Retailers gearing up for Apple's 'iPad mini' with plans for accessory displays
Before Apple's smaller iPad has even been officially announced, one retailer is preparing in advance for the rumored device by sending out in-store displays to sell accessories to customers [updated].
AppleInsider was provided with the image on Thursday showing instructions for standalone displays designed to sell iPad mini accessories. The instruction manual comes from a large box that apparently includes parts from which the future displays will be assembled.
The tipster indicated that the pages labeled "Amazon/Apple Tablet Display Parts List" came from a box with a note attached, telling employees not to look inside. They said the papers fell out of the box, revealing the contents of the recently delivered package.
Update: While the store was not initially known, AppleInsider has since learned that this particular display was sent to a Best Buy store.
The shipment comes after a list of dozens of supposed "iPad mini" cases were revealed in a spreadsheet on Wednesday. That list of products suggested that third-party accessory makers Belkin, Kensington and Trust all have cases for Apple's smaller iPad ready to go.
The fact that the name "iPad Mini" is included on the design of the accessory display should not be taken as a confirmation that it will be the final name of the rumored product. Because the name of the iPhone 5 was not known as case-makers built accessories based on leaked schematics, many cases available for sale at launch came in boxes that simply advertised they were for the "New iPhone."
Case makers have bet ? and lost ? on rumored Apple product designs before. In 2011, some third-party accessory makers banked on a completely redesigned look for Apple's next iPhone, but that October the iPhone 4S debuted with a design nearly identical to its predecessor, the iPhone 4.
Similarly, one report this week claimed that a major accessory maker had halted production of cases designed for the so-called iPad mini. Manufacturing of those cases was reportedly stopped because of an apparent "design change" that caught the manufacturer-off guard.
Apple is expected to hold an event later this month to officially unveil a smaller iPad with a 7.85-inch display. The company is said to have ordered more than 10 million units for sale this holiday shopping season.
AppleInsider was provided with the image on Thursday showing instructions for standalone displays designed to sell iPad mini accessories. The instruction manual comes from a large box that apparently includes parts from which the future displays will be assembled.
The tipster indicated that the pages labeled "Amazon/Apple Tablet Display Parts List" came from a box with a note attached, telling employees not to look inside. They said the papers fell out of the box, revealing the contents of the recently delivered package.
Update: While the store was not initially known, AppleInsider has since learned that this particular display was sent to a Best Buy store.
The shipment comes after a list of dozens of supposed "iPad mini" cases were revealed in a spreadsheet on Wednesday. That list of products suggested that third-party accessory makers Belkin, Kensington and Trust all have cases for Apple's smaller iPad ready to go.
The fact that the name "iPad Mini" is included on the design of the accessory display should not be taken as a confirmation that it will be the final name of the rumored product. Because the name of the iPhone 5 was not known as case-makers built accessories based on leaked schematics, many cases available for sale at launch came in boxes that simply advertised they were for the "New iPhone."
Case makers have bet ? and lost ? on rumored Apple product designs before. In 2011, some third-party accessory makers banked on a completely redesigned look for Apple's next iPhone, but that October the iPhone 4S debuted with a design nearly identical to its predecessor, the iPhone 4.
Similarly, one report this week claimed that a major accessory maker had halted production of cases designed for the so-called iPad mini. Manufacturing of those cases was reportedly stopped because of an apparent "design change" that caught the manufacturer-off guard.
Apple is expected to hold an event later this month to officially unveil a smaller iPad with a 7.85-inch display. The company is said to have ordered more than 10 million units for sale this holiday shopping season.
Comments
I thought the announcement was expected October 10. Has anyone updated predictions for when we're going to learn more?
C'mon! Where's the announcement?
In the iCloud, of course.
Quote:
Originally Posted by allenbf
Where's the announcement, Apple? Let's do this already.
Yep. Confirmation would be nice, the stock so badly needs it.
Ha, pages fell out. Yeah, let's go with that.
The shipment delay is said to have been caused by weak yields of the Retina Display, the sources noted.
Apple's new small-size iPad (iPad Mini), which is manufactured by Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and Pegatron Technology, a reportedly suffering low yields for components such as the display and chassis, causing the upstream suppliers to be unable to satisfy Apple's orders.
The sources pointed out that although the iPad Mini's chassis adopts a similar material as the 9.7-inch model, the iPad Mini's design and tactile feel will be different from those of the larger model.
So much for the Oct. 10 expected invitation date: http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/01/apple-rumored-to-send-out-ipad-mini-event-invitations-on-oct-10
Now awaiting stories from "trusted sources" that say there was a delay or change in design, etc, etc and Apple won't sell as many as they had forecast this quarter. They'll push the stock down so they can buy in.
Apple should just release it without an event- hardly a technological breakthrough.
Borderline laughable to have an event just because you reduced the screen size. It should have been introduced along the other tweeny iPods last month.
Originally Posted by herbapou
Yep. Confirmation would be nice, the stock so badly needs it.
Hardly!
Apple up 60% YTD, Nasdaq up 20% YTD. I think Apple's stock is doing OK. Only down a bit from a temporary peak of a month ago.
Quote:
Originally Posted by allenbf
Where's the announcement, Apple? Let's do this already.
Quote:
Originally Posted by matrix07
C'mon! Where's the announcement?
Quote:
Originally Posted by herbapou
Yep. Confirmation would be nice...
Quote:
Originally Posted by appleempl
it's a comin'
You guys are still thinking it will be announced after the last "rumor" was a complete bust (invites on Weds for next week's release)?
The iPad mini got stuck in the mud when the announcement "The new iPod Touch will be $299" was announced. We'll be lucky to see one mid next year- but likely fall of 2013 if it gets released (because at that point, they'll be able to drop the overpriced Touches to $199 or $229). Of course, we'll get tons of rumors and "leaked" prototypes between now and then.
If any part of these rumors are true, and I'm starting to doubt it as there have been no legitimate "leaks" just mockups, and it's getting pretty late in the season to announce Holiday products ahead of a street date -- Apple will redefine the 7" tablet space, thus warranting an event to introduce it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iSheldon
Apple should just release it without an event- hardly a technological breakthrough.
Borderline laughable to have an event just because you reduced the screen size. It should have been introduced along the other tweeny iPods last month.
There are other products that are also waiting to be to be announced. Each may not need an announcement on their own, but together it gives Apple another opportunity to do one of the things it does best: Marketing. Any Apple event gets lots of coverage. Speculation before, coverage of, and reviews and analysis afterwards. It's one of the important clogs in the Apple machine. That said, they can easily turn an iPad Mini announcement into a big enough event of its own
In the minds of a bunch of know nothing analysts, just like the product.
And yet De Witt (the one that 'confirmed' invites yesterday for an announcement next week) will still be pushing their crap.
Nope, no editors. Just hit whores
It's funny because a friend of mine applied for a writing position here several months ago. He has a master's degree in literature, 5 years of college teaching experience, and another 5 years of tech writing experience. AI never even responded to his application. Perhaps he was overqualified. :P
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gamrin
Perhaps he was overqualified. :P
Nope.
Had he 5 years of internet marketing, PR writing, advertising or web publishing experience, then perhaps. One thing AI needs is a copy editor to fix the grammar and typos which would be easy enough except they would rather publish first and proofread later in order to be the lead story to hit the news outlets. Some people question the philosophical slant of many of the pieces but that would not be determined by the writer anyway as it is more of a corporate policy than a personal writing style.