“Recent leaks from purported sources inside Apple’s traditional suppliers have ignited a new frenzy of speculation. And not just from the usual blogging suspects – often better informed and more insightful than the official kommentariat. BusinessWeek and the Wall Street Journal both stuck their august necks out: the so-called iPad Mini will be launched this coming September,” Jean-Louis Gassée writes for The Guardian.
“On this matter, my own biases are on the record,” Gassée writes. “In an August 2009 Note titled Apple’s Jesus Tablet: What For?, I went as far as measuring the pocket on men’s jackets. As a result, I posited a 10in (diagonal) tablet might not provide the same desirable ubiquity as a 7in one that men could carry in a coat or jacket pocket, and women in a purse.”
Gassée writes, “In October 2010, Jobs famously dismissed the idea: ‘7in tablets should come with sandpaper so users can file down their fingers.’ None of the journalists present at the time had the presence of mind to ask him about the iPhone screen. Tim Cook, Steve’s disciple put it well at the D10 conference last June when he affectionately (and accurately) called Jobs a great flip-flopper, citing examples of products features his then boss ended up endorsing after repeatedly nixing them… Instead of a defensive move, I think a 7in iPad might be another take-no-prisoners move.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related article:
Analyst: Apple could sell up to 6 million ‘iPad mini’ units this Christmas – July 9, 2012
The development cost of the iPad mini has already been absorbed developing the operating system for the iPod touch and iPad, two precursors to the iPad mini, just as the cost of the iPod mini (which became the nano) was well understood from developing the iPod classic. Also the iPod mini leveraged off the iPod’s iTunes ecosystem – it was smaller, more portable and yet gave almost the same functionality as the bigger iPod.
The iPad mini fulfils a defined need as a smaller, yet portable, screen would be an extremely attractive addition to Apple’s iPad line. The iPad isn’t portable enough but the iPod touch’s screen is far too small to serve as a gaming machine and map reader. An in-betweener would showcase iOS 6 vector based maps app and yet be portable enough to slip into a jacket pocket.
Look at it from Steve Job’s perspective, now that the screen res has doubled:
1. Smaller, thinner, lighter is better with high usability
2. Highly readable iPad Mini = same # of pixels as iPad 1
3. Mobile & 2nd devices need to be compact-multi-function
4. Innovation leads: The whole “phone” does NOT need to be held to the ear, just the sound in/out device, meaning an iPad mini can be a player in that market.
Competitors will grab a chunk of the market if you do not make a competitor to the MacBook Pro so you make the MacBook Air.
Same for the iPad, so don’t leave a big chunk of your customers without an obviously “insanely great” solution.
I will buy 2 the moment they are available.
I have some iPads in the fleet now.
But find most of my people use their iPhones because the iPad
doe’nt fit well in pockets.
Have played with the androne tablets and the smaller form is great. Just that cookie sandwich or whatever it is called is no match for iOS.
RED
Smaller ipad (aka larger iTouch) cheap and light enough would be perfect for younger generation who have much smaller fingers and weight would be an issue for them to use. It obviously works fine with 1024 x768 resolution, only needs wifi.
Yes, it will crush the competition but more importantly, it will allow Apple to catch them even at a younger age and to hold on to them via the EcoSystem.
PS. iTouch did not get updated last year so about time.
Apple WILL come out with an 8″ iPad to give something in their product line that’s at the $299 or less entry level. Steve Jobs opinion notwithstanding (on the state of the art then in 2010) Apple would leave billions on the table and leave a competitive hole for their adversaries to fill in. Apple ain’t gonna do that. An 8″ iPad will be on almost every kids Christmas list and more than a few adults too. Can’t wait!
Smaller iPad will be perfect in the airplane. The current iPad requires a complex mount to handle turbulence.
For moving map, I’d prefer the smaller. For chart and PDF reference, the current iPad is probably better. So I’ll take both.
If a 7″ device released by apple does not have the same battery life as the iPad, it would be best released as a 7″ iPod Touch, rather than an “iPad mini”. The smaller 7″ size necessarily means a smaller battery. Apple should be careful to not hurt the premium image of the iPad. It’s like Porsche or Mercedes-Benz offering SUVs …. it just isn’t the right image.
The Porsche Cayenne is their best selling model. Your analogy doesn’t make sense.
Cayenne’s are amazing vehicles.
It may be their best seller, but it is still primarily a me too SUV instead of a sleek, unique car such as a Carrera. Is a Cadillac Escalade that different from a Chevy SUV?
Maybe I just have a thing against “luxury” SUVs.
In addition to all the great examples people have already given, an “iPad mini” or “iPod large” or whatever it would be called would make an outstanding remote control. The iPod/iPhone is really too small for this application, which requires lots of page-flipping to use (or design “hacks” to get around it).
A device the size of a Kindle Fire really is ideal. If this is announced, I’ll be at least one at release time, and probably another 3-4 months later.
In contrast, I still have and use my original iPad 1 and just haven’t felt like upgrading. I’m sure I will, but the point is I haven’t felt it was worth the money (to me; I’m not saying it isn’t for most other people).
An iPad is actually pretty large and heavy for younger children. I’d love a smaller, lighter version in my house.
Damn, I wish wordpress had post editing. I meant to say I’d BUY at least one, and I also meant to mention that the iPad was too large (in addition to the iPod/iPhone being too small.)
NO IPAD MINI. EVER. SHEESH.
They will however, make the iPad lighter and thinner. You can’t read magazines or a word doc on a 7″ without scrolling.
Points in favor
Direct competitor in price and size to other tablets
Small size good for signle dedicated use (menus for restaurants, goods delivery tracking, tool for salesmen, input device for shops etc.
Very analogous to the iPod mini that literally destroyed the competition and started the big aapl runup.
Here’s a thought on naming conventions…
iPod shuffle -> iPod nano
iPod nano -> iPod mini
iPod classic -> iPod
(Apple should add Siri to the iPod shuffle to make it a more compelling device btw imo… or discontinue it altogether because it doesn’t fit well with my naming conventions. i’m hoping Apple discontinues the shuffle to help make my naming conventions seem more appropriate. Leave the name nano for the nano if the shuffle is discontinued, Apple.)
iPod touch -> iPad nano
iPad mini -> iPad mini
iPad previous generation -> iPad
the new iPad -> iPad
iPhone 4S -> iPhone
Anything that is not a phone and uses iOS is an iPad. The only thing differing here is the screen size which doesn’t justify two separate product names.
Yes.
If the number of rumours and the prestige of those spreading them counts, then the iPad Mini is a done deal. And if it is, Apple has done their expert research and found a reason why.
Having said that, I personally still cannot fathom why:
1) The market for smaller tablet devices is a drop in the ocean compared to what the iPad commands. It is relatively so minute that Apple would need to be totally bloody-minded and furious with competitors to try and wipe out whatever competition there is in that sector.
2) Apple risks cannibalizing sales of the iPad more than any competitors’ devices with this move.
3) I don’t think the idea of, roughly, “double the resolution, so half the size” logic makes any sense. That would mean Apple essentially neutralizing whatever gains they may make from the Retina resolution.
4) It STILL won’t fit into regular pockets – and I don’t see too many people running to the tailor to get new pockets just for the mini.
5) The “too heavy for children” line is an unobserved, unproven reason invented specifically to justify the mini by its supporters.
6) Most of the justifications mini supporters have provided are very personal, very marginal (easier to use on an airplane, use as a remote control etc) and don’t appear to contain a market that would justify a smaller Apple tablet.
Overall, I think the risk of damage to its own iPad market outweighs any potential gain Apple might make from a mini iPad.