Samsung staffer says 7.85in 'iPad Mini' in the works
Korean firm's better-than-IPS LCD tech to be used
Apple is indeed making a 7.85in 'iPad Mini' an executive from Samsung - of all companies - has claimed.
The unnamed official was commenting on component supply contracts worth almost $10bn signed by Apple and Samsung, the Korea Times reports.
The contracts cover Flash storage chips, computer memory, LTE 4G communications silicon and - here's the thing - display technology.
This despite the two companies' ongoing legal spat over tablet and smartphone intellectual property.
Apple apparently spent $7.8bn on Samsung displays, mobile CPUs, Flash chips and DRAMs in 2011.
"The [2012] contract is expected to rise to $11bn by the end of this year as Apple is planning to release a smaller iPad, probably with a 7.85in screen, and to sell more of its MacBook Air PCs using Samsung’s faster solid-state drive storage," the mole said.
But caution is necessary - you'll note the use in the direct quote above of the word 'probably'. That suggests the Samsung staffer is as likely to be parroting widely published rumours of Apple's reduced-stature tablet as to have inside information that the Mac maker really is working on such a device.
The gadget will use "new PLS-based LCD technology" for its screen, the insider added. PLS stands for Plane to Line Switching, a system devised by Samsung claimed by the company to be ten per cent brighter than regular In Plane Switching (IPS) LCDs of the type used in many of today's tablets and smartphones. PLS offers even better viewing angles too, Samsung says.
Samsung already builds "Super PLS" panels into some of its monitors. ®
COMMENTS
What about the Galaxy Tab 7.7?
This story makes me angry as Samsung still have not made available the 7.7 despite the reviews being out in November
Re: Why this form factor?
It's *way* more portable than a 9-10" device, slipping easily into an inner jacket pocket or a back jeans pocket, whilst still offering decent screen size for reading and playing games. For those of us who travel a lot, and spend far too much time in airports and train stations, this is ideal.
GJC
Re: Why this form factor?
Better for reading (its the size of a paperback), better for video (16:9 format), big enough for basic productivity. I'm thinking of swapping my 7" Galaxy Tab for the equivalent Galaxy Note. I've been using a 7" tab for about 18 months now and I can honestly its the most used bit of personal tech I own (hence my amusement at Apple given Jobs' stated disdain for smaller tabs - I knew they'd do a smaller one eventually and said so at the time on these very forums).
Re: What about the Galaxy Tab 7.7?
Aw crap, so it is. When I asked Samsung on 28 Feb they replied "it should be some time over the coming weeks and months". Didn't anticipate it would be sooner.
The Guy is Still Alive?
I thought that revelation of, or even suggestion, of Apple secrets caused the instant activation of the cyanide capsule that all their suppliers have to have implanted in a tooth
