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Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

daringfireball.net

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Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#41

Post by jack-r-abbit »

zachwill wrote: post #15

After reading both this and the iMore article, I really feel like Q4 this year is going to be like nothing we've ever seen. There won't be a reason for the average consumer not to get an iOS device. I think we're heading into a time where Apple's dominance will pass the threshold of what Microsoft had in the 90's. And, if you consider a revamped TV is on the way in a couple years — man, we're talking about iOS in the…

> There won't be a reason for the average consumer not to get an iOS device.

My only real complaint about the iOS devices and pretty much the main reason I don't (and very likely never will) own one is that they are made by a company that I really can't stand. Hardware wise, they are decent devices that really don't have any more or less problems than their Android counterparts I have. But I won't buy into their ecosystem. I quit getting involved in debates about which product is superior because in the end, they both have strengths and weaknesses. Neither one needs to be a "killer" of the other. The world will function just fine with each of them maintaining a comfortable market share. So... ya... there actually is reason to not get an iOS device. But I'm happy you found something that works for you. Good for you. So did I. ;)

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#42

Post by msh »

tjmc wrote: post #33
css771 wrote: post #21

This was a very good piece from gruber and I say that as someone who has consistently hated his snarkiness and apple fanboyism in the past. He makes deep analyses of the ipad mini here and dare I say, sets himself apart as a key asset in the Apple tech press. There should be someone as capable of doing in-depth analyses in other tech fields too. I was thinking specifically about android device news. The folks at andr…

Anand Lal Shimpi of http://www.anandtech.com is of that calibre and far less partisan - particularly if you're looking to buy components like motherboards or an SSD.

I like Gruber, but Anand's reviews/analysis are of a far higher calibre than grubers.

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#43

Post by ryanstewart »

beloch wrote: post #39

I'm not a regular reader of daringfireball, but that blog post is very long on speculation and decidedly short on facts. It's random chance whether any of the resolutions, dimensions, weights, or features he settles on wind up proving to the true. This is firmly in the "Bluray support will be native in the next version of OSX!" sort of speculation.

I've started to read DF posts like this with the mindset that he has some inside information. It is very short on facts, but the logic seems mostly sound. Unfortunately it comes across to me as a "I have 75% of the info, I need to create 100% of the story" kind of piece.

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#44

Post by chrisbrandow »

ajross wrote: post #23
zachwill wrote: post #15

After reading both this and the iMore article, I really feel like Q4 this year is going to be like nothing we've ever seen. There won't be a reason for the average consumer not to get an iOS device. I think we're heading into a time where Apple's dominance will pass the threshold of what Microsoft had in the 90's. And, if you consider a revamped TV is on the way in a couple years — man, we're talking about iOS in the…

Um... So a quarter notable mostly for Apples entry into a tablet form factor market already pioneered by other competitors is somehow a testament to the platform's... dominance? (I really want to respond to the idea of yearning for another IBM/Microsoft-scale monopoly too, but I'll limit myself to simple snark for now.)

its dominance will be established (or not!) when customers have their say. They are certainly dominating tablet sales to date. They are making something that people like so much they are willing to pay more for it, rather than the ibm/msft days when people bought something because it was merely cheaper than the alternatives.

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#45

Post by hack_edu »

csmeder wrote: post #40
hack_edu wrote: post #36

The thinness angle doesn't sound right to me and would be a bad decision to trade it for real features. Thinness is important, don't get me wrong, but nearly all iOS device users use cases. The thickness of a case can often double overall size and weight in your hand. This that isn't going to change, probably ever.

The extreme popularity of the mac book air and now pc clones of that form factor would indicate otherwise. I think Gruber hit the nail on the head with: Don't think of it as an iPad mini but an iPad air. Once the early adopters flash their iPad airs around with no case (or an extremely thin mag cover), an ipad 3 is going to look fat and heavy. A nexus 7 is going to look bulky and old. Soon it will be a basic expectat…

OK, but everything will still be in a case so still fat and heavy and clunky looking. A shock proof case can only be so thin and only when you can prevent thin glass/metal/plastic from breaking or warping so easily (let's see how long that takes) will that cease to be the limiting factor. And the cases you see around town aren't the mag covers, I'm talking about fully blown folio in synthetics or leather. Mag covers only protect the screen from scratches and provide the auto sleep function. You can't bring the MBA into the comparison. People don't carry them around everywhere they go, whipping them out 100+ times a day and dropping them on a regular basis.

Full disclosure: despite my argument, I hate cases on my devices and refuse to use them aside from a thin tablet screen cover.

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#47

Post by quarterto »

jonknee wrote: post #24
bluthru wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Limiting to low PPI for app compatibility seems like a hack. What, and give developers another resolution to develop for? No. The iPad Mini will use the iPhone 3GS LCD pixel density. Then in a year, the iPad Mini will adopt the iPhone 4 pixel density. This means that every "retina" iPad app that currently exists will display natively on the device. So basically: wait a year and then you'll have that crazy-good iPhon…

How will that work without having that other resolution you want to avoid? The issue was avoided on the desktop by not requiring everything be full screen. I understand the issue, but my personal iPad usage would not be affected by more resolutions (I surf, read and watch video) but the greater PPI would be very appreciated. That's why it's frustrating.

It's pixel-doubled, so you just need to update the graphics, not redesign the entire app layout.

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#48

Post by ghshephard »

beloch wrote: post #39

I'm not a regular reader of daringfireball, but that blog post is very long on speculation and decidedly short on facts. It's random chance whether any of the resolutions, dimensions, weights, or features he settles on wind up proving to the true. This is firmly in the "Bluray support will be native in the next version of OSX!" sort of speculation.

First of all - it's mostly a speculative piece - that's the point of that article. The post is a sequel to http://daringfireball.net/2012/07/this_ipad_mini_thing. Second, if you read through the first article - you'll see that he tries to justify his speculation based on some design principles that were laid down in the HCI guidelines for the iPad. He does mention where his "cupertino birds" have given him some hints though.

I don't believe there have been any assessments of the next generation iPad anywhere on the internet that have been this justified with rationale provided, or have carefully sourced all the other writers that contributed to his thinking.

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#49

Post by Tyrannosaurs »

ryanstewart wrote: post #43
beloch wrote: post #39

I'm not a regular reader of daringfireball, but that blog post is very long on speculation and decidedly short on facts. It's random chance whether any of the resolutions, dimensions, weights, or features he settles on wind up proving to the true. This is firmly in the "Bluray support will be native in the next version of OSX!" sort of speculation.

I've started to read DF posts like this with the mindset that he has some inside information. It is very short on facts, but the logic seems mostly sound. Unfortunately it comes across to me as a "I have 75% of the info, I need to create 100% of the story" kind of piece.

It's exactly that sort of piece but that's actually why I read Daring Fireball.

Gruber obviously comes from a very specific position when it comes to certain things, but whatever you think about him he's someone who watches Apple very closely and has done for some time.

With someone like Apple where 100% of the information isn't out there, if I'm going to read speculation then I'd rather read Gruber's speculation than most because he's far better equipped to try and fill in the gaps.

Re: Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

#50

Post by sasoon »

For me, ipad with 7.85" screen makes sense. You do not lose screen real estate because it is the same resolution as iPad 1 & 2, it is easier to carry around, apps will not need new versions to support iPad mini. This is real size comparison of iPad 7.85" with iphone 4 and standard ipad: http://www.sizeall.com/compare/Apple-iPad-7-85-inch-mockup-A...
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