Is This the End or the Beginning of an Era for iPod Touch and iPhone?

It’s finally here! Apple has just released a 7.9 inch iPad and it’s making big waves in the tablet PC industry! Do you need to sell 3GS now? Should you look down on your fifth generation iTouch and think, “Why the hell did I buy you?”

The Mini Rumors

There was a mix of rumors flying up and about with regards to the iPad Mini. Leaked photos of the iPad Mini showed its screen size could be about 8 inches while its battery could follow a 4:3 screen ratio formula. There were also reports of 24 different types of iPad Minis with storage capacities ranging from 8 GB to 64 GB. The company was rumored to also offer iPad Minis with Wi-Fi only connectivity and others with 3G and 4G LTE connectivity. The said little iPad version is said to be available in two colors, black and white.

Well, all those rumors can now be put to rest because the iPad Mini is officially here. Aside from it’s 7.9 inch screen, it also boasts of a better, sual-core A5 processor and a 5-megapixel rear camera. Rumors about its connectivity were also proved true because it offers Wi-Fi and 4G LTE support. It also has a longer battery life of 10 hours despite the fact that it’s the thinnest battery Apple has created so far, enough for us to sell old iPhone 3G!

The iPod Touch Connection

However, most Apple fans are concerned that the miniature iPad will only look and function like a slightly bigger iPod Touch. If you think about it, both devices have almost the same objective: To provide entertainment and productivity through connectivity and apps without sacrificing portability. At this point, you could be thinking that’s also what the iPhone does except it also makes calls and sends text messages.

Some tech experts are concerned that fewer people will buy an iPod Touch especially since the price margin is too close to choose from. The 16GB iPad Mini is currently priced at $349 while a 64GB iPod Touch is priced at $399. It is expected that the iPad Mini will get a lot of demand and would sell like hotcakes soon because it has long been anticipated in the tech world. Also, it helps that the iPad Mini would be supported by mobile carriers as well which makes buying an iPad Mini more exciting than buying a new iPod Touch that comes without a data plan.

The only possible thing that sets the iPod Touch and the iPad Mini apart is that the iTouch is still cheaper than the iPad Mini. This guarantees that people who want a more inexpensive alternative and those who hate carrying bulky gadgets would rather get an iPod Touch than an iPad Mini. Meanwhile those who fell in love with the likes of Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire would probably want to sell used iPhone to get an iPad Mini! Pre-orders for the said device will begin on October 26.