Apple iPad mini makes low key debut

Looks like people are just getting tired of apple... considering all iOS products combined only made up a bit under 15% of the smartphone market (http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS23771812), and even Windows Phone grew more in the last year. iPads are just the next thing to stop growing, since the only people who can afford one already have it or something better.

For being called mini its still pretty big.

“It is thinner and very light. Look, you can hold it in one hand.”

Huh? I can do that with my iPad 2 also.

http://news.yahoo.com/meet-only-guy-line-ipad-mini-nyc-pics-151607016.html

Now this is interesting. iPhone 3 had a two week camping line, and the iPad had a few days in fairly cold weather and rain. Now in NYC they got exactly one fan waiting even after a lot of people just got a reason to take a few days off and do something stupid like wait in line. Pretty soon media companies are going to stop caring too, and that will be the end of poor hardware choices like the mini

Matthew SimonNov. 02, 2012 - 02:18PM JST

For being called mini its still pretty big.

Wait until they release the ipad mini mega!

http://www.inquisitr.com/384555/ipad-mini-mega-introduced-by-conan-obrien-video/

It is logical to contribute the drop in the enthusiasm of first day sales to the fact that the people who have Apple iDevices are quite happy with their current models.

Apple is doing a good job, but they are not the ONLY player in smaller sized tablets, so COMPETITION is what we all need, let them fight each other for our $$ and YEN etc..$$$!!

In the end of all this, give a few years, Android tablets will CRUSH apple just like in smartphones. So enjoy the ride while you can arrogant apple.

“It’s completely different (from the regular iPad),” said Ayano in Tokyo, who did not give her surname.

“It is thinner and very light. Look, you can hold it in one hand

Spoken like a true fangirl, it's true magic that something which is smaller, is also lighter and better to hold..... wow it's Apple magic!

Looks like the Apple fanboys are desperate for the Microsoft Surface!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-rolls-ipad-mini-sydney-003507927.html

Will you look at that, new ipad mini expected to sell only a third of the 3rd gen ipad, and lower than the Amazon Kindle Fire it competes against (a million units a week for first 11 weeks).

Hell, disappointed people hoping that the ipad mini was better than the competition flocked to the Kindle (http://bgr.com/2012/10/29/amazon-kindle-fire-hd-sales-tripled-after-ipad-mini/ )

Hell, even the competing Nexus 7 is doing well (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/10/manufacturer-spills-beans-on-google-nexus-7-sales/). Basically the ipad only has brand recognition in it's favor, and disappointing first day lines are proof that it isn't the amazing tablet apple hoped it would. It's reported Apple made up to 10 million units, yet most analysts predict only 5-7 million in sales first quarter, and only 1-1.5 million first week. That's a lot of money that is just sitting in unused hardware.

Smart fans are entirely ignoring the mini and just spending the extra cash on the much better ipad 4th gen instead. People who don't want to pony up that much are choosing practically anything else.

just picked up my first one and will be getting the 2nd one for the GF next week. Apple rocks! Go Apple!!

ifixit got theirs to dismantle. The verdict? it's virtually unrepairable - a score 2/10 - copious quantities of glue: the screen, the battery, the motherboard. the worst thing is the new lightning connector is soldered. Home repairers wont be able to fix this - nor the apple people. Basically if it breaks its a throwaway device . If your have a warranty with apple you should be safe, but outside of warranty you are screwed and the environment is too. Nice sustainability there apple - not.

I'm not a major fan of iPad but I did buy a Mini because there are a few rhythm games I wanted to play which were only on iPad and I didn't quite want to shell out the money for the full size version or the two generations out of date iPad 2...

Mixed feelings. I think the screen isn't quite high res enough to be quality like a recent iPhone, but since I'm only really only using it for games, couch note-taking and remote control, it's good enough. This is after messing about with it for only two hours though, so I'm sure I'll find things to bitch about later.

I didn't quite want to shell out the money for the full size version or the two generations out of date iPad 2...

Erm I hope you also realize that the Mini has the same specs as the iPad 2.

