Whispers of an itty-bitty iPad persist, with the latest rumours pointing to a miniature iPad going on sale in October, to compete with the Google Nexus 7.
Bloomberg cites two people 'with knowledge of the plans', who reportedly reckon Apple's next toy will have a 7- to 8-inch display, and will lack the eye-bleeding retina display that currently sits on the new iPad.
That could be a cost-cutting omission, however, as the smaller option is rumoured to be cheaper than the existing model, which starts at £399. The timing would be no accident, as Google has just unveiled its own budget tablet, the Nexus 7.
Google's effort will cost a mere £160 and comes running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the newest edition of Google's mobile operating system.
The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, says Apple's suppliers in Asia are prepping for mass production of a new tablet with a smaller screen.
Rumours of an iPad mini have been doing the rounds since the original iPad made an appearance, though Steve Jobs put the boot into smaller slates back in 2010, saying that anyone using one would need to sand down their fingers to use it properly.
Apple traditionally hasn't appeared to pay much mind to what its competitors are doing, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Californian company stuck with its bigger tablet. That said, a smaller, cheaper iPad would be a serious headache for the likes of Google and Microsoft -- which just lifted the lid on its Surface tablet.
We'll know in a few months. October is also likely to be the time we see the iPhone 5, which will undoubtedly arrive running iOS 6.
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Comments 5
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billfred 5 July, 2012 13:49
Oh look, it's last years rumours again.
anonymous 5 July, 2012 13:53
so apples new tables is a Iphone with a 7 inch screen (with no phone), bit like the Ipad
tomfromaardvark 5 July, 2012 16:20
Even if said rumor is true and apple really are working on a 'mini' itll just fall flat on its face because its never going to be as cheap and accessible as the Nexus 7, the finished product will look cool but will do sod all because all the good stuff will have been left off to get people to buy the more expensive full fat iPads, and then theyll still charge like £250. all in all a waste of time really, just get a Nexus 7 and be done with it :D
anonymous 5 July, 2012 17:59
just a bigger version of ipod touch
anonymous 9 July, 2012 10:54
And presumably Apple will try to imply that this is some sort of revolutionary move on their part, and is not just a knee jerk reaction to try and keep ahead of the competition.