You heard it right! Apple is in recent negotiation with their component suppliers in Asia with regards to the production of the rumored smaller version of iPad, expected to release later this year (October to be exact). This move is to help the company hold the stable top position in tablet dominance in the market that is slowly getting crowded with Google and Microsoft.
Bloomberg describes the smaller iPad as:
The new model will have a screen that’s 7 inches to 8 inches diagonally, less than the current 9.7-inch version, said the people, who asked not to be identified because Apple hasn’t made its plans public. The product, which Apple may announce by October, won’t have the high-definition screen featured on the iPad that was released in March, one of the people said.
It has been reported that just this week, Apple had a communication with Asian component suppliers to prepare a mass production of the said tablet.
Apparently, it may be remembered that Wall Street Journal reported way back on February reported that the company is testing a smaller tablet to “broaden its product pipeline amid intensifying competition and maintain its dominant market share.” Recently, the online journal site also claimed that the production of the tablet begins on September.
While the tablet may be smaller and cheaper, customers can expect similar screen resolution as the iPad 2. According to report, Apple is also doing business with some screen makers such as AU Optronics Co., (Taiwan) and LG Display (Korea) to supply the test panels.
With Apple’s move to release a smaller tablet, companies such as Google and Amazon with their Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire respectively finds a strong competitor in the tier of 7-inch size tablet.
What will matter now about customers choosing which to buy is their preference as to which tablet would give them the most of their computing need.
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