Yeah, hopefully.Apparently width is the same as height?
Perhaps one may argue, that to some degree, a shorter target would be easier to hit if it is wider.
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There will NOT be an iPad Mini
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Perhaps one may argue, that to some degree, a shorter target would be easier to hit if it is wider.
Well I hope your wrong cause I just bought a bunch of silicone, tpu and snap on cases for the iPad mini for my eBay store
I agree. All this "iPad Mini" Talk is just as stoopid as those past rumors like an iPad camera, thin tapered enclosures, LTE or a Retina Screen. It will never happen and our combined irrational anger confirms it!
WAKE UP PEOPLE! The iPad was perfect from day one and should NEVER change to adapt to the needs of an ever growing marketplace.
After discussion in another recent thread, starting here: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=15468563#post15468563
I post here a speculative variation on iPad mini rumors:
My main concern with 7.85" mini iPad rumors has always been the questionable usability of apps designed for a 9.7" screen and 35% shrinked.
That was one of the starting point of the reflexion on the Missing Link few months ago.
Now, this solution is not perfect: a device this size, while missing in Apple offering, has probably too much trade-offs, it's still too big while not big enough.
And I finally think that rather than to make only one device in the middle, this size (and then, kind of usages related) could be approached with two different devices, one smaller and one larger. Namely, a larger iPod Touch and a smaller iPad.
But I still was circumspect about the real usability of a shrinked iPad.
To my knowledge, the 7.85" rumors are only speculations, quite consistent, based on probable easy availability of 163 ppi screens for Apple, and at 1024x768 the size fall in the good range and allow to run iPad apps.
Sure, using a screen at the same pixel density as the original iPhone ensure the 44 px large minimal touch area used on both iPhone and iPad to appear at the same physical size on the 7.85" screen. But would it be as comfortable as to use apps on the 9.7" iPad?
What is just good enough for a phone because of its small form factor constraint can be adressed with larger size devices. And the 44 px constraint was kept with the iPad although, because of the lower pixel density, the physical measure is bigger.
While fingers size doesn't change when moving from an iPhone to an iPad, losing the precision needed to have when using an iPhone is welcome when using an iPad, even more when the screen is not as close as with an iPhone.
Auto Layout coming to iOS, and helping to consider Apple could change its iPhone screen size and resolution (including aspect ratio, but not necessarily) while maintaining compatibility with apps, provides a solution to the previous problem (a link to some details and some videos examples).
What if, rather than simply shrink the whole iPad interface and apps on 7.85 inches, Apple and then app developers took advantages of Auto Layout for a new and smaller iPad, allowing apps to adapt to screens while maintaining identical the physical sizes of elements on screen?
After few seconds in a calculator, a 1600x1200 screen at the same pixel density as the retina iPad (264 ppi) is about 7.6".
This is not exactly the same case as going to a larger (vertical 16:9, or in both directions 3:2) iPhone screen.
Auto layout is not resolution independance, but is one more brick to help manage different screen sizes (as soon as variation are limited: the point is not to help create apps working on both a pocket-size device and a tablet-size device, but, on two sizes of devices of the same category).
At first, before app updates, every 1024x768 standard iPad apps could be rendered full screen (but then shrinked), the retina screen smoothing the scaling (about like the 1920x1200 highest resolution on the retina MBP).
Would 40% less pixels allow devs to create apps running on both iPad variants?
Here is a quick mockup of a 7.6" mini iPad, the thin lateral bezels as shown here could allow make it only 125 mm wide.
This aims at illustrating layout adjustment. Every element and font is then displayed at the same size on both screen, but the vertical difference imply less lines on the small one. No trade-off in experience but a smaller screen logically imply less data on screen.
![]()
I post here a speculative variation on iPad mini rumors:
My main concern with 7.85" mini iPad rumors has always been the questionable usability of apps designed for a 9.7" screen and 35% shrinked.
That was one of the starting point of the reflexion on the Missing Link few months ago.
Now, this solution is not perfect: a device this size, while missing in Apple offering, has probably too much trade-offs, it's still too big while not big enough.
And I finally think that rather than to make only one device in the middle, this size (and then, kind of usages related) could be approached with two different devices, one smaller and one larger. Namely, a larger iPod Touch and a smaller iPad.
