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[giga]

Apple Inc. (AAPL) plans to debut a smaller, cheaper iPad by year-end, two people with knowledge of the plans said, to help maintain dominance of the tablet market as Google Inc. (GOOG) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) prepare competing handheld devices.

The new model will have a screen that’s 7 inches to 8 inches diagonally, less than the current 9.7-inch version, said the people, who asked not to be identified because Apple hasn’t made its plans public. The product, which Apple may announce by October, won’t have the high-definition screen featured on the iPad that was released in March, one of the people said.

A smaller, less expensive iPad could undercut the ambitions of Google, Microsoft and Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) to gain traction in the advancing tablet market, said Shaw Wu, an analyst at Sterne Agee & Leach Inc. The new device will probably have a price closer to Google’s Nexus 7 tablet and Amazon’s Kindle Fire, both of which have 7-inch screens and cost $199.

“It would be the competitors’ worst nightmare,” Wu said in an interview. “The ball is in Apple’s court.”

Trudy Muller, a spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, declined to comment.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-03/here-comes-nexus-7-nightmare-the-ipad-mini.html

 

[MThanded]

I hope to see Apple go for the jugular here.

 

[AlexMeloche]

I wanted an iPod Jumbo.

 

[DonMigs85]

Might hold off on the Google Nexus for now

 

[vicissitudes]

There's a new rumor for this every month.

 

[JordanKZ]

I'm sure Apple will come out with a 7" tablet, say they invented first, then patent it, then sue everyone else with a 7" tablet.

 

[teiresias]

Every company that's made a 7" tablet before should sue Apple over trade dress.

 

[3N16MA]

If they keep repeating the same rumor it will eventually come true.

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

Hmm...if its bloomberg saying this now, I'm not so sure I think this is fake

 

[Vic]

Preemptive defensive move in the tablet space from Apple? Knew they would sense a threat from those 7inch tablets.

 

[border]

Seems like that would be kinda hard to do, without undercutting either the iPod Touch or the normal iPad.

 

[Gamecocks625]

iPad mini 8gb $299
iPad mini 16gb $399
iPad 16gb (with retina display) $499
iPad 32gb (with retina display) $599
iPad 64gb (with retina display) $699

Goodbye tablet competitors!

 

[malyce]

Makes sense. Slowly phase out the iPod touch, introduce iPad mini.

 

[giga]

Seems like that would be kinda hard to do, without undercutting either the iPod Touch or the normal iPad.

"If you don't cannibalize your business, someone else will." - Steve.

 

[Utako]

Larger iPhone

Smaller iPad

= iPhonePad coming in 2014

It runs iOS X

 

[DonMigs85]

Makes sense. Slowly phase out the iPod touch, introduce iPad mini.

Yeah, I doubt they'll introduce a new iPod Touch this year.

 

[3N16MA]

Makes sense. Slowly phase out the iPod touch, introduce iPad mini.

iPod Touch would still stick around if this rumor is true. It's the best selling iPod and still the most portable iOS device.

 

[Divvy]

Yeah, I doubt they'll introduce a new iPod Touch this year.

We already saw parts for the new ipod touch.

 

[Vic]

iPad mini 8gb $299
iPad mini 16gb $399
iPad 16gb $499
iPad 32gb $599
iPad 64gb $699

iPad mini having the iPad 2 resolution while iPad has the retina display.

Goodbye tablet competitors!

If only.

 

[Blearth]

iPad mini 8gb $299
iPad mini 16gb $399
iPad 16gb $499
iPad 32gb $599
iPad 64gb $699

iPad mini having the iPad 2 resolution while iPad has the retina display.

Goodbye tablet competitors!

Current iPad 2 16GB is $399. Apple could go lower than that for the mini.

 

[Lkr]

does this mean the iPhone mini is also coming?

 

[Dreams-Visions]

I would be surprised if they did not, honestly.

 

[Dicer]

iPad mini 8gb $299
iPad mini 16gb $399
iPad 16gb (with retina display) $499
iPad 32gb (with retina display) $599
iPad 64gb (with retina display) $699

Goodbye tablet competitors!

Yes, because people would never prefer Android over iOS...

Calling it now, gonna be over 7" probably 8-8.5" form factor and apple will claim 7" is just too "cramped"

 

[Raistlin]

Will be interesting to see what they come up with.




There's one thing that kind of bothers me about it though. The allure of a 7" for many is the more convenient form-factor. Not only is it more portable than a full-size tablet, but most people can actually one-hand them comfortably during use.

