Samsung Securities says 7" 'iPad mini' coming in Q3 2012, Apple investigating flexible panels - Page 4

Originally Posted by SolipsismX

Note that Addabox stated "appears to be". He didn't state that a successful 7" device wasn't possible from Apple or anyone else. He even backed up his comment with evidence to support the current trend. The iPad is the most successful tablet on the market. There are plenty of other non-cheap 7" tablets that simply aren't making a dent.

The only tablet that is making any headway is the loss-leader Kindle Fire which is really a glorified eReader at this point.. Despite it's gain in the "tablet" market and it's retail price that is only 24 to 40% of an iPad it still sold well below the nearly year old iPad this past holiday quarter. I don't know of any supply issues that kept the sales of the Kindle Fire down.

Bottom line: So far there is no relevant tablet market, there is only an iPad market.


Nokia is a great example of thinking that creating an ostensibly complete product line that overs all HW needs is the way to ensure success.


PS: Also note the netbook market. Remember analysts saying that Apple needs to enter this market or risk losing what little market share they do have. They never touched it. They could have offered the best netbook on the planet but the didn't touch it. Where they smart to do so? I think so.

Originally Posted by I am a Zither Zather Zuzz

Not a good argument. It could have been used in the late 1960's to describe GM. Or the mid '70's to describe IBM. Or the late '90's to describe Cisco, or any number of other tech stocks. Pets.com, anyone?

Originally Posted by RPT

I like your bottom line (Bottom line: So far there is no relevant tablet market, there is only an iPad market.) Still I believe that the reason for not having a 7" market is that there is no iPad there.

They've never been about chasing after market share via product proliferation. If Apple thinks there's a good user experience to be had at 7", they'll do something about it. But they won't be remotely swayed by bogus claims of "what they must do",

Originally Posted by Tune

LMAO !!!!!!!

Do you really think this news will make it out of sites like AI?

You're either jealous, delusional or both.

Originally Posted by peter236

Apple is lagging behind in terms of display technology. Apple now depends on Samsung and others for these news flexible displays. Apple needs to develop its own technology in display, flash memory, batteries etc, rather than repackaging what's available on the market.

Originally Posted by SolipsismX

So is this a real concern for Samsung Securities or a weak attempt to get people's not to buy the 10" iPad in hopes of a 7" model coming soon?

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

My first reaction is that this is a planned leak by Samsung as an attempt to dampen sales of the iPad 3 -- some people will delay buying, thinking a new model is coming in 6-7 months.

Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum

Ahh.... but we're both adults who have some knowledge and experience in the real world!

Originally Posted by maccherry

Samsung is just gaming their own stock. This type of sh$$ is said all the time.
And those flexible panels are no way ready for prime time use.

Originally Posted by SolipsismX

Let's reexamine what you disagreed with in Addabox's statement...
That difference between his and your statements is that you believe that there is a market for a 7" device from Apple. He never stated if he thinks there is only that he believes Apple will release one if there is a viable financial gain to having one.

Originally Posted by I am a Zither Zather Zuzz


Edit: Why do the four people in the background look like they are fixing to assault the photographer? The Korean woman on the left is looking at the Korean guy like "So you gonna do something about this?" and the guy looks VERY uncomfortable. The gray haired gent on the right looks like a 1960's secret agent who might pull a silenced semi-auto pistol from his shoulder holster.

Originally Posted by RPT

Obviously that is right, Apple is not, and hopefully will not be so desperate that they pursue what they don't believe. That is the terminal disease of a corporation. Still I think that a major objective of this forum should be to discuss what WE think makes sense for Apple, not just praising them for what they do. Apple may be the most successful company in corporate history, but the same history keep changing, and the loser now will be later to win, to quote Steve J, who obviously himself quoted.

Originally Posted by peter236

Apple is lagging behind in terms of display technology. Apple now depends on Samsung and others for these news flexible displays. Apple needs to develop its own technology in display, flash memory, batteries etc, rather than repackaging what's available on the market.

Originally Posted by SolipsismX

This forum and many like it are ripe with people stating what they think is right for Apple. The problem I see is that too many state their opinions as unquestionable fact and are too often not looking at Apple's best interest but designing what they think is the ideal product for them.

I don't see Apple using a lot of different sizes just to saturate a market. If there is any market they have the greatest challenge in unit share it's with the iPhone yet that has stayed at 3.5" even when other vendors have moved to larger devices which is much easier for them to market as being better than the iPhone.

Some will say that Apple has plenty of Mac display iPod display sizes but those OSes are different. To use a different size touch-baed display changes the usability of the device so you need to change the UI to accommodate.

Personally I don't see financial gain for a 7" iPad but I do see one for a 5-8" iPod Touch. I think this would allow Apple to compete more closely with the cheaper quality of the Kindle Touch and other such tablets while still turning a profit and without hurting the iPad brand, there 2nd more profitable arm and one that could be their most profitable in a couple years.

I also see an opportunity for a 4" iPhone if they can reduce the bezel and thickness so that you can still do a thumb sweep in one hand. You can't feasibly go any larger and still have the 3:2 aspect ratio. To wit, Android phones with large display using aspect ratios that make them thinner. One could argue that Apple could alter the size and aspect ratio as it made sense for the iPad but I would expect Apple to keep the aspect ratio inline for their handsets.

Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton

There are researchers (both academic and corporate R&D labs) working on flexible batteries, and a number of working prototypes have been shown to work.

