But it's still not a Nexus7: What we know and what we don't know about the upcoming iPad mini - Polidicks

[QUOTE]For a device that's expected to go on sale in less than three weeks, the iPad Mini has remained fairly well hidden from view. Apple itself has remained mum on the subject, neither confirming nor denying anything. Details about the smaller tablet computer have slipped out in bytes and pieces. Enough of them have eked through Apple's security controls to give us at least a hazy picture of what the iPad Mini will offer. Here are some of the things about the iPad Mini that we think we know for sure; things that are probable, but could change; and things we just don't know at all. Certainties 1. Smaller Screen -- The iPad Mini's display will be 7.85 inches across the diagonal. This is slightly bigger than the 7-inch tablets that former Apple CEO Steve Jobs loathed, but significantly smaller than the traditional iPad's 9.7-inch display. Apple component suppliers in Asia have suggested that they've received orders for 8 to 10 million of such touch panels. 2. No Retina Display -- The iPad Mini's smaller display's final resolution isn't known, but it won't be a Retina Display. Apple's Retina Displays--available on the iPhone 4, 4S, and 5, MacBook Pro, and newest iPad--pack an extremely high pixel density. They high pixel density renders everything on the screen in great detail and offers the smoothest, sharpest text and pictures. 3. Lightning Port -- Like the iPhone 5, the iPad Mini will use the smaller Lightning port designed by Apple. This port is about the same size as the industry standard microUSB, but isn't compatible with those cables. Only Lightning cables made by Apple will work with this port. Where the Lightning port made life more costly for iPhone 5 owners (who have to purchase adapters to fit the iPhone 5 into their existing accessories), the iPad Mini is a brand new form factor from Apple and has no accessories yet. This information has been "confirmed" by an analyst who's used the iPad Mini. 4. Thinner Design -- Though the first batch of leaked photos of the iPad Mini revealed a device that appeared significantly thicker than the traditional iPad, newer photos (and fresh reports) suggest that it will actually be thinner than the larger iPad, not to mention lighter and easier to hold. Possibilities 1. A6 Processor -- The Retina Display iPad uses Apple's A5X chip. It's incredible. The iPhone 5 uses the A6 chip, which is even more incredible. It's a tossup as to which Apple will put in the iPad Mini, but the A6 is the better bet. 2. Camera(s) -- Leaked images of the iPad Mini show two cameras on board, but it's always possible the images are old or outdated. The iPhone 5 and iPad now have main and secondary cameras. I'd expect nothing less on the iPad Mini, but it's possible Apple will pick only a FaceTime camera. 3. Storage -- Most of Apple's iOS devices ship with either 16, 32, or 64 gigabytes of onboard storage. The iPad Mini will probably fall in line with the rest of Apple's iOS lineup, but there's always room for a surprise. Uncertainties 1. Cellular Data -- Right now, Wi-Fi is pegged as a certainty when it comes to wireless Internet access, but 3G is still only a rumor, and 4G a slim probability. We simply don't know. 2. When -- We thought we knew, but it turns out we don't. Forbes believed the invitations to Apple's iPad Mini event would go out on October 10, with the show kicking off on October 17, and the device arriving as soon as November 2. Well, invitations didn't go out on October 10. The latest report, coming from AllThingsD, suggests the event will take place on October 23. Availability is still expected on or about November 2. 3. How Much -- Pricing guesstimates for the iPad Mini range from $199 to $349. The price point suggested most often is $249 for a 16 GB version. At $249, the iPad Mini would cost $50 more than the Google Nexus 7 and $70 more than the Amazon Kindle Fire. Apple typically charges a premium for its devices. But the iPod Touch costs $299. Granted, it's more difficult to shove technology into smaller packages, but pricing a 5-inch device at $299 and a 7.85-inch device at $249 doesn't make much sense. Bottom line, we just don't know.[/QUOTE] I personally don't care, just posted this for the few Apple people there are here to drool over, and for the rest of you to bitch about. [URL="http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/ipad-mini-what-we-know/240008988"]http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/handheld/ipad-mini-what-we-know/240008988[/URL]

[quote]2. No Retina Display[/quote] Well there goes any point in buying it over another cheaper tablet.

what i do know is that i'm not getting it

They'd never be able to hit that price point with using the A6 chip, the A5 costs much less to make and they make more of them currently. It would be perfectly sufficient, and it still would have GPU power above anything except for the LG Optimus G and other Apple devices. The A5X would work too but the extra GPU power and memory bandwidth wouldn't be needed for 1024x768. Also at the end they state the iPod Touch is five inches, it's four inches.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032035]The A5X would work too but the extra GPU power and memory bandwidth wouldn't be needed for 1024x768. [/QUOTE] What makes you say it'll have that resolution?

