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iPad mini: Apple launches new smaller tablet iPad mini: Apple launches new smaller tablet
(35 minutes later)
Apple has unveiled a mini version of its iPad as part of its move to muscle in on the market in smaller, cheaper tablets – one dominated for now by Amazon and Google.Apple has unveiled a mini version of its iPad as part of its move to muscle in on the market in smaller, cheaper tablets – one dominated for now by Amazon and Google.
The new iPad mini, which can be held in one hand, has a 7.9 inch (20cm) display, weighs in at 0.68 pounds (0.3kg) and is 7.2mm (0.3 inches) thin, a quarter thinner than the new fourth generation iPad which was launched at the same event.The new iPad mini, which can be held in one hand, has a 7.9 inch (20cm) display, weighs in at 0.68 pounds (0.3kg) and is 7.2mm (0.3 inches) thin, a quarter thinner than the new fourth generation iPad which was launched at the same event.
Prices in the US for the iPad mini start at $329 (£206.40) for the 16GB version, a figure likely to disappoint many who had hoped it would come in at slightly less, with the cost rising to $459 (£287.97) for the 4G version .Prices in the US for the iPad mini start at $329 (£206.40) for the 16GB version, a figure likely to disappoint many who had hoped it would come in at slightly less, with the cost rising to $459 (£287.97) for the 4G version .
"Others have tried to make tablets smaller than the iPad and they have failed miserably," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, who introduced the iPad mini in San Jose, USA."Others have tried to make tablets smaller than the iPad and they have failed miserably," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, who introduced the iPad mini in San Jose, USA.
The tablet, which has the same resolution as the iPad 2, runs on an Apple A5 chip and has features including a Facetime HD camera, a five megapixel camera capable of taking pictures and video. Its battery life is 10 hours.The tablet, which has the same resolution as the iPad 2, runs on an Apple A5 chip and has features including a Facetime HD camera, a five megapixel camera capable of taking pictures and video. Its battery life is 10 hours.
Schiller said: "The technology inside is equal to, if not better to, the iPad 2 in every way."Schiller said: "The technology inside is equal to, if not better to, the iPad 2 in every way."
The iPad mini is the first to be added to Apple's portfolio of compact devices under Tim Cook, who took over as chief executive from co-founder Steve Jobs just before his death in October 2011.The iPad mini is the first to be added to Apple's portfolio of compact devices under Tim Cook, who took over as chief executive from co-founder Steve Jobs just before his death in October 2011.
The move is a crucial part of Apple's plan to beat back the charge on to its home turf of consumer electronics hardware by Amazon and Google, both of which have already launched popular smaller tablet devices.The move is a crucial part of Apple's plan to beat back the charge on to its home turf of consumer electronics hardware by Amazon and Google, both of which have already launched popular smaller tablet devices.
Wall Street analysts have said for months that Apple was planning a less expensive version of the iPad to take on cheaper competing devices, a move they say might hurt its margins but prevent its rivals from dominating an increasingly important segment.Wall Street analysts have said for months that Apple was planning a less expensive version of the iPad to take on cheaper competing devices, a move they say might hurt its margins but prevent its rivals from dominating an increasingly important segment.
The chief rival is Amazon, which proved that a 7-inch tablet costing about $200 has consumer appeal. The Kindle Fire, released last year, was one of the hottest-selling holiday gadgets. It pressured Amazon's margins but gave it potentially millions of new high-spending customers. The chief rival is Amazon, which proved that a 7-inch tablet costing about $200 has consumer appeal. The Kindle Fire, released last year, was one of the hottest-selling festive gadgets. It pressured Amazon's margins but gave it potentially millions of new high-spending customers.
A research group is forecasting that sales of smaller tablets will double this year. IHS iSuppli expects about 34m smaller tablets – with screens of about 7 inches diagonally– will be sold worldwide in 2012, up from 17m last year. A research group is forecasting that sales of smaller tablets will double this year.IHS iSuppli expects about 34m smaller tablets – with screens of about 7 inches diagonally– will be sold worldwide in 2012, up from 17m last year.
Cook said on Tuesday that Apple had sold its 100 millionth iPad two weeks ago. "This is unprecedented for a new product in a new category," he said.Cook said on Tuesday that Apple had sold its 100 millionth iPad two weeks ago. "This is unprecedented for a new product in a new category," he said.
"We sold more iPads in the June quarter than any PC manufacturer sold in its entire PC line. It seems like every day there's another tablet shipping but when you look at the ones being used it tells a different story."We sold more iPads in the June quarter than any PC manufacturer sold in its entire PC line. It seems like every day there's another tablet shipping but when you look at the ones being used it tells a different story.
CommentsComments
3 comments, displaying first 22 comments, displaying first
23 October 2012 7:31PM23 October 2012 7:31PM
"Others have tried to make tablets smaller than the iPad and they have failed miserably," They haven't failed at all you oaf!!"Others have tried to make tablets smaller than the iPad and they have failed miserably," They haven't failed at all you oaf!!