Originally Posted by RPT

I don't quite see the difference between iPad and iPod, Apple have to maintain the quality.

Originally Posted by Ireland

It's not simply about what Steve felt. It's about what actually works in practice. Apple likes things to be smaller, if 7" worked they'd be more likely to make it 7" then 10". They made it 10" because it works better. Own an iPad for 6 months and you'll understand. 9.7" at a 4:3 ratio is smaller than you'd think. A DVD is 9" for example. You can only truly understand this having owned and used one for a few months. So I'm not trying to convince you because you don't know you're just going to have to trust me.

That's fixable. It'll be fixed.

Originally Posted by RPT

I disagree about the 7 inch market potential, and I don't quite see the difference between iPad and iPod, Apple have to maintain the quality.

Originally Posted by snova

..and it was when these companies started grasping at straws by doing nitche variations that they fell from the top. Apple of the late 80 and early 90s included

I think iPhone and iPad still has legs to revolutionalize in the mainstream like Siri before they chase nitches.

Once they stop focus on the core and start offering 10 colors and 5 sizes and special edition versions like they did with the iPod line then I will worry.

Note iPod went on the decline around that time and the focus shifted to iPhone and iPod touch.

Originally Posted by addabox

Apple will make the products that deliver the best user experience as they see it. They've never been about chasing after market share via product proliferation. If Apple thinks there's a good user experience to be had at 7", they'll do something about it. But they won't be remotely swayed by bogus claims of "what they must do", any more than they felt they needed to make a netbook or an xMac-- despite the many and fervent claims that Apple would be obliged to respond to competition in those markets or risk being left behind. Seems to have worked out pretty well for them.

Originally Posted by RPT

.

I do not care what was Steve Jobs opinions about an ideal size; I want a 7 inch unit, and I am not going to buy a larger one,

Originally Posted by hmurchison

You can file it for claim chowder but I see absolutely no reason why there should't be a 7.85" iPad. One size does NOT fit all and there are always scenarios where a smaller iPad could excel (Point of Sale, Inventory tracking etc)

Originally Posted by kevt

Sorry, but this doesn't stack up.

Yes, Apple have looked to deliver the best user experience.

But they have not shunned product proliferation to suit the needs of different consumers.

Their most successful product line in terms of market domination has been the iPod, where they offered a large range of products of different physical sizes and different price points.

They have a range of macbooks, at various prices, with screen sizes from 11.6" to 17"

They have a range of iMacs with screen sizes from 21.5" to 27".


Apple don't say 15" is the optimal size for user experience for a laptop, that's all we'll make. They credit their customers with having different needs, preferences, and disposable income. They recognise that some may prioritise portability and go for their smallest form factor, while others won't mind a bulkier device to get the benefits of a bigger screen and more power.

Why shouldn't Apple adopt this approach with tablets? It is not un-Apple.

I suspect we will see an 8" iPad later this year, (30% greater area than a 7"). And I'll be up for one.

Originally Posted by island hermit

Speaking of 7" tablets, has there been any news lately about Kindle Fire sales?

<crickets chirping>

Originally Posted by netrox

Here's the problem: Steve Jobs is dead. He's no longer with us. Tim Cook is the CEO and he makes decisions which may not be what Steve Jobs wanted.

Steve Jobs simply told Tim Cook that Tim Cook can do whatever works best for Apple.

I trust Tim Cook to do his job and so far, he has done extremely well.

Originally Posted by wizard69

First a sub seven inch device is not a niche product. If you take time to screw up the courage to actually talk to people that own and use Kindles you will find out that size is an issue.

Originally Posted by Carthusia

.

Price? $299 Wifi only and $399 Wifi and 3G. Smaller iPad for the kids, larger one for the 'rents. That would kill the Fire.

Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton

There are researchers (both academic and corporate R&D labs) working on flexible batteries, and a number of working prototypes have been shown to work.

Originally Posted by charlituna

then don't buy one. But don't assume Apple will ever make a smaller one to make you happy or to 'compete' with anyone. Because it is highly highly unlikely to happen.

Originally Posted by charlituna

People are doing just fine with the current equipment. Why fill a need that is already being filled with current models

Originally Posted by SolipsismX

High contrast AMOLED displays on Android phones are the new Pepsi Challenge. Just as people preferred the sweetness of Pepsi in taste tests when only drinking a small amount people will say they prefer high contrast images when only given a small amount.

Full disclosure: I just made all that up but it sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Originally Posted by myapplelove

I wonder what you ll be saying in a few months when that 7-8" hits the market...

Originally Posted by RPT

but the same history keeps changing, and the loser now will be later to win, to quote Steve J, who obviously himself quoted.

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil

Is what they said last year at this time, just for reference.

Originally Posted by myapplelove

For sure, but I didn't say it back then because I didnt see any strategic reason of apple coming up with one. This year I firmly believe that the iPad has matured enough for apple to opt for a smaller screen too, as well as a tangible market for smaller devices has also arisen.

Originally Posted by Red Oak

Apple needs to put its vast array of multi-touch patents to use and sue the sh** of Andriod and Samsung. This would have been Jobs' next step. More important, it is the right thing to do. It is time for Apple to throw the hammer down

In parallel, Apple needs to completely terminate Samsung as a parts vendor. Completely and quickly. I have no doubt Samsung is sharing Apple secrets internally across off it's key divisions

Like this crap (if true)