Wonder if train otaku act this way too? "Argh, I can't believe the sheep, saying the Fukutoshinsen is the way to ride. It's clearly inferior to JR. Plus, JR has more standing space in the mornings, more handrails to hold on to and even foldable seats! Fukutoshinsen doesn't even have the options JR has to be able to watch different commercials in the same car."

It's humorous to me that some of you doods here can get so upset over this. I don't get upset that when I see someone using a non-Apple product. I just say like Mister T.:

"I pity the fool!"

@bas Damn boy, you really got it in for Apple, don't you? Did they do something bad to you in anyway? (Oh, if you care about anyone being able to read the multitude of links you drop here - learn how to link properly. There's a button for that, you know. Or does that not work on your superior non-Apple device?)

@flammenwerfer Give me a break. The sutainability no good? You don't know what you're talking about, do you? How many people do you think are interested in "home repairing" their iPad? I sure wouldn't be. Just because a few tinkerers want to carry around multiple batteries (good to have when in the wilderness!) doesn't mean the average tablet user cares. Oh, noo, is the connector soldered to the device. Can't use it now, can we.

@Dutchduck You're the one with the magic abilities, reading things not written in the article. Where does the girl mention "magic".

I checked this iPad minimout today. Very light, well built. Apple still leads the way.

Apple introduced the IPAD Mini to compete with the 7" Kindle. I'm disappointed at the rather high price. When rumors of the mini first began circulating a year or so ago, a starting price under $300.00 was being mentioned. But Apple knows those of us that are hooked on Apple will buy it. The Executives of Apple are greedy to make as much profit as possible.

Apple introduced the IPAD Mini to compete with the 7" Kindle. I'm disappointed at the rather high price. When rumors of the mini first began circulating a year or so ago, a starting price under $300.00 was being mentioned. But Apple knows those of us that are hooked on Apple will buy it. The Executives of Apple are greedy to make as much profit as possible.

Why don't you go out and carry out a test: take the two tablets on your hands and make a comparison. I haven't done it yet, but from reviews online, the materials used in the mini iPad are far superior to other tablets. Polished aluminum is not cheap. That is why Apple gadgets are beautiful after years of use. Polished silver gives a touch of refinement, that's why it is so used in luxury brand goods. As for the OS, if you already are using an iDevice then you already know what you need to know.

@tairitsuiken I dont know what I'm talking? please.

Google "ipad broken dock" and you get 2.7 million hits, "what to do with a broken ipad" gets 105million hits - It happens a lot - to all modern electronic devices, especially phones and tablets that take daily abuse, I hope it happens to you out of warranty, then you might 'get it'. If the dock is screwed in it can be replaced relatively easy. if its soldered, it's much harder to replace it without messing things up. Most smartphones you can cheaply replace the docks. the Micro USB ones on many devices to apples old 30pin. I have changed a micro USB dock - the replacement part was pennies and the device which was otherwise a good device was able to be continued to be used, instead of being junked (or repaired at exorbitant rates in a shop) and it's owner extremely grateful If this ipad mini breaks - its effectively a brick, that will get thrown away. mottainai.

That is why Apple gadgets are beautiful after years of use

yes, the beautifully cracked screens that seems to affect 1 in 4 iphone 4's is captivating

Tairitsuiken, nowhere did I write that the girl actually said "magic", it's in her words, she must think it's magic, but eh ah well, by reading your last comment I just now it falls on deaf ears.....

Very light, well built. Apple still leads the way.

Why would it be heavy? And for the price why would it have a crappy built? And where does Apple lead the way?

Can`t you see it, you too fell under the Apple's magic spell?

@Dutchduck

Dude, you're just great at reading things that aren't written, aren't you... Why must she think it's magic? What do you base that on? Your assumptions? Not good enough.

Did you actually feel an iPad mini yet? Bet you didn't...

@flammenwerfer Highly scientific method you got going there: "Google it..."

Well, I don't think I will.

