Rumors of new 7-inch iPad from Apple persist
Questionable rumors of a new iPad from Apple sporting a 7-inch screen continue to surface, with another Taiwanese publication adding fuel to the fire Tuesday.
Chinese-language newspaper Economic Daily News reported Tuesday (via Google Translate) that Apple plans to launch a second-generation iPad with a 7-inch screen. The report claimed that the original, 9.7-inch iPad is too big and heavy for many consumers, and the new model will cut weight down from 700 grams to 500 grams.
The report said that the new iPad will also use an in-plane switching LCD display for wide viewing angles. The touchscreens will reportedly be supplied by Chi Mei and LG, while AUO and Sintek will provide the digitizers.
The paper also suggests Pegatron or Compal could join Foxconn in assembling the hardware.
In early 2009, the same publication indicated that Apple would release an iPhone nano that year. Of course, such a device never came to be.
Rumors of an iPad with a smaller form factor have persisted for months, but in recent weeks they have picked up considerable steam. Last week, another report from Taiwan suggested that the new iPad will have a Cortex-A9 processor and a screen resolution of 1,024-by-768 pixels.
On Monday, it was alleged that indications of a next-generation iPad are currently found within the source code of iOS 4, Apple's mobile operating system that powers the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Despite claims from the Economic Daily News that the iPad is too heavy for consumers, Apple's touchscreen tablet has made a major impact on the market since it first launched in early April. This week, Asus, one of the world's top netbook makers, announced its plans to reduce shipments next quarter due to the success of the iPad. Apple's new device sold 3.27 million units in its first three months of availability.
Chinese-language newspaper Economic Daily News reported Tuesday (via Google Translate) that Apple plans to launch a second-generation iPad with a 7-inch screen. The report claimed that the original, 9.7-inch iPad is too big and heavy for many consumers, and the new model will cut weight down from 700 grams to 500 grams.
The report said that the new iPad will also use an in-plane switching LCD display for wide viewing angles. The touchscreens will reportedly be supplied by Chi Mei and LG, while AUO and Sintek will provide the digitizers.
The paper also suggests Pegatron or Compal could join Foxconn in assembling the hardware.
In early 2009, the same publication indicated that Apple would release an iPhone nano that year. Of course, such a device never came to be.
Rumors of an iPad with a smaller form factor have persisted for months, but in recent weeks they have picked up considerable steam. Last week, another report from Taiwan suggested that the new iPad will have a Cortex-A9 processor and a screen resolution of 1,024-by-768 pixels.
On Monday, it was alleged that indications of a next-generation iPad are currently found within the source code of iOS 4, Apple's mobile operating system that powers the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Despite claims from the Economic Daily News that the iPad is too heavy for consumers, Apple's touchscreen tablet has made a major impact on the market since it first launched in early April. This week, Asus, one of the world's top netbook makers, announced its plans to reduce shipments next quarter due to the success of the iPad. Apple's new device sold 3.27 million units in its first three months of availability.
Comments
480 by 320 iPhones/iPod touches
960 by 640 iPhone
9.7" iPad
7" iPad
Too many devices with different resolutions is not good! Just look at the android market to see that for yourself.
The iPad is the perfect size. Why in the world would Apple make something the wrong size? I don't believe this rumor.
I feel the same way,the iPad seems 'just right' as it is and having two size options could lead to app store fragmentation.
The iPad is the perfect size. Why in the world would Apple make something the wrong size? I don't believe this rumor.
I'm not believing this rumour yet either, but not for reasons of the size.
An iPad this size could easily be an "iPad Pro." A tablet for doing work on instead of watching movies and reading magazines. The smaller form factor would be necessary for that.
I'm not believing this rumour yet either, but not for reasons of the size.
An iPad this size could easily be an "iPad Pro." A tablet for doing work on instead of watching movies and reading magazines. The smaller form factor would be necessary for that.
...Uh...Why?
This could only lead to fragmentation:
480 by 320 iPhones/iPod touches
960 by 640 iPhone
9.7" iPad
7" iPad
Too many devices with different resolutions is not good! Just look at the android market to see that for yourself.
