Apple Had "Mini-iPad" All Along: Report

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 10-09-2010, 03:48 PM

The perennial rumor of a 7-inch "mini-iPad" resurfaced again this week, with a report of a souped-up iPad 2G in a smaller form factor from an industry analyst. According to one long-time Apple watcher, though, there'd be nothing new about such a device. Jim Dalrymple at The Loop says Apple's always had a 7-inch variant of the iPad that has been in development along with the 9.7-inch model we're all familiar with since the beginning.

Rumors about mini-pads have been around since the iPad itself was released. No more than a week after the official US iPad launch in April, the rumormeisters at DigiTimes came out with a report that a 7-inch version of the iPad was under development and was being prepared for release in the first quarter of 2011, updating this report in July with a claim that Apple was working on 5-inch and 7-inch versions targeted at the e-book market. PC World came out with a story in August saying that the 7-inch model would be available by Christmas, and in September, the Chinese website shanzai.com reported that the smaller iPad was already a “finished product." And last week, Brian White from Ticonderoga Securities claimed that component suppliers in Taiwan leaked details to him about a smaller-form-factor iPad 2G which would sport a 7-inch Retina Display, 128GB storage and a "micro or mini" USB port. Supposedly, this device would also be available in the first quarter of next year.

Dalrymple didn't give any basis for him claim, but the guy has been around a while. He founded MacCentral.com back in 1994 and became an "editor-at-large" at MacWorld when that company acquired MacCentral and made it a subsection of its own site. So he has enormous cred and doubtless a deep network of contacts inside Apple. And as iLounge reported back in August, "Apple has been prototyping devices with screens of this size for a long time—quite possibly predating the original iPhone." However, there was no further information about the history or current status of the 7-inch iPad: "Why did Apple choose to go with the larger model instead?" Dalrymple asked rhetorically. "Only Steve Jobs knows that for sure."

Recently there has been a spate of iPad challengers announced, all with 7-inch screens: the Samsung Galaxy Pad, Dell Streak, and BlackBerry PlayBook are all gearing up for launch. While 10-inch tablets are planned from each of these manufacturers, it seems like they've decided to challenge Apple with smaller form factor devices that are more easily portable. If Apple decided to bring its mini-iPad off the bench, it may need a richer feature set to compete. Reports of a microUSB port (for compatibility with coming EU standards) and a Retina Display may fit the bill. Dalrymple's original story said the 7-inch screen would have a "lower density" than the 9.7-inch iPad's display; he later corrected that to read "higher density," indicating that the smaller screen would maintain the 960-by-640-pixel resolution of the existing screen.

Source: AppleInsider

**Mista Brothason** · 10-09-2010, 03:51 PM

Interesting... In other news, Geohot released a 4.1 jb for iPhone 4 today called limera1n. Dev team is pissed lol

**whereswaldo** · 10-09-2010, 03:54 PM

They probably have many versions, all for testing

Originally Posted by Mista Brothason

Interesting... In other news, Geohot released a 4.1 jb for iPhone 4 today called limera1n. Dev team is pissed lol

Can a mod please delete this post and give this guy an infraction. At least he didn't add in a "first!!"

**Mista Brothason** · 10-09-2010, 04:00 PM

Why the infraction? I wouldn't use geohots JB though.

But yeah this all was inevitable, the software was there for a cam etc but no cam. 1st gen devices are always for the guinea pigs IMO.

**Raptors** · 10-09-2010, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by whereswaldo

They probably have many versions, all for testing

Can a mod please delete this post and give this guy an infraction. At least he didn't add in a "first!!"

lol i acutally found it real funny, a lil humor on the forums in these dramatic times are fine

ahah

but i agree, who knows what unknown products apple could be playing with now

**vruls** · 10-09-2010, 04:01 PM

so there is now, an ipod touch, a big ipod touch, and slightly bigger ipod touch, , wow thats creative

**leathelisor** · 10-09-2010, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by whereswaldo

They probably have many versions, all for testing

Can a mod please delete this post and give this guy an infraction. At least he didn't add in a "first!!"

Why??? Limera1n has been released.

**stlcaddie** · 10-09-2010, 04:06 PM

Sir, you are INFRACTED. No free speech here. Now say your sorry. Carry on now. LOL, nothing wrong with sone honest humor.

**A_SWELLGUY** · 10-09-2010, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Mista Brothason

Interesting... In other news, Geohot released a 4.1 jb for iPhone 4 today called limera1n. Dev team is pissed lol

Old news.....

**Rob2G** · 10-09-2010, 04:12 PM

7 in iPad wouldn't be too bad.

**Poseidon79** · 10-09-2010, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by vruls

so there is now, an ipod touch, a big ipod touch, and slightly bigger ipod touch, , wow thats creative

Which version of the iPad do you currently own?

**mikerlx** · 10-09-2010, 04:13 PM

so, is the ipad actually working with limera1n?

**Mista Brothason** · 10-09-2010, 04:21 PM

Maybe they've changed their minds about how big they initially wanted their "iPad" to be. Make one mainstream or cut one out?

**bigbodybenz** · 10-09-2010, 04:39 PM

All idevices are compatible with limera1n

**vruls** · 10-09-2010, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Poseidon79

Which version of the iPad do you currently own?

i actually own a big ipod touch, and an ipod touch

**NessLookAlike** · 10-09-2010, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by bigbodybenz

All idevices are compatible with limera1n

Yeah, but is limerain compatible with iPad 4.2 beta? That's all I care about.

But yeah, modmyi, how about keeping up with Engadget and Gizmodo already and give us some clear details about limerain?

**coolduckey** · 10-09-2010, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by bigbodybenz

All idevices are compatible with limera1n

FALSE, limera1n is only compatible with iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, iPhone 3GS old boot-rom, iPhone 4, and iPad 3G+WiFi

**MetallicaFan1991** · 10-09-2010, 07:32 PM

"Apple had "Mini-iPad" All Along"...

Lol yeh they did, it's called an iPod Touch, both do fun stuff and nothing work related.

**slackerz_86** · 10-09-2010, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by coolduckey

FALSE, limera1n is only compatible with iPod Touch 3G, iPod Touch 4G, iPhone 3GS old boot-rom, iPhone 4, and iPad 3G+WiFi

Limera1n is only compatible for the device of 3G, 3GS, iPT3 & 4, i4, iPad and ATV which are running 4.0 and above. as firmware 4.0+ can't be installed into iPT2 or iPhone 2G, therefore only the mentioned devices are support.

**EskimoRuler** · 10-09-2010, 09:59 PM

would love the 7 inch Retina

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: Apple Had "Mini-iPad" All Along: Report

iPad News

General iPad

The perennial rumor of a 7-inch "mini-iPad" resurfaced again this week, with a report of a souped-up iPad 2G in a smaller form factor from an industry analyst. According to

The Following User Says Thank You to Mista Brothason For This Useful Post:

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to whereswaldo For This Useful Post:

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: Apple Had "Mini-iPad" All Along: Report

iPad News

General iPad

The perennial rumor of a 7-inch &quot;mini-iPad&quot; resurfaced again this week, with a report of a souped-up iPad 2G in a smaller form factor from an industry analyst. According to

The Following User Says Thank You to Mista Brothason For This Useful Post:

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to whereswaldo For This Useful Post:

The perennial rumor of a 7-inch "mini-iPad" resurfaced again this week, with a report of a souped-up iPad 2G in a smaller form factor from an industry analyst. According to