Although Steve Jobs declared a few years ago that tablets with a 7-inch screen have no future, Apple is considering the possible development of a tablet with an 8-inch screen. This is not the first time we hear about the testing of iPad prototypes with a screen smaller than 9.7 inches, but until now no such product has been launched on the market and the situation could be identical in this case.
Officials at some of Apple's suppliers, who declined to be named, said the Cupertino, Calif.-based company has shown them screen designs for a new device with a screen size of around 8-inches, and said it is qualifying suppliers for it. Apple's latest tablet, the iPad 2, comes with a 9.7-inch screen. It was launched late last year. One person said the smaller device will have a similar resolution screen as the iPad 2. Apple is working with screen makers including Taiwan-based AU Optronics Co. and LG Display Co. of South Korea to supply the test panels, the person said.
The information presented by those from Wall Street Journal they come from sources within Apple's partner companies, but in the past the same thing happened and Apple did not finally launch the product. Considering that prototypes of the iPad with a small screen are still being tested, it is clear that in the future we will have such a product available on the market.
