Is Apple planning to minify the iPad3

In a bid to maintain a dominant market share, Apple is said to be working with component suppliers in Asia to test a new tablet computer with a smaller screen. People familiar with the situation have said the company is looking to broaden its product pipeline amid intensifying competition. Unnamed officials at some of Apple’s suppliers have been cited by 'The Australian' as saying that California-based company showed them screen designs for a new device with a screen size of around eight inches, and said it was qualifying suppliers for it. Apple’s latest tablet, the iPad 2, comes with a 9.7-inch screen. It was launched last year. One person said the smaller device will have a similar resolution screen as the iPad 2. Apple is working with screen makers including Taiwan-based AU Optronics and LG Display of South Korea to supply the test panels, the quoted person said. Apple, which works with suppliers to test new designs all the time, could opt not to proceed with the device. The move comes as Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil its third-generation iPad on March 7. That device is expected to have a higher resolution screen than the iPad 2 with a similar screen size, according to people familiar with the matter. Analysts believe that a smaller tablet device from Apple would make good business sense as it would broaden its portfolio and help it better compete with rivals such as Samsung Electronics and Amazon.com. Samsung Electronics sells its Galaxy Tab iPad competitor in three screen sizes: a 7-inch, an 8.9-inch and a 10.1-inch. Moreover, Samsung’'s 5.3-inch Galaxy Note and Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire have been selling well too. Apple has successfully followed this approach of launching different sizes fir the same product in the past too. It released its iPod music player in a number of shapes and sizes over time. On the other hand, Apple seems to be following a The company has taken a unique strategy with its iPhone, releasing one design at a time. The iPad represented more than 61.5 per cent of worldwide tablet shipments in the third quarter, down from 68.3 per cent in the second quarter, according to market researcher IDC. In the quarter ending in December, Apple hit new sales and profit records based on runaway holiday demand for its iPhone and iPad devices. Earlier this week, the company’s share price topped $500 a share for the first time in its history, and has in fact gained about $100 since the beginning of 2012. From dmi