The reason is, I, unlike you understand that things break. Even after warranty runs out. Much like a car, I have zero interest in opening an electronic device up and messing around in there. I don't have nor the time or the interest to fix these things myself. What I care about is my things to work well while not broken. As I see it, Apple has a few things going for them:

Smoothness. Scrolling/swiping is still about a million times better on an iOS device than anything else. Why is that? To me, that this works is much more important than wether or not the connector is soldered to the case or not. Build quality. I like gadgets. I like to use them and do so every chance I get. That's why living in Japan is great. Whenever I pick up one of these Galaxy products or Docomo branded smart devices I just get dissapointed. The build quality is nothing like what Apple manages to make. Why is that.

One non-Apple device that felt very well built was a Toshiba tablet I found in Yodobashi. Unfortunately, it ran Android...

@zichi

There is always a better model arond the corner.

@flammen: your speach sounds like of those stupid guys who put their iPhones on their pants back pocket then sit on them when they enter the car...and whin on the net how Apple devices are not tough. Gimme a break! People has the narrow vision that Apple has to do everything for them, including accepting their stupid accidents or carelessness. I am mature enough to understand that electronic devices are fragile and such be treated with care, and if I dive in a swimming pool with my iPhone on my pocket I have zero chance of getting another from Apple.

LostinNagoyaNov. 03, 2012 - 12:27PM JST

if I dive in a swimming pool with my iPhone on my pocket I have zero chance of getting another from Apple.

If you are prone to diving accidents, get the Toshiba Windows Phone 7/8 models, they are waterproof to about a meter for hours, or further for a few seconds.

All readers back on topic please.

Smoothness. Scrolling/swiping is still about a million times better on an iOS device than anything else. Why is that?

yes the ipad and iphone are well known for their smoothness, however I would like to point out that since android 4.1, Android is equally as smooth to scroll. Project butter - they called it and it meant android screen scrolling was 60fps. If you buy a new device now with 4.1 the argument that it's smoother, is moot. Have you played with a 4.1 device. In fact the Nexus 7 which is the direct competitor of this iPad mini runs 4.1 - it's an equal playing, ah scrolling field. Sure older androids model cant match, but they are good enough for 99% of people.

Dude, you're just great at reading things that aren't written, aren't you... Why must she think it's magic? What do you base that on? Your assumptions? Not good enough.

Like I said "deaf ears".....

Did you actually feel an iPad mini yet? Bet you didn't...

I don't have to feel it, I know it's a well built device...but like I said, why would you expect anything else for its price?

DutchduckNov. 03, 2012 - 04:57PM JST

I don't have to feel it, I know it's a well built device...but like I said, why would you expect anything else for its price?

Well built, sure. But even the best aluminum cases are no match for a substandard LCD resolution (samsung sourced for first batch, but rumors have it that samsung pulled out), which is a huge criticism among reviewers used to the retina type ipad. In fact, many complain that the competition has both more pixels AND higher ppi. If they had really wanted to ask for $150 more they could have at least provided 1400x1050 SXGA+ (about 50% larger in both directions) and it would have ended up as 224ppi, which they probably could have pulled off as "RetinaDisplay" without too many complaints.

iPad-mini is selling relatively so-so in America. Not as much enthusiasm; a lot of people aren't even aware of it. Maybe current news is pulling it out of the spotlight too, e.g. hurricane aftermath problems, election, etc. (Or maybe as they say in the tech world, don't buy 1st gen, hahaha.) Like Win8, people don't see much need to change from their regular iPads; rather wait for iPad 4......... or should that actually be iPad 5 (as this short article here explains):

http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/why-new-ipad-owners-can-ignore-the-ipad-4-20121024/

(Our Apple guru associate thinks the New iPad (aka iPad 3) owners are getting screwed releasing the iPad 4 so soon with the new Lightning connector - with hardly much else difference from iPad 3, as if iPad 3 was merely a stopgap while Apple finishes developing the Lightning connector for the iPad 4, and iPad 3 owners would so soon have to buy "expensive" adapters to connect to Lightning devices as companies would soon stop making devices for the old 30-pin connector.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyWSEwKPo8s&feature=player_embedded

This video pretty much sums up the purpose of the iPad mini in apple's inventory, as well as why the debut was so mellow.

