“A new report claims Apple is lining up suppliers for a 7.85-inch iPad, and that the company recently inked a deal with AU Optronics to provide displays for the rumored device,” Sam Oliver reports for AppleInsider.
“Monday’s report from the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (via Google Translate) is the third in five days to claim that Apple is planning to release a so-called ‘iPad mini’ in the third quarter of this year. On Saturday, a leaked document from Samsung Securities indicated Apple planned to release a ‘new 7-inch product’ later this year,” Oliver reports. “And last week, DigiTimes also claimed that Apple will begin production of a 7.85-inch iPad in the third quarter of 2012. It was said the device could be priced between $249 and $299.”
Oliver reports, “Monday’s report sided with on screen size, saying the 7.85-inch panels will be supplied by AU Optronics as well as LG Display. Apple will, however, exclude its rival Samsung from supplying displays, the report claimed.”
Read more in the full article here.
Please, God….
Maybe the remote for the TV, but that’s about it.
Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
If there’s a Mini iPad, then won’t people be baited into jokes about the iPad HD being the MaxiPad?
Haven’t heard that one before…
Want to upgrade to iPad3 (I still have the original), but would really really want a smaller iPad.
Nope ain’t happening.
Wouldn’t this directly compete with the iPod Touch? Wouldn’t it be called iPod Touch HD rather than iPad Mini. We’ve never seen an apple product with “HD” at the end, not likely, not their style.
I’m betting money against a 7.85″ screen. At just under 2 inches less from the iPad, I hardly see a reason to have such a small device. If I’m anywhere, I can use my iPad. If I’m anywhere else, I’ve got the iPhone.
The smaller device will allow doctors, nurses, inventory people, factory management people to slide it into their large coat side pockets rather than having to hand carry a larger iPad around with them for 2 or 3 hours at a time. Still it is larger than an iPod touch. Probably millions of business people would like to be able to put the iPad into their side coat pocket for carrying and quick access.
What a fantastic idea. Love the smaller form factor, yet gives a bigger screen than the tiny 3.5″ iPod touch.
It’ll be some sweet vindication for us Ballmer when Tim Cook unveils that thing this fall.
Also, that tablet is a long line of widescreen 7″ tabs that have gotten the formula wrong. If you want an example of a smaller tablet done right, you should check out the HP TouchPad Go which, while aborted, had the iPad mini magic by maintaining its 4:3 screen ratio after being downsized. HP/Palm could’ve cracked the code before Apple.
It won’t be “vindication” in any way, shape, or form. The objections to BLN have largely been focused on his irritating manner of posting (Apple was *doomed* if it did not enlarge the iPhone and shrink the iPad), and only partially on the content. Plenty of people have weighed in on the reasonableness of a slightly larger iPhone display (~4″ diagonal) and a somewhat smaller iPad display option (~7″ to 8″).
But, if either of those things materializes, I have no doubt that we will hear from both of you, crowing like roosters at dawn.
But Scrotum! Does it have a PEN?!
My preference would be to have the same size screen, maybe at iPad 1 / 2 resolution, but in a smaller package. That is, a much thinner bezel, side mounted home button and slightly thinner. Combine a smaller battery with even more advanced power management and offer in 4, 8 and 16 gig versions.
The new screen will be 8.5 x 11 and it will be able to bi-fold and fit in a business envelop according to AnalyTimes.
Could this simply be a remote for the new, soon-to-be Apple HDTV set? Think about it.. Believe it not not every person or even Mac user owns an iPhone, iTouch or iPad. Apple may include this maybe “TV remote” with the new HDTV set or make it available as an accessory for those that don’t have any of the above mentioned.
The iPad is too big … the iPhone too small …
This would sell like crazy … perfect for movies ..gaming and the web …..
And for my 10 year-old. She’s been clamoring for an iPad for her birthday, but I ain’t shelling out $400 even for a refurb. $300 price point would be perfect.
Every time a new Android tablet is designed and parts ordered we get these rumours that the parts are for an iPad. We all know that Apple set the design criteria for the market and everyone else copies Apple so this is why the rumours exist. This is an Android based piece of hardware.
The only way Apple would make a smaller tablet like device would be for a remote control for the TV
I refuse to believe the new iPad will be the maxiPad this new device if it ever shows up. An iPod HD maybe, one that was a whole lot more powerful than the current one. A mini-iPad? not without a maxiPad. Talk about a trademark lawsuit? That would be a black eye…. or something ….
Still doubtful, unless Apple applied its patent that would allow to scale up locally UI before user even touch concrete place of the screen.
Will people please quit making up these stupid rumors!!! Apple is NOT going to make a smaller iPad! Its just stupid link bait!
Perfect. I guess Apple and Steve were wrong all along about the 7 inch tablet. Shame on them!