Link to this comment:Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 7:33PM23 October 2012 7:33PM
iPad Mini - the iPad killeriPad Mini - the iPad killer
Link to this comment:Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 7:33PM23 October 2012 7:33PM
I love how they boast about the fact its lighter than the ipad3, like its some sort of surprise.I love how they boast about the fact its lighter than the ipad3, like its some sort of surprise.
Link to this comment:Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 7:35PM
by the way, have you decided how you are going to bury the latest patent bad news for apple yet?
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23 October 2012 7:37PM
This is the UK, chief. It's £269 here. You can stop with the incorrect price comparisons.
Frankly this is utter crap compared to a Nexus 7. A last generation processor coupled to a PPI that is in line with the 3GS? For shame.
It's so vastly inferior I hope you guys pan it for what it is, or rather what it isn't. I won't hold my breath though.
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23 October 2012 7:38PM
Prices in the US for the iPad mini start at $329 (£206.40) for the 16GB version, a figure likely to disappoint many who had hoped it would come in at slightly less
And at £369 (see BBC) even more disappointing - but not surprising!
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23 October 2012 7:39PM
I wouldn't buy an Apple device, but credit to them for sticking to the 4:3 aspect ratio. I loathe 16:9 screens, - even on laptops they're rubbish. On a 7" tablet a 16:9 screen would be horrible. I hope other manufacturers follow Apple's lead on this.
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23 October 2012 7:39PM
I mean £269! But still a rip off :)
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23 October 2012 7:42PM
As ItsJawa has said this is more likely to be £330 than £208. The dollar pirce is also before tax. If you apply VAt to £330 you end up practically at £400 (unlikely to be THAT expensive).
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23 October 2012 7:43PM
I like the thinner bezel but pricing is disappointing, £269 for 16GB wifi
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23 October 2012 7:45PM
"The new iPad mini, which can be held in one hand, has a 7.9 inch (20cm) display, weighs in at 0.68 pounds (0.3kg) and is 7.2mm (0.3 inches) thin, a quarter thinner than the new fourth generation iPad which was launched at the same event."
I missed this fourth generation iPad part in the speeches. I thought they only just released the third gen one?
I don't remember seeing a price for a fourth gen iPad and there's no mention of it as far as I can see on the apple website.
Is there another new iPad (not the mini)? And, if so, what's the difference to the "New iPad" that was only released, what, a month ago?
Am I being dumb here?
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23 October 2012 7:46PM
Okay so £269 compared to £159 for a Nexus 7 and it looks poorer in almost every department to it's 7" rivals.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/23/the-ipad-mini-vs-the-competition-specs/
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23 October 2012 7:46PM
I am sure a 4:3 aspect ratio is fine if the only thing you watch is reruns of TV shows from before 1990.
I have a 16:9 tablet and find it fine, what exactly is your objection to it?
Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 7:54PM
The fourth gen is the same as the 'new iPad' recently launched except with lightening connector and A6 processor. Pricing is the same
Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 7:57PM
The boggo version will be closer to £300 than £200 courtesy of VAT etc. and you damn well know it. Why must you have to be so endlessly disingenuous with this one brand?
Regardless, that's way too pricey given the iPad2 was run out selling for not much more, and the Nexus sells for at least a third less. And every immediate rival has a better screen res too.
Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 7:57PM
BBC says price of iPad mini to be £ 269 plus cost of smart cover of say another £ 20-30 (?) puts the price at close to £ 300 for a 16 GB Wifi only version. This is hardly a competitive product compared to the similar size Wifi only Nexus 7 8GB at £ 159.
My take: Apple is saying that its fans will pay almost twice the price of a Nexus 7 for an additional 8 GB and a cover and that it needs to rip off its fan base to maintain its 50% gross profit margins. It thinks it can get away with it. Chutzpah or what?
And it also seems to be saying that it wants the money up front and is not as confident as Google in assuming it will make up the difference had it priced the iPad competitively based on content and app sales, which is the thinking at Google in pricing the Nexus 7 at nearly half the price of the iPad mini.
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23 October 2012 7:58PM
oh ok. I thought it had that anyway. The people that rushed out in the first place must be pissed off then!
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23 October 2012 8:01PM
iPOS.
Woeful.
No doubt it's still "very good" though, eh?
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23 October 2012 8:03PM
I have a 16:9 tablet and find it fine, what exactly is your objection to it?

In either portrait or landscape reading is horrible. That's why ereaders are usually 4:3. In 16:9 lines of text are either too long or too short for comfortable reading.
16:9 is fine if you want to watch movies or play games.
But no good for just about anything else.
Considering that most people have a TV for watching movies and TV I don't see why this is an overriding requirement for computers and tablets.
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23 October 2012 8:04PM
I was worried that there had not been an Apple article for a couple of days and was cold-turkey for a bit there. Thank you for this, it's made my day to read something about Apple, can't wait to queue overnight with the other fanboys for one.
Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 8:07PM
Just to add, really disappointed there wasn't a live blog about this release. Very disappointing. I look forward to the various reviews and articles in the week to come though, it will keep me sated.
