Katie MarsalChinese-language newspaper Economic Daily News reported Tuesday (via Google Translate) that Apple plans to launch a second-generation iPad with a 7-inch screen. The report claimed that the original, 9.7-inch iPad is too big and heavy for many consumers, and the new model will cut weight down from 700 grams to 500 grams.
The report said that the new iPad will also use an in-plane switching LCD display for wide viewing angles. The touchscreens will reportedly be supplied by Chi Mei and LG, while AUO and Sintek will provide the digitizers.
The paper also suggests Pegatron or Compal could join Foxconn in assembling the hardware.
In early 2009, the same publication indicated that Apple would release an iPhone nano that year. Of course, such a device never came to be.
Rumors of an iPad with a smaller form factor have persisted for months, but in recent weeks they have picked up considerable steam. Last week, another report from Taiwan suggested that the new iPad will have a Cortex-A9 processor and a screen resolution of 1,024-by-768 pixels.
On Monday, it was alleged that indications of a next-generation iPad are currently found within the source code of iOS 4, Apple's mobile operating system that powers the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
Despite claims from the Economic Daily News that the iPad is too heavy for consumers, Apple's touchscreen tablet has made a major impact on the market since it first launched in early April. This week, Asus, one of the world's top netbook makers, announced its plans to reduce shipments next quarter due to the success of the iPad. Apple's new device sold 3.27 million units in its first three months of availability.
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I see no reason for there not to be a series of new form factors using iOS. Maybe one day it will even used to power household appliances. A low end version would sure as heck make microwaves easier to use! Imagine your stove on the network and checking the roast from your iPhone or the refrigerator linked to your shopping app to tell you if you have any milk when you are in the supermarket. I bet Apple are talking to many manufacturers from automobiles to dishwashers. Just look at all the controls on a washing machine and imagine it all done on a small iPhone like panel. The timers and heat controls all visual rotary wheels. Pre set programs called up not to mention the ability to create and save your own. The cost savings in mechanical parts and reduced maintenance would pay for an Apple iOS interface many times over. Plus online diagnostics by the makers is easy. Trust me this will happen. AAPL hasn't even started to take off yet. The next decade will see growth unimagined by even the most optimistic pundits.
This could only lead to fragmentation:
480 by 320 iPhones/iPod touches
960 by 640 iPhone
9.7" iPad
7" iPad
Too many devices with different resolutions is not good! Just look at the android market to see that for yourself.
The iPad is the perfect size. Why in the world would Apple make something the wrong size? I don't believe this rumor.
The iPad is the perfect size. Why in the world would Apple make something the wrong size? I don't believe this rumor.
I feel the same way,the iPad seems 'just right' as it is and having two size options could lead to app store fragmentation.
The iPad is the perfect size. Why in the world would Apple make something the wrong size? I don't believe this rumor.
I'm not believing this rumour yet either, but not for reasons of the size.
An iPad this size could easily be an "iPad Pro." A tablet for doing work on instead of watching movies and reading magazines. The smaller form factor would be necessary for that.