Woild be useful for remote and AirPlay companion to Apple TV where screen size is not much of an issue. and as a lighter weight companio for your handbag. It would also destroy what remains of the competition in the 7″ regime. Would also cannibalize.
Perhaps, from the viewpoint they had at the time, Apple and Steve were right. Perhaps a 9.7″ diagonal display was simply the best form factor at which to start. Or, perhaps, SJ and Apple just wanted to defuse any potential momentum from Android-based iPad competitors. SJ said lots of things that were contradicted later – video on iPod, radio on iPod, etc.
To believe that no other size iPad can be useful just because SJ or Apple said it – that’s ridiculous fandom. Just consider the fact that you don’t have to sand your fingers to work on an iPod touch or iPhone…
This is the usual rumour tactic for stock manipulation.
When the new iPad is released, the stock beaters’ headlines will proclaim,
“Apple Disappoints With Delay of promised iPad Mini”.
What is wrong with you people? It’s not gonna happen.
Really, Apple should just come our with a 3.6″, 3.7″, 3.8″, 3.9″ and 4.0″ iPhone. Then also a line up of 4.1″, 4.2″ etc iPod Touch Maxis. Then a line of 7.1″, 7.2″ etc iPad Minis.
Just get over it. The iPad screen size is fine. The iPhone is fine. Let it go! For the love of all that is holy, let it go!
Let’s remember what Apple said about touch on the desk top. The magic mouse & magic track pad are the current touch interfaces. Apple for the most part has eliminated the number pad. What if Apple puts a touch screen on the keyboard. Get out your ruler and look at 8 inches diagonal on your current keyboard.
It would be one thing for Apple to integrate the track pad into the keyboard … It would be a generational leap to integrate a touch screen into the keyboard.
Think of all the additional things you could do with a touch screen that you cannot do with a touch pad.
For all of you who are honoring your Apple non-disclosure agreements by stating categorically what’s NOT going on behind the scenes in Cupertino, I just hope you’re in one of those fake engineering sectors.
A Kindle-sized iPad would be everything a Kindle is and everything else it isn’t. For those of us who have made the whole-hearted conversion to eBooks, it is the exact thing that is missing from an otherwise complete Apple ecosystem–a (primarily) reader-size form factor with whatever array of additional features Apple wishes to put on it.
I own neither a Kindle or an iPad, but I would snap said rumored product up (call it what you like) ahead of either.
I absolutely agree. a 7.85″ screen is almost exactly the same size as a paperback book. It’s also near enough the same size as many quality contour maps, like the UK’s Ordnance Survey or the US GS maps when they are folded. It’s also an ideal size to use in a car with street-level satnav, like TomTom or Garmin. A perfect pocket-sized device, easier to use than a Touch or iPhone, less cumbersome to carry with you than a Pad; perfect for reading a book on public transport, for example.
Anyone who can’t see the advantages for a great many people has absolutely NO imagination. I’m getting an iP3, my first, but if a 7.85″ model comes out I’ll bite the hand off if the nearest retailer to get one, it’ll be with me at all times, especially with OS maps for the whole UK installed.
Digitimes pulls a rumor out of it’s butt about a 7″ iPad.
Two or three other outlets repeat the BS and fail to give Digitimes their dubious credit.
A few trolls say a 7″ iPad would suit them just fine.
Suddenly a BS lie is suddenly fact.
Just remember, the 7″ iPad is no Apple Television.
So because I have the imagination that you so clearly lack to see the advantages of a 7.85″ Pad I’m a troll, am I? Fuckwit.
Third quarter is when many new cars come out. Possibly this would be for automobiles.
I would hate to see an ipad mini however, an iTouch HD would be just fantastic (yes I know they are one and the same but from a marketing perspective, it provides enough separation). such a device would be perfect for the gaming generation.
it means, the amazon fire and the likes would suddenly be compared with iTouch HD and loose badly.
So we should end up with ipad2 HD and standard, iTouch HD and standard. Giving us 2 different product streams, and 4 different price points.
This would kick those who spread rumors and we will see more copy cats to die off.
They *are* the same. People already call the iPod touch an iTouch. And I have no doubt that they would call a smaller iPad an iPad mini or little iPad or iPadlet or something else regardless of the handle that you attached, because iTouch HD just doesn’t roll off of the tongue.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Apple will either market a smaller form factor iPad, or it won’t. If it does, then many people will probably buy one. If it doesn’t, then they won’t – but they might buy a Kindle Fire 2 or other smaller Android option. Whatever…
Why don’t they put iOS on the iPod nano and call it the iPad micro?
These rumors will be around forever because they will never come true. No smaller iPad anytime soon. People just want to sell newspapers/hits on their site.
I assume Steve’s analysis of why this won’t happen still stands. This would happen under Gil Amelio, not Steve Jobs, or, I assume, Tim Cook. A confusing array of tablets, last year’s, this years maxi and minis.