Sony has a rather neat Remote that is touch, also like $400… it’s not locked just have to touch the screen to wake it up. (Granted i’ve never been able to actually touch one… just seen it in the box)

Hmmm. I like the WiFi restriction idea.

Bar staff will have minimal training on tech their customers might be carrying around. If it becomes a problem rest assured managers *will* tell them to keep an eye out.

Android tablets with IR and universal remote apps… a very, very small customer base

One possible workaround for an IR-equipped iPad mini remote, is that the remote app only works when connected to the designated home wifi network. Not that it needs wifi for any functionality, it’s just a less power-intense way than GPS geofencing to restrict when the app can work. Still not foolproof… you’d be able to change which wifi is designated as home. But Apple could make it harder–can only change wifi home setting once a day or something–so it’s additional hassle that reduces the temptation for pranking.

it’s been a few years though, so they could have improved. The last one I bought, the buttons felt clunky to press.

and no remote (to me anyway) is laid out good for all other remotes. Thats why I always wanted a touch screen remote that allows ME to put the buttons where I want… and ONLY have the buttons I want on screen…

I see your point, but if the bar staff don’t know the differences between the mini/iPad/iPhone then they probably wouldn’t think the iOS user *could* do it in the first place.

Vizio and Sony both make Android tablets with IR… and with Universal remote apps.

The prank aspect–will happen no matter what, but my point is it’s EXTREMELY limited right now. Only a small fraction of a population will go around with a hidden programmable remote, screwing around with stuff. Put the same capability in an iPad mini that millions of people will carry around, and suddenly every iOS user in a place is suspect when the systems get played with. Bar staff won’t be trained well enough to recognize the feature differences between an iPad mini, normal iPad, iPhones and iPods. You think the whinging over Apple Maps is bad, the backlash from this to both Apple and iOS users would be severe.

IMO Apple should have put a IR port on the iPod touch. perfect size for TV remote.

the “prank” aspect, that will happen no matter what. you can’t stop that and Giz was hardly the first to do/think of it.. Hell i have an old watch around here somewhere that can do that.

Another small consideration with built-in IR in the rumoured mini: remember the chaos the inconsiderate jerks at Gizmodo caused when they went around with traditional programmable remotes, shutting down TVs all over a trade show? Now imagine putting a super-portable programmable IR transmitter (and less out-of-place than walking around with a TV remote) in the hands of millions of people, more than a few of whom will buy it just for the prank potential. Retailers, tradeshow vendors, bars, gyms etc would all come to despise Apple for making them cover their TV and cable/satellite box IR receivers, making it impossible to use their own remotes. Some TVs and cable/sat boxes in bars are mounted in hard-to-reach places, it would become a huge inconvenience.

I will admit that the iPad mini would not have to be perfect to sell in the tens of millions. But it would have to compare favorably with the current version of the iPad in terms of functionality, design, speed, etc. Apple won’t go backwards on processors and such – that would not make any sense.

A smaller and cheaper iPad – the rumored mini – would be more portable and present less of a financial concern relative to loss or damage. So, I would guess that it might travel out of the house even more.

If real evidence ever appears, kewl! Meanwhile…

The Cellular version will have GPS built in, but there is also a way to get it with the wifi version. When you tether an iPad to an iPhone (either wifi or Bluetooth) it automatically uses the GPS in the iPhone. Just like if the iPad had GPS built in.

so many people buy a 7″ touch screen and hook up a “CarPC” for maps music etc.
depending on the actual dimensions… an iPad mini could fit.

The Nexus 7′s screen is the same resolution as the Kindle Fire HD 7, but the in depth comparisons show the Nexus 7′s screen does not have the same picture quality or color accuracy.

Besides that, I don’t see what hardware specs the Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD have that the iPad mini won’t. In fact, the iPad mini will almost definitely have hardware that the others don’t, like rear camera, gyros, accelerometer, digital compass, longer battery life, optional LTE, etc.

The consensus seems to be that the Kindle Fire HD is better than the Nexus 7, but like the Android framework it is based on the Kindle Fire HD is laggy and apps load slowly. The iPad 2 still has a faster browser than the Kindle Fire HD.

All in all the iPad 2 will be a much better overall experience, even if it is just a shrunken iPad 2. The iPad mini won’t be quite as cheap as the others, but it will have better usability, TONS more apps (not to mention much higher quality apps), lighter, thinner, higher storage options, LTE options.

It won’t appeal to everyone, but I believe it will be a compelling product for many. But, we should really wait for the announcement before making blanket statements about “failed”.

I don’t see it happening at my house right now, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t millions of other homes who either don’t have the iPad or the touches. It might be perfect for them.

http://www.cultofmac.com/195936/an-8gb-ipad-mini-will-cost-you-249-in-black-or-white-lte-models-start-at-549/

For my family (and many people I know) we hardly use the “real” computers any more. We increasingly do more and more on iPads and iPhones. All of our web browsing, email, FaceTime, calendaring/organizing, entertainment, is almost exclusively done on iOS now. We still have the 27″ iMac running. My wife uses it mostly for photo editing/management. And of course the iMac runs the family iTunes Library, which streams all of our music, TV shows, movies to iOS devices around the house. (I can’t wait until that is even more seamless with iCloud.)

And the old MacBook Pro has been relegated to its case ever since the 1st iPad. I used to sit with the MacBook Pro on the couch every evening. The iPad now does all the same tasks and is a much better experience.

And then add 3 young children into the mix. Kids LOVE iOS. Luckily our kids aren’t nearly as addicted as many of their friends, but they will clean their room (or do other chores) to get 30 minutes on the iPad. Not a bad trade for the parent.

No, I think if Apple released even a polished turd, it would be soundly rejected.

Why repeat the stupidity and catchphrases the FUDsters and astroturfers sputter? It’s unbecoming…

If the rumor is true, the mini is wifi only, so odds are it wouldn’t leave the house much.

And besides… The “mini” is still a rumor. Apple hasn’t even sent out any invites for this oct 23rd event the media has come up with…

For all we know it could be MBP and desktop stuff.

You don’t have a real computer in the house? I rarely use the thing except away from home.

iPad $499
IPod Touch 4th Iteration $299

Is it going to be $400? Good luck with that.