Mikey Campbell
Coming on the heels of a rumored production stoppage of cases designed for Apple's rumored 7.85-inch tablet, a separate report from the UK claims the so-called "iPad mini" will ship without cellular data capabilites.
Citing industry sources, The Guardian on Tuesday reported that the purported small form factor iPad will not be offered in a 3G-capable version, countering multiple pictures of "leaked" parts clearly showing the tell-tale black plastic RF window implemented on Apple's cellular-connected tablets.
The move is said to be a cost-saving measure as 3G wireless connectivity would require an additional up-front cost in added cellular components, as well as a monthly fee for data access.
Although speculation, it seems highly suspect that Apple would deny users of the "lower-end" tablet the option of cellular connectivity, though it remains to be seen how the company plans to market the device.
The same sources also told the publication that Apple is likely to release an updated version of the third-generation iPad, which will adopt the iPhone 5's baseband chip to offer support for the UK's Everything Everywhere 4G network. Apple's new Lightning connector is also likely to be added to the full-sized iPad, these people said, further expanding the new plug's implementation across the company's mobile device lines.
Also said to be coming in the refreshed 9.7-inch iPad is an iteration of Apple's A6 system on a chip, which made its debut in the iPhone 5 last month. It was reported last week that an unknown iPad running an A6 series processor was found in a developer's access logs, possibly pointing to internal testing of the purported device.
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Wesley Hilliard
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41 Comments
I think this is the most disinformation about a product we've seen.
Good job, Tim. You've successfully doubled down.
Great for corporations, government institutions, hospitals, schools, etc., wanting to entrust security solely within their own closed-loop networks and making it impossible for people to connect via their cell carrier. However, I doubt this will be solely for Wifi. I see the same Wifi/Cell structure but I see those mobile workers buying the wifi only in places like hospitals, Power Plants, etc.
Also said to be coming in the refreshed 9.7-inch iPad is an iteration of Apple's A6 system on a chip, which made its debut in the iPhone 5 last month. It was reported last week that an unknown iPad running an A6 series processor was found in a developer's access logs, possibly pointing to internal testing of the purported device.
The developer log thing possibly could answer the question if it could be determined that the unreleased device was using an AT&T IP address at any time. Surely they must be testing that feature if it is going to be supported. I need some honey pot website that would attract iPad mini testers so I can look through the logs.
WiFi ONLY? #FAIL
[quote name="audioinside" url="/t/153260/apple-ipad-mini-to-be-wi-fi-only-report-says#post_2207961"]WiFi ONLY? #FAIL[/quote] Yup, just like the iPod Touch -- NOT While I believe this tablet will eventually replace the touch, and as such the lack of cellular connections would be negligible to sales, I don't believe the reasons stated in the article are valid. Apple charges a premium for such connectivity and the space is likely already designed into the logic board. The cost is entirely picked up by the consumer. Perhaps Apple will delay the cellular models by a month and then only in the US for a few More months, but ultimately there is no reason not to offer it on release, at least for he reasons stated in the article ...