Speculation about Apple’s plans to launch a smaller iPad doesn’t seem to be slowing down. New reports have emerged this week that suggest the iPad mini will hit the shelves before the year is out.
This latest report comes from Bloomberg, which says “two people with knowledge of the plans” have claimed that Apple will unveil a smaller, cheaper iPad by October in order to compete with Amazon, Google and Microsoft’s new tablet devices.
There are no specifics about the screen size of Apple’s rumoured tablet in the report, but Bloomberg estimates that it will be between seven and eight inches diagonally, significantly smaller than the current 9.7in iPad models. The anonymous sources did say, however, that it wouldn’t have the third-generation’s Retina display, but will have the same amount of pixels as the second-generation iPad.
Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach Inc said that the price point of Apple’s new tablet will likely be around £160, roughly in the same range as Google’s new Nexus 7 tablet.
The launch of an iPad mini would be “the competitors’ worst nightmare,” said Wu in an interview. “The ball is in Apple’s court.”
Ovum Ltd analyst Jan Dawson explained that competitors have aimed for areas that Apple has not yet dominated. Microsoft has aimed its Surface at users who want to continue using Windows software (perhaps the reason the company hasn’t brought its Office suite to iOS).
The Google Nexus 7 is smaller, with a 7in display, and aims at a similar market to Amazon’s Kindle Fire.
But the huge volume of apps available on the iTunes App Store could help users make the decision to choose a cheaper iPad over competing devices.
Apple’s large chain of retail stores is also a benefit for the company. Google will be selling its Nexus 7 from its online stores only, and Microsoft only has 20 retail stores and its online store to sell the Surface from.
The rumours of a 7in iPad continue to be viewed with some scepticism, however, as the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, dismissed the idea: “The 10in screen size is the minimum size required to create great tablet apps. 7in tablets are tweeners: too big to compete with a smartphone, and too small to compete with an iPad,” back in October 2010.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates believes that Apple may need to make a Surface-like device in the future, but is very excited about Microsoft’s new tablet, he said in an interview this week.
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Comments received
MadAxeManUK said on Wed, 04 Jul 2012
When will people get it? The iPad Mini has been around for years. They just call it the iPod Touch.
Apple do not do thing just because other think they should, look at the netbook. They lead, not follow.
As for the comments about an Apple Surface, oh dear Bill. After all this time you still don't GET it.
MacBiter 2 said on Wed, 04 Jul 2012
So ,why do you publish "Reader comments" for News items, but not for Blogs, huh? Isn't it time you removed the Comments box from Blogs?
MacBiter 2 said on Thu, 05 Jul 2012
Hmm. My predictions-
iPhone/iPod Touch will need iOS for the foreseeable future.
iPad Mini? Will use iOS too, and be like the current iPad only smaller
iPad - When the components have become small enough (Moore's Law) will grow up and use OS X which by then will have converged even more with iOS
iMac will be like a huge iPad with touch screen technology for those who want it. Will sit on a special new stand/dock which will be Apple's next big design breakthrough.
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