The 7" iPad would have the same 1024x768 resolution as the iPad, just a higher pixel density. There would be no change from a developer point of view.
Personally I think 7" would be the sweet spot. I find the current model cumbersome for reading in bed and can't stand the very visible pixels compared to the iPhone 4. And more RAM please. It's starting to drive me nuts the way a web page has to reload from scratch every time I hit the back button on chunky, ad-heavy sites. Love my iPad but look forward to version 2.
I'm not believing this rumour yet either, but not for reasons of the size.
An iPad this size could easily be an "iPad Pro." A tablet for doing work on instead of watching movies and reading magazines. The smaller form factor would be necessary for that.
The 7" iPad would have the same 1024x768 resolution as the iPad, just a higher pixel density. There would be no change from a developer point of view.
Personally I think 7" would be the sweet spot. I find the current model cumbersome for reading in bed and can't stand the very visible pixels compared to the iPhone 4. And more RAM please. It's starting to drive me nuts the way a web page has to reload from scratch every time I hit the back button on chunky, ad-heavy sites. Love my iPad but look forward to version 2.
am needing a reading device. thinking kindle cuz ipad is too big. 7" ipad would be very sweet.
The iPad is the perfect size. Why in the world would Apple make something the wrong size? I don't believe this rumor.
Because your individual usage case is not the only one. You are not at the center of the universe.
If you have read any of the smaller iPad rumors on any tech sites, you will have seen many others wishing for a slightly smaller iPad. You may count me amongst their numbers.
For starters, a 7" iPad would compete more directly with a well-established eReader market, so we know there is a demand for smaller tablet devices. Also, it would likely be less expensive, which would definitely spur sales. The high entry price of the iPad has been a well documented inhibitor of many sales. Let's not forget that over forty percent of iPad buyers have a self-reported income of over $100,000. If Apple really wants to bring this product category to the masses, they will need to make it cheaper. A smaller, less pricey model would proceed down the correct path. That's one reason why the iPod mini/nano is the best selling model in the iPod lineup.
It's not about what any one given person thinks, it's really about Joe Consumer. Apple's target market is them, not a handful of random fanboys on some technology gossip site. Never, ever forget that.
Who thinks 1.5 pounds to too heavy? Many books weigh more then that.
Personally I think a 7" is credible for one reason. If you shrink the size of the buttons down to fit on a 7" screen, they are about the same size as the iPhone buttons. If you haven't noticed all the user interface elements are currently larger on the iPad.
iPad Nano?
Who thinks 1.5 pounds to too heavy? Many books weigh more then that.
Many magazines and comic books weigh less.
What's your point?
This could only lead to fragmentation:
480 by 320 iPhones/iPod touches
960 by 640 iPhone
9.7" iPad
7" iPad
Too many devices with different resolutions is not good! Just look at the android market to see that for yourself.
Instead, I envision the 9.7" inch model getting lighter and the Touch growing to around 4.5" yet retaining the iPhone 4's 960 by 640 resolution.
Improve the weight and the iPad is ideal for a device not intended to be pocketed. The 7" version you couldn't pocket and it would lose screen real estate, making it less immersive. Not very Apple-like.
On the other hand, boost the size of the Touch up to around 4.5" and you've got a device that is still pocketable yet is better suited to being used as a pocket computer. Being as it wouldn't be a phone you wouldn't get that awkwardness that happens when a device larger than an iPhone is put up to your ear.
You can try this in increments like upping the Touch to maybe 4.3" this time around and see how it goes. The Retina display is no doubt quite expensive, anyway, so a larger screen with a little less resolution per inch would not be more costly yet I'd have to say that for the average consumer a 960X640 screen in the 4.3" range would certainly work just fine.
In short the 7" iPad would be no more portable than the current iPad yet be less enjoyable to use. Apple can't even keep up with demand for the 9.7" model so killing that particular set-up would be incredibly dumb. Adding a 7" model would be rather pointless.
Many magazines and comic books weigh less.
What's your point?
If you read the article, it mentions that the reason for the 7" model is because the current iPad is too heavy. This is the opposite of what most people say about the iPad.