 

[Ugg]

Plus there are some people who haven't been around long enough to know that when Jobs said he didn't like 7" tablets, it simply meant that Apple wasn't selling one at the time. He was the ultimate focused salesman.

He was infamous for putting something down as unnecessary or undesirable until the very second that Apple had it, at which time it suddenly became a magical thing. Intel CPUs, video iPods, MMS, 3G, multitasking, third party apps, etc.

It's such an obvious aspect of Jobs' public persona that it's hard to see why people don't get it. He was always adamant that he wouldn't do this or that when all he was saying is that he wasn't doing it 'right now'.

 

[coolspot18]

Why doesn't apple remove the black border? If it had an edge to edge screen, it would save a lot of space... almost 2"?

 

[divinox]

Why doesn't apple remove the black border? If it had an edge to edge screen, it would save a lot of space... almost 2"?

You'd end up blocking the screen, and if not managed properly you'd get tons of accidental presses. So yeah, easier said than done.

 

[MattInOz]

Exactly. And, like stated earlier, Apple could probably get a baseline out there at the $299 price point (component re-use). They'd sell millions and millions. It would be the "new iPod" in terms of getting people in to the ecosystem. Heck, if they released that, i'd re-buy stock in an instant.

Not sure if the iPad ratio is that great though. I'm afraid it might be too wide. Then again, they have the phone ratio to fall back on. Existing retina resolution (ip4) should perform alright at a 7" device.

(personally, i'd prefer a 16:10 - but yeah... i don't see Apple adding a third ratio in the near future).

And at that price they would be in consideration for deployment in almost every school system. Which would sure get the textbook people interested. Although Apple really need to improve volume app distribution if they really want to target that market. Still if Kids grow up with iPads (and iMacs in the class for higher demand work) then Apple has half it's marketing job done.

I think that is the point of the 7.85 iPad it's the smallest size an iPad would work with current apps (if the developers have followed the HIG). Which most useful for small hands, in terms of finger reach, weight and price.

It then sets the baseline for developers for larger screen iPads to expand from.

 

[coz707]

I like it!

It's all in the calculation of what a retina display is...

If they create a 2048x1536 pixel resolution at 7.85" - that's a 326 ppi (same as iPhone 4)

If they create a 2048x1536 pixel resolution at 9.6" - that's something less that 300ppi, and not retina... The biggest they can create and call it retina is 8.5" - which will give them 300ppi - the same as what a new iPhone would be.

My money is on a new iPhone and new iPad each with 300ppi in the first quarter. That means iPhones with bigger screens and iPads with smaller...

this is irrelevant as you normally hold the ipad further away from your eyes than you do with an iphone

 

[divinox]

And at that price they would be in consideration for deployment in almost every school system. Which would sure get the textbook people interested. Although Apple really need to improve volume app distribution if they really want to target that market. Still if Kids grow up with iPads (and iMacs in the class for higher demand work) then Apple has half it's marketing job done.

I think that is the point of the 7.85 iPad it's the smallest size an iPad would work with current apps (if the developers have followed the HIG). Which most useful for small hands, in terms of finger reach, weight and price.

It then sets the baseline for developers for larger screen iPads to expand from.

Yup. Oh well, if Apple fumbles the ball (again) we'll just see history repeat with Win8. Probably less resolution sensitive as well, since they (per usual) had to consider screen-heterogeneity (both resolution and size) from the get go. Either way, I'm quite positive we'll see a $299 7 inch "no-compromise" tablet hit the market in less than 12 months. At that point, the market will explode. Boom.

Get ready! :- )

 

[driftless]

My wife travels a lot and takes an iPhone & iPad2 with her (she uses a Dell ultra book, biz issued). I mentioned that the rumors of a Kindle Fire form size were floating around again. She said that if that sized iPad was introduced and it had all of functionality as the current iPad, she would switch as soon she could. She uses the iPad primarily to read books, through the Kindle app not iBooks, news papers like the NYT & USA Today.

 

[divinox]

My wife travels a lot and takes an iPhone & iPad2 with her (she uses a Dell ultra book, biz issued). I mentioned that the rumors of a Kindle Fire form size were floating around again. She said that if that sized iPad was introduced and it had all of functionality as the current iPad, she would switch as soon she could. She uses the iPad primarily to read books, through the Kindle app not iBooks, news papers like the NYT & USA Today.

What Apple needs to realize, if they wish to remain relevant in the long-term. The larger size is just fine when replacing a computer, it is however quite awful when accompanying one. In that sense, iPads are great if you have a ****** (or just plain hefty) computer. However, with ARMs light weight and Intels ultrasbook likely to become the new normal quite soon, the crowd of people with hefty computers will rapidly decrease in size in the coming years - and then what?

 

[eye]

I used to think the 7" tab was a joke until I played with the Fire and the Nook Tab. They are great for what most consumers are looking for. If Apple ignores the impact a 7" tab with the Apple ecosystem and a $299 price tag could have, they're nuts.

 

[daveathall]

I could use and enjoy a 7" iPad, won't loose any sleep if one isn't released though.

 

[tigress666]

I used to think the 7" tab was a joke until I played with the Fire and the Nook Tab. They are great for what most consumers are looking for. If Apple ignores the impact a 7" tab with the Apple ecosystem and a $299 price tag could have, they're nuts.

I gotta agree. Apple never really got me too interested in having a Tablet. It wasn't until Samsung I believe was advertising a 7" tablet where in the ad some one managed to fit it in their pocket.

Now that would be portable enough that I'd consider carrying it rather than my 13" MBP. At the size the ipad is now I'd rather just have a little more inconvenience and lug my laptop if I want something easier to browse the internet with than my iphone.

Plus, I prefer my iphone over the current iPad cause it's much lighter and smaller. Easier to hold in one hand and flip pages with one hand, no way you could do that so easy with the iPad (which ruins a lot of advantages to me of e-readers over paper books). A 7" ipad would probably be lighter and easier to hold in one hand for reading books (really what I'd buy a tablet for is a glorified ebook reader. I want more functionality than a regular Kindle really but the Kindle Fire blew it for me, it's *heavy*, possibly heavier than the ipad. Which totally by itself is a huge turn off for me). And for playing games as well (Though size isn't as important for that). That's the two big fuctionalities I'd want in an iPad (plus I'd like to stay in the Apple ecosystem since I'm already well entrenched in it but that would just be a nice bonus ).

 

[DeeEss]

I want a 13" iPad.

 

[toke lahti]

this is BS for two reasons. One is because that size tablet won't be good at anything it is too small. Second is because for a 7" to be portable it needs to be 16:9 because that is the shape of a pocket. You can put a 7" 16:9 in your coat pocket (kind of) but at a 4:3 aspect ratio you couldn't and apple won't change the aspect ratio

iPad mini would give apple a change to correct a major design flaw in screen aspect ratio. 4:3 is just too square to take full advantage of turning the screen.
Also movies & tv benefitts wider AR.
Gradually they could shift all apple products to 3:2 and unify GUI for that.

In the long run I think all manufacturers will offer 6 portable sizes: 0"-2" for wrist size, 2"-5" for phone size, 5"-9" small tablet, 9"-13" big tablet, 10"-14" notebook with keyboard and 14"-20" large laptop.
Only thing that can mess this up is foldable displays that might also used unfolded.

So far I don't think apple will introduce a lot more models at the same time.
They get better profits by selling older gen models (iP3gs, iP4, iPa1) at reduced price.