Link to this comment:
23 October 2012 8:08PM
D'oh, there was a live blog and I missed it! Thank goodness for that, never can get enough Apple me
(or the Guardian)!
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Apple unveils mini iPad tablet with prices starting at $329 to compete with Amazon's Kindle and Google's Android tablets

Liveblog: follow the iPad mini launch event here		Apple unveils mini iPad tablet with prices starting at $329 to compete with Amazon's Kindle and Google's Android tablets

Liveblog: follow the iPad mini launch event here
Apple has unveiled a mini version of its iPad as part of its move to muscle in on the market in smaller, cheaper tablets – one dominated for now by Amazon and Google.Apple has unveiled a mini version of its iPad as part of its move to muscle in on the market in smaller, cheaper tablets – one dominated for now by Amazon and Google.
The new iPad mini, which can be held in one hand, has a 7.9 inch (20cm) display, weighs in at 0.68 pounds (0.3kg) and is 7.2mm (0.3 inches) thin, a quarter thinner than the new fourth generation iPad which was launched at the same event.The new iPad mini, which can be held in one hand, has a 7.9 inch (20cm) display, weighs in at 0.68 pounds (0.3kg) and is 7.2mm (0.3 inches) thin, a quarter thinner than the new fourth generation iPad which was launched at the same event.
Prices in the US for the iPad mini start at $329 (£206.40) for the 16GB version, a figure likely to disappoint many who had hoped it would come in at slightly less, with the cost rising to $459 (£287.97) for the 4G version .Prices in the US for the iPad mini start at $329 (£206.40) for the 16GB version, a figure likely to disappoint many who had hoped it would come in at slightly less, with the cost rising to $459 (£287.97) for the 4G version .
"Others have tried to make tablets smaller than the iPad and they have failed miserably," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, who introduced the iPad mini in San Jose, USA."Others have tried to make tablets smaller than the iPad and they have failed miserably," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide marketing, who introduced the iPad mini in San Jose, USA.
The tablet, which has the same resolution as the iPad 2, runs on an Apple A5 chip and has features including a Facetime HD camera, a five megapixel camera capable of taking pictures and video. Its battery life is 10 hours.The tablet, which has the same resolution as the iPad 2, runs on an Apple A5 chip and has features including a Facetime HD camera, a five megapixel camera capable of taking pictures and video. Its battery life is 10 hours.
Schiller said: "The technology inside is equal to, if not better to, the iPad 2 in every way."Schiller said: "The technology inside is equal to, if not better to, the iPad 2 in every way."
The iPad mini is the first to be added to Apple's portfolio of compact devices under Tim Cook, who took over as chief executive from co-founder Steve Jobs just before his death in October 2011.The iPad mini is the first to be added to Apple's portfolio of compact devices under Tim Cook, who took over as chief executive from co-founder Steve Jobs just before his death in October 2011.
The move is a crucial part of Apple's plan to beat back the charge on to its home turf of consumer electronics hardware by Amazon and Google, both of which have already launched popular smaller tablet devices.The move is a crucial part of Apple's plan to beat back the charge on to its home turf of consumer electronics hardware by Amazon and Google, both of which have already launched popular smaller tablet devices.
Wall Street analysts have said for months that Apple was planning a less expensive version of the iPad to take on cheaper competing devices, a move they say might hurt its margins but prevent its rivals from dominating an increasingly important segment.Wall Street analysts have said for months that Apple was planning a less expensive version of the iPad to take on cheaper competing devices, a move they say might hurt its margins but prevent its rivals from dominating an increasingly important segment.
The chief rival is Amazon, which proved that a 7-inch tablet costing about $200 has consumer appeal. The Kindle Fire, released last year, was one of the hottest-selling holiday gadgets. It pressured Amazon's margins but gave it potentially millions of new high-spending customers. The chief rival is Amazon, which proved that a 7-inch tablet costing about $200 has consumer appeal. The Kindle Fire, released last year, was one of the hottest-selling festive gadgets. It pressured Amazon's margins but gave it potentially millions of new high-spending customers.
A research group is forecasting that sales of smaller tablets will double this year. IHS iSuppli expects about 34m smaller tablets – with screens of about 7 inches diagonally– will be sold worldwide in 2012, up from 17m last year. A research group is forecasting that sales of smaller tablets will double this year.IHS iSuppli expects about 34m smaller tablets – with screens of about 7 inches diagonally– will be sold worldwide in 2012, up from 17m last year.
Cook said on Tuesday that Apple had sold its 100 millionth iPad two weeks ago. "This is unprecedented for a new product in a new category," he said.Cook said on Tuesday that Apple had sold its 100 millionth iPad two weeks ago. "This is unprecedented for a new product in a new category," he said.
"We sold more iPads in the June quarter than any PC manufacturer sold in its entire PC line. It seems like every day there's another tablet shipping but when you look at the ones being used it tells a different story."We sold more iPads in the June quarter than any PC manufacturer sold in its entire PC line. It seems like every day there's another tablet shipping but when you look at the ones being used it tells a different story.