While I do feel that the ipad is a better overall tablet than the nexus, the majority of people don't care about features or using outdated technology. The Apple's sales numbers show that
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Next-Generation iPad and iPad Mini Rumored for March Launch
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While I do feel that the ipad is a better overall tablet than the nexus, the majority of people don't care about features or using outdated technology. The Apple's sales numbers show that
kas23
macrumors 603
iOS Devices are used to bring in people to purchase other iOS Devices, Macs, Cables, Cases, Wi-Fi, and people with no iOS Devices.
While I see your point, life experience has shown me many individuals purchasing a MBP( all the time), or (iMac, less often) to replace a WIN Box due to their increasing iOS Inventory.
While obviously not from iOS Devices alone, the data of increasing Mac OS Devices in market is a fact. Along with the flat WIN sales.
I hear them communicate this.
While I see your point, I don't think this is Apple's reasoning any more. It may have been at first, but now Apple itself is even trying to make desktop computers, and some laptops even, extinct (the whole "post-PC" thing).
Plus, while OS X adoption may be increasing, the proportion of profit Apple makes from OS X has drastically dwindled. In fact, I wonder if it's still cost effective for Apple to make desktops anymore? It probably isn't, but the PR backlash Apple would get from killing-off OS X would be very severe. Instead, they appear to be doing it slowly instead. My money says there will be no OS X within 5-10 years time - it will be engulfed by iOS and even the iMac may be gone too.
MagnusVonMagnum
macrumors 603
It's MUCH WORSE than that, I'm afraid if we're going to count when Apple stops selling a particular model. I bought a Gen1 iPod Touch in early 2008 (it was released in September of 2007). It hasn't had ANY meaningful OS updates since June 2009, about 1.5 years after it was introduced (forget this BS 3 year number).
And don't forget how they charged iPod Touch users for the iOS 2.0 (and AGAIN for the 3.0) software update, which it seems like EVERYONE on here was saying they HAD to for accounting reasons; funny how they didn't charge me for the iOS 6.0 software update on my iPod Touch 4th Gen.... there goes that BS "theory". 🙄
The same is true of AppleTV Gen1. Yes, if you bought one when it was first released it had a few years of support. But by the time Gen2 was starting to sell, they never released any upgrades for it ever again (i.e. if you bought a Gen1 a few months before Gen2 suddenly came out, you got ZERO support).
The point is that Apple doesn't support products after they stop selling them. They stop supporting them a set time after they start selling them (or more like whenever it's convenient for them). Worse yet, they'll purposely leave features out for existing users to "encourage" them to buy a new one, even when the hardware is capable of supporting those features (just look at the iPhone features over the years).
But the usual crowd likes to throw around constant excuses why the richest company on Earth simply cannot afford to support their products for more than a couple of years while Microsoft has been supporting WindowsXP now with security updates for over a dozen years, whereas Apple won't do security updates for Snow Leopard anymore and it's barely two years since Lion came out (and never mind all the people that COULDN'T upgrade (whether they wanted to or not) to Snow Leopard and then again Lion and then again Mountain Lion. Too bad. They don't need any security, I guess. No wonder most corporations don't like Macs. Their server software isn't even backwards compatible with each other (i.e. you can't do software updates for older OS versions; too darn bad about that entire lab your company invested in that no longer is supported by Apple, etc.). 🙄 🙄 🙄
Yes, Apple is just too small a company to support their products for more than a couple of years. 🙄 🙄 🙄
Hell, in the case of iOS your warranty will last longer than your software support and the App store doesn't keep older software versions around for older devices like my Gen1 iPod Touch so it's effectively dead except for what I already bought for it and playing music.
Except they don't stop selling gas for your Subaru two years after it's released. Just try and get new software apps (even older versions that used to be available for a given model) once they stop supporting newer OS versions for your device. 😱
Lark.Landon
macrumors 6502
sovereign
macrumors 6502
People actually wanting a company to deliberately sandbag equipment releases! Hilarious! Electronics are not investments. Apple, please release the most updated models as often as feasible.
