Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has started selling a ‘Space Gray’ shade in its first generation non-Retina Display iPad mini at Apple retail stores. Citing sources, a report from 9to5Mac says a number of Apple stores have started keeping iPad mini stock, but not every store.
Color consistency from Apple
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has started selling its upgraded model through its online stores as of Thursday. First generation 16GB version iPad mini is priced at $299 compared to the previous price of $329. The model is available in both Wi-Fi and WiFi+LTE versions.
The iPhone maker has discontinued the Black and Slate versions of iPad mini, to bring a sense of continuity between the newly launched iPad version and recently launched iPhone 5S.
Other colors available for iPad mini non-Retina version are white and silver. News published by Apple’s online store conveys that the T-mobile version of the first generation iPad mini will be available in the market by October 31.
New iPads to support declining sales
Last year, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) came up with iPad mini, which went on to become a chart topping tablet, although there was a slowdown and loss of market share over the past few months. For the second quarter, iPad sales came down to 14.6 million from 17 million in the previous year’s quarter even though Apple launched a Retina Display iPad with better screen quality.
Earlier this week, Apple launched iPad Air and a Retina Display iPad mini. The latest version of Retina Display iPad mini is priced at $319 and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will start shipping on November 1.
“Everyone seems to be making a tablet, even some of the doubters. But regardless of what you might hear or read about how many are bought or sold or activated, iPad is used a lot more,” CEO Tim Cook said at the launch event.
Ben Wood, chief of research at CCS Insight, said that the latest iPads launched by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) showcase the company’s muscle in the premium tablet market. Wood added that the company is determined to trip up Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) by providing free updates to its OS X operating system along with iLife software for the new gadgets. By adopting this strategy, Apple is presenting a real challenge to Microsoft, whose business model for Windows and Office depends on license fees and upgrade charges.
