Apple might launch a "mini" iPad to compete with the Fire

[L.J. Sellers]

This was reported in Shelf Awareness today, with the idea that table market is changing and focusing on smaller devices. Here are the links they cited.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...i_in_2012.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20...n-kindle-fire/

http://www.fastcompany.com/1787221/s...?partner=gnews

Interesting stuff.
L.J.
[promotion edited - moderation]

[covfam]

from what ove read elsewhere the mini name is misleading because its not a smaller ipad form factor just a buget version. engadet was a lil put off they they call it the aipd mini instead of ipad lite

[frahse]

Now that Steve Jobs is gone, the mischief starts.

Basic tenets are questioned, loosened, dropped.

Increased gross, reduced margins, image depreciation , disaster!

[stonetools]

I think the Fast Company article gets it:

So here's what seems likely to happen. Aware that it's facing increasing competition in the core iPad market, Apple will ace it with the iPad 3 as a mid-to-premium price device. Also aware that strong sales of the Fire mean consumers do want a cheaper device that delivers good performance, Apple will keep perhaps just one size of iPad 2 on sale (perhaps the 16GB Wi-Fi edition, entirely untouched inside) and drop the price to something crazy--like $350 or perhaps $299. This will still let them make a small profit on every one, as well as incremental profits from ongoing spends in the App Store by consumers. Apple won't compete directly with the "cheap" but technologically inferior Fire, instead tempting customers to spend just a few dollars more on the "real deal" that has a bigger screen and can play games--and lets you write novels on it too, should you want to release your inner Paula Fox/Paul Auster.

That's an Apple solution. No iPad Mini. No iPad "lite." Just iPads 2 and 3.

A $299 iPad 2 would really squeeze the KF and the NC unless there is true love out there for the 7" form factor-which I for one doubt.
Another problem for the KF-if the iPad 3 is a compelling upgrade, you'll see a big market in used iPad 1s for under $300. This won't stop the KF from being a big hit- but it won't be quite the monster home run people think.

[RainingLemur]

Doesn't come as much of a surprise, really. I figured they'd try and do something like that eventually, anyhow.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by frahse

Now that Steve Jobs is gone, the mischief starts.

Basic tenets are questioned, loosened, dropped.

Increased gross, reduced margins, image depreciation , disaster!

Given his behavior when he was alive, a far greater probability is that the mischief will decrease. Because one of the nastier players is gone.

[SCION]

I would have purchased two mini iPads for the kids and not the Kindle Fire. I've been waiting for something from Apple that is a bit smaller than the iPad and substantially less in price. There's no way I'm buying an iPad 2 for each child at the current price, and the iPad 1 is too heavy for kids. Heck, it's too heavy for me. The Kindle Fire is priced right. Each child can have one and it's a manageable size for their small hands.

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by SCION

I would have purchased two mini iPads for the kids and not the Kindle Fire. I've been waiting for something from Apple that is a bit smaller than the iPad and substantially less in price. There's no way I'm buying an iPad 2 for each child at the current price, and the iPad 1 is too heavy for kids. Heck, it's too heavy for me. The Kindle Fire is priced right. Each child can have one and it's a manageable size for their small hands.

You could try an iPod touch. Even smaller and at the $199 price point. Lots more games in the Ios App Store.
Regardless of which way you go, you'll be giving your kids some great gifts.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by stonetools

You could try an iPod touch. Even smaller and at the $199 price point. Lots more games in the Ios App Store.
Regardless of which way you go, you'll be giving your kids some great gifts.

Thanks for the suggestion. They're currently playing on my 1st generation Touch (given to them to share). Too small. But yeah, that's why I would've preferred a mini-iPad, because of the games. Really odd that there's nothing from Apple to fill the void in the 7 inch arena. The Kindle Fire will be used as an eReader for them. Been wanting to make the transition to ebooks with them. Now I can. They loved my NOOKcolor.

[stonetools]

Really odd that there's nothing from Apple to fill the void in the 7 inch arena.

According to Steve-o , 7" is too small for a tablet:

"Apple has done extensive user testing and we really understand this stuff...There are clear limits on how close you can place things on a touch screen, which is why we think 10 inch is the minimum screen size to create great tablet apps," Jobs said at the time.

"It's meaningless unless your tablet also includes sandpaper, so that the user can sand down their fingers to around one quarter of their present size," he added.

Apparently, either Jeff Bezos didn't get the memo , or there'll be sandpaper in the the box the KF comes with . .

I'm thinking of getting either a NC or a KF for the wife. Why did you give up your NC, if I can ask?

[OtterBooks]

"Apple has done extensive user testing and we really understand this stuff...There are clear limits on how close you can place things on a touch screen, which is why we think 10 inch is the minimum screen size to create great tablet apps," Jobs said at the time.

Nevermind the iPhone. That doesn't count. Duh.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by stonetools

...
Apparently, either Jeff Bezos didn't get the memo , or there'll be sandpaper in the the box the KF comes with . .

...Why did you give up your NC, if I can ask?

You're silly! lol

I had it for a little less than a year and was just ready to move on. I rooted it the first month of ownership, then I replaced the stock ROM about 6 months later.

Got tired of the weight. When it was released there was nothing to compare it to, so it was acceptable. Then the lighter Galaxy Tab 7 inch came on the scene. Eventually bigger and lighter tablets emerged. So, it's heavy compared to others now. I also wanted a bigger screen surprisingly and a microphone for recording notes. Settled on the Sony Tablet because it's a bit smaller than the 10 inch tablets and very comfortable to hold in portrait and landscape. The price is ridiculous, but so are many of the others.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by SCION

The price is ridiculous, but so are many of the others.

Thats one thing I have not understood. You have so many Android tablets, with the same basic specs, and they'll range from $200-500. So many have the same displays, same chipsets, etc, so I see no reason why such the large variance in price.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

Nevermind the iPhone. That doesn't count. Duh.

Which isn't a tablet.
He was making a distinction between phone apps and tablet apps.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by frahse

Now that Steve Jobs is gone, the mischief starts.

Basic tenets are questioned, loosened, dropped.

Increased gross, reduced margins, image depreciation , disaster!

Apple would do well to support flash, mSD card slots, and removable batteries.