A new spate of mini-iPad reports is surfacing, fueling speculation behind Apple's strategy. Is it competing with Microsoft's Surface, Google's Nexus, Amazon's Kindle Fire, or Samsung's Galaxy smartphones? Is Apple providing a broader tablet array for its already-converted iFans? Or is trying to reach a price point that won't discourage new buyers when the next "new" iPad (iPad 4?) renders the last "new" iPad (iPad 3) obsolete?
The answer is in the screen, which has as much speculation behind it as the mini-iPad itself.
Various media reports have
LG Display, AU Optronics, or
Sharp manufacturing the mini's display. Notably absent is Samsung, which is the largest manufacturer of the Retina display, featured in the iPad 3. (LG and Sharp manufacture limited quantities of the Retina.)
Here's what we know about LG Display and AU: they focus primarily on LCD screens and tend to be price leaders in the LCD screen market. Sharp, which has been struggling, recently received a large cash infusion from Foxconn Electronics, which also manufactures Apple's smartphones and iPads. Sharp is also likely to be cost competitive: Foxconn is a vertically integrated company, which means its manufacturing arm gets preferred pricing from its component businesses. I doubt that Sharp will be any different.
Most of the speculation around the mini-iPad is a price point that will cause its competitors apoplexy (in other words, less than $500 -- much less). If AU, LG, or Sharp (or all three) are making the screens -- the single most expensive component on any tablet, smartphone, or mobile device -- look for a mini priced below the iPad. LCD is still a great technology and only gets better as screens get smaller.
Well, its definitely more work for developers. But if Apple releases a device with a 5.55" screen, they will go nuts but end up developing a new app. They can't afford to miss out.
I think I heard Jobs (?) say that they woudn't compromise performance for price, etc. Do you think that's about to change?
App developers will have a bit of problem with all the screen layout issues especially when they want to do apps that can run on all devices. This has been a trouble for android developers.
The tablet PC market is going to be in a flux for a while. While companies like HP have temporarily given up, others like RIM are still keeping a toe in while new ones are diving in with varying platform offerings. The mini-iPad, if/when Apple launches it, will further divide the market. It will be positioned against devices from so many other companies and may even end up eroding sales of the original iPad.
Aside from Apple, it's going to be a while before we know who will win and lose here.
I agree that if the mini comes in at a lower price point, Apple is responding to the market rather than leading it. That typically isn't Apple's strategy. So I wonder, if, similar to the iPad 3, something unexpected will happen with the mini. If so, what will that be?
With the iPad mini, Apple is probably planning to slow down Samsung's successful upward trend on its similar sized tablet on the market.
Given that porting the iOS to a smaller tablet should not be a big problem, this is a great opportunity for Apple to establish its presence in the small tablet market. However, small screen size will mean that the existing iPad applications will need to be redesigned to support the new small screen size and therefore the adoption of the new mini may take some time until there is a good base of applications available for it.
I think having a cheaper and smaller version of the iPad is a good move and I can see a good market for it.
That trend is bringing to my mind what happened in the area of "mini", for example for netbook; it seems results in terms of profit was not so good, but in such way it open the doors to new competitors making the market more excited. But if Samsung has decided to not play in the sector, I am sure there is a good reason for explaining it.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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