Apple, Smaller Tablet

Apple is preparing to launch a smaller tablet computer in the comming
months in a bid to maintain its edge in an increasingly crowded market,
the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The journal cited unnamed
sources as saying that component parts manufacturers had been ordered to
gear up for mass production of the tablets in September, indicating the
launch may be drawing near. It said the new tablet’s screen would likely
be smaller than eight inches (20 centimeters), compared to the 9.7-inch
(25 centimeters) screen on Apple’s market-leading iPad, launched in
2010.

The newspaper cited one source as saying that Apple was working with
screen-makers LG Display of South Korea and Tiwan’s AU Optronics. Apple
has dominated the market for tablet computers since the release of the
iPad but faces increasing competition as Samsung, Amazon, Microsoft and
Google roll out competing devices.

This news is courtsey of Agence France Presse (New York, July 5) on the
post title "Apple preparing to launch smaller tablet computer".