
With the recent unannounced retail debut of the iPad mini with Retina display, a whole lot of Apple devotees and critics were upset. A lot of people appeared to be confused, simply because an Apple tablet has never launched in such a way. It is strange for an iPad to launch without a parade in its honor but it’s not unusual for Apple products in general. As the iPad line continues to evolve from a set of devices that validate its own existence to a core part of Apple’s long-term strategy, release practices appear to be falling in line with that of the company’s other offerings. TO sum it up, while the quiet launch may be due partly to low stock of the new slates, we could also be moving to a future where Apple’s tablets were upgraded incrementally on a schedule similar to how MacBooks, the mac mini and other Apple products receive their seasonal refreshes.
When a product line is due for a physical facelift or a major overhaul, a new Mac, the Retina MacBook Pro, etc., Apple tends to show it off at an event. When the device just needs a bump in specs to ensure that it stays competitive with its rivals, Apple’s online store simply just goes down for an hour or two and when it comes back, the more powerful products seem to be in place. A press release is usually issued, news sites run their impressions and the public knows about it – all of which happens without a single Apple figurehead taking the stage.
Sooner or later, Apple will no longer have to prove that the iPad deserves to exist with large presentations and we seem to be getting closer to that point in time. The recent retail debut wasn’t solely to get us used to the idea of not knowing exactly when the new Retina iPad mini will be available, as the production limitations are likely to blame as well, but the company may be testing the waters with the recent events. Given that Cook teased of Apple’s position in gearing up to take on new product categories, this may be how certain product lines are treated going forward, passing the limelight to more attention-needing upcoming products.
The iPhone, which has always been fighting a much more intense battle in a faster-paced environment than that of the iPad is likely to never graduate to a level where Apple could afford to skip the annual event. The iPad on the other hand would lose very little by adopting yearly upgrades that come with less noise and it would free up the company’s event schedule a bit to fight wars on new fronts.
What do you think of the whole ordeal? Do you think this is the direction Apple is headed in? Share your thoughts and comments below!
Source: TUAW
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