May 25, 2012 - 05:30 PM EDT — AAPL: 562.29 (-3.03, -0.54%) | NASDAQ: 2837.53 (-1.85, -0.07%)

RUMOR: Apple prepping smaller Apple iPad models with OLED touchscreens

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 · 2:30 pm · 34 Comments

“Despite the high cost of OLED displays and Apple’s continued support of LCD screens with IPS technology, rumors of a next-generation iPad with an OLED screen continue to resurface,” Sam Oliver reports for AppleInsider.

“Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes reported on Tuesday that its sources within overseas component makers indicated that Apple plans to launch a second-generation iPad as soon as the fourth quarter of 2010,” Oliver reports. “The new hardware would reportedly use 5.6-inch and 7-inch OLED displays, with Compal Electronics in the running to supply Apple.”

Oliver reports, “The new models would be in addition to Apple’s successful 9.7-inch iPad, which would receive ‘some minor changes,’ the report said. The smaller 5.6-inch and 7-inch iPad models would ‘mainly target the e-book reader market, separating them from the 9.7-inch model, which mainly targets multimedia entertainment,’ the report said.”

Full article here.

Categories: All Sites, News

Thank You for supporting MacDailyNews!

♥ Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended for Mac - Student and Teacher Edition DVD (65171323) only $249!
♥ Blowout: Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro i7/4Core/2.0GHz/4GB/500GB (MC721LL/A) only $1,549.99 + Free Shipping from MacMall
♥ Mac Madness Save 25% on Parallels Desktop 7!
♥ 15% Off Compatible Ink. 10% Off All Others (excludes OEMs). Free Shipping over $55. Coupon: 123BLOSSOM, Expires 6.18.12
♥ Save up to 60% at the Hammacher Schlemmer Special Values Sale-While supplies last.
♥ Dragon Dictate for Mac 2.5 - New! Simply Smarter Speech Recognition
♥ Up to 30% OFF Accessories from Verizon Wireless
♥ Limited Time Offer: Get free ZAGGsmartbuds when you buy a ZAGGsparq!

Comment Feed

34 Comments

« Previous 1 2

So What

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 5:03 pm · Reply

I doubt that a smaller screen will make the gadget any more useful. So instead of the original glass slate that is a completely crippled laptop, we will have a completely crippled, smaller laptop.

There was a couple in front of me in line for the iPhone 4 on launch day each with a revolutionary ipad. I watched them for a while – the guy was playing with a game and his wife was surfin’ news sites. I asked them what else they did with the magical device and the guy responded – I swear this is what he said: “what else is there?”!
Original Jake

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 5:17 pm · Reply

Wow–so many folks on this thread just don’t get it! Even though I love my iPad as it is, there is a definite “sweet spot” between the current iPad screen size and the iPod Touch screen size. Not as a replacement for anything, but in addition to the current line-up. There are a lot of people and businesses who would prefer that in-between screen size, in addition to all the consumers who like the current sizes. There are still plenty of potential customers who haven’t bought either of the current options–so why leave that terrain to the competition?
BTW, there are VERY few who would buy a touch device larger than the current iPad–now THAT is a niche!
Think

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 5:19 pm · Reply

Sorry, until OLED lasts longer, is cheaper, and does not have color issues, Apple will never go backwards with technology.
Think

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 5:24 pm · Reply

What Apple is working on is that magical, invisible screen hinge.

Hold the iPad in landscape mode and imagine closing it like a book. When Apple perfects that, they will sell ten times as many.
dialtone

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 5:46 pm · Reply

Please don’t call it the miniPad.
hardmanb

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 6:35 pm · Reply

“… there is a definite “sweet spot” between the current iPad screen size and the iPod Touch screen size….”

Yes. For the many for which the iPhone/Touch screen is just too small and for those who want it still to be “pocketable or purseable”.
Dag

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 6:43 pm · Reply

@Think
Wouldn’t that be extremely delicate?
@MDN
Rumor FAiL
1. Apple already has the retina display. No need for OLED
2. If you were to go down a size, all the dev’s will have to rewrite their apps AGAIN.
The OLED part is sh*t, but the smaller size might be for an iOS appleTV (renamed iTV) game controller/media remote.
Karlv

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 7:11 pm · Reply

OLED’s problem is that it’s really bad outside. If they can mak it work outside and with some IPS touch, OLED is the way to go I guess.
MacTony

