Published: 7/5/2012

Apple plans cheaper, smaller iPad, reports say

BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Apple Inc. plans to debut a smaller, cheaper iPad by year-end, two people with knowledge of the plans said, to help maintain dominance of the tablet market as Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. prepare handheld devices.

The new model will have a screen that's 7 inches to 8 inches diagonally, less than the 9.7-inch version, said the people, who asked not to be identified because Apple hasn't made its plans public. Apple may announce the product in October.

The new device will probably have a price closer to Google's Nexus 7 tablet and Amazon's Kindle Fire, both of which have 7-inch screens and cost $199.

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