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WSJ: Thinner iPad and Retina iPad Mini Expected on Tuesday

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Apple will introduce a high resolution Retina iPad mini and a thinner, lighter version of the standard 9.7-inch iPad during its Tuesday event, reports The Wall Street Journal, confirming months of product leaks and rumors.
Apple is now readying a revamped iPad Mini with a high-resolution "retina" display. It's also working on a thinner, lighter version of its standard 9.7-inch iPad, using a thin film instead of the glass found in existing models, based on information from the company's parts suppliers.
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While a fifth-generation iPad with thinner side bezels and an overall smaller size has been widely expected, the release of the Retina iPad mini has been less certain, given multiple reports in the last few weeks suggesting serious supply chain issues.

macrumors-ipad5c-800x600.jpg
Rendering of the fifth-generation iPad between iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad​
It was unclear whether the Retina iPad mini would be ready for Tuesday's announcements, but in addition to The Wall Street Journal, two reliable sources, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and AllThingsD, have also indicated that the Retina iPad mini will make its debut on October 22.

Alongside a Retina screen, the iPad mini is expected to include an A7 processor, while the full-sized iPad will offer an A7X processor. Both iPads will include upgraded cameras, and could also offer Apple's new M7 motion tracking chip. AllThingsD has also indicated that Haswell MacBook Pros will be unveiled during the event.
Finally, I'm told we're likely to see a slate of new MacBook Pros upgraded with Intel's latest Haswell processors. Apple brought Haswell to its MacBook Airs earlier this year, giving them a nice boost in battery life and graphics. It has been expected to do the same for its professional laptops ever since. Tuesday should see the announcement of that move.
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Aside from the iPads and the Haswell MacBook Pros, Apple is expected to announce a number of other hardware and software products, including Mavericks, revamped versions of iLife and iWork for both Mac and iOS, the redesigned Mac Pro, and possibly a new display to go with it. A minor update to the Apple TV may also be included, and it's possible that the Mac mini could be updated as well.

Article Link: WSJ: Thinner iPad and Retina iPad Mini Expected on Tuesday
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/20/wsj-thinner-ipad-and-retina-ipad-mini-expected-on-tuesday/
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The Retina iPad Mini is welcome (and overdue, IMO) yet while I can appreciate a lighter/thinner form factor in the larger iPad, those thin side bezels are going to make holding it in portrait mode a PITA.
 
Has nobody created a rendering since iOS 7 was released? C'mon!

Ah, still wish I could afford to get a new one. Why? Because. The only actual good reason I have is I would love to ditch all of my 30-pin cables now. But that's not worth the $400 difference from selling an iPad 3 to getting and iPad 5 32GB.

Hopefully the Touch ID eventually makes it there. Maybe not now due to yield concerns, but perhaps in the next generation.
 
I doesn't make sense to me that the mini will have an A7 processor. It will need to drive 4x the pixels which in my opinion means it will have either the A6X or A7X processor.

Though, I'm leaning towards the A6X because I feel that Apple will want to keep its costs down.

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mrmarts said:
Call me a noob but what is the difference between a A7 and a A7X processor?
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The X processor has significantly greater graphics processing power. It's needed to run the extra pixels of the Retina display.
 
Could't this have been an "UPDATE:" to an earlier rumor? Kinda like they do for many conformations that they get? Hopefully MR gets a few extra marketing/advertising dollars for the additional page loads.
 
If they both have the same resolution, I'm trying to determine why they both wouldn't have the A7X... The iPad 3 used the A5X because it kinda had to, is that not right?
 
Ichabod. said:
And on to the MBP/MBA thereafter!
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It would definitely rock on the MBP/MBA, especially if (when?) Apple opens it up to developers. With the three-layered login to my bank account, I would love to put in my username, scan my finger and be done with it. Same thing for access to my password app (eWallet).

I get the hesitation to go all in because of the security risks. But I can't imagine the security involved is any worse than passwords, many of which are literally "password."
 
jaw04005 said:
A thin film instead of glass? Surely not.
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The current fourth-generation iPad uses a glass on glass sensor (ie, two layers of glass) while the mini has a thin film touch sensor (one layer of glass). The fifth-generation iPad will adopt the film sensor.
 
Now I'm pretty sure I want the iPad Mini 2 over the iPad 5...

Although I'm a bit confused... The iPad Mini 2 would be running a Retina Screen, so this would mean the same resolution as the full sized iPad, then how will the A7 do with a Retina resolution?

Either way if the Mini 2 has the Touch ID as well, then :apple: gets to sell me one right away - might even line up at the local (and only) Apple Store :cool:
 
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