P.S.: I am one of those who were "screwed" by Apple releasing the iPad "4" so soon. Waaaaaah!🙁
P.S.: I am one of those who were "screwed" by Apple releasing the iPad "4" so soon. Waaaaaah!🙁
charlituna
macrumors G3
Aluminum213
macrumors 68040
Thanks for proving your ignorance by saying "ask iPad 2 owners". The iPad is 3 years old, obviously that's outdated
But saying iPad 2 owners are feeling the burn from apps is just wrong. The iPad 3 runs slower then the iPad 2, the iPad mini uses the same tech as the iPad 2 and NOTHING takes advantage of the iPad 4 new A6X chip. iPad 2 owners can still run every app perfectly fine. So any app developer that has an app that doesn't run we'll on an iPad 2 will be screwing out iPad 2, iPad 3 and the millions of new iPad mini owners. Again, NOTHING takes advantage of the iPad 4 new power
JS82712
macrumors 6502a
I'm well aware of that. Sorry to break it to you but, even samsung calls the note a 'phablet', so technically it doesnt belong in the smarphone category. 🙄
charlituna
macrumors G3
I would say the opposite, don't expect it tis spring. Switching to Fall for all ios devices means everything launches with the new iOS version. That could be their goal
Can't be. The CPU and battery can't support it
No they haven't. Their core business is making money by selling tons of highly profitable stuff. iOS devices, computers and software for commoners fills that core way better than speciality stuff does.
lordofthereef
macrumors G5
I wouldn't be surprised if the iPad 2 was dropped and the iPad mini retained its resolution. I'd also expect MAYBE a slight price drop to $299 entry level. It just sounds so much better than $329.
All for it- I bought a mini and returned it because it fais as an eReader. Ok for movies and apps but my iPhone displays text better. Retina a must.
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I feel bad for everyone who shelled out for a mini if a retina is released in March. I don't think Apple has any other option as the Nexus, Nook HD and Kindle Fire HD all have better screens.
lordofthereef
macrumors G5
That is... The sorriest excuse to dismiss a device that I've honestly seen recently.
I should mention that comparing specs is pretty silly too.
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And yet the mini continues to outsell those products at a higher price point. I wouldn't be shocked if the mini got retina, but I also wouldn't be shocked if it didn't. As I mentioned above, part of me thinks the mini will be iPad 2 replacement.
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We know this based on countless examples that the dev community has given us starting with multitasking on devices that "couldn't support it" and ending with Siri on devices that "couldn't support it". There is also google maps with turn by turn for iPhone 4 which is apparently a feature that model couldn't support for some reason with Apple maps.
At the same time many people were disappointed with the iPhone 5. Why? Because it didn't have a killer software feature. People will complain about everything.
charlituna
macrumors G3
Most folks don't get why the switch. They just see it as a way to milk us for money with new speakers etc.
The real reasons were going digital so pins could be dynamic rather than fixed and the whole thing could be smaller, leaving more room for other things like more cell antenna, bigger battery etc by eliminating unneeded pins like the whole FireWire syncing support.
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That is the reason they give for why Apple simply must be switching to igzo for the displays. Supposedly it is much lower power.
That said, I don't that they would try to go thinner than the iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini. Both are a good thickness. Keep it like that for a while and work in better color, outdoor use, longer battery life and so on
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That prove the situation exists but not your conspiracy theory that Apple could have included them old devices at equal quality to the new hardware but didn't solely to make folks buy new stuff
Guys, if you just got a new iPad Mini just call down.
If it still hasn't been 30 days, return the damn thing and wait until the second one comes out.
If it still hasn't been 30 days, return the damn thing and wait until the second one comes out.
iGrip
macrumors 68000
From everything I've seen, the Windows 8 tablets seem like the best alternative to me. The interface is well done for tablet use, and they can run regular software, hook up to a full blown docking station, and/or mate with a simple keyboard and trackpad.
I think that Windows 8 tablets and convertibles will soon dominate the industry.
Question ;-
How cam something "thinner & lighter" have Retina?
How thin can you get before you start to think "we have to start compromising somewhere"
How cam something "thinner & lighter" have Retina?
How thin can you get before you start to think "we have to start compromising somewhere"
Yes ... It did happen, but there is no where in my post i mentioned a spefic device.
It was just generall question, not targeted at anything specific..
Plus this is about the mini, not the iphone.
