The Apple iPad mini Thread

[Expresso]

Originally Posted by Ronin

I hear from some devs that they don't want to put too much time into doing Android apps because Android users just pirate their apps. Much harder to make money with Android.

It's probably just as bad on iOS. Look at the number of people who jail break their devices. Besides pirates will always be pirates, no lost sales there.

[dangonay]

Originally Posted by DanHibiki

after purchasing an iphone 4, I can't go back to anything that doesn't have a crisp screen

Agreed. You don't notice the difference as much going from an iPad 2 to the new iPad, but boy do you notice it when you switch back.

Originally Posted by Ronin

And are all Android tablet apps really just upscaled phone apps? They're not optimized for larger screens? Or is that just Mac-centric website speak?

No, that's an fairly accurate statement. Some aren't, but most are.

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

The OS itself before 4.0, totally.

The main problem with Android tablets is lack of tablet specific apps. But you can say that about anything that isn't iOS right now. Once Apple gives up their market share (which they are doing at a faster pace every quarter) developers should start making more Android and Win RT versions of their apps.

Ask Eric Schmidt about that. Last December, when Android had pretty much caught up to iOS for marketshare, he was asked by an audience member about the disparity in developer interest and why developers favored iOS by more than 2:1. His prediction was that in 6 months (we're now at 11, BTW) you'd see those numbers switch and developers would favor Android over iOS. The reason Schmidt gave was "Android has more marketshare and developers follow the market." Well, it's still over 2:1 for iOS over Android and despite Android's larger market share developers still haven't gone over.

This is easy to understand if you're a developer, but difficult for the consumer (or fanboy). Android is a clusterfuck of an OS when compared to RT or iOS. Since this is a car site, I'll use a car analogy:

iOS is like taking the 414HP BMW M3 V8 engine and dual clutch gearbox and putting them into something plain like an Accord or Camry. Works great, fast, but a little bland/boring for some.

Android is like taking an over-boosted 4 cylinder home made turbocharged Civic engine cranking out 300HP and putting it into a body of a Ferrari. Looks great with all the widgets and eye candy, still performs OK, but underneath it's a patched together OS.

RT is in the middle. It has the superior engine/gearbox in a car that's not as fancy as Android, but nicer than iOS. Maybe a 3 Series or Audi A4.

With your Camry/Accord, it's really easy to add your own stereo, rims/tires, suspension or body kits. It's very difficult to replace your engine/gearbox. Likewise, it's easy for iOS or RT to add new "features" to their OS, but it's difficult for Android to update their "engine".

Perfect example, Android adding ALSR to ICS. Sounds good on paper, but it was a half-baked attempt that didn't do anything. They might as well have left it out. They updated it again in Jelly Bean and now it does what it's supposed to do. Unfortunately, as of Nov 1st (according to Google) Jelly Bean is now on 2.7% of devices while ICS is on 25.8%. Gingerbread 54.2%.

This brings us to another reason developers haven't switched. Market share vs OS version. JB is very good, but nobody is using it. Why would a developer waste time writing for such a small number of devices? And by the time JB starts getting market penetration Key Lime Pie will be out and the cycle repeats, that is, most Android devices are running two versions behind.

Meanwhile iOS has hit 60% adoption in only a few weeks after it was launched. If I write an App using the latest iOS 6 API's I know it will work on any iOS device, including the crappy 3GS.

Google needs to put their foot down and make it mandatory for OEM's and carriers to release Android updates within a specific time after Google releases it. OEM's for Android don't give a damn about supporting older devices as they make no money from them. Yet it costs money to have your software engineers port over Jelly Bean to those older devices. With Apple, they still get revenue from older iOS devices through the App Store and iTunes. They also have higher customer retention because of this. So they have more incentive to support older devices longer than Android does.


I think Win RT is going to have a tough go because they're trying to get into a new market and people want Apps for their devices. Like iOS, RT has one big advantage - it's written by a company that understands how to make an OS (from 30 years of previous attempts, successes and failures). For the first time ever, we have been able to see two mobile OS's run on the same processor (Tegra 3). And RT on Tegra 3 outperforms Android on Tegra 3. Which show MS still knows how to optimize an OS.

I don't think RT will take much market share from iOS, but I bet it steals a lot from Android. With the Surface and Mini coming out at the same time, I think this holiday season is not going to look good for Android, Nook or Amazon.

[Isaiah11]

I think I'm caving into this product

have no idea what I'll do with it other than surf the web

[buhdeh]

I bet the RT doesn't do shit and the Nexus 7 alone probably outsells all RT products combined for the rest of the year.

[dangonay]

I don't think the kids will like the iPad Mini's I got them. They've been playing with my new iPad '4' and are hooked on the drawing Apps I've got (Sketchbook, Paper and Procreate). They run amazingly well on the new A6X and the response to drawing and brush strokes is excellent. I've tried these on an iPad 2 and it's just not the same.

Serves me right for letting them use my new one. Now they're not going to like using the "slower" Mini. However, my wife loves the Mini since she doesn't do anything that requires the extra power (surfs, social and e-mail). She really likes how light it is compared to a full-sized iPad.

