On rumors of a 7-inch iPad

There have been rumors about Apple releasing a 7-inch iPad, the latest article I've read being one on Cult of Mac. It has been rumored to be called an "iPad mini" as well, and more specifically could have a 7.85-inch diagonal display and look exactly like the Mini Me of today's current 10-inch (actually 9.7-inch), 3rd generation iPad. John Gruber, thru his Daring Fireball blog, mentioned an AppAdvice article about how a 7.85-inch size makes sense.


My thoughts?


As I've mentioned in my first and not-so-successful attempt at "podcasting": Yes, Apple will release a 7-inch tablet form factor device, but it will not be called an iPad mini, nor a "7-inch iPad"; it is not going to be an "iPad," instead it might be called something like an iBook and might be primarily aimed at e-book reading. Actually, it could also be something that is primarily aimed at mobile gaming and entertainment consumption and called iPlay, thus whereas the iPad is positioned for both content consumption and creation, the iPlay is solely for playing games, or playing music and videos - content consumption only. Lastly, together with a 4-inch iPhone, there would be this 7-inch iThing, and the 10-inch iPad. Three device categories that are 3 inches apart in size.

Why not brand it as an iPad? Steve Jobs already told us why: the keyboard on a 7-inch tablet would be limiting. But if it were not a tablet, i.e. if it were an e-reader first and foremost, or a gaming device "plus" type of device, then Steve Jobs still wasn't just selling you the 10-inch iPad.

By gaming device "plus," as I've mentioned, it is a device meant for content consumption only - primarily gaming, maybe to eat away at the market share of the likes of the Sony PS Vita or the Nintendo 3DS, or maybe even the Kindle Fire (but that's not a strategy that Apple would take). But I believe that, additionally, this 7-inch device will play a role that is complementary to what Apple might be thinking next as to their own take on the television.