Josh OngCiting supply chain checks, the analyst duo of Henry King and Kevin Lu said they believe that Hon Hai will remain the sole manufacturer of the new 9.7-inch model, explaining that the Cupertino-based electronics maker remains undecided on a second partner to help build the tablets.
The analysts also said their checks found that "the 7†iPad project has not yet been finalized" and therefore said its "unlikely to be launched ahead of the new 9.7†iPad."
According to the pair, the new 9.7-inch iPad "is targeted to be thinner and lighter, with an embedded camera and mini USB." It "could be launched in early" second quarter of 2011, they said.
A camera-equipped second-generation iPad would fall in line with Apple's plan to ship FaceTime on as many devices as possible. Earlier in September, AppleInsider learned that a FaceTime-enabled iPad had progressed to "advanced testing stages." Sources indicated that Apple was unlikely to follow its usual 12-month product cycle with the iPad, possibly refreshing it in the first quarter of 2011.
Last week, Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes also predicted a first quarter 2011 debut for the second-generation iPad, suggesting that the tablet would maintain the same 9.7-inch screen size..
Rumors of a second-generation 7-inch iPad model have persisted since shortly after the iPad launched in April. On Friday, a Chinese website claimed a 7-inch iPad that takes after the iPhone 4 aesthetic is already a "finished product."
While 7-inch iPad rumors remain unverified, Blackberry-maker Research in Motion has gone ahead and made 7" the new 9.7". RIM announced Monday that it will release the "Playbook," a 7-inch tablet, in early 2011. Early rumors about RIM's answer to the iPad had pegged the screen at 9.7 inches.
Mini USB on the next iteration of the iPad would come as a surprising break from Apple's reliance on its own proprietary dock connector. Apple collects substantial licensing fees and royalties for accessories that utilize the company's custom connection.
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Charles Martin
William Gallagher
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
78 Comments
All the wannabes are going to have to scramble a bit now.
Once again, Apple's deep bench and head start will keep the target moving for competitors. The MacBook Air was probably as important as an incubator for many things iPad as it was a laptop per se. I was waiting for the second generation iPad before buying, and now I'm really stoked.
PS: I hope that when Apple updates iWeb that there'll be a simple way of adding special iPad/iPhone mobile website form factor to the sites you build for standard browsers.
This sounds more like what I'd expect. Apple doesn't seem in ANY rush to release a 7" tablet. AT ALL. The only reason people are coming out with 7" tablets, is because that's the only form factor they're able to make work economically and with manufacturing partners. At least that's my gut. Right now, people can't compete, and they're trying to change the subject, because Apple released a product that was too cheap for them to replicate.
~ CB
This sounds more like what I'd expect. Apple doesn't seem in ANY rush to release a 7" tablet. AT ALL. The only reason people are coming out with 7" tablets, is because that's the only form factor they're able to make work economically and with manufacturing partners. At least that's my gut. Right now, people can't compete, and they're trying to change the subject, because Apple released a product that was too cheap for them to replicate.
~ CB
While I agree you, I wish Apple would come out with a 7" model. Better size for me.
Idiotic. This is pure BS.
Why would Apple put a mini-USB on a small iPad, when they put a full iPod dock connector on a iPod nano? Answer: they wouldn't, Goldman Sachs just wants to pretend to be savvy to their clients. No wonder they needed bailout money from the Fed. R-tards.