Or perhaps it's not about price point or competing with KIndle etc. Just like Apple has 4 Macbooks from 11" to 17" for different users, it makes sense that at some point they will adopt that strategy to iOS. There are plenty of people who would pay $300 to $350 (depending on capcity) or even higher for an 8" iPad simply because the size and weight are better suited to their needs.
As a iOS developer, I'll point out that there is a difference between making a 7.5" device a "big iPod touch" or a "small iPad." The former implies that it runs iPhone apps, just on a bigger screen; the latter implies that it runs iPad apps on a smaller screen. Both would be problematic, but the former would be worse. It would run no apps better than a normal iPod touch, everything would just be weirdly big. It would be better at viewing movies, but that's it. On the other hand, most iPad apps would probably run ok on a slightly smaller screen, but at the margins you'd have user experience problems. Some UI elements would be a little to small if shrunk further.
Of course this presupposes that Apple isn't going to spring a new gotcha at iOS developers: "you now need to provide THREE interfaces to your apps instead of 2; enjoy!" I'm confident that that isn't in the cards for this year.
At those price points I suspect it isn't an iPad at all, but a high end ebook reader
So what's the point?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain J
Or perhaps it's not about price point or competing with KIndle etc. Just like Apple has 4 Macbooks from 11" to 17" for different users, it makes sense that at some point they will adopt that strategy to iOS. There are plenty of people who would pay $300 to $350 (depending on capcity) or even higher for an 8" iPad simply because the size and weight are better suited to their needs.
But over 70% of everyone already is fine with paying $500. Apple caters to the middle ground, not fringe cases.
Such a device has been rumored to have a screen resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels, which is the same resolution as the first-generation iPad and the iPad 2. That would allow current applications written for the iPad to run on a new, smaller device without any modifications.
Technically current iPad apps will run but it'll be a horrible experience. iPad apps have buttons designed for a 10.1" screen. They'll be too small on a 7" screen.
I can't believe for a second that Apple would allow current iPad apps to run on a 7" mini-iPad device without modification.
Technically current iPad apps will run but it'll be a horrible experience. iPad apps have buttons designed for a 10.1" screen. They'll be too small on a 7" screen.
I can't believe for a second that Apple would allow current iPad apps to run on a 7" mini-iPad device without modification.
This would be great, but there is no way in hell it would sell for that price. $300 would be the minimum price. Why would you sell it at the same price as a far inferior product like the Kindle? Even at $300 it would wreak havok on Kindle and Nook sales.
Consumers don't want a half-baked iPad experience. Apple doesn't do half-baked experiences. This isn't going to happen. New iPad is perfect in every way and the price is unbeatable.
I really hope they get more storage at a reasonable price. You can get a 32GB thumb-drive for $20 these days. Why is it an additional $200 to go from 16GB to 64GB? And I get it (engineering, cost of materials, different flash used than thumbdrive, etc.). The 64GB iPod touch should be at $199 by now.
New iPad is perfect in every way and the price is unbeatable.
Let's not get melodramatic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daving313
I really hope they get more storage at a reasonable price. You can get a 32GB thumb-drive for $20 these days. Why is it an additional $200 to go from 16GB to 64GB? And I get it (engineering, cost of materials, different flash used than thumbdrive, etc.). The 64GB iPod touch should be at $199 by now.
I don't see that. I DO see storage being cheaper on the Ivy Bridge MacBook Air-equivalent, however…
You guys have no imagination at all! Apple can do this easy simply by making use of an iPhone multi chip module to produce ant extremely small motherboard. In fact if they where smart they would use exactly the same board as is seen in the iPhones. Volume would drastically reduce price and when you are talking possibly hundreds of millions off devices a year you get some really good scaling.
Now do you know what will kill this device, it is the puny flash storage allotment. 8GB is hardly enough to justify the units existence. You need the same options here as for the other products.
Now where do I see this product going, automobiles and transportation in general. GPS and a good mapping solution would have Apple owning the in car navigation market. A few adjustments to iOS, to better integrate the device with the autos systems and Apple would be shipping millions of the devices.
Another big market would be business, especially manufacturing where such a device would be extremely handy. Same for service industries. A 7 inch device would be ideal for people on the go.
