Apple e-book reader rumor

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by dmikov

Well even on your video I see more on Samsung screen, then on Sony Xperia. The higher contrast make it easier to see stuff.

Those screens need an anti-glare film, asap...

[mknopp]

Wow, a lot of Apple haters here.

I don't know how many of you follow Apple news, but this is just another rumor to add to the mountain surrounding Apple.

I saw this and quickly added it to the pile or other rumors: Verizon iPhone that is rumored EVERY year since the phone was released, 12" macBook, and MacPro X being fairly common and long lasting ones. Although, the later have been waning with the rise of the iPhone, and eventually I suspect the first one will come true.

Regarding this one. I wouldn't hold my breath. Several sources are speaking out against this one for the very reasons, someone else pointed out here. The OLED manufacturers can't even keep up with demand right now.

Then there is the fact that Apple doesn't need to release a dedicated eReader, they have an eReader that also plays the other media that they want to sell. Apple isn't really into the dedicated device business.

I do admit that a device sized between the iPhone and the iPad would be a nice addition to the touch device lineup that Apple is moving towards, I don't see them releasing one so soon after the iPad release, and I don't see them putting an OLED display in it even if they did. The prices are too high right now and the supply is too scarce.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by mknopp

Wow, a lot of Apple haters here.

I don't know how many of you follow Apple news, but this is just another rumor to add to the mountain surrounding Apple.

I saw this and quickly added it to the pile or other rumors: Verizon iPhone that is rumored EVERY year since the phone was released, 12" macBook, and MacPro X being fairly common and long lasting ones. Although, the later have been waning with the rise of the iPhone, and eventually I suspect the first one will come true.

Regarding this one. I wouldn't hold my breath. Several sources are speaking out against this one for the very reasons, someone else pointed out here. The OLED manufacturers can't even keep up with demand right now.

Then there is the fact that Apple doesn't need to release a dedicated eReader, they have an eReader that also plays the other media that they want to sell. Apple isn't really into the dedicated device business.

I do admit that a device sized between the iPhone and the iPad would be a nice addition to the touch device lineup that Apple is moving towards, I don't see them releasing one so soon after the iPad release, and I don't see them putting an OLED display in it even if they did. The prices are too high right now and the supply is too scarce.

no Apple hater here. I actually own an iPhone and love it. I have no ill will against Steve Jobs, we haven't seen this type of marketing dominance since Nike of the '90's where the product becomes it's own culture.

Kudos to him. I don't begrudge the guy because he has without a doubt THE BEST marketing, advertising and packaging team quite possible ever.

But I think it would be intelluctally dishonest to ignore the fact that millions of people do in fact buy Apple producst simply because it has an Apple Logo on it and feel they are part of the "hip trend" even though their may be better perfoming products out there.

I have the very first iPhone, it's still working great but if it breaks down I will look around and see what's the best option for me. I may end up buying another iPhone but I don't blindly buy products . "Apple must have Apple"
to say that aren't millions out there that do this is being dishonest.

But Kudos to Apple. That is the ultimate goal of any Marketing team and they've accomplished that.

[Neil]

Hi -- Harry T. pointed me to this thread which somehow I missed in a search. But the new OLED screens look pretty exciting. The original rumor seems to have been originated by Digitimes (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100713PD207.html) and they seem to indicate that the screens have already been pre-ordered which would make this a pretty substantial rumor. One interesting thing I found is that the iPhone 4 was originally supposed to be OLED but Apple moved away from that technology mostly because of the lack of OLED availability from suppliers. But Samsung has recently kicked production into high gear. Over at http://www.joyofipad.com we have posted a video of some new, flexible OLED screens that is really amazing! (I would have liked to have left it here but can't figure out how). Anyway, I doubt that you will be able to pick up a new iPad and roll it into a tight cylindrical shape but flexible OLEDs are certainly, as the video shows, difficult to shatter. Anyway, coupled to better sunlight reading what price point do you think Steve Jobs would have to come in at to really threaten to corner the ereader marketplace?

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by boswd

But I think it would be intelluctally dishonest to ignore the fact that millions of people do in fact buy Apple producst simply because it has an Apple Logo on it and feel they are part of the "hip trend" even though their may be better perfoming products out there.

I think it's intellectually dishonest to not acknowledge that you don't know why "millions" of people buy. If you're basing your assumption on people who line up, does that mean people who line up for Harry Potter books and movies, etc., are "sheep" as well? I don't like lines or crowds, but I can see why some people enjoy lining up. To them, it's fun.