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 7:55 pm · Reply

Articles like this make me laugh. Despite the fact that there is an OLED shortage and Apple uses IPS, they are going to switch? Too funny. Next article “Apple adds slideout keyboard to all iPhones”.
currentinterest

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 10:20 pm · Reply

I think it is entirely possible we will see a new, larger iPod touch in September, not a smaller iPad. I too doubt the OLED rumor, though. Pricing would be interesting given how comparatively cheap the entry iPad is.
daugav369pils

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 2:23 am · Reply

Mr. Oliver,
My reliable overseas sources have told me that
the Apple manufacturing plant in China was
broken in by aliens from Neptune who took all
the white iPhones in storage because they were
in the image of the god they worship. That’s
why there are no white ones available.
ken1w

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 3:11 am · Reply

For the folks who seem convinced there will be a new iPad revision before end of 2010…

(1) iPad is still mostly sold out, even after 3+ months. An online order at the Apple Store still shows “Ships: 7-10 business days” and the local physical Apple Store is still maintaining a first come first served waiting list for most configs. What would motivate Apple to release a new revision during 2010; it will only cause mass confusion for those still waiting and anger from those who have one, with zero benefit in terms of added revenue and profit? It’s not like a new model is going help Apple sell MORE iPads; Apple sells every iPad it makes as soon as it is made.

(2) Because of (1), Apple is still ramping up production capacity. The international rollout has not even completed, with a new set of markets added each month. What would motivate Apple to turn over factory production capacity to a brand new model, when they have not even reach full capacity in producing the existing model?

(3) iOS 4.0 is not out for iPad yet. There will in fact be a new “revision” for iPad that will take place in 2010; it’s the current iPad with iOS 4.0 pre-installed. That will be a major upgrade by itself; no need to introduce new hardware. What would motivate Apple to complicate a major software rollout by throwing new hardware into the mix at about the same time?

(4) There is essential no competition for iPad. There are numerous announcements about new products before the end of 2010 that will compete with iPad, but you just know it’s not going to happen. Windows 7 is “hopeless” as a tablet OS; any tablet product using Windows 7 will be an embarrassment, now that Apple has reset tablet user expectations. Android is a PDA-class OS that needs to be upscaled to meet those same expectations. HP will need more time to adapt Palm’s WebOS. What would motivate Apple to expend significant resources now to hastily develop and market of a newer iPad model when nothing can touch the existing iPad?

The iPad revision will probably appear about one year after the original iPad. I don’t think it will have a new screen. And I don’t think there will be a larger (or smaller) iPad. Apple went three revisions on iPhone before making a change in screen resolution; one of the key strengths of the iOS platform is the consistency of hardware over time. I don’t even think there will be a built-in camera (for usability reasons). I think the first revision of iPad will be a refinement of the current hardware. Perhaps it will get just a tad thinner and weigh a tad less; it will probably have more RAM and maybe a faster processor, with higher flash storage options. That’s about it…

So your folks with unrealistic iPad expectations… expect to be disappointed when your superduper-iPad 2.0 does not appear in 2010 or even in 2011.
Sarasota

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 10:17 am · Reply

The smaller 5.6-inch and 7-inch iPad models would ‘mainly target the e-book reader market, separating them from the 9.7-inch model, which mainly targets multimedia entertainment,’ the report said.”

Still like the form factor of my 1st gen iPad, though something just a bit bigger than an iPod Touch could still be portable enough to take to the gym and keep in a pocket.
chano

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 1:38 pm · Reply

@ken1w
I tend to agree except that the strongest case for smaller iPads is to close out the low end competition that will surely come and to serve the less affluent buyer at the same time and get them into the ecosystem.

The precedent for multiple form factors exists with the iPod range – the Touch, Classic, Nano and Shuffle.

A cheaper, more pocketable iPad with 3G would be popular, I believe. What is more, if it later acquired a Retina display, you could achieve > the current 9.7″ 1024 x 768 resolution with ease on a 5.6″ screen and 720pHD easily on a 7″ model. Both would offer ‘print’ quality almost indistinguishable from true quality print. Certainly better than any newsprint or paperback quality publication. The current iPad could then be offered with an optional full 1080p HD screen. Imagine that in your hands!

I don’t see OLED anywhere here. I can imagine standard LCDs for now and possibly Retina res alts for the premium options. That way the low end iPads can replace the iPod Classic and the iPod Touch, leaving the Nano and shuffle as the surviving low end media players.
I think the rumours have merit, but that means little in this game.