As to cost, I take the $200 number to mean everything from $199 to $299. Whatever, this isn't a big deal for Apple to hit. They could very easily get the whole bill of materials under $95 if they tried. This is Apple though so I suspect they will strive for a bit better user experience and try to get better performance and thus slightly higher hardware costs. So they bump the BOM costs to $125 or so, that still can provide for significant margins.
My biggest fear here is that they will try to low ball the machine to the point where it isn't really the functional product we expect out of an iPad. The rumors about 8GB drive that concern. I would expect cost cutting measures like a plastic case, but they can't scrimp on backlighting, storage and RAM. Speaking of which RAM is a significant component of a good user experience.
Actually a small bezel plus the same ipad1 resolution will make a 8' ipad work. iPad app icons wont be that small that they are unusable IMHO...
If they do have a 350$ Mini ipad android tablets are dead forever, win 8 will be the only competitor because they will sell to enterprice and buisness in mass...
I really hope they get more storage at a reasonable price. You can get a 32GB thumb-drive for $20 these days. Why is it an additional $200 to go from 16GB to 64GB? And I get it (engineering, cost of materials, different flash used than thumbdrive, etc.). The 64GB iPod touch should be at $199 by now.
I was hoping this would have been addressed in this years iPad. You are right though Flash upgrades in the iPads are grossly overpriced. Not just a little bit but by a great deal. The chips Apple is using don't cost a whole hell of a lot and we are on our second process shrink with no size increases from Apple.
Apple really needs to think a little harder about the value equations for the top end iPads. More hardware to justify the price should be considered or just give us better performance. It would be very nice to see a 128GB iPad come with an additional 500MHZ of performance as a justification for the high price. If not that an SD port or FM radio or a USB port would be nice.
Comments
Or perhaps it's not about price point or competing with KIndle etc. Just like Apple has 4 Macbooks from 11" to 17" for different users, it makes sense that at some point they will adopt that strategy to iOS. There are plenty of people who would pay $300 to $350 (depending on capcity) or even higher for an 8" iPad simply because the size and weight are better suited to their needs.
As a iOS developer, I'll point out that there is a difference between making a 7.5" device a "big iPod touch" or a "small iPad." The former implies that it runs iPhone apps, just on a bigger screen; the latter implies that it runs iPad apps on a smaller screen. Both would be problematic, but the former would be worse. It would run no apps better than a normal iPod touch, everything would just be weirdly big. It would be better at viewing movies, but that's it. On the other hand, most iPad apps would probably run ok on a slightly smaller screen, but at the margins you'd have user experience problems. Some UI elements would be a little to small if shrunk further.
Of course this presupposes that Apple isn't going to spring a new gotcha at iOS developers: "you now need to provide THREE interfaces to your apps instead of 2; enjoy!" I'm confident that that isn't in the cards for this year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Entropys
At those price points I suspect it isn't an iPad at all, but a high end ebook reader
So what's the point?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain J
Or perhaps it's not about price point or competing with KIndle etc. Just like Apple has 4 Macbooks from 11" to 17" for different users, it makes sense that at some point they will adopt that strategy to iOS. There are plenty of people who would pay $300 to $350 (depending on capcity) or even higher for an 8" iPad simply because the size and weight are better suited to their needs.
But over 70% of everyone already is fine with paying $500. Apple caters to the middle ground, not fringe cases.
Quote:
Such a device has been rumored to have a screen resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels, which is the same resolution as the first-generation iPad and the iPad 2. That would allow current applications written for the iPad to run on a new, smaller device without any modifications.
Technically current iPad apps will run but it'll be a horrible experience. iPad apps have buttons designed for a 10.1" screen. They'll be too small on a 7" screen.
I can't believe for a second that Apple would allow current iPad apps to run on a 7" mini-iPad device without modification.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichL
Technically current iPad apps will run but it'll be a horrible experience. iPad apps have buttons designed for a 10.1" screen. They'll be too small on a 7" screen.
I can't believe for a second that Apple would allow current iPad apps to run on a 7" mini-iPad device without modification.
Hmm, no bezel?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jason98
Hmm, no bezel?
WHOLE new slew of problems. And it doesn't address any of the ones we've already brought up.
