“Apple Inc.’s component suppliers in Asia are preparing for mass production in September of a tablet computer with a smaller screen than the iPad, people familiar with the situation said, suggesting a launch for the device is near,” Lorraine Luk reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“Two of the people said that the tablet’s screen will likely be smaller than eight inches,” Luk reports. “The iPad’s screen measures 9.7 inches, unchanged since the first model was released in 2010.”
MacDailyNews Note: Obviously, the iPad’s resolution has improved drastically.
Luk reports, “Officials at the component suppliers, who declined to be named, said this week that Apple has told them to prepare for mass production of the smaller tablet. One person said the screen makers Apple is working with include LG Display Co. of South Korea and Taiwan-based AU Optronics Co.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
RUMOR: Apple preps ‘iPad mini’ with 7.85-inch Sharp IGZO display to retail for $249-$299 – July 3, 2012
RUMOR: Apple to launch upgraded 9.7-inch IGZO iPad this summer; displays to shift from Samsung to Sharp – June 29, 2012
Apple supplier Hon Hai in talks to buy more Sharp shares; Terry Gou says Sharp alliance will beat Samsung in HD – June 18, 2012
Sharp to supply technology to Hon Hai’s China plant for Apple iPhone display production – May 24, 2012
Sharp announces production of world’s first IGZO LCD Panels – April 13, 2012
After using Apple’s new iPad with Retina display, old iPad screens become absolutely unacceptable – March 30, 2012
Apple ‘iTV’ beckons as jackpot in Hon Hai’s Sharp gamble – March 28, 2012
Foxconn-Sharp partnership likely targeting Apple orders – March 28, 2012
Taiwan Apple supplier Hon Hai becomes Sharp’s largest shareholder with 10% stake – March 28, 2012
Apple to unveil smaller 7.85-inch iPad this year, says anonymous Samsung official – March 13, 2012
Wow, Sharp sure is ramping up IGZO display production for some reason – March 2, 2012
Spread this rumor. It will be triangular!
Triangle won’t fit in your pocket! It has to be oval shaped. Any other opinions?
I know that apple doesn’t like to confirm or deny rumors, but if they aren’t making one of these they might want to explicitly say so because this rumor is getting widespread enough to have an Osborne effect on sales.
I am not sure about that, think about it…
If you were looking for a small book reader/ tablet would you want to limit yourself to one that will only buy and read books at a single reseller (or limited resellers) and poor software choices, or do you want and iOS device that can read an buy books for virtually any bookstore and has hundred of thousands of the best applications for it?
If you are looking for a full sized (real) tablet you buy an iPad there just aren’t any other reasonable choices (unless you are an apple hater, in which case you have a problem)
So I think this has little impact on iPad sales but will cause a large number who are looking for a small ebook reader (& semi-tablet) to pause that decision. Not an “osbourne effect” at all. While it may seriously stunt demand for competitors offerings, it would have little effect on apple’s because they simply don’t have on in that class.
Based on that, I don’t see why Apple would/should break policy on commenting on rumors regardless of the veracity.
I heard it will look sort of like two side by side ovals intersecting, but with a small circular piece missing on the right hand oval. The top will also have a small eyedrop shaped extension, angled to the right of vertical.
That sounds like he original design for 1 Infinite Loop…
the not he. spam Dell checker!
WSJ and Bloomberg are both reporting this story. I believe it.
Phineas of “Phineas and Ferb” would like the triangle shape!
iPad Mini with a smaller, less than 8″ screen, launch nears! Hmmm… Just bought my fair share of stock in 3M, makers of fine sandpaper products!
Do how, exactly, do you manage with the 3.5″ screen on an iPhone? Sand your fingers down to toothpick size?
It seems peculiar to me that people with regular size fingers manage to use the screen on an iPhone and Touch, and yet are assumed to be incapable of using a device with a screen nearly 8″ across the diagonal.
Just because of something that SJ is alleged to have said; the man who is known to regularly change his mind about all sorts of Apple products.
Perfect. SJ,as told by those who worked with him say, changed his mind daily as it served his purpose. But you’re right, he is the one who said “we’ll will never make a small tablet computer”. Everyone knew that a small tablet computer is a good idea so that was just Steve Jobs being Steve Jobs because he can get by with it amongst the fanboy base. Translated that meant we don’t have a small tablet computer ready for sale yet so we’ll make fun of all of those who do. Apple will come up with some strange sort of reasoning to suddenly have a small tablet computer available. I can’t wait to see this.