And the Nexus 7 still sounds better to me.

[QUOTE=Sir Whoopsalot;38032059]What makes you say it'll have that resolution?[/QUOTE] It's math. 7.85" at 1024x768 would be 163ppi, the same as older iPhones. That's where the rumoured 7.85" number comes from. It won't be 2048x1536, it'd never happen with how expensive those panels are already on the 264ppi new iPad. [editline]14th October 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=FlubberNugget;38032004]Well there goes any point in buying it over another cheaper tablet.[/QUOTE] If it's produced at 1024x768 @ 7.85 inches it'd still be an overall better display than the Nexus 7 @ 1280x800 at 7" because it'll be calibrated like all of Apple's current displays. ~100% sRGB, Gamma of 2.2, etc. Other tablets either are around 60% sRGB, or if they're better like on the Nexus 7 at 86% you get issues like grey scale calibration issues that affect image quality. It may not be as sharp, but overall it'd be a better display.

[QUOTE=CakeMaster7;38032072]And the Nexus 7 still sounds better to me.[/QUOTE] The only downer is the lack of MicroSD slot and HDMI out, but at that pricetag and without the usual bloat, then I shouldn't throw a bitchfit about it.

The problem that the article points out, which is a very good one, is that the iPod touch sells for $299... This is going to be slightly larger than that. So that means one of two things should happen (probably won't because Apple fans love everything Apple does). 1. The new tablet comes in cheaper than $299 to compete with other android tablets. Problem 1. This means that people will go, wait, why is the tablet cheaper than the ipod? Why are you ripping us off on this shitty ipod that hasn't changed in years? 2. The new tablet comes in more expensive than $299. Problem 2. Why so expensive for something like this that doesn't have retina and all that jazz. It shouldn't cost almost the same as a larger ipad. Also, I love the reasoning Apple has in these situations. "7 inch tablets are worthless, terrible, pieces of shit. We will never make one." "Ahhh, 7.85 inches, most wonderful, perfect size to ever grace this beautiful Apple kissed planet"

[QUOTE=Van-man;38032098]The only downer is the lack of MicroSD slot and HDMI out, but at that pricetag and without the usual bloat, then I shouldn't throw a bitchfit about it.[/QUOTE] Back when I got my first tablet, I was going to get the Nexus 7 until I heard it didn't support MHL. I use my tablet for watching videos on my TV so often, it just killed it for me. [editline]14th October 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Squad;38032110]The problem that the article points out, which is a very good one, is that the iPod touch sells for $299... This is going to be slightly larger than that. So that means one of two things should happen (probably won't because Apple fans love everything Apple does). 1. The new tablet comes in cheaper than $299 to compete with other android tablets. Problem 1. This means that people will go, wait, why is the tablet cheaper than the ipod? Why are you ripping us off on this shitty ipod that hasn't changed in years? 2. The new tablet comes in more expensive than $299. Problem 2. Why so expensive for something like this that doesn't have retina and all that jazz. It shouldn't cost almost the same as a larger ipad. Also, I love the reasoning Apple has in these situations. "7 inch tablets are worthless, terrible, pieces of shit. We will never make one." "Ahhh, 7.85 inches, most wonderful, perfect size to ever grace this beautiful Apple kissed planet"[/QUOTE] Uh the larger one is $500. That's a very big price difference, $200. As for what Stephan Jobes said about 7" tablets, he has been known to say things he didn't mean to throw off the competition. With the failure of the original Galaxy Tab, smaller tablets weren't that big in the Honeycomb tablet generation, so he didn't fail to make people doubt that form factor for a period of time.

[QUOTE=Van-man;38032098]The only downer is the lack of MicroSD slot and HDMI out, but at that pricetag and without the usual bloat, then I shouldn't throw a bitchfit about it.[/QUOTE] Lack of MicroSD slot was a dealbreaker for me.

I never understood why people prefer tablets. I mean, I can get a good laptop with better specs and capable of running more software for the same price. Why are tabs so sought after?

