Did the iPad Mini Just Kill Off the iPad 4?

Sales of the iPad 4 were not expected to be harmed by the smaller, sleeker and cheaper iPad Mini. As the king of touch screen devices, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was thought to be the one company that could overcome any risk of cannibalization. According to Reuters, that may not be the case. The publication reports that Sharp (one of Apple's largest display suppliers) has significantly reduced the production of screens for the full-size iPad. Reuters' sources did not specify if the slowdown was caused by seasonal changes (Q1 sales are naturally lower than Q4) or the release of the iPad Mini. However, Macquarie Research told Reuters that it expects sales of the iPad to drop 40 percent this quarter. Macquarie analysts estimate that Apple's total iPad sales (Mini and full-size models) will be large enough to weather the storm, so the declines may not seem as massive. While Appl...