The problem with a 7" iPad is that aspect ratio would make this impossible for most people as it would be a fair amount wider. Unless you have Edgar Allan Poe creepy fingers, you aren't going to be holding it like that. Even if you're Mr. Fingers though, I'm pretty sure an 8" would make impossible.

Hopefully this is not the case, but if it does end up being true ... it's like Apple kind of missed the point. It's just a me-too product that doesn't really get it.

 

[Marty Chinn]

iPad mini 8gb $299
iPad mini 16gb $399
iPad 16gb (with retina display) $499
iPad 32gb (with retina display) $599
iPad 64gb (with retina display) $699

Goodbye tablet competitors!

I already have an iPad Mini. Maybe they should call it iPad Midi.

 

[rezuth]

The new iPad 2 in a smaller package for education and shit, easy money.

 

[Vic]

This mini-tablet wars is getting very interesting.

 

[Utako]

I'm going to hold out for the iPad Shuffle before I jump in. Don't need the screen.

 

[krypt0nian]

iPad mini 8gb $299
iPad mini 16gb $399
iPad 16gb (with retina display) $499
iPad 32gb (with retina display) $599
iPad 64gb (with retina display) $699

Goodbye tablet competitors!

That about wraps it up.

 

[Divvy]

Hopefully this is not the case, but if it does end up being true ... it's like Apple kind of missed the point. It's just a me-too product that doesn't really get it.

What if it uses the aspect ratio of the iphone5 instead?

 

[Raistlin]

What if it uses the aspect ratio of the iphone5 instead?

Hmmm .... that's possible.

Is it supposed to be 16x10?

 

[Divvy]

Hmmm .... that's possible.

Is it supposed to be 16x10?

16:9 I believe.

 

[Black-Box]

Steve Jobs wouldn't want this!

didn't he laugh at android with their 7" tablet?

 

[Vic]

Hopefully this is not the case, but if it does end up being true ... it's like Apple kind of missed the point. It's just a me-too product that doesn't really get it.

Yep. When was the last time that Apple made a reactionary product that could potentially undermine one of their best product?

 

[MidnightScott]

$199 is the sweet spot, I would buy one at that price.

 

[JGS]

No way it's coming in at 199 unless it is screenless.

It's smart though.

 

[Lunchbox]

so its the iphone 5?

what fuck is a mini ipad

 

[malyce]

$199 is the sweet spot, I would buy one at that price.

For that price I doubt it'd come with an Apple logo.

 

[kehs]

Between this and the taller iPhone there is little doubt left that the OS is going to get a major overhaul soon if only to shift into relative layouts.

Gamecock's specs need tweaking, they won't do 8 & 16, they'll do 16 and 32.

 

[scorcho]

if Jobs were the only one holding back the 7" iPad it would make sense that it would eventually get past mere prototyping.

hopefully Google's tablet app ecosystem picks up before this happens.

 

[Technosteve]

appie plz

 

[numble]

But mescalineeyes

 

[Good Job Bob]

RIP Nexus 7

 

[Vic]

if Jobs were the only one holding back the 7" iPad it would make sense that it would eventually get past mere prototyping.

hopefully Google's tablet app ecosystem picks up before this happens.

The Nexus 7 should help a lot to improve the tablet app situation.

 

[Diablohead]

7 inch ipad is good, but to not have a retina screen tells me it will use the ipad 1-2 res of 1024 x 768, which is not too bad on a smaller screen I guess especially if the price is cheap.

$199 sounds way too good to be true, that would mean that this 7 inch tablet would be better value then an ipod touch because it's about the same price.

$299 for a mini ipad seems much more realistic.

 

[JCX]

I remember one issue for a 7'' iPad being resolution issues, or how weird it would look with scaled down iPad dimensions?

Either way, it would be a huge hit. I might even buy one to supplement my aging TF101.

 

[D4Danger]

Don't buy that Nexus 7 because Apple may or may not be doing something

fud disguised as news is all this is

 

[Mulberry]

Competition is good for the market. Consumers win.

 

[sikkinixx]

This would make me very happy. I would prefer not to leave the Apple ecosystem but Nexus cheapness is tempting to replace my aging OG iPad.

While they're at it, I'd like a new Mac Mini please.

 

[br0ken_shad0w]

I expect no less than $250 (with $300 being more likely). $200 is their ipod touch area.