Sign up for a new account or log in here:
also @ TechSpot: OCZ Vertex 450 SSD Review
Apple’s much-rumored iPad mini is set for release before Christmas, according to the latest rumors coming from Focus Taiwan. The publication cites an analyst working for British bank Barclays PLC who believes Pegatron will build and ship 3 million of the smaller iPads, with availability pegged for sometime during fourth quarter of 2012.
That will reportedly account for around 30% of the total production for the so-called iPad mini. The Taiwanese manufacturer was previously expected to handle 70% of the orders but that estimate was revised down due to poor yield rates and other factors like the company’s relative inexperience with building tablets. Apparently a narrower bezel, which allows for a larger screen in the 7.85-inch form factor, has been causing relatively lower assembly yield rate compared to the 9.7-inch iPad.
Taiwan's Hon Hai will build the remaining 6 million to 7 million units of the iPad mini planned for 2012.
“Unlike Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Pegatron lacks the experience for tablet assembly, which has a long learning curve,” Kirk Yang, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Barclays said. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., better known as Foxconn, is reportedly manufacturing iPad mini tablets at facilities in Brazil. “As most iPad component vendors ramp up shipments in September that would continue into the fourth quarter of 2012, we do not see any signs of a postponed shipment schedule, suggesting an on-time October product launch,” Yang said.
Fortune says invitations for Apple’s launch event will be sent out on October 10, citing an unnamed Apple investor who reportedly heard it from “multiple sources.” If the rumor turns out to be correct, Cupertino will reveal the new iPad mini at a special event on Wednesday October 17.
Related Products from Product Finder
Apple iPhone 4S
The iPhone 4S looks identical to last year's model but comes in a new 64GB flavor and upgrades the camera to include an 8-megapixel sensor with improved low-light performance and 1080p video capture. In terms of performance the new iPhone is reportedly up to 2x faster and is also capable of running on faster HSPA+ networks, reaching theoretical download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps.
Apple iPad 2 3G
The iPad 2 improves on the original in many ways, including a significantly faster dual-core CPU, improved graphics and a thinner footprint. The iPad 2 also manages to shave off 0.2 pounds for a total weight of 1.33 pounds on the Wi-Fi only model. Apple has included two cameras on the iPad 2 – a VGA-quality front facing lens for FaceTime and a rear-facing camera capable of recording 720p video.
Apple iPad 2
The iPad 2 improves on the original in many ways, including a significantly faster dual-core CPU, improved graphics and a thinner footprint. The iPad 2 also manages to shave off 0.2 pounds for a total weight of 1.33 pounds on the Wi-Fi only model. Apple has included two cameras on the iPad 2 – a VGA-quality front facing lens for FaceTime and a rear-facing camera capable of recording 720p video.
Apple iPad
The Apple iPad (3rd-gen) includes a Retina Display operating at a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536. Powering the new iPad is a dual-core A5X processor with quad-core graphics, it also gets upgraded optics in the form of a 5MP backside illuminated sensor that features a 5-element lens, IR filter and ISP built into the A5X chip. Apple claims The new iPad is good for 10 hours of battery life and nine hours when using 4G LTE.
Most Popular
| Trending | Featured |
Subscribe to TechSpot
Get free exclusive content, learn about new features and breaking tech news.