Editor: I am always wondering when Apple will release a pocket size (~7′ inch) iPad. If iPad 3 comes with two size, I would go for the Mini one. But, obviously Andrew Sykes, Founder of GizChina does not think so. Here are his reasons.
Rumor and guesstimation have determined that Apple may release an iPad mini next week at their March 7th iPad event, but we’re not too convinced!
Ever since Apple released the original iPad, there have been those who have anxiously waited for the company to release a smaller version. Even after Steve Job’s himself openly mocked 7-inch tablets fans have still kept hoping (he didn’t mock 8 inch tablets after all!). Now, with March 7th less than a week away there has just been enough time of tech sites to speculate on how they believe a smaller iPad with 7.85inch screen will accompany the next generation iPad on Wednesday (could be an iPad 2S!).
But next week there will be no iPad mini to compete against the Android in the small tablet market, a market which Android owns!
No Leaked Physical Proof
“Apple are notorious for keeping a tight lid on their products”, if you have heard this line before you will no to make a half assed effort to make your cry of “BS!” sound like a cough!
Apple are terrible at keeping their latest products a secret, we now have more of an idea what Apple will be up to for the next 12 months than, for example, Blackberry, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, HP, ASUS, ACER etc!
This year Apple will release an new iPad and an iPhone 5 which will actually feature some new hardware (possibly a new dock connector), there looks to be an improved Apple TV on the way, I hope there is a new iPod touch, Apple iTV looks set for release and (please,please,please) improved Macbook Pro’s with a more ‘Air’ design!
Why do we know all of this? Well leaked physical proof, Steve Jobs and talkative Chinese and Taiwanese Apple suppliers, none of which have offered real proof of a mini iPad.
Fragmentation
Apple don’t want to fall in to Android’s trap of fragmentation. For an Android dev to get it’s app working on the numerous Android display sizes available today is an absolute nightmare!
For an Apple Dev however it’s as easy as pie! The current iPad has the same PDI as the Retina display on the iPod touch and iPhone 4/4S so apps work and look great on both!
As for the iPad 3’s (iPad 2S!) Retina display upping the pixel count shouldn’t be too much bother, but most importantly Apple are leaving the old iPad screens behind and they will be pretty much obsolete this time next year while everyone is clambering over the iPad 4, so they’re not worried about them.
The iPad is “Perfect” its bloody “Magical”
No one describes their companies products as “Magical” not unless you are brimming with pride because you have just launched the dream product you have always wanted to make!
Well the iPad was Steve Job’s baby, and not to sound too British but he was well chuffed to show it off!
To Apple, the iPad is the perfect size, it’s big enough for consuming, and is more than capable of creating thanks to the generous screen real estate, yet it’s small enough to fit in to all buy the tiniest of “fanny packs”.
For Apple to release a smaller iPad would be to admit 2 things to customers:
1) They were wrong about the iPad’s original size
2) “Perhaps those smaller and cheaper Android tablets are worth looking at now Apple is making smaller tablets” is also a bad message!
The March 7th Invitation
The biggest clue to that Apple is not planning a smaller iPad launch next week is the fact they didn’t show, or even hint at it on the invitation for the March 7th event!
What they have shown is an new iPad with what appears to be a much better Retina display, or it could be a camera trick, either way this is what Apple wants us to speculate about.
If Apple were planning a 7.85 inch iPad for launch next week wouldn’t they have added a tagline to the event invitation such as “It’s not the size it’s how you touch it” ? (too cheap?)
Let us know what you think in the comments section below, and don’t forget to flame, or troll or whatever it is you do, when I turn out to be wrong!
(source: GizChina)
On top of the reasons you listed, there’s the simple fact that Apple has no need to release a smaller iPad. As it stands, the iPad is already dominating the tablet market and there’s no reason to assume that a 9.7″ sized iPad 3 won’t be a smash hit as well.
Also, come on; “It’s not the size it’s how you touch it”? Apple is cheeky, sure, but never suggestive!
I agree a smaller iPad is really no needed. I personally have the original iPad and a 7 inch Android tablet. The smaller tablet sits collecting dust as it’s just too small (for me at lease)
Also, I did ask if that tagline was “too cheap” 😉
The Kindle Fire is selling shedloads, whether this is down to price or size is hard to say. I think the best indicator of whether Apple would release a smaller iPad is if they can make high profit margins on it (as with all their other products). If they had done it before the Fire, maybe, but now it would be pretty tough.
There is really no need to do that.