Czech site SuperApple.cz reports [Google translation] that it has heard from a pair of sources that Apple is developing a new, smaller iPad with a display measuring slightly under 6 inches. According to the report, the smaller iPad would carry the same resolution as the current iPad, although it is unclear how users would be expected to deal with what would be significantly smaller user interface elements if that were the case.
Based on the automated translation, the report seems to indicate that the smaller iPad would debut in the middle of this year, in part to buy time for Apple to finish work on a "great successor" to the current iPad. Such a move could possibly be in line with rumors and speculation about Apple releasing an "iPad 3" or a "Pro" version of the second-generation iPad around September of this year.
The site appears to tie the legitimacy of this new report to an analysis of a pre-release iPhone 4 display last year that demonstrated the display carrying a resolution of 960 x 640, although it is unclear how today's claims of insider knowledge of future products relates to a technical analysis of parts that had already been floating around.
Apple had been reported to have been investigating a range of tablet screen sizes from 4- to 12-inches prior to the iPad's launch, with some reports claiming that what became the iPad would actually debut in both 6-inch and 10-inch sizes. But late last year, Apple CEO panned forthcoming 7-inch tablet being released by competitors, calling them "dead on arrival" due to their perceived inability to offer a true tablet experience.
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Here, let's start a few new rumors since they all have equal validity:
The iPhone nano will be have the size of the iPhone 3 and half the screen resolution. Apple will pay you to buy it.
The iPhone Maxi will be twice the size of the iPhone 4 but the screen resolution will only be 1.5 times the current rez. and it'll only be available on T-Mobile and Cricket networks but it will have CDMA, GMS and wifi MAX.
The iPad 1.5 will come out in 6", 7" and 8" versions. There will be an assortment of colors as Apple harkens back and pay homage to the iMac "colors of the rainbow." People will be bashing them in MacRumors when the white and dalmatian versions are delayed in shipping.
The iPad Maxi 2.0 will ship in either September, October or November. Possibly January, February or March. Maybe April, May, June, July or August but definitely NOT December.
The iPhone 5 will have a special "Yellow" edition and come pre-installed with all the Beatles music.
The iPhone 6 will ship 1 month after the iPhone 5 is available from ATT. It will be a Verizon exclusive and have both 18Mp front, rear and side facing cameras. It'll support 4K video recording and have a 1TB hard drive using some holographic storage media nobody has ever heard of before. It'll have antenna problems, probably explode on somebody and definitely burn you if you hold it too long.
Apple, Inc. will change their name to App, Inc.
The MacBook Air will get as thin as a sheet of 20lb paper.
Apple will have to come out with 5 different versions of their iOS stores to support each of the new devices because of differences in resolution.
Apple will probably buy Spotify, NetFlix, Hulu, California and/or Microsoft.