‘iPad Mini’ ramping up production this September
The iPad Mini — Apple’s rumored 7.85-inch tablet — is expected to be manufactured in Brazil, with production beginning in September.
“According to a Chinese reliable source, the tablet called iPad Mini will be produced in Brazil,” writes a blogger for the Japanese blog Macotakara, “however production test to collect data for new cutting machine is already done in China. source said that, production phase of this tablet will be started since September, and this tablet should be shipped until holiday season, but announcement will not be so soon.”
Sorry for the broken English — but that’s a Japanese blog for you.
A smaller iPad has been rumored for sometime now, but has been picking up speed in the last couple of months. Recent rumors say the smaller iPad will feature a 7.85-inch screen, compared to the current 10-inch screen of Apple’s current iPad.
News this past week says the iPad Mini will include 3G capabilities — which would make it an ideal commuting tablet — but won’t include an ultra-sharp Retina display, as found in the third-generation iPad.
The iPad Mini is expected to compete directly against Google’s new Nexus 7 tablet, which weighs in at the same size, and Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Amazon is rumored to be working a new Kindle Fire, called the Kindle Fire 2, which could release around the same time as the iPad Mini.
More reliable news sources, such as Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, say the iPad Mini will be released in October, just in time for holiday shopping.
That would make sense, as Apple is expected to release its iPhone 5 and an updated iMac at the same time. Apple likes to introduce things in threes, if you haven’t noticed.
What could set the iPad Mini apart from the competition is its size. The iPad Mini is said to be as thin as the current iPod Touch — which is Apple’s thinnest iOS device. If that’s the case — expect the iPad Mini to be quite popular.
July 9th, 2012
Wow that’s a different rumor. I think if the iPad Mini is made, that many wouldn’t even consider the cheaper Android tablets. My friend would like an iPad, but the main thing that is keeping her from getting one is the price. If it is that thin, I think it would fit perfectly in her purse.