Rumors of an iPad mini have been revived once again today after a Technology Business Research analyst said Apple will launch two new products at its upcoming iPad event. And when we say “new,” we don’t mean a next-generation refresh — we mean something brand new.
Those products are expected to be a new case accessory that features an integrated keyboard (about time!), and a smaller 7-inch iPad.
Ezra Gottheil told Computerworld in an interview this week he expects Apple’s iPad to be accompanied by a smaller sibling when it gets its unveiling, contradicting Steve Jobs’s belief that 7-inch tablets are just too small.
“I believe that’s always been in the plan,” Gottheil said. “Actually that’s a good form factor for some users, and although they will also charge a premium above other similar-sized tablets, they want to protect that price flank.”
While Steve did believe that 7-inch tablets were too small, that was before smaller, cheaper devices like the Kindle Fire became real rivals to the iPad. It’s possible the company has now identified the demand for these devices and has changed its mind. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time Apple launched a product contradicting a previous belief.
Earlier reports claimed the smaller device would feature the same resolution as the iPad 2, allowing it to run existing iPad apps in high-resolution.
[via Boy Genius Report]
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
44 responses to “7-Inch iPad Mini To Launch Alongside iPad 3 [Rumor]”
For the 1,000th time, the current iPad apps would not be compatible.
Android may not care how big your touch targets are, but Apple has standards in that regard. You shrink the apps and the UI elements become harder to tap.
They had to reformat all of the apps for the iPad from the iPhone… what would stop them from doing that again?
All third party apps would be incompatible from the start..or the UI elements will be too small.
Intelligence.
This article only proves that for some people, being STUPID is a full-time job!!!
It wouldn’t hurt if you actually knew what you were talking about!! I’m just saying!
It also wouldn’t hurt if you weren’t a complete and total dick head. I was asking a question prick.
Because too many resolutions/aspect ratios fragments the ecosystem. if developers start having to devlop for 3 (or 4 or 5) different resolutions and aspect ratios they likely will only develop for the most popular sizes… which is a kiss of death for a device. A device without apps, is like… well, like a Touch Pad or Xoom.
Everyone keeps predicting that Apple has to release different sizes (iPhone nanos, ipad Nanos, etc) to fill the complete range of price points like they did with iPods. But this time they are filling the price points not with different devices but older devices. You can now get iphones at 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 dollars. They all have the same screen sizes. The same thing will happen with iPads. The iPad 2’s will become the new lower priced models and the 3’s will fill the upper level price points.
Thank you for a relevant response, that seems to make pretty good sense
You’re welcome. I find Apple seems to follow a set pattern. Most analysts just pull nonsense out of their behinds. All you have to do is pay attention to what they have done to see what they will do.
shout out to Mrs_Henderson. Thanks for backing me up.
A 2048 x 1536 Retina Display would amount to a 7.85 inch screen. That’s my bet.
I definitely don’t believe that there will be a 7″ iPad but the prevailing thought that the resolution has to change isn’t necessarily true. The 7″ iPad could be 1024×768 which is the current resolution of the existing iPad. Again, I don’t believe that a 7″ iPad is in the works, but the thought that a different device somehow means an incompatible resolution is just not a sound argument.
you’re just a naysayer
You’re spot on with your response, though I do think that Apple has a little room to play with when it comes to having different resolutions and screen sizes. Think about it, if they plan to increase the screen size of the iPhone then why wouldn’t they decrease the size of the iPad? I agree that too many resolutions/aspect ratios fragment the system, but 3 devices with 4 different sizes wouldn’t be nearly as much of a development nightmare as the Android system. I think if the iPhone 5 will really have a larger screen size then the iPad potentially has room to follow such a drastic change.
My argument would be more towards Apple giving into the competition. They don’t need a 7″ iPad; consumers are just clamoring for one and it isn’t Apple’s style to give the consumers what they want rather show them what they want…
This report is not credible. If Apple were to create a 7-inch mini tablet, it will NOT use the iPad form factor and aspect ratio, but WOULD use the iPod/iPhone aspect ratio. Why? Because ideally, a 7-inch tablet also has to fit into the Double-DIN form factor used in industry-standard, automobile dashboards (180mmx100mm). The iPad aspect ratio does not scale down to the correct dimensions. It would be dumb to design a smaller tablet if it could not gain widespread acceptance in both the automotive and mini-tablet markets.
This report is not credible. If Apple were to create a 7-inch mini tablet, it will NOT use the iPad form factor and aspect ratio, but WOULD use the iPod/iPhone aspect ratio. Why? Because ideally, a 7-inch tablet also has to fit into the Double-DIN form factor used in industry-standard, automobile dashboards (180mmx100mm). The iPad aspect ratio does not scale down to the correct dimensions. It would be dumb to design a smaller tablet if it could not gain widespread acceptance in both the automotive and mini-tablet markets.