[QUOTE=redBadger;38032187]I never understood why people prefer tablets. I mean, I can get a good laptop with better specs and capable of running more software for the same price. Why are tabs so sought after?[/QUOTE] Better specs eh? I'm a fan of a nice screen and a good build. Could you link me a laptop with a resolution of 2048x1536 that has an aluminium unibody build for $499? Probably not. Now of course that laptop will run more programs, be faster, etc. But for me, I just needed a device for taking notes and web browsing, it suited my needs. When high resolution ultrabooks come out I'll look at them and either get one or I'll buy a Macbook Pro Retina.

[QUOTE=redBadger;38032187]I never understood why people prefer tablets. I mean, I can get a good laptop with better specs and capable of running more software for the same price. Why are tabs so sought after?[/QUOTE] Yep. I'd rather get a very tough laptop that is a million times more usable over a flimsy tablet that doesn't run a very featured OS (iOS, Android are not very capable at the time of posting.) [editline]14th October 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=garrynohome;38032204]Better specs eh? I'm a fan of a nice screen and a good build. Could you link me a laptop [B]with a resolution of 2048x1536[/B] that has an aluminium unibody build for $499? Probably not. Now of course that laptop will run more programs, be faster, etc. But for me, I just needed a device for taking notes and web browsing, it suited my needs. When high resolution ultrabooks come out I'll look at them and either get one or I'll buy a Macbook Pro Retina.[/QUOTE] Wait a few months. Now that apple have pushed the line over with their 'Retina' ideal other companies will soon follow.

[QUOTE=FlubberNugget;38032207]Yep. I'd rather get a very tough laptop that is a million times more usable over a flimsy tablet that doesn't run a very featured OS (iOS, Android are not very capable at the time of posting.)[/QUOTE] What is your definition of flimsy? The iPad is made out of a single piece of aluminium, not very flimsy. Yah you've got tablets like the Galaxy Note 10.1 that actually bend inward when you press on the back, but not all of them are like that. I agree with your not very featured point, but tablets are more aimed at people who want multimedia content, web browsing, and Facebook.

They can't exactly sell it for less than the iPod touch or who would even bother buying an iPod touch. It'll probably retail for the same or slightly more.

[QUOTE=FlubberNugget;38032207] Wait a few months. Now that apple have pushed the line over with their 'Retina' ideal other companies will soon follow.[/QUOTE] Oh I will, I'm just waiting for the high res ultrabooks like I said. But will they be closer to the $499 2048x1536 iPad or the $2200 2880x1800 MBP? I don't know.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032204]Better specs eh? I'm a fan of a nice screen and a good build. Could you link me a laptop with a resolution of 2048x1536 that has an aluminium unibody build for $499? Probably not. Now of course that laptop will run more programs, be faster, etc. But for me, I just needed a device for taking notes and web browsing, it suited my needs. When high resolution ultrabooks come out I'll look at them and either get one or I'll buy a Macbook Pro Retina.[/QUOTE] All I read was [QUOTE][I]"gag gargle choke gargle spit"[/I][/QUOTE] Seriously, that's hilariously high specs for a laptop used for web browsing.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032233]What is your definition of flimsy? The iPad is made out of a single piece of aluminium, not very flimsy. Yah you've got tablets like the Galaxy Note 10.1 that actually bend inward when you press on the back, but not all of them are like that. I agree with your not very featured point, but tablets are more aimed at people who want multimedia content, web browsing, and Facebook.[/QUOTE] The screen on a tablet is a far bigger target than what it is on a closed laptop, for example. Also, physical keyboards.

[QUOTE=icemaz;38032234]They can't exactly sell it for less than the iPod touch or who would even bother buying an iPod touch. It'll probably retail for the same or slightly more.[/QUOTE] They could drop the price of the Touch, but they might not need to. Everyone needs to keep in mind it'll be a 16GB iPad vs a 32GB iPod.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032112]Back when I got my first tablet, I was going to get the Nexus 7 until I heard it didn't support MHL. I use my tablet for watching videos on my TV so often, it just killed it for me. [editline]14th October 2012[/editline] Uh the larger one is $500. That's a very big price difference, $200. As for what Stephan Jobes said about 7" tablets, he has been known to say things he didn't mean to throw off the competition. With the failure of the original Galaxy Tab, smaller tablets weren't that big in the Honeycomb tablet generation, so he didn't fail to make people doubt that form factor for a period of time.[/QUOTE] I don't understand what you are saying? I was saying that yes if they can manage to sell it for cheap that would be great... But then you have to look at their ipod line that would be selling for the same price for less of a device? And if they sell it for MORE than what they sell ipods for then the price difference between this and the current ipad isn't as great. I didn't make the connection that if the mini ipad was sold for cheap that it wouldn't be a big price difference from the ipad out now. I made the opposite connection. Recap: If it is priced cheaply ( $199-299) like the Nexus 7, people will wonder why ipods are so damn expensive. If it is priced expensively ( $350-450) why is it almost as much as the regular ipad.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032242]Oh I will, I'm just waiting for the high res ultrabooks like I said. But will they be closer to the $499 2048x1536 iPad or the $2200 2880x1800 MBP? I don't know.[/QUOTE] I'm just going to remind you that higher resolution on a smaller screen at the moment is not very good whichever way you put it. DPI scaling at the moment is wholely terrible on both Windows and OSX. I'm not really sure about Linux but I don't expect much different.

