Apple's iPad mini introduced

Apple has introduced a smaller, lighter and less expensive iPad, but at $329 (10,120 baht) for the cheapest version, it is still considerably more expensive than its rivals.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller introduces the iPad mini to the media. AFP

Click button to listen to iPad mini and rightclick to download

Apple's iPad mini introduced

AFP

SAN JOSE, California (AFP) - Apple introduced the iPad mini on Tuesday, confident that a smaller version of its beloved tablet computer will trump lower-priced offerings by rivals Amazon, Google and Samsung.

"This is iPad mini," Apple's senior vice president for marketing Phil Schiller said as he displayed the new gadget at a company event in San Jose.

"This isn't just a shrunken down iPad," Schiller said. "It is an entirely new design."

Chief executive Tim Cook coolly presided over the launch of what was considered his first Apple product not bearing the thumbprint of late co-founder Steve Jobs, who derided small tablets as "DOA."

Apple CEO Tim Cook shows off the iPad mini. AFP

Jobs publicly declared seven-inch tablets being fielded against iPad would be dead-on-arrival; that was unless they included sandpaper, "so that the user can sand down their fingers to around one quarter of the present size."

Industry analysts noted that given his oft clever tactics, the derision could have been a ruse by Jobs to discourage competitors while Apple had a smaller version of the iPad on the drawing board.

The iPad mini's touchscreen measures 7.9 inches (20 centimeters) diagonally compared to 9.7 inches on the original iPad.

A 16-gigabyte version of the iPad mini with Wi-Fi connectivity costs $329 (10,120 baht), while a 16GB model with both Wi-Fi and cellular capability costs $459 (14,118 baht).

The top-of-the-line 64GB iPad mini with Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity will sell for $659 (20, 270 baht). Like later versions of the original iPad, the new Apple tablet also features rear- and front-facing cameras.

Schiller said customers could begin pre-ordering the iPad mini on October 26 and that Wi-Fi versions would begin shipping on November 2 to about three dozen countries in Asia and Europe in addition to the United States.

Schiller said the iPad mini weighs 0.68 pounds, less than half the original, and is 7.2mm thick –  thinner than a pencil.

"We told you early this year that you would see some incredible innovation from Apple across the year," said Cook, who replaced Jobs last year shortly before the death of the iconic co-founder of the California high-tech giant.

"We think we kept our promise and we hope that you agree," Cook said.

Apple also unveiled a fourth generation of the original iPad on Tuesday for the same starting price of $499 (15,350 baht) for a 16GB model with Wi-Fi connectivity.

The new iPad mini (right) is shown next to the full-sized fourth generation iPad. REUTERS

Cook said Apple has sold over 100 million iPads in two and a half years.

He also said more than 275,000 applications were now available for the iPad in Apple's App Store and that customers have downloaded a total of more than 35 billion apps.

Apple set the tablet computer market ablaze with the first iPad in early 2010 and stuck with its 9.7-inch screen while rivals introduced lower-price tablets with screens closer to seven inches.

Amazon's seven-inch Kindle Fire proved popular last year, and a new version was launched last month. Meanwhile, a Google Nexus 7 powered by Android software has since joined the Samsung Galaxy in the seven-inch tablet market.

While the cheapest iPad mini costs $329, less than the original iPad, the device is still considerably more expensive than the seven-inch tablets from Amazon, Google and Samsung – which start at $199 (6,120 baht).