But I still was circumspect about the real usability of a shrinked iPad.
To my knowledge, the 7.85" rumors are only speculations, quite consistent, based on probable easy availability of 163 ppi screens for Apple, and at 1024x768 the size fall in the good range and allow to run iPad apps.
Sure, using a screen at the same pixel density as the original iPhone ensure the 44 px large minimal touch area used on both iPhone and iPad to appear at the same physical size on the 7.85" screen. But would it be as comfortable as to use apps on the 9.7" iPad?
What is just good enough for a phone because of its small form factor constraint can be adressed with larger size devices. And the 44 px constraint was kept with the iPad although, because of the lower pixel density, the physical measure is bigger.
While fingers size doesn't change when moving from an iPhone to an iPad, losing the precision needed to have when using an iPhone is welcome when using an iPad, even more when the screen is not as close as with an iPhone.
Auto Layout coming to iOS, and helping to consider Apple could change its iPhone screen size and resolution (including aspect ratio, but not necessarily) while maintaining compatibility with apps, provides a solution to the previous problem (a link to some details and some videos examples).
What if, rather than simply shrink the whole iPad interface and apps on 7.85 inches, Apple and then app developers took advantages of Auto Layout for a new and smaller iPad, allowing apps to adapt to screens while maintaining identical the physical sizes of elements on screen?
After few seconds in a calculator, a 1600x1200 screen at the same pixel density as the retina iPad (264 ppi) is about 7.6".
This is not exactly the same case as going to a larger (vertical 16:9, or in both directions 3:2) iPhone screen.
Auto layout is not resolution independance, but is one more brick to help manage different screen sizes (as soon as variation are limited: the point is not to help create apps working on both a pocket-size device and a tablet-size device, but, on two sizes of devices of the same category).
At first, before app updates, every 1024x768 standard iPad apps could be rendered full screen (but then shrinked), the retina screen smoothing the scaling (about like the 1920x1200 highest resolution on the retina MBP).
Would 40% less pixels allow devs to create apps running on both iPad variants?
Here is a quick mockup of a 7.6" mini iPad, the thin lateral bezels as shown here could allow make it only 125 mm wide.
This aims at illustrating layout adjustment. Every element and font is then displayed at the same size on both screen, but the vertical difference imply less lines on the small one. No trade-off in experience but a smaller screen logically imply less data on screen.
Well you know, you can't always believe what steve said. Because it can be for distraction for the competitor. Remember when steve said "people don't like to read anymore" and then boom comes out the ibook, and he also once said "people dont' want to watch video on mobile handsets" and the next thing comes out the ipod video.
I think the ipad mini will come, it make sense for the lineup and also to compete the tablet market.
You are aware that the OP will never see your reply b/c his status is "Banned," dont you?
I wouldn't quite assign that label. Folks use that label all too often for anything they don't like. I would tend to think it was due to the tenor of the conversation getting too personal.
In any case, I still don't think its a good idea for Apple to come out with a 7" tablet. I don't see the need. I don't see that any other 7" tablet has really been successful. The only reason anyone buys one is because they're cheap. Thats not the kind of market Apple should get involved with. Nothing good will come of it. A race to the bottom regarding price. Look at Sprint discounting the iPhone 4S. Apple matched it. It suddenly dropped from $200 to $149 to $49. How much lower will it go?
It does sound like Apple will release an iPad mini. I think this idea is about as good as hiring their new retail executive who wanted to lay off tons of retail folks right before releasing the iPhone 5 to save money.
Why is it bad? If they are still making profit and making sales that they wouldn't have before I'm not seeing the issue. As you said, they are selling because they are cheap. If Apple can make $50 selling a mini vs. $0 not selling a regular iPad it looks like a win to me. As for the iPhone, regardless of what Sprint sells them for Apple is selling them to Sprint for the same price. I was actually shocked when Apple Stores starting price matching them.
Didn't mean to be harsh, but I only assume the OP did something really bad that got him banned, didn't check the pages back for the conversation.
Want to share a story from a friend of mine. I've tried to persuade my friend to buy an ipad because he is in the market for a tablet, he never own one and asked for my opinion. of course my opinion was/is bias towards the ipad.
