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7-inch tablets will be 'DOA' reckons Steve Jobs

Too small, too expensive

7-inch tablets will be 'DOA' reckons Steve Jobs
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As part of its Q4 earning call, Steve Jobs turned up to pour scorn on companies such as Samsung, which is releasing its 7-inch Galaxy Tab, and RIM with its 7-inch PlayBook, due in 2011.

Following on from what he called Apple's extensive user testing over the years, Jobs stated: "We understand there are limits in terms of how users interact with touchscreens.

"The 10-inch screen size is the minimum. Seven inches isn't sufficient to create great tablet apps."

Half pint

Jobs pointed out that because screens are measured diagonally, the area of a 7-inch device is 45 per cent less than that of a 10-inch device.

He also called such devices 'tweeners' - too small to compete with iPad and too big to compete with the portability of smartphones.

Other issues with which he beat up the competition included: the relative high price of 7-inch tablets compared to the aggressive pricing of iPad; the lack of apps compared to 35,000 now available for iPad on the App Store; and the fact that Google has advised OEMs not to use the Android 2.2 OS, but to wait until Android 3.0 is released - advice many aren't taking.

"I think they will realise seven inches is too small and they will have to release bigger devices next year," Jobs predicted.

"7-inch tablets are going to be DOA."

[source: Apple]

Jon Jordan
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.