7" panel orders reportedly overtake 9.7" shipments as iPad 2 production draws down
Taiwan's DigiTimes claimed on Thursday that "sources from panel players" indicated a strong boost in purchases of 7-inch panels in November, enough to push the supply volume past that of 9.7-inch panels bound for the iPad and other similarly-sized tablets. Shipments of the component reportedly grew 17 percent in one month as Amazon readied its Kindle Fire tablet and Barnes & Noble ramped up production of its Nook Tablet.
"As for 9.7-inch panel, due to Apple reportedly being ready to launch the next-generation iPad in the first half of 2012, the company's purchasing of the panel for the existing model dropped in November, but may start pick up again as the company will need to prepare panels for the new models," the report read.
Apple is believed to be in the middle of a transition away from iPad 2 production as it prepares for the third-generation iPad. The next-generation tablet is expected to arrive early next year, with one analyst claiming it could arrive as early as next February. For its part, DigiTimes has claimed that Apple's next iPad will arrive in March or April 2012.
Early sales of the Kindle Fire appear to suggest that the iPad has met its first mainstream competitor in the tablet market. Amazon revealed last week that it had sold "millions of units" of the Fire without providing further details. The device has been the online retailer's best-selling product for weeks.
A number of analysts have reined in their iPad estimates for the fourth quarter due to better-than-expected momentum from the Kindle Fire. Wall Street consensus for the holiday quarter stands at 13 million iPads.
Research firm IDC believes the Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet will lead Android's tablet charge this quarter, driving an expected 8 percent leap in market share for the platform. Meanwhile, the iPad is expected to fall from 61.5 percent market share to 59 percent, according to the firm.
As the iPad has faced increasing pressure from more diminutive tablet form factors, rumors have cropped up claiming that Apple will cave in and release its own 7-inch iPad in order to stave off the competition. Such reports, however, have been dismissed by some as being pure speculation, considering the company already looked into the 7-inch form factor before deciding it was too small.
Other reports have suggested that Apple may expand its iPad lineup next year, adding lower and higher price point versions. One analyst recently claimed that the company could release a Retina Display iPad as a true third generation alongside a cheaper "iPad 2S" with upgraded internals but the same resolution as its predecessor.
64 Comments
That's impossible.
1) People are only interested in the iPad. The other platforms don't sell
2) Steve Jobs has decreed the no-one is interested in a 7'' format.
Oh no, Apple just lost the tablet market¡ How will they ever cope with making all the profit¡PS: Archos has also just released a $199 7" tablet running Honeycomb. It's the first one below $200. This is a big deal, IMO, yet seems to be getting little attention.
2) Steve Jobs has decreed the no-one is interested in a 7'' format.
What did Steve say exactly?
What did Steve say exactly?
Whatever he said it is not relevant. Not because he is gone but because the market has changed since then. if Apple brought out a seven inch device At some point in the future I would not be surprised. If they brought one out in the first half of 2012, I would be.
I think the size of the iPad is fine as is. At this point, changing the size would mean that Apple needs to produce entirely new aluminum cases as well as other companies like Otterbox and Incase will have to modify their cases for iPads. Im sure it's somewhat cheaper to make it smaller, but I highly doubt that they'll drop the price dramatically. I think people are draw to the more convenient and small sized tablets because it feels more "holdable" and easy to get a grasp on.
Whatever he said it is not relevant. Not because he is gone but because the market has changed since then. if Apple brought out a seven inch device At some point in the future I would not be surprised. If they brought one out in the first half of 2012, I would be.
I'm curious because his comment about shaving down your fingers which gets thrown out of context. Obviously Apple can make a version of iOS for a smaller display because that is how the iPhone. I don't think Apple will go with a smaller iPad but I do think they could go with a larger iPod Touch.
As for the market changing I agree, but when you look at how it's changed its using forked versions of Android that are closed and running a limited set of HW and SW features that make a 7" design feasible and cost effective. They are the netbooks of the tablet world. Are these sustainable or will people realize a 3" x 6" display are only decent for glorified eReaders but don't make a good tablet experience when replacing a 'PC' for longtime usage?