REVOLUTIONARY IPAD MINI

Apple has gone mini this time with it’s new iPad mini. This mini version was mainly developed by the iPad makers to dodge away the threats developed by the small 7 inch tablets(mainly Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD and Google’s much talked about Nexus 7 tablet made by Asus) that have taken away some of iPad’s share in the tablet market.

          The new iPad comes with dual-core A5 processor chip that’s much talked about, 

but does it really stand upto its expectations? This is the dual-core chip had also powered iPad 2 and iPhone 4S but is 13nm smaller than 45 nm used in previous devices. This would be part of the reason behind the iPad mini’s incredibly thin (7.2mm) body-not only this chip is smaller its also more energy efficient and thus needs less cooling. Upon closer investigation, it turns out that the iPad mini’s processor is exactly the same as the new apple devices. So, overall it has a stunningly fast 1000MHz processor.

          The new iPad mini does come with a face time HD camera that has 1.2 megapixel which can record 720 pixel density recording. This amazing camera comes with features like face detection and back side illumination. The iSight camera that is the rear camera is also a good 5 megapixel camera. Its features include auto focus, face detection, back side illumination, five element lens, hybrid IR filter, f/2.4 aperture, tap to focus video or still images, photo and video geo tagging. the rear camera can record videos with a density if 1080 pixels and features video stabilization.

          iPad mini does pack in ultra fast wireless technology as it comes with Bluetooth 4.0 and supports GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+ and LTE.

If design is the iPad mini's monumental achievement, display resolution is its Achilles heel. It has the same 1024 x 768 resolution as the first two iPads. To keep things simple for developers, Apple likes to increase resolution in even multiples. 2048 x 1536 resolution on a 7.9-inch screen isn't yet cost-effective, so half of that is what we get.

The result? That 1024 x 768 resolution looks a bit sharper on this shrunken-down display than it does on the iPad 2, but it's a far cry from its big brother's Retina Display. It looks a lot like the screen of an iPhone 3GS ... you know, Apple's flagship phone from 2009.

The iPad mini's display is also a far cry from its rivals' displays. The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD each have 1280 x 800 resolution. Their 216 pixels per inch (PPI) are much sharper than the iPad mini's 164 PPI. The Nook HD's 1440 x 900, 243 PPI display obliterates it

Design is the iPad mini's forte. It's incredibly easy to hold with one hand. It's light. It makes a full-sized iPad feel like a heavy brick.

At just 308 g (0.68 lb.), it's much lighter than any rival seven-inch tablet: 32 g lighter than the Nexus 7, and a whopping 86 g lighter than the Kindle Fire HD. Considering that the iPad mini sports nearly an extra (diagonal) inch of screen real estate over its rivals, it represents a big step forward in budget tablet design.

The iPad mini is also incredibly thin, measuring at 7.2mm (0.28"). Its competitors don't come close: the Kindle Fire HD is 3 mm thicker, and the Nexus 7 is 3.25 mm thicker.

The iPad mini's side bezels are narrower than those on other tablets (including the full-sized iPad). Though your thumb will rest near the display's edge, Apple added touch correction technology to iOS 6. I didn't experience any accidental touches, and every touch I did intend registered immediately.

There are reasons to hesitate about buying the iPad mini, but design is not one of them. From this perspective, Apple hit a home run.

            The iPad mini feels more like a new device than a shrunken-down iPad 2. Even if its display is a generation behind, Apple probably has another hit on its hands. I often find myself reaching for it in place of the iPad 4 – just because it's a pleasure to hold.

Miniature tablet shoppers have a decision to make. Pay more for the best software selection and design, or pay less for a sharper display and a faster processor. This holiday shopping season, it will be fascinating to see where those cards fall.