Andre Yoskowitz
15 Feb 2012 22:27
One day after the WSJ reported that Apple is actively considering building a smaller, 8-inch iPad, experts are refuting the claim.
The CEO of Rapid Repair, Aaron Vronko says there is little chance Apple will create a smaller form factor iPad: "I think a smaller iPad would be questionable. "because Apple has been able to appeal to [iPad] developers with its single screen format." Rapid Repair fixes broken iOS devices. Vronko also believes Apple's marketing efforts would have been a waste if they introduce a smaller iPad: "Apple has gone to considerable lengths to define and separate its primary products -- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Mac -- by, among other things, screen size. To introduce a smaller iPad would muddy the waters, something Apple has spent substantial effort to avoid."
That being said, Vronko also says he does not believe Apple will make a substantially larger iPhone, like its Android rivals.
Ken Dulaney, analyst at Gartner, called smaller iPad "smart" but saw little chance they would actually build one: "[More size choice] makes a lot of sense, and their appeal depends on what people want to do with them. But I would say they won't create a smaller iPad." In the past, Apple has publicly panned 7-inch tablets, calling them useless.