The purported delay of an unannounced product — read on! It has been rumored that if Apple’s long-rumored iPad mini 2 does indeed feature a Retina display, then it will by some unknown necessity be delayed.
Taiwan’s Economic Daily claims that the iPad mini 2, the successor to last year’s chart topping mini-tablet release, will be delayed until the first quarter of 2014.
It is understood that the second generation iPad mini with general and Retina version, shipping time is enlarged from the original expected in the third quarter was postponed to 9-10 months, that is, in the fourth quarter; But now more outgoing, equipped with Retina panel iPad mini shipment time will be postponed to next year enlarge [Ed: After?] Lunar New Year.
That’s the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on January 31 in 2014. It’s an important date because, a few days before and then a week or so afterward, Foxconn’s many minions will be home for the holiday — little, if any, work will be done around that time.
So, what does first quarter 2014 mean? If past is prologue, then perhaps March — both the iPad 2 and iPad 3 shipped then — is a good time.
iPad mini 2: Projections
Economic Daily, quoting unnamed sources, adds that the second-generation iPad mini will come in both standard and high-definition (Retina) versions. Further, it is estimated that shipments of the iPad mini 2 will be 19 to 20 million units, down from 22 to 26 million slabs for the first-gen model.
Does that even make sense? The iPad mini Retina, a product that pundits and users yearn for, will sell ship and sell fewer units? Call me a fanbois, but, no, unless there are major quality issues, Apple will sell many more than that.
Not enough pessimism for ya? Economic Daily adds that iPad marketshare will decline to 35 percent by next year from about 40 percent now.
Then again, people have been proclaiming the iPad, and Apple’s, demise for years…
What’s your take?
Via: Engadget