ipad mini

Showing 41 posts tagged ipad mini

Xbox Surface: Microsoft's 7-inch gaming tablet

Tom Warren:

Microsoft is building its own 7-inch gaming tablet. Multiple sources familiar with plans within Redmond have confirmed to The Verge that initial hardware planning for an Xbox Surface is underway.

This makes a lot of sense. The iPad mini is a killer gaming device — to the point that I believe it’s going to alter console sales. Microsoft needs to be in this space with Xbox.

Though I’m not sure if marketing it as just a gaming device will be a good or bad thing. Could go either way.

So if in a year we get a retina iPad mini that has the same resolution as the iPhone 5, how will tablet apps work since those are aimed at the iPad's resolution and size?

Asked by dokital

Simple: it will be the same resolution as the third and fourth generation iPads — the retina ones. They’ll simply double the resolution of the iPad mini, not target the iPhone 5.

When Two Comes Before One

John Gruber remarking on Dan Frommer’s post on the iPad mini being the “real iPad”:

I think the 9.7-inch size was better to start with conceptually, to establish the iPad in consumers’ minds as something they might want to own. The biggest complaint about the original iPad upon its unveiling was that it was nothing more than a “big iPhone”. That would have been an even bigger complaint if they’d launched with the smaller 7.9-inch display instead. The bigger difference in physical size made it even more likely that developers would do the work to create iPad-optimized versions of their iPhone apps, too.

Had Apple initially launched a 7.9-inch iPad, I actually think it may have failed. It simply would have been deemed too close in size to the iPhone/iPod touch. “Tablets make no sense” yadda yadda.

It took the 9.7-inch as a sort of proof-of-concept and perhaps just as importantly, a catalyst to get developers thinking about the tablet as different from the smartphone. The iPad mini directly benefits from both developers and consumers now willing to think differently.

"Practically Sold Out"

So much for the short lines — Apple sold three million iPads in three days. To put that in perspective, they sold five million iPhone 5s in three days a few weeks ago — a device that ranges from cheaper to much cheaper depending on the subsidy and version of the iPad. Oh, and it’s the iPhone — Apple’s best-selling device.

Speaking of versions, Apple doesn’t give the iPad mini/iPad 4 split. Though they also don’t do this for the iPod line. During earnings calls, Apple usually says that the iPod touch made up the majority of sales, I suspect the iPad mini will be the same way for the iPad line soon if it isn’t already. That’s not to say the iPad itself is over by any means, the iPad mini should simply accelerate growth.

By the way, these sales don’t include the LTE versions of the iPad mini or iPad 4, which haven’t shipped yet. Most of the people I know pre-ordered one of these (though I suspect the $329 version will end up being the best-selling iPad mini).

While Tim Cook notes that Apple “practically sold out of iPad minis” this weekend, I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually sell out of them when holiday shopping season really ramps up.

The iPad Mini Is The Ideal Second Screen Companion

Darrell Etherington for TechCrunch:

In reality, the iPad mini is better for a number of use cases than its larger predecessor, but it seems like the perfect couch companion after a few days of thorough testing of that theory. With mobile tech moving steadily toward a place of prominence in the family living room, watch for the iPad mini to become the pace setter in this key changing facet of home entertainment.

Yup.

It Costs Microsoft Just $83 More To Make A Surface Than It Costs Apple To Make An iPad Mini

While we’re on the topic of teardowns, this is also interesting from Arik Hesseldahl:

With a base price of $499 for a 32 gigabyte Surface without the Touch Cover accessory, IHS estimates that the cost of components used to build it amount to $271 for a starter 32GB model, without the cover.

Simple math: if these estimates are correct, the base-level Surface costs only $83 more to make than the base-level iPad mini. Still think $329 isn’t a good deal?

Put it this way: Microsoft is selling a product that costs $83 more to make for $170 more. In pure economic terms, it sure looks like the iPad mini is a great deal.

As for the Kindle Fire HD:

Like the old one, the new Kindle Fire HD sells for a starting price of $199, and carries a combined cost of components of $165, according to IHS estimates.

So the Kindle Fire is cheaper to build than the iPad mini — no surprise there, despite the “HD” screen. But Amazon is selling it at a tiny profit, so it’s technically the best “deal”.

$188 to Build

Arik Hesseldahl for AllThingsD:

Previously known as iSuppli, and widely known for its so-called “teardown” analysis reports, IHS has just completed its teardown report on the Apple’s newest iteration of the tablet. The verdict: The base model, a Wi-Fi-only 16 gigabyte iPad mini, which sells for a starting retail price of $329, costs about $188 to build.

Why is Apple not selling the iPad mini at $199? This is why. That would be $11 of profit — and that’s not taking into account marketing, etc. That’s just not the game Apple plays.