Katie Marsal
New photos claiming to show a display panel for Apple's so-called "iPad mini," with an aspect ratio identical to the screen on Apple's traditional iPad.
Pictures of the component were published on Wednesday by ETrade Supply (via Nowhereelse.fr). The display panel measures nearly 8 inches across diagonally, and is 162 millimeters long, 124 millimeters wide.
While the resolution of the screen cannot be determined from the component, earlier rumors had suggested the display will be 1,024 by 768 pixels. That's the same resolution as the iPad 2, which would allow applications designed for the iPad to run natively on the iPad mini without modification.
Some recent iPad mini mockups had prompted speculation that the device could have a 16-to-9 ratio closer to that of the newly released iPhone 5. But the panel pictured on Wednesday has a 4-to-3 aspect ratio, matching that of the 9.7-inch iPad.
iPad mini mockups may appear to have a slightly longer display because they show a device with a thinner bezel to the left and right of the screen when held in portrait mode. It's expected that Apple's new iPad will have a thinner bezel to allow it to be held more easily with one hand.
Also included among the pictures is a battery claimed to be from Apple's iPad mini. The model number listed is "A1445," and it's rated as 3.72V, 16.7Whr, and 4490mAh.
The latest battery picture is joined by a previous leak that surfaced over the weekend, showing the same 16.7 watt-hour battery. The purported iPad mini part suggests Apple's battery will offer more energy than the cells found in Google's Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle Fire HD.
Apple is set to hold an event next Tuesday, Oct. 23, where it is expected to unveil the iPad mini. Invitations sent to members of the press this week promised that the company has "a little more to show you."
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40 Comments
In other news, Purported iPad mini expected to run iOS. But seriously, I would assume that the "mini" would take design cues from the original rather than be a leader in aspect ratio changes.
Hmm. Other than the lack of legit serial numbers and information on the sticker, I buy it. The sticker is Apple-style.
That makes sense. Of course it's the same aspect ratio as the full sized iPad!
Unlike Android tablets, iPads are made to be used both in portrait and in landscape.
16:9 on a tablet is not very useful for many purposes.
Not to mention it's just bad taste to use 16:9 in a tablet. Bad geometrical taste. It's ok for a phone, of course, because that's a pants-pocket device that you thumb-type on.;)
[quote name="Apple ] Unlike Android tablets, iPads are made to be used both in portrait and in landscape. 16:9 on a tablet is not very useful for many purposes. [/quote] If Apple is primarily targeting it as an e-reader based on the rumored "books" centric focus, I would agree. However, Steve Jobs said a 7" tablet isn't useful for very many purposes unless you have sandpaper to file down your fingertips. Apple has gone to 16:9 on both the iPhone 5 and iPod Touch. Further, they force portrait mode in a number of apps where I would much prefer landscape. And those devices aspect ratio works great for movies and games (arguably the primary market for a 7" tablet), as well as books. Reading a book on a 16:9 screen is much more efficient as I get much more text at a smaller screen size than I did before -- which translates to fewer page turns and more enjoyment reading. Personally, thinking of the mini-tablet as a large iPod Touch makes more sense to me (and it strikes me that there's more of a market for that), than a mini-iPad, where Steve Jobs was probably absolutely right, it's just too small to be productive with office apps like pages and numbers, and even graphic apps like iMovie, garage band, and iPhoto. I see this as targeted primarily toward kids who can't afford an iPad, or can't get an iPhone, and right now have to choose between the far more limited Touch, or an Android device. While I haven't seen Apple's internal numbers for the Touch, it seems like a device that is fast being orphaned from Apple's ecosystem. [QUOTE="AI"]It's expected that Apple's new iPad will have a thinner bezel to allow it to be held more easily with one hand.[/QUOTE] I still don't fully understand this. So, Apple expects people to cup it in their palms like an iPhone, wrapping their fingers and thumb around the edges? Great for most adults, but not so much for kids and those with smaller hands (for whom this mini may be targeted). But the thinner bezel does not allow it to be easily held with one hand the way and iPad can be held using the thumb for leverage on the bezel. Even in the mockups, it was impossible to hold the empty props with one hand this way without the thumb coming in contact with the screen, and the mini will presumably have a bit more heft. I suppose its possible Apple may have come up with some new accidental input algorithms that cancel out a thumb on the edge when a finger presses elsewhere. On the other hand, it makes the mini look identical to the Nexus 7 tablet, which may cause confusion in the market place, among other problems.