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If the 9-inch iPad is an enormous iPod touch<\/a>, what does that make the rumored 7-inch version? An iPad mini? The iPad Portable? Or maybe just the product Apple should have made in the first place, since it will come at a lower price point and won’t require a special jacket just to carry it<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Digitimes, Apple is prepping a 5- to 7-inch iPad, which will retail for under $400, and could hit stores early next year. <\/p>\n Digitimes Research senior analyst Mingchi Kuo, citing talks with upstream component sources, said Apple’s smaller-size iPad will be priced below US$400 and will target the highly-portable mobile device market and consumers that focus mainly on reading and do not have a high demand for text input.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n So, will this complete the iEcosphere — or will Apple introduce a 22-inch iPad maxi in a couple of years, along with a new line of carrying cases<\/a> to haul it around?<\/p>\n