This time Kotaku are referencing a Chinese report claiming a 7.85 inch iPad ‘Mini’ will be launched by the third quarter of 2012. Supporting the report is credible timing, with a Q3 release injecting new vigour into the iPad amidst the launch of competitive Windows 8 rivals.
The smaller iPad is expected to don a matching smaller pricetag, which at present is rumoured to be between $249 and $299. Internal storage and internet capabilities remain unknown so far.
During the reign of the late Steve Jobs, the notion of a smaller iPad would’ve seemed unlikely. After all, producing a smaller screen would require applications to anticipate being played on different screen sizes and would potentially fragment app support. Jobs was stubborn when it came to the size of his beloved products, prioritising the dissipation of content over the sale of hardware.
Supporting this claim are reports of an iPhone 5 tossed out just 3 months before the (underwhelming) 4S was released, purely because it donned a bigger 4 inch screen. iPhone5reviewed.com, amongst other sources, believe Jobs was adamant the screen of an iPhone 4 would stagnate at 3.5 inches:
“Steve Jobs was never a fan of the bigger screens…The theory is that different screen sizes will make it difficult for future iOS upgrades to be used across the board, in iPhones that belong to the previous generations.”
Despite Apple’s many innovations, the company is a traditionalist, seldom deviating from its rigid practices.
Read: iPhone 5 WAS Real (Til Jobs Scrapped It)
Now though, Apple is being helmed by Tim Cook and although it’s too soon to see if the company’s perspective has broadened, the release of an iPad Mini could be a sign Apple is veering away from Jobs’ vision.