This smells like one of Apple’s strategic leaks done intentionally. Maybe it is true, and they want to freeze sales somewhat on Googles tablet debut, and also build anticipation for the new iPad Mini.
Mind farts from hit whore journalist, designed to suck in the “if its on the internet it must be true” crowd. Time will tell.
Oh oh!, that means Apple will be sued for ‘slavishly’ copying the Samsungs, that are already on the marked.
Ouch !!! Careful, honesty is not allowed.
Whether the rumour is true or not I think it may end up being a iPod Touch Maxi as opposed to iPad mini.
A 7 or 8 inch screen is too small to be a great productivity device where sd the current iPad at 9.7 inch is perfect.
It’s more likely going to be aimed squarely at consumption as opposed to production. That’s where the iPod Touch ‘maxi’ would hit the Google Nexus & Kindle Fire where it hurts & lay waste to their ambitions.
I love playing games on my iPad, but sometimes it’s just a bit to heavy & my iPod touch can be too small. I’d buy a 7 or 8 inch iPod touch ‘maxi’ purely for games, movies on the go @ at circa $249 it would also kick Sony’s & Nintendo’s handheld games consoles out if the game.
A 7.85″ iPad would have a screen significantly larger than a 7″ tablet. The screen would measure 4.7″ X 6.26″, compared to 5.8″ X 7.8″ for the full-size iPad. The iPad “Mini” would have 65% the acreage of the original.
I have no need for a mini version of the iPad, but there are many people who just might love it.
Definitely a consumption device. Creation would be impossible on such a small device. Just remember those terrible New Yorker covers done with Brushes on an iPhone.
Except for shutting out Android mini-tablets almost completely, I don’t quite see the purpose of Apple selling a tablet that size. I’m wondering if it has some value for schools on limited budgets. There’s also a possibility it could be a big seller in China. I can’t say I wouldn’t find a use for a 7″ tablet, but I still prefer the larger version iPad.
Plenty of people failed to see what use the iPad was before it was introduced, or have you forgotten that? There seems to be a significant lack of imagination around here, as well as the larger tech community. Hasn’t the history of the iOS devices shown you that if Apple create something, people will find lots of different ways of using it?
For a start it’s a perfect size for car dash placement, it’s a perfect size for an ebook reader, the screen is the same size as a paperback, it’s a great gaming machine…
You can actually carry it in a jacket pocket, so loaded with quality contour maps it’s a great navigation device when out walking…
Those reasons alone make it irresistible to me, I only ever carry my iPad in a courier bag.
No matter how pretty or functional or better it is, what’s Apple going to do when the our money runs out.
How about the new iPad mini = the new apple TV, a hand held device that works just like a larger iPod touch (or smaller iPad), the user can use it as a stand alone device to consume media just like an iPad/iPod or it can beam it’s contents straight to the user’s 40 inch TV via a usb dongle that works in a similar way to the current apple TV. This surely is the natural evolution for Airplay, it further ties people into the Apple ecosystem and offers a simple way to view content on your existing TV without leads. Surely this is the perfect iTunes/iCloud/iDevice/Airplay/Apple TV convergence, it just works.
I hope it comes to pass, we would
Put one in every room of our hotel for guest. We are also planning to use a PoS system for the restruant based on iPads and iPods for the waiters, would drop the iPods and go with the smaller iPad
Anything is possible, and Apple has been notorious for naysaying devices and disparaging markets they actually have in development. But i see a unique marketing possibility here. The fall has traditionally been the iPod refresh season. This new 7-8″ tablet device might be marketed as a large iPod touch, rather than a small iPad. This might seem like a slight distinction, but the iPod touch is essentially a small iPad already. It strikes me that Apple may choose to extend the iPod touch line to have a larger form factor rather than scaling down the iPad.
The WSJ has a pretty good track record with Apple “predictions.” The market has changed since Steve Jobs prognosticated about a 7″ tablet. Also a slightly lower price point opens the door to new consumers that don’t want to lay down $500+ for full size iPad.
zzzz
*SNORE*
zzzz