Reports say that the consumer interest in Apple Inc's tablet, the iPad is dwindling. Although touted as a superior iOS product when it was released, the Apple tablet has not seen newer versions in a long time. Experts say that every big name computing device requires a new release for it to impact buying decisions of consumers. And this year, with no imminent release of a new iPad, consumers will begin to lose interest in an Apple Inc tablet PC that has exceptional engineering and design elements.

When it was first released, iPad I was hailed as an design marvel coupled with exceptional functionality, with battery power for 12 hours - the longest usable battery life for any tablet, incredible hues, and the user-friendly and smart features that Apple has a knack for. The iPad mini too is expected to do well for its convenient smaller size and the product is fairly new.

Tom Mainelli, Research Director at Tablets at IDC said, "A new iPad launch always piques consumer interest in the tablet category and traditionally that has helped both Apple and its competitors," adding, "With no new iPads, the market slowed for many vendors, and that's likely to continue into the third quarter. However, by the fourth quarter we expect new products from Apple, Amazon, and others to drive impressive growth in the market."

The iPhone has done well in this regard, with CEO Tim Cook taking over at the helm after Steve Jobs. Despite a dearth of the 'Jobs factor' that made Apple Inc., a company that outperformed at the Mac Show every year with amazing and innovative products, the new team has factored in the Chinese market this year to make the touted iPhone available to "everyone and not just the rich." Great idea indeed.

But the Chinese are great at replicating technology and there's telling how the story of the cheap iPhone will turn out. With Chinese clones having incredible flexibility and similarity to the iPhone, it is possible that the actual iPhone 5c will make a difference to average Chinese earning less than $3000 per annum.

Another Apple Inc. Watcher, Steve Milunovich of UBS is slashing 2004 estimates. He too concludes that the iPad is likely to be less important to the firm than the iPhone or the iPhone 5s and the iPhone c.

Despite fast moving sales when it was released, the iPad was not able to keep up its reputation as a product of the future. In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy tablets like the 7" P1000, the iPad 1 was cumbersome at 9.6 inches and holding an ipad like an attache' case looked out of style. The iPad 2 was more stylish with thinner side trims but still hosting a screen that sports a screen size that is close to a small desktop monitor. That too is a little awkward to carry around. So, it looks like if you want great looking apps, and funcitionality and power to stay on for 10 hours using wifi, then you need to lug along something heavy.

Some of the profits attributed to the iPad, will go toward the cheaper iPhone, due to be releases. Analysts say that the low-cost iPhone will rake in about 3% of iPhone's unit sales.

When looking at iPad sales, it was sold faster than the iPhone itself. In the three years after it was released, the iPad reeled in more than $80 billion and twice the number of unit. This figure is in comparison to the $50 billion.

At the time, the iPad was a consumer friendly product since they were used to hand held devices. The only factor lagging in the iPad was that its rate of growth seemed lower than the iPhone. A similar analysis at the unit level would point to a slower rate of growth of the iPod in comparison to the iPhone. . From projecting current trends, a five year time frame would contribute to higher growth in iPhone sales versus the iPod in five years at $170 billion in sales.

Meanwhile, Apple Inc. insider, Sonny Dickson ‏tweeted the price of the soon to release iPhone 5s in Australia: Australian iPhone 5S - Prices 16GB - $799.00 32GB - $899.00 64GB - $999.00 128GB - $1,00,99.

As for the cheaper version, there's no telling how cheap a Chinese phone can get since Apple Inc. wants to make sure it gets rid of the piracy problems with iPhone clones readily available in China.

With reports from bgr.com, streetinsider.com