The iPad mini is thin as is, all i was wondering weather how thin can Apple go before they must start taking out features, instead if adding them (eg like Retina) or ommitt. Eg the same happened with the Air, they took out the optical drive.. So, i think its the same in the tablet space.
WeegieMac
Guest
Exactly. I had to chuckle at the bloke you quoted, another going on about the "hear issue" on the iPad 3. I never run my iPad 3 above 50% brightness (it's too bright otherwise) and it never gets warm never mind hot.
zombierunner
macrumors 68000
I think it's cool that apple is making more than 1 ipad in a year .. It doesn't make anything obsolete .... I hope the new ipad mini has a6 at least ... Don't do an ipad 3 which was ipad 2 + retina
We bought a nexus 7 for our son, because it was cheaper, but the thing keeps crashing, now he wants music on it and it's a pain when you want to do it from a mac, downloaded software but still don't have the patience to do it, wish I'd got the mini now, simple and effortless with my macs, lesson learnt.
MRU
macrumors Penryn
The iPhone 5 wasn't rocking 2048x1536 resolution display.
In fact it's display is actually less pixels than the current iPad mini.
iPhone 5 = 1136 x 640 pixels (727040 pixels)
iPad mini = 1024 x 768 (786432 pixels)
Therefore the iPhone 5 wasn't driving anywhere near the iPad retina resolution or required neither the GPU power or larger battery in order to deliver that resolution.
The iPad retina has a 42 watt battery resulting in a 9-10 hour battery life
The iPad mini currently has a 15 watt battery
If the iPad mini was to get the guts required to drive a retina display at this current time (there has been no new chip released offering significant power savings but still delivering performance of the A6X ) then the resulting hit in battery life would be astronomical. Never mind making the device thinner.
The previous retina iPads were actually thicker than the iPad 2, to accommodate the hardware / battery differential.
Can you see apple grafting in current A6X or previous A5X into an iPad mini , resulting in a 3-4 hour battery life in a 15 Watt battery ? No - of course not.
AU Optronics who are producing the retina displays will not have a mini display until Q3 2013 with large scale production for Q4 2013
We can assume Apple will then need the revised A7 chip which one assumes will be faster and deliver better GPU power without requiring exponentially more power to drive it, resulting in a chip powerful enough to drive a retina display without significantly reducing battery life or requiring a much larger battery in the mini (which would result in a thicker and heavier mini).
If Apple chooses to update the Mini in march it will be for an A6 without retina, and given how well the current iPad mini is selling it really begs the question why would they bother given the current hardware is not impacting on sales, so why re-manufacturer something that they are struggling to keep on top of demand for?
Personally and practicality wise I can only foresee the mini being updated in Fall 2013 with retina display.
The matket analysts that seemingly come out with these predictions do so based on history of release dates and 'market expectations' and not based fact or current technology limitations and predicted release dates for technology required to actually deliver the product they are predicting the release date for. It's a flawed viewpoint, but one that continuously stirs up the hornets nest, which is exactly what the Markets want irrespective of what actually comes to pass.
I'm not sure I'm understanding you correctly, but I just purchased a "vintage" 3rd Gen iPod Classic, 2nd Gen iPod Mini and I have a 2nd Gen iPod Classic. Plugged each one in to my brand spanking new iMac. Each one was recognised by iTunes, each one had an upadte (updates were probably released years ago but the fact they're still on Apple's servers sounds contrary to your statement).
Contrast that to the drawer load of Sony Ericsson and Nokia phones from around the same era as the iPods that I'm trying to sell on eBay - not one of them is immediately recognised by either my Mac or PC running Win7. So I tried going to the official sites to find "PC Suite" software. Its as if the phones never existed - no mention. "OK", I thought, I'll just search "W950i PC". Came up with a couple of torrent sites offering the correct software/drivers, downloaded, tried installing, wouldn't work on either machine rendering each of those phones completely useless whereas my 3rd Gen iPod Classic is sat here next to me on my desk happily syncing away.
I also still have my 2008 Macbook that is happily running Lion about as fast as it ran Leopard the day I bought it. I may have paid more for it upfront, but I've never had a laptop last me that long before.
We could wade in pretty deep on Windows OS support but that's not for here. And let's not get started on Android OS update. Hands up if your year old phone is running the latest Jelly Bean update yet..... But that's been done to death on here too.