WSJ: Apple Testing Smaller iPad; AT&T, VZN to Get iPad 3
Your daily dose of iPad 3 rumors.
You can usually tell when an Apple launch is drawing closer because the number of 'people in the know' and sources whispering about the rumored product increases dramatically.
This week, the Wall Street Journal is keeping things moving with rumors that we haven't heard in quite a while. The newspaper is reporting that Apple could be working on a smaller iPad than the 9.7-inch model we've seen in the last two versions of the tablet. Don't panic, though. Just because 'people familiar with the situation' say Apple is working with component suppliers in Asia to test a new tablet computer with a smaller display, that doesn't mean the old model has been given the heave-ho.
Apple is apparently eager to better compete with competitors and strengthen its position in the tablet market, and broadening its portfolio is one way to maintain market share. These sources say that though the company is currently testing the product, it's no guarantee that Cupertino will ultimately decide to go ahead with the new slate, which is said to measure roughly 8-inches in size.
In other news, the upcoming (but as yet unconfirmed) iPad 3 will apparently be compatible with both Verizon and AT&T's 4G LTE networks. The Journal cites more people familiar with the matter in reporting that the tablet will land at both AT&T and Big Red, but whether or not Sprint and T-Mobile will also be able to sell the iPad remains unclear. Right now, T-Mobile is the only one of the four that doesn't offer the iPhone 4.
As always, Apple has refused to comment, because any hint of clarification on any of these rumors would be no fun at all. Instead, we'll have to wait for the big reveal, which right now is tipped to be March 7. If you can't wait that long, you can always check out our round-up of iPad 3 rumors. The quick and dirty is that most expect the tablet to pack a new Retina display, a quad-core CPU, a new camera, and support for LTE.
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lol...and they thought the 7-8" Android ones were too small and no one needed a small one :-)
lol...and they thought the 7-8" Android ones were too small and no one needed a small one :-)
Steve died, now they don't need to listen to him anymore. Now Apple can go on with milking their customer's wallets and pay less attention to stevie's ideologies.
Wow... that was awfully negative what I pointed out there....
smaller iPad? i tough they were the ones who said that a smaller tablet is useless, that the standard size should be higher than 9.7"...
Yeah its called the iPhone lol
If it is 7" like Galaxy tab 7", then it is time for Samsung to sue them back for payback! Rofl
It would be hilarious if the competition turned around and sued them for making a tablet with a screen size similar to theirs.
Obviously that would never happen because the competition is smarter than that - they have better things to do like innovate rather than filing lawsuits left and right.
ipad nano. oh boy
Why do I get the feeling that Apple will advertise the smaller iPad as innovative and as a advancement and actually charge more for it than the larger model.
I suppose it is good for the consumer however as some people prefer smaller tablets.
So, Jane whats your preferred size? Errm for tablets of course.
Aghh the Apple hate is alive and well till the end of time it seems. 99% of them never had a Apple device or touched one, just like to hate on something so popular. Every Apple story that comes out its amazing how they swoop down on it like a kamikaze just amazing I tell you. GTFO and get a life!
A smaller iPad would have never happened with Steve Jobs sill around.... unless this is part of the whole "fight against Android to the last bullet" thing.
What people want are lighter and bigger tablets, not smaller and cheaper.
A 11"-13" tablet with the same weight as current tablets would be awesome.
It would be hilarious if the competition turned around and sued them for making a tablet with a screen size similar to theirs. Obviously that would never happen because the competition is smarter than that - they have better things to do like innovate rather than filing lawsuits left and right.
It would 'never happen' because the lawsuit against Samsung had nothing to do with the 'size' of the device.
Steve died, now they don't need to listen to him anymore. Now Apple can go on with milking their customer's wallets and pay less attention to stevie's ideologies.Wow... that was awfully negative what I pointed out there....
I think a number of you are correct to say that a smaller form factor would go against what Apple (specifically Steve Jobs) has said in the past.
However, lets remember it's not even a rumoured device launch - just rumoured testing.
It may be that the new CEO doesn't agree with Jobs' philosophy which has proved to be very successful. Diversifying your product line can sometimes be counter productive, for a few reasons:
1 - Fewer economies of scale (smaller device will need some different parts.
2 - The smaller model will be cheaper so there may be a net loss in revenue if someone who would have previously bought the larger one decides on the smaller one.
3 - If you broaden your range too much it can confuse mainstream customers, the fact that there's always been only '1' new iPhone or iPad at any time makes it very easy for them to be comfortable in their choice.
4 - Device support - everything has to work on both devices which may have different resolutions / hardware - may not be a problem if the smaller version uses the same resolution as the iPad 2. Samsung had this problem with the original Tab, they failed to keep the resolutions consistent which made developing much harder than it should have been.
5 - Accessories - the reason iPhone and iPad accessories are so easy to create and popular is that they have a single model to target, meaning a better choice of accessories for these devices.
Of course, I'm pointing out why diversifying could potentially be bad for Apples profits (although of course it could be beneficial too if done right). For the customers, surely having more choice is nearly always a good thing.
If this does happen it could be the first sign that Tim Cook is tweaking Apple's trajectory.
Steve died, now they don't need to listen to him anymore. Now Apple can go on with milking their customer's wallets and pay less attention to stevie's ideologies.Wow... that was awfully negative what I pointed out there....
Stevie's ideologies also included milking customers.
they forgot the teaching of lord steve, they suppose to release iBoard in 2012
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/iPad-i [...] -5968.html
A smaller iPad would have never happened with Steve Jobs sill around.... unless this is part of the whole "fight against Android to the last bullet" thing.What people want are lighter and bigger tablets, not smaller and cheaper.A 11"-13" tablet with the same weight as current tablets would be awesome.
I have to disagree with you. YOU might want a bigger tablet, rather than a smaller cheaper one, but the kind fire sold like hotcakes because smaller cheaper is EXACTLY what they wanted. Now I personally was very close to buying a fire because it's exactly the size I'm looking for as well, but it's lacking features for me. The 7" Galaxy Tab was close as well but was also missing some features that stopped it for being perfect. So I'm waiting for the Transformer Prime 7" to come out.
7" is large enough to read a book on comfortably rather than squinting at my phone, while staying much more portable and easier to carry around than a large 10" and above tablet. with a full size tablet, I feel like I'd need a man-purse or something to bring it around with me. 7" will probably fit in my jacket pocket. And with the Transformer Prime being a Tegra 3, it will have all the power I need to do just about anything.
Steve died, now they don't need to listen to him anymore. Now Apple can go on with milking their customer's wallets and pay less attention to stevie's ideologies.Wow... that was awfully negative what I pointed out there....
Sad thing is...they're still suing everyone left and right -.-