With Apple's media event now just hours away, anticipation is mounting for what is expected to be a major announcement. For the first time in two years, the company will be unveiling a new product line: the iPad mini.
While we think we know a lot about the smaller tablet, we won't know anything for sure until Apple hoists it up on stage tomorrow. But according to one analyst, who claims to have already played with the slate, it's awesome...
As time has progressed of late, it has become increasingly clear that Apple will announce a new, smaller iPad at tomorrow's press event. Dubbed the iPad mini, the new device is, we believe, going to offer much of the current iPad experience, but this time in a more diminutive form.
This iPad mini has been rumored for what feels like forever, with the tablet almost as fabled in Apple rumor circles as that Apple-branded television we are still waiting for. With less than twenty-four hours to go, it seems we need not wait much longer. But where does it sit in Apple's product line?
If you're not someone who wants to buy an iPhone, then the obvious choice right now is an iPod touch. If you don't want something quite so large as an iPad, then the current choice is to plump for that same iPod touch, or something a little more Android-y. But what about post iPad mini? That's a whole different story indeed...
If there is one word that is often used to describe Apple it is "secretive." The Cupertino, California firm is legendary for its corporate tight lips. Increasingly, however, there are few secrets left when it comes to Apple products. A number of insiders are blaming Apple's extensive supply chain and companies outside the US.
"Apple's security practices are targeted at making sure U.S. employees don't leak stuff, but everything comes out of China now," an unnamed employee of the iPhone maker told Ars Technica Monday. This inability to ensure suppliers outside the U.S. share the same regard for product secrecy has led Apple to tighten the screws on employees at home - sometimes with questionable results.
As Apple dresses up San Jose's California Theatre for Tuesday's big event, rumors multiply suggesting a strong K-12 push for the iPad mini. The Next Web was first to report of this, providing a screenshot depicting an e-book listing on the iTunes Store which inadvertently mentioned Apple's iBooks 3.0, which hasn't been released yet.
Today, Bloomberg confirms the iPad mini's focus on education and expands on existing reports by writing that Apple expects the forthcoming device to widen its lead in education over Amazon and Google, whose respective seven-inch tablets start at just $199. Eve with the smaller iPad expected to command a premium, possibly starting as high as $329 (or $249 if Barclays Plc is right and this leak is legit), Apple certainly will offer discounts to educational institutions which buy devices in bulk.
We're also expecting interesting back-to-school promos centered around the iPad mini, much in the same way the company's been doing for years with MacBooks, iPods, iTunes Gift Cards and other gear...
We are now just 24 hours away from Apple's October 23 media event, where the Cupertino company is expected to do something it hasn't done since January 27, 2010: unveil a new iOS device. Sure, we've seen updated iPhones and iPods over the years. But the last time we saw an all-new mobile product from Apple, Steve Jobs was hoisting it on stage.
That should, however, change this week, when Apple introduces the long-rumored "iPad mini." The scaled-down tablet has been the subject of speculation and gossip for more than two years now. And if insider reports and part leaks hold true, it looks like the mythical slate is finally going to materialize in San Jose's California Theatre tomorrow.
If this all sounds like a big deal, that's because it is. With the iPad mini's pricing said to be somewhere around $300, and its screen size between 7 and 8-inches, Apple's wading into an already well-established budget tablet pool that is currently dominated by the likes of Amazon, which just introduced a slew of new Kindle Fires, and Google.
Even with the tough competition, though, analysts and pundits alike are betting on Apple to sell millions of these bite-sized iPads — especially with the holidays around the corner. But does the Cupertino company's new tablet have what it takes to live up to the high expectations? You tell us. Here's everything we know right now about the iPad mini ...
More fallout from Apple's patent lawsuit win against Samsung: the South Korean company's LCD arm will stop selling displays to the Cupertino, California iPhone maker. The reason? Samsung Display no longer sees Apple as "a cash-generator due to the iPhone maker's stiffer supply-chain management structure," a South Korean newspaper reports.
"We are unable to supply our flat-screens to Apple with huge price discounts," a senior Samsung source was quoted Monday. To make up for the lost business, both Samsung's own handset unit and Amazon are upping their orders from Samsung Display, the source said...
Apple could also offer some smart protection for its smaller iPad when it launches tomorrow, a new report alleges. As you're aware, Apple is currently offering polyurethane and leather Smart Cover cases for the current 9.7-inch iPad 3 and iPad 2, priced at $39 for the polyurethane version. If you want leather, that'll be a $30 extra. Per this new price list which surfaced this morning, Apple-branded covers for the iPad mini should also retail at $39. Part numbers also indicate a possible brand new iPad protection product...
Is Apple's upcoming iPad mini aimed at consumers looking for an inexpensive tablet or folks seeking an Apple tablet that can be popped into a jacket pocket?
That's the real question facing observers as the Cupertino, California company prepares to introduce its 7.8-inch product tomorrow. The answer, of course, will tell us just who Apple thinks its rivals are in this space...
Last week, Apple sent out invitations for a media event to take place on Tuesday, October 23. It's widely believed that the company is going to use the presser to unveil its long-rumored iPad mini tablet, and a few other new products.
The event will be held in the California Theatre located in downtown San Jose, California. And as you can see, Apple has already started prepping the building...
The rumor that Apple was looking to release a tweaked version of its third generation iPad this fall popped up back in June of this year. And at the time, it seemed crazy. Why would Apple refresh a 6 month-old product?
But over the past 4 months, the story has really started picking up momentum, as several reports have pointed to Apple unveiling the retooled iPad at its iPad mini event next week. Then today, this picture surfaced...
As Apple's October 23 media event inches closer, pieces regarding what the company may announce are starting to fall into place. The company is expected to unveil a slew of new and refreshed products, including an "iPad mini."
Not much is known about the smaller tablet, outside of what it may or may not look like and what sounds like a November 2nd release date. But a new report is out today that claims to fill in at least one important blank: pricing...
Last week, The Next Web reported that Tuesday's iPad mini event was going to have a heavy focus on iBooks. This made some sense, considering the tablet's size and price is expected to put it up against other e-readers.
Today, the site adds weight to its story by posting a screenshot of an apparent leak in an e-book listing in Apple's iTunes Store. We've got the image after the break, note that it says "this book requires iBooks 3.0 or later."