The rumor mill churns incessantly when it comes to Apple and its high-end gadgets, and while most of the hype surrounds the next-generation iPhone, Apple's rumored iPad mini is in the spotlight as well. There are various rumors and speculation regarding the tech giant's mini tablet, so here are the most interesting tidbits:
According to Japan's Macotakara Web site, the iPad mini will resemble an iPod Nano, at least in terms of design. The report also claims the new, smaller iPad will be produced at Foxconn's new plant in Brazil. Should such speculation prove to be accurate, we might see a mini iPad that is thinner than Amazon's Kindle Fire, and also 25 percent thinner than the current iPad.
Meanwhile, another report from DigiTimes claims the Cupertino, California-based tech giant plans to update the recently launched third-generation iPad in order to address its so-called "overheating" issues. Digitimes also reported that Apple will ditch the dual-LED backlight for a single LED model for the new iPad, while the display will employ Sharp's IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) panel technology. The same report claims Apple also plans to deploy new battery technology with the third-generation iPad. Keep in mind, however, that this report is unsubstantiated and Digitimes does not have the best record when it comes to rumors and predictions.
Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal joined the speculation game and claimed Apple plans to introduce a small-size iPad at a highly competitive price, and production has already begun. The iPad mini will reportedly sport a non-Retina 1024 x 768 display like the first- and second-generation iPads. Other speculations hint to older processors, 3G support, and 8GB of memory, steps aimed to reduce manufacturing costs so Apple can draw a profit from the device even if it goes for a competitive $200-$299 price tag.
"The bottom line is that it's really all about the platform," Creative Strategies president Tim Bajarin wrote back in April. "At the moment, I don't see anybody creating a unified and powerful enough platform that comes close to what Apple already has in the market."
The iPad mini is expected to come around the same time as the highly-anticipated iPhone 5, meaning sometime in the early fall. If the rumors prove to be true, the mini tablet should offer an outstanding battery life and a sleek iPod Nano-style design, bound to sell millions of units in no time. It will likely bury Amazon's Kindle Fire, and will make Apple's dominance stronger than ever.
