iPad Mini to Launch in the Fall?
Apple could be launching an iPad Mini as soon as October 2012, according to a recent reports.
Bloomberg recently spoke to some Apple insiders who stated that this new smaller iPad will feature a screen that is 7 to 8 inches diagonally, and will not have the same HD Retina display currently featured on the third-generation iPad.
Instead, the display on this new smaller iPad will have the same number of pixels as the second-generation model, giving it a resolution of 1024 x 768.
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By using the same resolution as the larger iPad on the new mini, fragmentation will be minimized for developers who already need to target their apps for both iPad and iPhone sizes. However, the higher pixel density will make the content appear smaller on the mini iPad.
The report also revealed that Apple's plans to create a smaller version of the iPad have been in the works since the original model was released.
Steve Jobs panned the idea of Apple competitors creating 7-inch tablets, but with Amazon's Kindle Fire and the upcoming Google Nexus 7 entering the market, the company should take these offerings more seriously and create a direct competitor for them.
Rumors of an iPad Mini have been circulating since shortly before the launch of the third-generation model. The Wall Street Journal released a report in February that said Apple was already testing a smaller tablet and qualifying suppliers to produce it. However, the site also noted that Apple frequently tests out products that never see the light of day.
The publication also released another report recently stating the Apple component suppliers are ramping toward mass production of a smaller iPad beginning in September.
With two major publications confirming the existence of an iPad Mini, there is a good chance Apple fans will see a true Kindle Fire competitor before 2012 ends.