If you are prone to diving accidents, get the Toshiba Windows Phone 7/8 models, they are waterproof to about a meter for hours, or further for a few seconds.

Just like anyone else, I may trip on a rug and get my iPhone broken. But this doesn't mean I will go after a model that survives accidentsr. I go after a model that suits my personal and business lives. And this model has been an iPhone. I don't have the patience to handle Windows, or the time for the freeze-reboot-cleanup routine that I had to to daily when I used Windows, a long time ago.

basroil

iPads are just the next thing to stop growing, since the only people who can afford one already have it or something better.

The facts don't support you here. Android tablets except perhaps for the Kindle Fire (which is sold at cost and makes no profit) have made no ground on the iPad.

zichi

The Microsoft Surface will have limited use in countries like Japan which have almost no free wifi, even in the expensive hotels. I wonder, are the OEM models only wifi too?

True, except if you consider you can buy a WiFi biscuit with a data plan, or you can tether your iPhone.

2020hindsightsNov. 05, 2012 - 10:52AM JST

The facts don't support you here. Android tablets except perhaps for the Kindle Fire (which is sold at cost and makes no profit) have made no ground on the iPad.

Actually, it's your stance they don't support. Apple's shares have taken a nosedive in the last year, down more than a third to just 52% market share from almost 85% before.

http://www.journalism.org/analysis_report/future_mobile_news

When adding in the shipp.ing rates, the situation is even more apparent, with new customers practically disappearing and most of the tablets not adding marketshare (sign that they have saturated their customer base, and now they are dealing with upgrades as a significant chunk of their customers)

Actually, it's your stance they don't support. Apple's shares have taken a nosedive in the last year, down more than a third to just 52% market share from almost 85% before.

Not True. In the last year, Apple dominated Q2 - 69%. Q3 this dropped and new offerings from Google and Amazon got better. But Samsung at less than half of iPad sales, so it still doesn't come close. The thing is this is all cyclical. The new iPad was added just before Q2 so %age is up. People were holding off buying iPads before October waiting for the iPad mini to be announce so %age is down.

100 million iPads have been sold so far and no other tablet maker comes close to that.

BTW You need to use the Link button to post links. I can't access your link.

2020hindsightsNov. 05, 2012 - 04:25PM JST

Not True. In the last year, Apple dominated Q2 - 69%.

So, when the iPad3 came out. But if you look at overall market share that did nothing compared to the overall drop this year, especially considering a good deal of those with iPad3 had switched from earlier versions. Most of those wishing to buy a mini express the same, they aren't winning converts or new sales, and in fact cannibalizing their 4th gen ipad sales to boot. They are currently at just 50%, with a ! https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS23772412

100 million iPads have been sold so far and no other tablet maker comes close to that.

Neither does any iPad. There's now five different versions, and none of them have even close to half that number in circulation. Even if the expected sales figures hold, the ipad mini won't reach above 10-20% of the total, which is a spectacular failure for a company that prided itself on back to back doubling of revenue (which can't happen if the revenue is cut by a third).

don't forget the ainol novo 7 crystal running android 4.1.1 (jelly bean), mini HDMI, mini USB and micro SD up to 32GB...9,500 yen!

They are currently at just 50%, with a ! https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS23772412

You still don't get it. It's 50% for Q3 only. A slow quater for Apple (due to upcoming releases), but they still outsell Samsung by close to three times.

Neither does any iPad. There's now five different versions, and none of them have even close to half that number in circulation.

That makes no sense. We're comparing tablet sales with tablet sales, not different models. Apple have an advantage because they created the category and you would expect (as we can see) others to catch up eventually. Anyway, to get an idea of the differences in total numbers of tablets sold by both companies, here they are:

Apple: 100 million

Samsung: 6.5 million

basroil

Even if the expected sales figures hold, the ipad mini won't reach above 10-20% of the total, which is a spectacular failure..

If they do sell 10%-20% of 100 million, that's more than the total number of tablets sold by Samsung ever. You call that a failure? Wow Samsung must be a failure.

Apple have an advantage because they created the category and you would expect (as we can see) others to catch up eventually.

