Apple’s total iPad shipments were 19.5 million units from January to March, and the iPad mini accounted for 12.5 million units, according to “DigiTimes” (http://tinyurl.com/d85pwgs). This shows that “the 7- to 8-inch segment has already become the mainstream of the market,” the article adds.

The second-generation iPad mini — expected to sport a Retina display — could make an appearance as soon as August, says “DigiTimes,” quoting unnamed “sources from the upstream supply chain.” “As tablet players are turning their focuses from the 10-inch segment to 7-inch for the second half of 2013, sources from the upstream supply chain believe the competition between Apple iPad mini and 7-inch Android tablets will become fiercer than before,” the article adds.