This would be great, but there is no way in hell it would sell for that price. $300 would be the minimum price. Why would you sell it at the same price as a far inferior product like the Kindle? Even at $300 it would wreak havok on Kindle and Nook sales.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
WHOLE new slew of problems. And it doesn't address any of the ones we've already brought up.
And as we already know from past experience, the chances of this rumor being true are slim to none.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwlaw99
Even at $300 it would wreak havok on Kindle and Nook sales.
At $500, the iPad is wreaking havoc on Kindle and Nook sales…
Here is a good article speculating on why 7.85 inches is more likely than 7"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
At $500, the iPad is wreaking havoc on Kindle and Nook sales…
True. Maybe decimate is a better word.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Entropys
At those price points I suspect it isn't an iPad at all, but a high end ebook reader
This just in. . Apple will release a $49 eBook reader. Don't buy a Kindle. ;-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by snova
This just in. . Apple will release a $49 eBook reader. Don't buy a Kindle. ;-)
Just have them add ePub support to the iPod nano. One step closer to Dick Tracy status, reading your little dossier there and all…
…now on the other hand, this guy's about as far from Dick Tracy status as is possible. Imagine someone like him walking around in the '40s.
Consumers don't want a half-baked iPad experience. Apple doesn't do half-baked experiences. This isn't going to happen. New iPad is perfect in every way and the price is unbeatable.
I really hope they get more storage at a reasonable price. You can get a 32GB thumb-drive for $20 these days. Why is it an additional $200 to go from 16GB to 64GB? And I get it (engineering, cost of materials, different flash used than thumbdrive, etc.). The 64GB iPod touch should be at $199 by now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eksodos
New iPad is perfect in every way and the price is unbeatable.
Let's not get melodramatic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daving313
I really hope they get more storage at a reasonable price. You can get a 32GB thumb-drive for $20 these days. Why is it an additional $200 to go from 16GB to 64GB? And I get it (engineering, cost of materials, different flash used than thumbdrive, etc.). The 64GB iPod touch should be at $199 by now.
I don't see that. I DO see storage being cheaper on the Ivy Bridge MacBook Air-equivalent, however…
Now do you know what will kill this device, it is the puny flash storage allotment. 8GB is hardly enough to justify the units existence. You need the same options here as for the other products.
Now where do I see this product going, automobiles and transportation in general. GPS and a good mapping solution would have Apple owning the in car navigation market. A few adjustments to iOS, to better integrate the device with the autos systems and Apple would be shipping millions of the devices.
Another big market would be business, especially manufacturing where such a device would be extremely handy. Same for service industries. A 7 inch device would be ideal for people on the go.
As to cost, I take the $200 number to mean everything from $199 to $299. Whatever, this isn't a big deal for Apple to hit. They could very easily get the whole bill of materials under $95 if they tried. This is Apple though so I suspect they will strive for a bit better user experience and try to get better performance and thus slightly higher hardware costs. So they bump the BOM costs to $125 or so, that still can provide for significant margins.
My biggest fear here is that they will try to low ball the machine to the point where it isn't really the functional product we expect out of an iPad. The rumors about 8GB drive that concern. I would expect cost cutting measures like a plastic case, but they can't scrimp on backlighting, storage and RAM. Speaking of which RAM is a significant component of a good user experience.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
One of the greatest caption photos I've ever seen. Thanks!!
Actually a small bezel plus the same ipad1 resolution will make a 8' ipad work. iPad app icons wont be that small that they are unusable IMHO...
If they do have a 350$ Mini ipad android tablets are dead forever, win 8 will be the only competitor because they will sell to enterprice and buisness in mass...
I was hoping this would have been addressed in this years iPad. You are right though Flash upgrades in the iPads are grossly overpriced. Not just a little bit but by a great deal. The chips Apple is using don't cost a whole hell of a lot and we are on our second process shrink with no size increases from Apple.
Apple really needs to think a little harder about the value equations for the top end iPads. More hardware to justify the price should be considered or just give us better performance. It would be very nice to see a 128GB iPad come with an additional 500MHZ of performance as a justification for the high price. If not that an SD port or FM radio or a USB port would be nice.