I tell him all the right reasons like instant on, couch browsing, bigger screen than his ipod touch, better experience,etc. all the things that the ipad is good at compare than a laptop / smartphone. he took note and a couple of days later he got back to me.
He decided not to buy an ipad at the moment, the reason was because all the things that I've said to him can be done with his laptop. put the laptop on sleep, he can use breakfast table / cushion for couch browsing,etc. and he used his girlfriend ipad for a while and said that the ipad is quite heavy when you are on a bed lying down the ipad is up towards you. and wanted a screen that is bigger than his ipod touch but small and light that he could take it anywhere without being a hassle.
When I told him there were rumors of an upcoming ipad mini to be announce on 12th sept, he got really excited. and said to me that it might be the perfect device for him. my friend can afford an ipad, he can buy 5 of them if he wanted to just because he can. but I understand he is the type of person who doesn't like senseless purchase and would buy it if fit his need.
Right now apple has got the momentum, capability and ecosystem to launch a 7" ipad. and maybe apple can pull this off to a huge success, just like it did when the first ipad launched.
When apple launched ipad the first time, it was considered cheap by apple standards. and that price point (499) really makes a difference.
1.Jobs is dead
2.I have seen news of an iPad Mini on several reputable sites that discuss iDevices and Apple, so they would get fooled by dumb rumours? These same sites managed to find out that the iPhone 5 was being released on 21st September 2012.
Check your facts, and make sure that you're time period is before October 5th 2011
.
Okay, I'll play. How is the idea of a smaller iPad that bad? I certainly wouldn't be buying one just because it's cheaper. A smaller iPad actually makes a whole bunch of sense.
Important lesson on the internet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockpuppet_(Internet)
It looks like he puppeteer burned up two accounts on this little charade. Safe bet he's still around ... perhaps closer than you might think.
You really like to think for the rest of us, don't you?
YOU don't see the need. Many, MANY others do. This won't hurt you in the slightest. Your iPad will still be available.
Believe it or not, there are many people that NEED a smaller sized tablet but a phone just won't cut it for them. There are people that PREFER a smaller sized tablet.
It has nothing to do with price. I don't know why people can not get past this. I am sure many people have the cash to afford a current sized iPad, but that product is just not for them. So no, being cheap is not the "ONLY" reason people buy them
And please, PLEASE show me your sales numbers on 7" tablets. Because I don't think many have been released. In fact, the only time I remember sales talk was with the Kindle Fire - which, without stating actual numbers, Amazon has said they broke sales records with the thing.
Lets not get nasty. This is just a discussion of a possible product. Nothing personal.You really like to think for the rest of us, don't you?
YOU don't see the need. Many, MANY others do. This won't hurt you in the slightest. Your iPad will still be available.
Believe it or not, there are many people that NEED a smaller sized tablet but a phone just won't cut it for them. There are people that PREFER a smaller sized tablet.
It has nothing to do with price. I don't know why people can not get past this. I am sure many people have the cash to afford a current sized iPad, but that product is just not for them. So no, being cheap is not the "ONLY" reason people buy them
And please, PLEASE show me your sales numbers on 7" tablets. Because I don't think many have been released. In fact, the only time I remember sales talk was with the Kindle Fire - which, without stating actual numbers, Amazon has said they broke sales records with the thing.
Rather than I prove there isn't a market for it, how about stating the reasons why you think there is a market. Why would a 7" tablet be a successful product for Apple. Who would buy it? Do you expect to see people lining up to buy such a device?
Kindle fire sales have analyzed a good bit by market analysis groups, NPD, etc. Do a google search. It sold gang bunsters when it first came out. Then sales fizzled so that ipad is still the overwhelming majority. Surveys have shown the number one reason people purchased it is because of price.
I'd go the other way. I can see more use cases for a larger iPad rather than a smaller one. A 7" ipad seems too sandwiched between a 4" iPhone for portability, and the 10" ipad for display size. The 7" doesn't seem that much more portable than a 10", it still isn't a phone. Explain it to me. Would someone carry it around all day?
Buying stock for a device of unknown size, thickness, and aspect ratio doesn't sound like the best business plan.
At that time that is what the rumor mill was saying. We know it is smaller than that based on leaked information.
And I'll probably be eating words on the Mini-iPad. It does look to be a real product. Even my wife seems on board to get one.
