Rumour iPad Mini. Apple’s rumoured 7.85in tablet, the iPad Mini, has just been given a price of a meagre US$250. Watch out Amazon Kindle Fire 2.
7.85in Tablet :
Apple could have a 7.85in iPad waiting in its lab wings, if Apple pundit and Daring Fireball blogger John Gruber isn't seeing things. He reckons that there's iPad Mini prototypes lurking around Apple HQ – that may or may not be released.
The specs fit with what we've heard before about a smaller iPad – the iPad Mini prototype is reportedly as tall as the current 9.7in iPads are wide when in portrait mode. And this 7.85in iPad is set to have a 1024x768 resolution display which, although it's not following in the footsteps of the new iPad's Retina Display, should still pack in 163ppi.
The fact that the 7.85in iPad Mini exists doesn't mean Apple will release this version of its tablet – we were never in any doubt that Apple could make a smaller iPad and screen size is one feature that Cupertino seems to want to get spot on or not at all.
iPad Mini :
We’ve heard rumours in the past concerning the launch of a smaller iPad, and now an unnamed Samsung official has thrown more fuel on the fire. Asking not to be identified (fair enough in the circumstances), he or she told the Korea Times that Apple will launch a 7.85-inch iPad before 2012 is out.
Interesting stuff, as is the news that, despite the two firms’ well-publicised legal battles, Samsung currently has a $9.7 billion contract with Apple to supply components which is expected to rise to a staggering $11 billion by the end of the year.
Samsung supplies screens, storage, processors and more to Apple, which is its single biggest customer. So chances are certain individuals in Samsung might know what Apple's planning – just something to think about.
The rumoured pint-sized slate from Apple should be heading our way around August, according to Chinese portal Netease, which speculates that the iPad Mini is Apple’s way of fighting back against the upcoming attack from Windows 8 tablets. And with talk of not only a US$250 iPad Mini but a US$299 version also, it looks like there will be more limited hard drive options compared to its full sized iPad big bro.
With 6 million iPad Minis rumoured to be on the way, don’t worry about pre-ordering – there’ll be plenty to go around.
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