It may be the weekend, but it looks like the rumors of a smaller iPad won't be taking any time off. A new report from The New York Times claims that Apple is prepping a new iPad with a 7.85-inch display that's expected to be formally introduced later this year. This is according to the good 'ol "people with knowledge of the project," who also say that the smaller iPad will probably cost "significantly less" than the $499 new iPad. Unsurprisingly, Apple opted not to comment on this latest rumor. On a related (and interesting) note, The New York Times also reports that the first tablet prototype that Apple began crafting in the mid-2000s had a 7-inch display.
There have been a few different reports in recent months claiming that Apple is cooking up an iPad that's smaller than the current 9.7-incher. However, those rumors didn't have any details on the device's exact screen size, saying only that its display would be either less than 8 inches or between 7 and 8 inches. It's also been said that Apple has been testing a smaller iPad with a screen resolution of 1024x768.
As for when this shrunken iPad could debut, we've heard that October could be the month that it goes down, which would make sense considering that that's also when the next iPhone is expected. Of course, all of this information is just rumor until it comes from Apple. Considering all of the rumblings of a smaller iPad that've been popping up lately, though, it's certainly starting to feel like the device may actually be coming. Do you think that Apple is planning to unveil a 7.85-inch iPad later this year?
UPDATE: The New York Times also claims that Amazon is prepping a larger version of its Android-powered Kindle Fire tablet. The current model of the Fire has a display that measures 7 inches. This information comes to the NYT from "a developer briefed on Amazon’s plans."
