So according the the rumors it will probably have a screen of lesser quality than the Nexus 7, it will probably be more expensive and it will probably be heavier (because it is much bigger).<p>What's the point again? Ok, it's bigger but if there is any advantage of a 7 inch tablet it is the form factor (being small and light). So if Apple won't/can't adress the problems mentioned above the only reason I see anyone buying the iPad mini would the the eco-system. A huge plus, no question, but enough?
Honestly, I don't know why Apple would create an iPad mini.<p>I have an iPad 2 and absolutely love it. There isn't another tablet I'd trade it in for (other than an iPad 3). I surely wouldn't trade it in for an iPad mini.<p>Paul Buchheit once said: "If your product is great, it doesn't need to be good."<p>To me, the iPad is a great product. Focus on making it better.<p>As Steve Jobs has said: "It's what you don't do that matters most." (Paraphrased.)
One thing missing in all these write-ups is what the "killer feature" will be. If you look at new products in an existing product line from Apple, they almost always have something unique that differentiates them, even if it's something minor. For example, they didn't just make the iPod mini smaller, they offered it in different colors. The iPhone 4S wasn't just a faster iPhone 4, it had Siri. I would be very surprised if a 7" iPad came out and didn't have some flourish, some differentiator that made it stand out in some way from the regular iPad and things like the kindle fire. Perhaps they make it absurdly thin? Or perhaps the display is a new display that works great in direct sunlight (you are going to read books on the thing)? If this thing is real, there is going to be some unique take on it. Price and size aren't enough of a sell on their own.
I think that in time, there will be an array of iOS devices at all price points from the ca. $100 to the laptop like $1k. (with some adjustments for carrier subsidies).<p>They did it before with the iPod, from $99, add $50 for more storage, add $50 for a different form factor, and so on, for every price point between $100 and $400.<p>Right now, the iPod touch is at $200, the iPad at 400, and 500-800. Phones are 400-700 w/o subsidies. Pushing the iPad down into the $200 range fills out that array of devices so that there's something for everyone who has a little bit of money to spend.
So now, with full screen interfaces only, we need to create artwork and a UI scaled and designed separately for:<p>1. iPhone/iPod 640×960 at 326ppi<p>2. iPad dimensions 1024x768 at 132PPI<p>3. Retina iPad 2048×1536 at 264PPI<p>4. iPad mini at 1024x768, but smaller pixels and yet expected same physical size controls, so interface has to be redone again specific for this one.<p>5. Whatever is after that.<p>That's a lot of design variations and things to support for one program that for most developers is going to sell for between 99 cents and $2.99.
I'm surprised there was no discussion of weight. Fewer pixels and weaker GPU means the battery can get smaller, and it can get more comfortable in one hand, which is a crucial usability factor. I'm curious as to whether the weight will be competitive with the Fire or the Nexus; my guess is that the size and the glass will make it a bit heavier, but they could surprise us.
You know i wish someone would design a product that's really a different size: Imagine a device that's half the size of an iPhone or double the size of an iPad so it's like a big newspaper. Yeah I get the 7" form factor but I've already seen so many of those on the Android side that I'd like Apple to "Think Different".
Good thing it's safe to use pixel-precise layouts and only Android is where you have to worry about variably sized displays.<p>I really don't get all of the comments applauding (or rather, excusing) the idea that we just keep developing iOS apps to support iPhone vs iPad resolution, when there are a myriad of devices that operate at different resolutions. It feels lazy and it feels like an easy excuse of out not having a different UI mindset from the get-go.
I like how BS marketing and lying to your customers is somehow seen as a good thing when viewed from inside the Apple bubble. Steve Jobs wasn't lying and playing you for chumps, it was apparently a wonderful gift that he could change his mind from one day to the next. And all the Apple faithful will vehemently spit the old gospel at you until the new pronouncement comes down from on-high and then they will all immediately change their tune. Just last week we were getting rabid comments on HN about how awful the idea of a 7-inch tablet is. We've always been at war with Eastasia.