[QUOTE=FlubberNugget;38032250]The screen on a tablet is a far bigger target than what it is on a closed laptop, for example. Also, physical keyboards.[/QUOTE] Vulnerability=/=flimsiness. One is more related to design of the device, the other is more related to the durability of the materials and construction. Yah I'd imagine if I drop this thing it's toast, so if you're going to be dropping things get a laptop.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032274]Vulnerability=/=flimsiness. One is more related to design of the device, the other is more related to the durability of the materials and construction. Yah I'd imagine if I drop this thing it's toast, so if you're going to be dropping things get a laptop.[/QUOTE] Whatever. You get the point in what I'm saying, just ignore that I tend to use the wrong wording from time to time. You're being a little stubborn here

[QUOTE=FlubberNugget;38032264]I'm just going to remind you that higher resolution on a smaller screen at the moment is not very good whichever way you put it. DPI scaling at the moment is wholely terrible on both Windows and OSX. I'm not really sure about Linux but I don't expect much different.[/QUOTE] [url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/6023/the-nextgen-macbook-pro-with-retina-display-review/6]OSX DPI scaling is done a lot better than on Windows.[/url] I thought Microsoft was moving toward some new form of scaling considering the Surface pro is rumoured/confirmed to be 1920x1080 @ 10.1. Things would be really tiny on that otherwise if it's done the same as Windows has always done it.

[QUOTE=FlubberNugget;38032280]Whatever. You get the point in what I'm saying, just ignore that I tend to use the wrong wording from time to time. You're being a little stubborn here[/QUOTE] Trust me, he's [B]ALWAYS[/B] like this.

[QUOTE=Van-man;38032245]All I read was Seriously, that's hilariously high specs for a laptop used for web browsing.[/QUOTE] You just inadvertently supported my argument, you can't find a laptop with comparable specs in those areas at that price. Whether you find them too high is irrelevant. [QUOTE=Van-man;38032291]Trust me, he's [B]ALWAYS[/B] like this.[/QUOTE] Well when you're ready to discuss in a logical manner instead of trying to divert the discussion into something else related to who is arguing and not the argument, let me know.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032287][URL="http://www.anandtech.com/show/6023/the-nextgen-macbook-pro-with-retina-display-review/6"]OSX DPI scaling is done a lot better than on Windows.[/URL] I thought Microsoft was moving toward some new form of scaling considering the Surface pro is rumoured/confirmed to be 1920x1080 @ 10.1. Things would be really tiny on that otherwise if it's done the same as Windows has always done it.[/QUOTE] Win8 [I]has[/I] improved over Win7, and majorly. But there are some things that can't be fixed properly. Adobe products don't scale at all for example Also I will laugh at almost anyone that tries to advise using iOS/Android as a primary operating system over OSX/Windows or Linux. Good luck getting any actual work done that isn't word processing or browsing the internet.

[QUOTE=FlubberNugget;38032280]Whatever. You get the point in what I'm saying, just ignore that I tend to use the wrong wording from time to time. You're being a little stubborn here[/QUOTE] Hey that wasn't my intention, I totally agree that tablets which are basically just glass on the front are not as safe from damage as a laptop. I just thought you meant that tablets were actually flimsy which is an impression I know people do have with lots of them just being made out of plastic that really can be described as flimsy.

[QUOTE=garrynohome;38032330]You just inadvertently supported my argument, you can't find a laptop with comparable specs in those areas at that price. Whether you find them too high is irrelevant. Well when you're ready to discuss in a logical manner instead of trying to divert the discussion into something else related to who is arguing and not the argument, let me know.[/QUOTE] Only when you're ready to view things from other's PoV and are rational, instead of cold and logical. Cya.