media – radio, television, newspaper, the Internet, considered as a group สื่อ
confident – being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future มั่นใจ
version – a particular form of something which varies slightly from other forms of the same thing – ชุด, เวอร์ชั่น
beloved – loved very much by somebody; very popular with somebody  เป็นที่รัก
trump – to be stronger or mroe powerful than something else; to win or succeed because of an advantage that you have that others don’t ที่เก่งกว่า ดีกว่า
offering – something that is produced for other people to use, watch, enjoy, etc  ผลิตผล
rival – a person, team or business that competes with another คู่แข่ง
display – to put something in a particular place so that people can see it easily  โชว์, แสดง
gadget – a small tool or piece of equipment that does something useful or impressive   อุปกรณ์ขนาดเล็ก, กลไกขนาดเล็ก
shrunken – that has become smaller (and less attractive) หดตัว, เล็กลง
preside – to be in charge of an official meeting, ceremony or other event เป็นประธาน ในพิธี ในที่ประชุม
launch – an event held to start selling a new product or service to the public  การเริ่มวางขาย
consider – to regard as; to think of as ถือว่า
bear – to carry something ถือ
thumbprint – the mark made by the pattern of lines on the top of a person's thumb, thumb the short thick finger at the side of the hand นิ้วหัวแม่มือ; a fingerprint made by the thumb
bear the thumbprint – in this case, to be the idea of someone
late – dead ที่ล่วงลับไปแล้ว
co-founder – a person who works with another to establish an institution, business or organisation
deride – to treat somebody/something as ridiculous and not worth considering seriously หัวเราะเยาะ, ดูถูก
dead-on-arrival (DOA) – (of a product, idea) an immediate failure, having no chance of success ไม่มีโอกาสสำเร็จ
declare – to state something firmly and clearly  ยืนยัน
sandpaper – strong paper with a rough surface covered with sand or a similar substance, used for rubbing surfaces in order to make them smooth  กระดาษทราย
quarter – one of four equal parts of something; 1/4; 25% หนึ่งในสี่ส่วน
analyst – a person whose job involves examining facts or materials in order to give an opinion on them  นักวิเคราะห์
given – because of a particular fact
oft – often
tactics – particular methods or plans for achieving something กลยุทธ  วิธีการในการวางแผน
derision – the opinion that someone or something is stupid, unimportant, or useless การหัวเราะเยาะ, การเยาะเย้ย, การดูถูก
ruse – a plan or trick that you use to hide your true intentions  อุบาย  เล่ห์เหลี่ยม
discourage – to make someone feel like something should not be done ทำให้ไม่อยาก (ทำสิ่งใดสิ่งหนึ่ง)
competitor – a person, team or company that is competing against others ผู้แข่งขัน, คู่แข่ง
on the drawing board – being planned กำลังวางแผนอยู่
diagonal – joining two opposite corners of a square or other flat shape with four sides ทแยงมุม
cellular – connected with a telephone system that works by radio instead of wires เกี่ยวกับโทรศัพท์เซลลูล่าร์
capability – the ability to do something ความสามารถ
top-of-the-line – the highest quality and usually most expensive product in a set of similar products
feature – to include someone or something as an important part มีบทบาทสำคัญใน
rear – back ด้านหลัง
original – the first of something เดิม, แบบฉบับ
incredible – difficult to believe อย่างไม่น่าเชื่อ
innovation – the introduction of new things, ideas or ways of doing something; a new idea, way of doing something, etc. that has been introduced or discovered นวัตกรรม, การคิดขึ้นใหม่, สิ่งที่นำเข้ามาใหม่
replace – to put a new person or thing in the place of someone or something แทน
iconic – well known and acting as a sign or symbol of something, in this case, the creation of technology for consumers มีชื่อเสียงและเป็นสัญลักษณ์แทนบางสิ่ง
unveil – to show or introduce a new plan, product, etc. to the public for the first time เปิดเผย, ประกาศให้รู้ทั่วไป
generation – a group of people in society who are born and live around the same time รุ่น (คนรุ่นต่างๆ)
set ablaze – to set on fire, but in this case, to create great excitement and interest วางเพลิง
stick with (past form: stuck with)– to continue with something or continue doing/using something   ใช้ต่อไป, ทำต่อไป
popular – a situation in which someone or something is liked by many people เป็นที่นิยม, เป็นที่ชื่นชอบ
considerably – much; a lot มากมาย