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Sketchy Report Claims Apple May Discontinue iPad Mini to Focus on 'iPad Pro'
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If this is true it's a bad move by Apple. The first bad move was not putting an A8 chip (forget even A8X) in the mini 3.
The unique size of the iPad Mini makes it nice for watching video and ultra portable at the same time. And the price was really nice too for someone trying to break into the iPad market at a reasonable price. (I know- iPad Air 1 is the same price but still more options for the same price).
I will be getting my first iPad on BlackFriday at Apple- the Air 2. Getting it because I'm a grad student and need the bigger screen to write notes. If I was working the Mini would be nice as luxury to watch movies and stuff.
The unique size of the iPad Mini makes it nice for watching video and ultra portable at the same time. And the price was really nice too for someone trying to break into the iPad market at a reasonable price. (I know- iPad Air 1 is the same price but still more options for the same price).
I will be getting my first iPad on BlackFriday at Apple- the Air 2. Getting it because I'm a grad student and need the bigger screen to write notes. If I was working the Mini would be nice as luxury to watch movies and stuff.
I disagree wholeheartedly!
I read books in iBooks every day on my way to & from work, on the bus. On my iPhone 6. It's delightful.
I also did the same with my 5s, 5, 4s & 4.
I've also frequently read books in iBooks & Amazon's Kindle app on the Tube while on day trips in London (you can get some reading in, in-between places!), and also on holiday.
If you're hoping that your "comfortably" qualifier discounts my experience, you're mistaken. I've found it incredibly comfortable, and extremely cool to be able to choose from practically any text you could wish to read, in the palm of your hand.
And as for 'productivity' apps I've written many an email or Pages document using Apple's great software on various iPhones.
I guess it all depends if you want to maximise your time and get things done wherever you are, with the tools at hand.
True, but only because Apple didn't upgrade the mini (which is still popular because it's a different size). Mazda didn't do that with the 3.
Agree 100%..... I have no interest in the 10" iPad but love the mini.... I will however buy a 12" plus iPad in a heart beat. So instead of grabbing the MBA to look up some of the stuff I do now I'll grab the Maxi iPad..... funny MAXiPad
Which got 12 votes up, while the person who said "That's only one opinion, and one that's not clearly shared by everyone" in response to your post got 32 votes up.
Not trying to be rude, just saying that the lots of people like the mini. Apple isn't wise if they don't pay attention to that.
Um...perhaps because not everyone has or wants an iphone 6+. You do realize that the iPad mini is twice the screen size of the iphone6+ don't you? It's the perfect ipad size for travelling, watching movies and surfing the web on.
Just because you can't imagine using one, doesn't make it a universal belief.
Me neither. This is nothing like the iPod Touch situation, where the entire product category is dying. If anything, Apple needs the iPad Mini to fend off Amazon moving up in the eReader space.
I can't see this being true, although I think it's very obvious that significant resources were diverted to this upcoming iPad Pro or whatever it is. As much as Tim Cook wants to claim that the recent slowdown in sales for tablets is just a speed bump, I think the writing is on the wall. These intermediate devices won't survive unless they gain the functionality of, say, a Surface Pro 3. I think we WILL see such devices from Apple (and I actually think that's what the iPad Pro will be). But for now, Apple is simply not putting anymore resources into developing products for a stagnating market. The tablet market is being squeezed on one end by phablets, including Apple's own, and by very capable/cheap laptops on the other, some of which also take on tablet form factors.
Before we start talking about how these devices will sell only if they start matching the performance of the SPIII, do we have any concrete numbers comparing the SPIII Sales to some of the other tablets? I mean without any such basic information, I am not sure how anyone can even come to the conclusion. Any Apple TS device that tries to do what the SP3 does (Even if Apple goes through that route) is likely to cost $1000 if not more. Given the level of specs being demanded by some users (Run OS X , be very powerful, replace Mac book Air etc) it will likely be even more expensive compare to the $399 and $499 price tag of the Air and Air2 (entry level). Doing so will most likely not have a very significant affect on the replacement cycle, if anything it would most likely shift the PRO/PLUS device replacement cycle closer to a Laptop then to a mobile phone or tablet.
I think that Tim Cook was right on the money when he said that the market is yet to figure out the replacement cycle for such devices (tablets). I do think the PRO/PLUS will come, but I doubt that it would run some of the stuff folks want it to run. It would still be an iOS based system, although i do believe that it would include a host of productivity features specific to it and would most likely start at around $699. Not sure if Apple will do a proper SP3 type system although I certainly hope they do, it would be a good device to replace my iPad Air sometime next year.
I think that Tim Cook was right on the money when he said that the market is yet to figure out the replacement cycle for such devices (tablets). I do think the PRO/PLUS will come, but I doubt that it would run some of the stuff folks want it to run. It would still be an iOS based system, although i do believe that it would include a host of productivity features specific to it and would most likely start at around $699. Not sure if Apple will do a proper SP3 type system although I certainly hope they do, it would be a good device to replace my iPad Air sometime next year.
Exactly and that's why that "less than visionary CEO" pushed out the most successful-selling iPhone to date. Something Steve would've never done.
I for one see the benefits of the mini yet if Apple discontinued it I wouldn't miss it.
OK; but I dislike reading books on my iPhones. I read rapidly, and the effect of having to page every two seconds is far too frenetic. I'm also a voracious reader, and the 7" form factor is perfect.
Why would Apple need to do away with the Mini only to concentrate on the PRO? It makes very little sense. The Mini sells well. Sure apple will try its best to incentives the more expensive Air but they can do so by providing it with better specs etc. No need to loose one form factor only to introduce another. I think they'll keep the Mini as such, be aggressive with its pricing but hold back on the technology upgrades (perhaps be a year late with the chip).
I think Apple knows what they are doing. People said they weren't being "wise" when they didn't include a floppy drive in the original iMac. Said it would be a flop without one. Well guess what?
Kidding, right? Steve also said a notebook with a screen smaller than 13" was a no-go. Yet the 11" MBA turned out to be one of the best selling MacBooks ever.
I really appreciate how they kept the two members of the MBA family at (mostly) the same level performance-wise over the years. It was a very wise move from Apple to recognize that not everybody thought that 13" was the perfect size. They could've done the same with the iPad line, but with the mini 3 it turned out that they had other plans in mind... sadly...
Sorry TL;DR all the worthwhile comments.
The iPod Touch was essentially the original iPhone (sans phone) so maybe they're planning on simplifying the lineup with a iPad mini/iPod Touch/iPhone 6 Plus mashup (sans phone). i.e. a larger iPod Touch. Would it be an iPod or an iPad though? Maybe iPad Nano? That would echo how the iPod Mini was replaced.
The iPod Touch was essentially the original iPhone (sans phone) so maybe they're planning on simplifying the lineup with a iPad mini/iPod Touch/iPhone 6 Plus mashup (sans phone). i.e. a larger iPod Touch. Would it be an iPod or an iPad though? Maybe iPad Nano? That would echo how the iPod Mini was replaced.
I like this post.
To sum up: THE NEW 5.5 INCH iPod Touch WILL BE THE NEW "IPad Mini."
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Yes.