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Apple would only release a 7" device if they could make something that would blow away the competition and still provide a healthy profit. Google and Amazon aren't in it to make money off hardware. Apple is. The no way this works is if Aplle comes up with something that makes the Nexus look like child's toy.
 
He culled the plethora of computers Amellio had spewed onto the market...
As soon as Jobs had gone... Cook raised salaries of a few executives...
..and has now added 2 15 inch MacBook Pros.. a Retina and non-retina.. a 13 inch Pro and 13 inch Air and 11 inch Air...
Now we will have something else Jobs didn't want.. a 7 inch tablet...

Amellio did it for money, is Cook doing it to cover all these markets or for basing it on quality of design... or is the 7 inch simply a red herring...
:apple:
The iPod line is about to get the axe (especially after this announcement), so I wouldn't worry too much. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they rebranded the iPod touch and iPod nano as iPads and put the iPod name/brand to bed entirely.

We could be looking at a September event for the new iPhone with no new iPods, and then a major restructuring announced at an iPad event in October, where the line is reorganized under the iPad name, the shuffle and the classic are put out to pasture, and the new mini is introduced alongside a slightly refreshed 3rd gen model that has the new pin connector and tweaked panel that reduces heat output.

Also, I think in a year or two, the Air name will be retired (in favor of just the MacBook), and all their notebooks will be retina displays, eliminating the competing lines. In the meantime, Apple will be pushing EPEAT to change its standards in the event that the new Retina MacBooks don't receive certification.
 
I suspect an option for 3G but not for LTE.



I’d say within $100 and it’ll be very competitive, so $299 or less.

***

I believe what we’re basically going to see is an iPad 2 Mini. Same A5 (actually the gen 2 showing up in later iPad models), same resolution, same cameras, maybe fewer RAM options, or _potentially_ an even lower capacity model to make an even closer Nexus 7 competitor, i.e., a $249 8GB model (and a $299 16GB model, $399 32GB model).

There might also be some cost savings in going with a cheaper case material (plastic vs. aluminum). I think they’ll use the new display tech from Sharp, reducing thickness and keeping comparable battery life to the iPad, but with physically smaller batteries.
Agree that LTE is a battery hog and will not be in the iPad Mini. And if Sharp's IGZO is ready to go, I suspect Apple will use it. Not sure about an entry model at $249, which might cannibalize the sales of its bigger brother too much. $299 would allow Apple to make almost as much profit as it makes on "the new iPad", so the company wouldn't care which iPad you buy. But if you buy an iPad Mini (that cost, say, $200 to make) for $249, Apple makes a lot less money than if you buy an iPad (that cost $350 to make) for $499.

And I'm pretty sure plastic is out of the picture.
 
I never thought it would actually come true. It's time to throw away my first iPad. Its just awfully slow.

Yeah. Apple is great at planned obsolescence aren't they. The original iPad is two years old. It still should work well, and it should be included in software updates. Period.
 
7.85 iPad

There is room in my life for one along with my current iPad 2. I travel to my employment as a hospitalist 200 miles from my regular residence, we are "block scheduled" that is we do a number of shifts and have a block of time off.

I carry my iPad 2 for regular off time consumption, and would be able to carry the 7.85 in my lab coat pocket for rounds. My Boomer eyes will thank me for this looking up medication doses in Epocrates under dimly lit situations.

In medical practice while we are with patients, we do mostly consumption, looking up and sharing results and imaging studies. I unfortunately have to go back to a Windows workstation to actually implement anything.

On my days off, I use my MBP at my desk, and the iPad in the living room, and a smaller one would likely be used at work, traveling and as my bedtime eReader.
 
I don't understand why ppl keep saying the iPod touch will be eliminated becuase the iPad mini do everythin and more at a similar price point. The fact is, the iPod touch isnt going anywhere. I truely suspect what we will see this time is an iPod touch upgrade to 128gb, and the iPod classic discontinued completely. The nano upgraded to what we saw a few days ago, looked a bit like a Zune mini. And the shuffle with get the current nano design.
The iPad mini isn't an iPod touch replacement simply becuase of the size difference. While the iPad is a great music player it simply is t piratical oba train or walking across campus. I know what your going to say, "ppl have a iPhones for that" but if that's the cases then why do they sell a billion iPod touches every year anyway. The fact is the iPod touch will be the new high capacity iPod and may one day be eliminated simply becuase the iPhone sells so many phone that the touch model is t need. But that day isn't this yr or next.
The iPad mini should a good product and I suspect the big cost savings will be wifi only (at first) and no Retina display.
 
A wild thought appears: How about a 'pad that is first of all a navigationdevice, leaning heavily on their new map-system? So it could include a GPS-receiver, and for a small montly fee over-the-air updates, trafficinfo and... *ba-da-bum* a searchfeature with Siri to get you to the closest store of your liking a.s.a.p.
 
People still believe this will happen?
Well I guess it is a very entertaining rumour. That's something.
 
This probably wouldn't have happened if Steve Jobs were still alive. However, this is a chase for market share. There is a segment that want a smaller (than existing iPad) and larger than the iPod/iPhone.

Why do I need this again?
 
I just picked up a Nexus 7,,,,if indeed an iPad mini comes out, I will certainly get it, however, this Nexus 7 is a great little device....Even though my entire house is littered with apple products, I am very much entwined in the google environment. I have a gmail account, use picasa for my pics, rely on my google reader account to stay up to date with news, etc....etc....This tablet has made everything easy and seamless in a google environment.

Now the attractive thing about an ipad mini, is mostly my investment in apps and the apple ecosystem. I would have to hang on to both devices to see which meets my ultimate needs the most. Android makes things difficult to maneuver, however, you can rest assured there is an app that will help you survive the ecosystem, whether it be for your music, movies or whatever you may need. I think nothing will ever replace my iPad...I am even on our companies iPad "team" where I beta test and create iPad apps for our marketing efforts. However, a 7" tablet is so convenient for throwing in a back pocket, or suit jacket. Going to Europe next month, I will bring both tablets, but will probably make most use of the Nexus for its size alone.

My biggest hangup right now is iMessage, which I use extensively with my family. only time will tell if apple goes this route, but I sure hope so.
 
I don't have a really good use for iPad just play games and mess around...But smaller cheaper iPad might make sense to me for those entertainment reasons as i justify smaller amount of money for that and perhaps find actual serious reason for it later ;)....assuming its in $300 range which i doubt it will be
 
If it costs a lot less, this could start the eventual death of the regular iPad like how the 17" MBP died.

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Screw the iPad, unless it's 27" I want my new iMac!

Exactly ^^^

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At $200 I'm sold no questions. Most likely will be 16gb $300, and if so I need more information.

Same here. I made $200 doing work for my neighbor, and I think the work I did is much less than the advantages and joy of the mini iPad.
 
I don't get why some people with smartphones, especially with 4.3"+ displays, would want a 7" device. It's far less portable and usability gains are minimal. The apps are exactly the same and even browsing the web requires too much zooming in and out to be a truly great experience.
 
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