iPad Mini Could Have 16:9 Aspect Ratio

At this point, it seems like an iPad Mini is fairly possible. The photo leaks, the "insider" tips; if the iPhone 5 announcement taught us anything, Apple has obviously yet to "double down" on keeping new products a secret. Today, as more alleged iPad Mini pics surface, there's a new question: will the scaled-down tablet feature a widescreen format?

When Apple decided to increase the screen size of the iPhone 5, it also ushered its latest iOS device into the 16:9 format. While the move seems like a no-brainer, the transition also means apps -- both current and future -- have to adapt. While letterboxing is an option, it's clear developers will approach iOS with widescreen in mind, going forward. 

So, assuming the iPad Mini is even real, a 16:9 display just makes sense. Actually, all future iOS devices going widescreen makes sense, if Cupertino wants to keep its ecosystem fluid, but that's at least debatable.

"An Aspect Ratio of 4:3 is great for reading because it has the same Aspect Ratio as content on 8.5x11 inch documents," says DisplayMate president, Raymond Soneira. "But a smaller 7 to 8 inch screen with a 4:3 Aspect Ratio will be noticeably Letterboxed with 16:9 content, with reduced image size."

Soneira notes the apparent measurements in alleged iPad Mini photos on French site, Nowhereelse.fr today. Assuming the smaller tablet uses a 768 pixel height, and the photos are even accurate, Soneira thinks a 1152x768 at 3:3 (or 1.50) is most likely. 

Of course, those photos are highly suspect, and a 3:3 aspect ratio seems a bit unlikely. Certainly, we have no solid evidence Apple would even abandon the 4:3 aspect ratio on a tablet, but a 3:3 device doesn't make much sense now that the iPhone is widescreen. Why add a third standard?

There's another factor to consider, in support of a 16:9 iPad Mini: the Amazon Kindle. While Cupertino may have the angle on software thanks to its App Store, consumers still identify the Amazon name with e-books.

The Kindle Fire HD is a widescreen, 16:10 device. If the iPad Mini drops to around 7-inches, and adopts the widescreen ratio, not only is Apple positioning the junior tablet as a video-watching device, but also a directly competitive e-reader. 

The current rumor mill places an iPad Mini announcement later this month, with a street date in November. We'll just have to wait to see where Apple goes with displays going forward. My money: it's 16:9.

Follow this article's author, Matt Clark on Twitter.

---

Original Page: http://www.maclife.com/article/news/ipad_mini_could_have_169_aspect_ratio

Sent from Feeddler RSS Reader

Regards,

Derik Chan