Steve Jobs was 'very receptive' to 7-inch iPad idea, court documents show
An email presented in the Apple v. Samsung trial on Friday from Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue to iOS chief Scott Forstall hints that discussions of building a smaller 7-inch iPad were in motion since at least 2011 and may have had the backing of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
The email from January of 2011 was revealed by Samsung as evidence in the company's cross-examination of Forstall, reports The Verge, though the exact purpose of presenting the exhibit is unknown.
From The Verge:
Cue's email is in line with swirling rumors of an upcoming "iPad mini" which is expected to take on a smaller 7.85-inch form factor and may see a fall release. In July, a purported "engineering sample" of the device was pictured, showing reconfigured speaker placement and the smaller dock connector first seen on rumored iPhone prototypes. The number of pins or electrical contacts in the supposed connector is disputed, however, as previous reports said Apple would cut the number to 19 while more recent claims point to an 8-pin solution.
Source: CNet
Sources say the new iPad model will use older screen technology identical to the iPhone 3GS instead of newer Retina display tech to ease costs and help with manufacturing ramp-up.
Apple is also rumored to be preparing for a Sept. 12 special event that many believe will see the debut of a next-generation iPhone.
The email from January of 2011 was revealed by Samsung as evidence in the company's cross-examination of Forstall, reports The Verge, though the exact purpose of presenting the exhibit is unknown.
From The Verge:
When asked in 2010 about the prospect of a smaller iPad, Jobs said, "The reason we [won't] make a 7-inch tablet isn't because we don't want to hit that price point, it's because we think the screen is too small to express the software. As a software driven company we think about the software strategies first." He went on to say the 7-inch form factor "isn't sufficient to create great tablet apps."Wow. Forstall is shown a 2011 email from Eddy Cue, in which Cue forwarded an article that a journalist wrote about dumping the iPad after using a Galaxy Tab. Cue writes "Having used a Samsung Galaxy [Tab], i tend to agree with many of the comments below... I believe there will be a 7-inch market and we should do one. I expressed this to Steve several times since Thanksgiving and he seemed very receptive the last time."
Cue's email is in line with swirling rumors of an upcoming "iPad mini" which is expected to take on a smaller 7.85-inch form factor and may see a fall release. In July, a purported "engineering sample" of the device was pictured, showing reconfigured speaker placement and the smaller dock connector first seen on rumored iPhone prototypes. The number of pins or electrical contacts in the supposed connector is disputed, however, as previous reports said Apple would cut the number to 19 while more recent claims point to an 8-pin solution.
Source: CNet
Sources say the new iPad model will use older screen technology identical to the iPhone 3GS instead of newer Retina display tech to ease costs and help with manufacturing ramp-up.
Apple is also rumored to be preparing for a Sept. 12 special event that many believe will see the debut of a next-generation iPhone.
Comments
How much clearer can it be after the email clearly states it.
The press is going to have a field day with this.
Originally Posted by 4TheLoveOfTech
The press is going to have a field day with this is.
No, but the idiots are.
Huuuuhhhhh?! What was the deal with "sandpaper" and all that?! </sarcasm>
Wouldn't be the first time Steve reneged on his philosophy!
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4TheLoveOfTech
This is proof that Apple copied the smaller Tablet idea from Samsung.
How much clearer can it be after the email clearly states it.
The press is going to have a field day with this is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4TheLoveOfTech
I didn't know Apple had a patent on rectangles.
Neither copied the other on just the shape or size. Apple's argument is that 'overall' Samsung is making products very close to that of Apple's, I think (and hope the jury won't) people are missing the key arguments here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4TheLoveOfTech
I didn't know Apple had a patent on rectangles.
Yea, because that's what they are suing Samsung for, rectangles.
Repeating this comment just makes you look ridiculous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
You can't be that stupid. Unless your astroturfing.
Actually, I think he can be that stupid. Samsung has confused a lot of people over what this case is about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4TheLoveOfTech
I didn't know Apple had a patent on rectangles.
*facepalm*
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogifan
You can't be that stupid. Unless your astroturfing.
He registered when, yesterday? lol. Obviously he's a troll. AI has become a magnet for Droidster trolls.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rot'nApple
Huuuuhhhhh?! What was the deal with "sandpaper" and all that?! </sarcasm>
Wouldn't be the first time Steve reneged on his philosophy! Probably why he was a Democrat, I JEST, I JEST!
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Funny indeed! Say, why are you tapping your foot under the stall wall?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eriamjh
I told you guys what Steve poo-poos in public he works on in secret.
Or, you know ... he's an adult that changes his mind once in a while.
I sure hope if the mini is real, that all the leaks of prototypes and cases are wrong because they all show a 16:9 device.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazoobee
Or, you know ... he's an adult that changes his mind once in a while.
Watch the Steve Job interview video's with All Things D over the years... he does appear to poo - poo / change his mind a few times... very interesting to watch the progression from 2001 onward.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrstep
Funny indeed! Say, why are you tapping your foot under the stall wall?
I see what you did there... sly dog you. You jest, you jest!
It'll likely be the rumored 7.85 inched diagonally with a 4:3 aspect ratio at 1024x768 so as to retain compatibility with the existing iPad app library.
The downfall of this configuration is that it'll mean the device is rather too wide to hold comfortably with one (average sized) hand, which happens to be one of the more appealing aspects of almost every other (near) 16:9/7 inch tablet device.
Anyway... It's interesting to see all the 're-writing of history' going on within the Apple ranks lately.