The iPad mini rumors are back.
Shortly after confirming the possibility of a 4G LTE iPad, Wall Street Journal now reports that Apple is working with component suppliers on an iPad with a smaller screen.
WSJ reports:
Officials at some of Apple's suppliers, who declined to be named, said the Cupertino, Calif.-based company has shown them screen designs for a new device with a screen size of around 8-inches, and said it is qualifying suppliers for it. Apple's latest tablet, the iPad 2, comes with a 9.7-inch screen. It was launched last year.
One person said the smaller device will have a similar resolution screen as the iPad 2. Apple is working with screen makers including Taiwan-based AU Optronics Co. and LG Display Co. of South Korea to supply the test panels, the person said.
The last time we heard about Apple working on a smaller iPad was back in December 2011, when a report claimed that AU Optronics and LG Display had sent samples of 7.85-inch display to Apple, who is gearing up to launch iPad mini early next year. According to that report, Apple is gearing up to launch a 7.85-inch iPad mini prior to the 4th quarter of 2o12.
Steve Jobs had famously taken a dig at Apple's competitors for launching tablets that sport a 7-inch screen. Steve Jobs had this to say at a conference call last year about upcoming tablets from competitors.
Just a handful of credible entrants. Almost all use 7" screen, compared to iPad at nearly 10" screen. 7" screen is only 45% as large as iPad's screen. Hold an iPad in portrait view and draw a horizontal line halfway down. What's left is a 7" screen...too small. There are clear limits to how close elements can be on the screen before users can't touch accurately. We believe 10-inch screen is minimum necessary.
The reason we won't make a 7-inch tablet isn't because we don't want to hit that price point, it's because we think the screen is too small to express the software.
We know developers aren't going to deal well with these different sizes and they have to change their software every time the screen size changes.
When we make decisions on 7-inch tablets it's not about cost, it's about the value of the product when you factor in the software.
We're all about making the best products at aggressive prices and that's what we do, and that's what we will do with the iPad and iPod.
However, with competition from Amazon, which unveiled Kindle Fire - a $199 tablet that has been doing very well, it is possible that Apple is reconsidering its decision as it would expand its market.
According to rumors, the iPad mini will feature the same resolution (1024x768) as the current iPad. Would you be interested in buying an 7.85-inch/8-inch iPad mini? Let us know in the comments.
[via WSJ]
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