Don’t forget that decreasing the screen size will make the third party apps’ UI elements touch-unfriendly.
a 7″ ipad at 1024×768 will shrink the actual size of the touch targets. Google doesn’t think that’s a problem, but Apple sized them and wrote standards around that size based on the width of the average human fingertip.
I would speculate a “education only” iPad would be more probable than a 7″ model. Might use existing iPad 2 tech but remove the camera to keep costs low. Given the trend towards having text book on iBooks it seems logical for Apple tt accommodate that venture with specific hardware.
THERE WILL NEVER BE A 7IN IPAD!!!!!
Well thinking like Apple the 7 inch ipad rumor revives the already well settled IPad 3 virality. Well played.
you gonna keep bringing this up until you nail it right?? It will never happen…
The source of this rumor is based on the Fire being a rival for the iPad. Ummmm no, it really isn’t, not in Apple’s eyes. So why,if they have dismissed the Fire as being a threat would they create something new to try to beat it. In their eyes they already have with what is available now
Utter piffle …again. Y’know how experts were convinced the iPhone 5 was due last year, bingo! There will never be a 7inch iPad, never, ever …seriously : )
You mean like the iPhone yes?
Apple fan that I am Mr.Jobs stating you`d have to “File your fingertips down” to use a smaller UI was at best hypocritical at worst it was simply dumb considering he ran the company that created the iPhone.
Then there`s the fact that Android has proven a 7″ form factor is readily usable.
Seriously? Maybe this story would have a shred of credibility, until the mention “before smaller form factors like the Kindle Fire became a serious iPad rival” (paraphrasing) uh – they freakin’ OWN the space right now – they could care less about the Kindle Fire! Can’t believe this keeps being trotted out and framed as, “Oh Apple’s shaking in their boots because the Kindle Fire is chomping at their heels!” Rubbish…
There is indeed some wiggle room for screen size on iOS
devices, Ed_Kel. But I think any adjustments to
the established sizes will be small so they do not alter fundamental screen resolutions and proportions (say going
from 3.5 inches to 4” on the iPhone screen). Macs, for example, all have slightly different screen
with slightly dot pitch so icons, buttons, etc are a little smaller on an Macbook
Air 11” than it is on a 27” iMac. I’m
sure Apple has a tolerance that they will not exceed for those variations. But rmember that OSX is a windowed UI that was
always intended to scale to different size screens from day one. iOS is a full screen UI OS and was never
intended to scale so I suspect Apple will be a lot more cautious with iPhone
and iPad screen sizes. I’m still not
convinced Apple will be releasing a 4” iPhone. There has to be a clearly compelling reason to
do so and it’s not like sales are hurting right now. It’s
good to keep in mind that Apple is a fairly conservative, cautious company when it
comes to their product and business plans.
Everything is done in baby steps, slowly but surely. Incremental yet highly polished change is the
Apple way.
The UI elements are the same size on the iPhone and the iPad. However, the iPad and iPhone versions have their own XIB files and thus, their own designs tailored specifically for those devices.
i call BS
niiice
Apple has many published UI standards that they have broken themselves, repeatedly, for years.
As long as it works, and it is sufficiently “magical”, the standard won’t be an obstacle.
Ain’t gonna happen – stop the BS :-/….. of course they are not going to fragment the iPad now after just 2 years of existence.
An error prone UI due to too-small buttons doesn’t work.
Not gonna happen. Apple just released a video touting the ways that iPads are used in business. One of the things they profile in the video very clearly is the screen size being perfect. They wouldn’t put that in the video if they were planning on adding another screen size to the line up.
I don’t believe this one either, but I would love for this to be true. I love the form factor and screen size of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 plus, but the interface and crappy wifi keep it from being an option. I love my ipad and would love to add a 7 inch with the same quality and UI to my collection.
Apple, No, No, and No to a 7″ iPad
Not going to happen. I could see a 7 inch iBook e-reader to help them push their digital book sales, but they’ll want color e-ink and that’s not going to happen until next year.
I would love to have a 7″ inch iPad. I have a Kindle Fire and love it, but it’s no way near as good as an iPad. If Apple could make an iPad the size and weight of a Kindle Fire and it actually have good performance, web browsing and the advantage of the App Store, it would be like heaven.
where are the screen shots of parts to a 7″ iPad ?…. never going to happen…
How does it feel to be consistently WRONG, all of the time?!
LINK BAIT!!
How does it feel to be consistently flagged after every post you make? You’re a fool.
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I need to delete the bookmark for Cult of Mac. I have only visited here recently and it sure seems like a bunch of BS posted by writers with no real technology background or industry knowledge. Anything to generate web hits. What a worthless pile.