Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder was receptive to make a smaller iPad, a senior executive said on Friday referring to an email received on 2011.
This strengthens speculations that Apple wants to make a mini version of the iPad to take on lower priced tablets made by Google Inc and Amazon.
Rumors have been circulating regarding that Apple would introduce a “iPad Mini” to further dominate in position in the tablet market but the company never official confirmed the reports.
Referring to an email sent to Eddy Cue, Vice President urged Tim Cook, then-Chief Operating Officer in January 2011 to consider building a 7-inch tablet. Earlier Samsung Electronics Co. presented the email as evidence for a US patent trial.
Cue wrote in the email dated 24 January 2011, there is a market for 7 inch tablets and Apple should make one. I told this to Jobs many times since Thanksgiving and the last time he was receptive. Even though internet browsing isn’t very strong but usable on a 7 inch tablet, it’s very compelling to read emails, books, Facebook and watch videos, he added.
Steve Jobs, who died in October last year to cancer, was famous for his dislike for the 7 inch tablets saying that users would need to chisel their fingers in order to use content on a small 7 inch display.
The two smartphones giants, Apple and Samsung has been toe-on-toe on patent disputes regarding their smartphones and tablets.
Apple accused Samsung of imitating the design and features of its iPhone and iPad and demands billions of dollars in damages amidst a sales ban. The Korean company meanwhile accuses Apple that it infringed some of Samsung’s key wireless technology patents.