Maybe buyers think Apple devices are "better performing products." That's a subjective decision, depending on individual need and preferences. There also are plenty of people who like to stick with brands that have served them well, with reliability and ease of use, for instance. Most people aren't technical, don't keep up with tech news. My parents bought a new DVD player, for instance, and insisted on their old brand. Maybe there are better DVD players out there, but they just wanted to get one they thought would work fine. They're like most people, not fan boys of any products, and getting "the best" isn't their aim.

[David Munch]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

Maybe buyers think Apple devices are "better performing products."

Well, from a software point of view, I would definately say so (Excluding OpenGL performance).

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by David Munch

Well, from a software point of view, I would definately say so (Excluding OpenGL performance).

That's my point. When most people use their computers to surf the Net, send e-mail and such, do you think that's going to matter to them? That's why individual needs and preferences matter more than specs.

[David Munch]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

That's my point. When most people use their computers to surf the Net, send e-mail and such, do you think that's going to matter to them? That's why individual needs and preferences matter more than specs.

That is true!

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by mknopp

Wow, a lot of Apple haters here.

It's more like Apple don't carers. And Google don't carers. Or Microsoft don't carers.
You'll be surprised how little most people care. If you give us a good reasonably priced product we'll buy it. At the end of the day, most of this stuff is made in the same factory in China anyway.

[djgreedo]

This rumour doesn't make sense. I don't believe for one second that Apple would make a stand-alone ereader using OLED screens.

Firstly, Apple seems to think that the iPad is a great ereader already. A slightly smaller device with an OLED screen is not going to compete with an iPad, especially at Apple prices. Why buy an LCD/OLED 7-inch stand-alone reader when you can get an iPad?

OLED is not much better than LCD (my MP3 player has an OLED screen, and it is the best-looking active screen I've ever seen, but it has all the drawbacks of LCD - battery use, can't read well in sunlight, etc).

This doesn't rule out the possibility of Apple bringing out some iPads with smaller screens aimed more at readers, but it wouldn't be a dedicated reader - what would be the point? It would mean Apple would be artificially limiting the capabilities of their products, and they never do that. Oh...

[ppw]

My guess is that the smaller screen ipad is the upgrade path for ipod touch. The ebook reader part is just collateral damage.

[afa]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

This doesn't rule out the possibility of Apple bringing out some iPads with smaller screens aimed more at readers, but it wouldn't be a dedicated reader - what would be the point? It would mean Apple would be artificially limiting the capabilities of their products, and they never do that. Oh...

I agree. Apple might release a 6" or 7" 'mini-iPad', but that's exactly what it will be - a mini-iPad. I'm positive that they won't be making a dedicated e-reader. That's a market that is quite niche, and Apple won't limit their devices that way. That's like saying that maybe Apple will release a new, basic iPhone, without the 'smart' functions, or the apps. Just a cheap and simple phone. No, they won't. The very attraction of iPhones and iPads comes in the fact that they can do a lot of different things.

I also don't agree with what someone said before about a new, smaller tablet priced between $150-$200. Not gonna happen. Apple aren't the kind of company that believe in lowering prices to compete. Steve Jobs has always made it clear that Apple (and their target demographic) view their products as 'premium', and believe that customers will pay the extra price for that. To give a crude example, you don't see Armani selling $200 suits just to gain more market-share.

I do believe they might release the mini-iPad, though. A 6"-7" iPad, probably around the $300 mark. But it won't be too soon, I think. The iPad only came out a few months ago, and is selling very well. Maybe in a year or two, once the sales are stagnating, and they have more competitors in the tablet market (HP, Dell, etc.).

[Donnageddon]

Originally Posted by afa

I agree. Apple might release a 6" or 7" 'mini-iPad'.

This is gonna get confusing. Many people seem to love describing the iPAD as a humongous iPod Touch. So rather than a mini-iPad, this new device might be described as a "mini- humongous iPod Touch".

[afa]

Yeah, I know...

Maybe they'll just replace the current iTouch with a bigger one, thereby making it a mini-iPad?

That might make sense, in a way. As it currently stands, the iTouch is basically an iPhone minus the phone. Giving it a larger screen and positioning it as a sort of mini-iPad will help differentiate it from the iPhone, as well as introducing something between the iPhone and iPad.

[GeoffC]

mummyiPad, daddyiPad, babyiPad and teeniPad ..... oH I nearly forgot petiPad ......