[DanHibiki]

Originally Posted by HachiSix

It's probably just as bad on iOS. Look at the number of people who jail break their devices. Besides pirates will always be pirates, no lost sales there.

Except jail breaking is a hassle and not always available for your phone and ios version. 2 years ago I believe the % of ppl who jailbreak was like 3%. Should be less now.

Android is open source so it's easy as hell to download those pirated shops and on any version.
Posted via RS Mobile

[BaoTurbo]

CNET News that surprised me at how much an ipad mini really costs

The iPad Mini has been in consumers' hands for only a few days, but we already have a better idea of what's in Apple's new tablet and how much it costs to make.

A teardown of the device conducted by IHS concluded that the base 16GB Wi-Fi model, which Apple sells for $329, costs about $188 to build, according to an All Things D report. The 32GB and 64GB models cost an additional $90 and $162 to build, respectively, the firm found.

In addition to the cost of materials, the teardown also revealed the identities of some of the device's component suppliers. LG Display and AU Optronics supplied the 7.9-inch touch-sensitive display components, which cost about $80, or about 43 percent of the device's total bill of materials.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57...rdown-reveals/

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by HachiSix

It's probably just as bad on iOS. Look at the number of people who jail break their devices. Besides pirates will always be pirates, no lost sales there.

I don't think so. On Android pirating is as easy as copying a file to your device and running it. Jailbreaking iOS is not an easy task, especially if you are using a newer device.

I'm pretty sure piracy is a big concern, but not system killing like it was for the PSP

[dangonay]

Apple announces 3 million iPad sales. Though, like usual, they don't break those numbers down, but judging by the response at the local Apple store I think it's safe to say the Mini and iPad 4 made up the majority of those sales.

Correction: Apple stated 3 million was sales for the Mini and iPad 4 only. Still didn't say how many of each.

[skholla]

None of those cost breakdowns include money spent on R&D and Marketing...

IMHO Android tablets kill the iPads feature and spec wise but I prefer the iOS interface and Appstore, also iCloud syncing across Apple devices. I also like the sleek and minimal design of iPad versus Android, metal & glass > plastic...

I do wish that Apple would make only 16GB iPhones and iPads and add SD card slots but I dont see this ever happening... Not a good business move for them, iOS devices are so popular that people will buy without the option to upgrade storage down the road... I did and so did 3 million other people with past weekend.

[ddr]

one of the factors i'm concerned w/ an iOS device is its lifespan i.e. when it will not be included in a future iOS ver. since this mini is running ipad 2 guts, is it going to have the same shelf life as the ipad 2? that would be a full 2 generations behind the newest ipad.

[Iceman_2K]

probably not as quick as you'd think. Now with regards to features, that's different. It may get the latest iOS update, but like the 3GS or the iPod Touch, it might lack some features to the OS itself.

[Ronin]

I'd say things last about a two year cycle. Maybe 18 months?

I'm really enjoying the iPad mini so far. Studied on it most of the day with my textbooks on iBooks. The size feels much lighter in your hand and more comfortable to hold. Unfortunately, the screen isn't great so reading text just looks okay. Apparently, there's a thing Apple could do with sub-pixels or something that could make text look clearer but I'm not holding my breath.

The thing is, even with the smaller size, the mini is no less usable than the full sized iPad. In fact, games are better because it's less awkward to hold. AND IT'S POCKETABLE. Coat pocket but I can't stress how amazing this is.

I won't argue that Android has better specs but in terms of tablet, you aren't going to beat the iPad experience right now. I don't care how cheap and customizable Android tablets are right now...they just aren't as good as the iPad. Now that I realized how different the app environment is, it's not even close. Google has some ways to catch up in that area. After trying the Surface last weekend, I think the software is better than Android but the hardware still lags. Will have to see the full meal deal $1000 Windows Pro tablets.

[EmperorIS]

Specs don't mean squat
its all about the experience

[thebigbea]

picked one up yesterday... got the ipad 3 already but need one that i can bring with me to work

[michimaro]

Picked one up on launch day and I am loving it so far. Coming from an iPad 2, the lack of a retina display doesn't bother me at all. I like that it's lightweight and I can just toss it into my bag without it weighing me down.

[Ronin]

Anyone get a case yet? Was thinking about buying this:

[ForbiddenX]

^I have it for my Nexus 7 and it's an awesome case. I love it

[Sky_High]

YouTube (Short URL)

[BigTrollFace]

I have a few in north vancouver Futureshop ask for tim
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[thebigbea]

still waiting for my case on ebay... ordered it 2 weeks ago... not much choices in stores here...

[SkinnyPupp]

iPad mini 2 Retina display tipped already in pipeline from AUO - SlashGear

[Ronin]

So October 2013 maybe? It would have to be the same price so as not to hit the regular iPad price. $329 retina display iPad mini? I'd sell this to buy one.

[Isaiah11]

anyone had problem with the black slate on this product?

a few friends of mine have already chipped their iphone5 black slates with minimal use

[JesseBlue]

^what do they mean minimal use? like, only dropped once in a while? do they put it in their pockets with keys? in their bag and its hitting/scraping on other stuff?