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Apple's Decision To Not Say How Many iPad Minis It Sold Is Pure Bologna

Tim CookApple decided to do a very un-Apple thing this morning when it announced iPad sales for the last three days.

Everyone wanted to know how many iPad Minis Apple sold, since it's the newest Apple product on the market.

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Instead of saying how many iPad Minis it sold, Apple decided to obfuscate, saying it sold thee million iPad Minis and fourth-generation iPads last weekend.

Since Apple decided not to release specific iPad Mini sales, we're left to guess. Gene Munster is estimating 2-2.5 million iPad Minis, which is better than he expected.

In the past Apple has been very open about sales of its brand new products. When the iPhone 5 went on sale, Apple told said it sold five million during the opening weekend. When it sold the third generation iPad, it said it sold three million during the opening weekend.

Apple's openness about actual sales of its products is one of the (many) things that makes it stand out from its rivals. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft all released new tablets this year and we have no clue about their sales because they refuse to release data. This is particularly rich in the case of Google because it calls itself an open company, despite being very closed about sales.

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While it's great Apple revealed any numbers, it's an odd decision to not give specifics about the iPad Mini.

(Apple blogger Jim Dalrymple is attacking people who question Apple's decision to not reveal iPad Mini sales. He says, "Apple never breaks out numbers of multiple products in a category."

Except that's not true. Apple says how many iPod Touches it sells on its earnings calls — "iPod touch continue to account for over half of all iPods sold." And when it releases a new iPhone or new iPad it talks about those new product sales, separate from ongoing, older iPhone and iPad sales. Besides, if there are rules in place, they're Apple's rules and it can break the rules for a special occasion like the launch of the Mini.

He also says everyone should be attacking Microsoft, Google, and Amazon for not revealing its sales. This is the lamest line of attack. Apple set its own standard by releasing new product numbers. Now it's coming back to bite it on the butt because it's being vague. Deal with it.

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Two wrongs don't make a right. Either Apple thinks there's value in telling the world how its new products are selling, or it doesn't.)

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