Apple didn't create the tablet category. Nokia 770 Internet Tablet which came out 5 years before the iPad. It ran *nix and would do everything the original iPad could do and a whole lot more. It had GPS, memory card slot, bluetooth, wifi, and usb. You could tether it via bluetooth phone too. Like 8 months before iPad, Archos had their tablets which ran Android and Windows 7.

There were tablets before the Nokia 770 too.

Korlacan KhanthavilayNov. 06, 2012 - 05:52PM JST

Apple didn't create the tablet category.

Entirely true. They also didn't invent the PMP (aka ipod, a little known company made one in the late 80s, full digital PMP), smartphone (HTC had them beat by 4 years at least, around 10 years if you include GSM based PDAs), or tablet (too many to count ever since Microsoft released XP Tablet Edition in 2002). They just leeched on and assumed all their fanboys would eat their revisionist history right up.

Hell, a lot of their advertizing was being called into question, including claims about "thinnest smartphone" (even newest one is larger than the droid razr). Now that apple slipped in sales and competitors sales tripled, they soon won't be able to even say "most popular" without violating laws.

Apple didn't create the tablet category.

Entirely true. They also didn't invent the PMP (aka ipod, a little known company made one in the late 80s, full digital PMP), smartphone (HTC had them beat by 4 years at least, around 10 years if you include GSM based PDAs), or tablet (too many to count ever since Microsoft released XP Tablet Edition in 2002). They just leeched on and assumed all their fanboys would eat their revisionist history right up.

Yeah, yeah, yawn. How much did those other devices sell and why aren't they selling now. Sure EVERYBODY knows tablets have been around for years. And smartphones. Hell, i-mode devices were smartphones. But it took Apple to create a whole new market of smartphones and tablets that sell in real numbers and make real profits. If you deny that you are blind.

would do everything the original iPad could do and a whole lot more.

Like multitouch gestures? I think not...

2020hindsightsNov. 06, 2012 - 10:05PM JST

Yeah, yeah, yawn. How much did those other devices sell

Palm alone was at well over 30 million units by the time smartphones came out. RIM was selling about 2 million devices a quarter before the pearl craze, and sold about 50 million units by 2009. From all makers combined, you're looking at over a hundred million devices before the iphone even came out, let alone ipad.

Like multitouch gestures? I think not...

"gestures" is the only thing any ipad user ever talks about, but you never see anyone actually use. It had things better than gestures, it had a real OS so you could connect any bluetooth or usb device. Also had seemless updates. And best of all, it actually had flash application suppport, so you didn't need game apps even though it could install plenty.

Palm alone was at well over 30 million units by the time smartphones came out.

I said 'smartphones' - not PDAs.

RIM was selling about 2 million devices a quarter before the pearl craze, and sold about 50 million units by 2009.

True. How are they doing now?

When I said they invented the category, I obviously didn't mean the first to try. I meant the first to work.

The big innovation for both Smartphone and Tablet: No keyboard. No Stylus. Multitouch screen. Gestures.

"gestures" is the only thing any ipad user ever talks about, but you never see anyone actually use.

What!?! People use gestures all the time and don't even think about it. Swiping to the next photo, pinching to zoom. double tapping to read the internet. My 3 year old uses my iPhone with ease with gestures.

@2020hindsights

Wasn't really a whole lot of multitouch anything during the Nokia 770. Archos didn't bother with multitouch as their screens are large enough, that there isn't much need to be zooming crap in and out. It was also meant to keep prices down, seeing as they were trying to revive an old category. They didn't have a flock of sheep that would jump onto anything and everything they make without a second thought.

The big innovation for both Smartphone and Tablet: No keyboard. No Stylus. Multitouch screen. Gestures.

There were already tablets without keyboards or stylus, before iPad. Multitouch screens were already appearing on mp3 players, so seeing them show up on smartphones and then tablets was no big deal. Gestures, well, they've always been available since operating systems had GUIs. Double-clicking with your mouse...it's a gesture.

KK

There were already tablets without keyboards or stylus, before iPad.

For example?