Same ****, different day.
The Macbook Air was said to be a BIG mistake. No market.
The iPad was said to be a BIG mistake. No market.
Now with the (supposed) iPad Mini.
Got the idea?
I bought both the MacBook Air and iPad as soon as they were launched. I never thought they'd be a big mistake.
However, I'm someone who works in mobile and with tablets for development everyday. Tweeners are a tough sell because:
1. People have limited time in a day to use gadgets. And the gadget they use 75% of the time is the smartphone.
2. The data is overwhelming with regard to how people use their iPad: they use it on the couch watching TV.
Now, the Mini could change things in that people might use it out and about more than they use the larger iPad because it's smaller. However, it's still not pocketable and much larger and more awkward than a smartphone. So it's not going to compete hardly at all with that device.
In other words, outside of the fact that it doesn't do really anything better than a smartphone or a larger tablet, the use cases are really, really limited.
And no Retina screen? That is brutal and absurd. I can't believe Apple would do this. Yes, yes, I understand keep the developers happy - they won't have to touch their Apps!. First, do I want to waste my time developing for an old-school fuzzy display? No, not really at all. Second, Schiller is full of *****. Just because it's the same resolution as the iPad 2 doesn't mean you won't have to touch your Apps. UI changes and tweaks are necessary because the pixels are smaller. Everything scales down with unintended consequences. It's not that simple.
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With a rumored resolution equal to that of iPad 1 & 2 this is a moot point. No new resolution for apps will be needed.
All existing apps will most likely function perfectly on it
My stint with the iPad left me with a feeling of having to compromise. The size factor alone meant I sold the iPad and purchased a Macbook Air 11" instead. Much more useful, and only a tad bigger than an iPad.
A 7.8" iPad on the other hand... Size-wise I will be able to fit that in a large pocket, making it much easier to just take with me.
Fud. Pure and simple. The "iPad Mini" will fit perfectly as a tablet alongside all the other averagely-7" tablets.
It may not be of any interest to YOU, but I'll happily bet that many will find it massively useful.
Good luck. By the way, I bet you've never developed any software in your life.
You WILL NOT just be able to leave your Apps alone. UI must be tweaked and changed because the pixels are smaller on the Mini and everything scales down. Schiller is full of it. It's not that simple.
And if you read the reviews today you'd see how people are knocking the Mini because it really doesn't fit in any pocket but some claim the Nexus to be able to do.
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Do you honestly think they've stopped working on the standard iPad to make the mini?
No. They've been working hard on spec bumps as we saw today. Apple... going down the road of every other tech company with spec bumps.
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did you just sign up on macrumors just to make this ludicrous thread?
From all the posts in here, you should re-evaluate not only your opinion on the ipad mini but other things in your own life you feel so strongly on, as there may be a very large majority in society who will think otherwise...
large. Small. Tiny.