12.9-Inch 'iPad Pro' Could Have Flexible Touch Panel With Increased Sensitivity

[69650]

Actually, for Pro USB-C may be more appropriate. Mouse, hard drives, printers, scanners, imagine what kind of devices could be connected.

None of which I carry in my briefcase. I do however carry my iPad charger everywhere as I can use it to charge both my iPad and iPhone. Changing to USB-C would mean having to carry another charger and cable. It's stupid IMO. Not to mention all the iOS peripherals that would need adapters to work.

They should stick to one standard connection across all their devices. Let the USB users have to buy an adapter if they want to deviate from that standard.

 

[smoking monkey]

If it still runs iOS it’s not Pro.

Haha. Said with all the authority of... who? There are plenty of iPads being used in professional environments as of right now. Are they not pro?

Is the iPad the most boring Apple product? Is there something they make which is more boring than iPad? I mean, apart from Pages or something...

I'd forgotten that because some users here at MR can't find interesting uses for an iPad, means that NOBODY can find an interesting use for an iPad!

Mate, I'd call it a game changer. But it really just depends on your usage. I use it in a PROfessional setting almost every day and it worked brilliantly.

That's not to say that tablets are finding it hard to grow their market now that smart phones are getting bigger and the casual user is finding it harder to distinguish, but for people who have specific work/creative applications, it's still a must.

 

[69650]

Also, the iPad Pro should come in all sizes, and like the Macbook, the iPad should have two categories, iPad and iPad Pro:
- iPad Pro mini
- iPad Pro
- iPad Pro Plus.

In a declining tablet market you need fewer models to consolidate manufacturing economies of scale. Expanding the iPad range in this way would lower margins and confuse customers, in the same way that the dizzying array of MacBooks is confusing.

Apple had a simple strategy. The bigger the screen size the more powerful the device. We don't need a MB, MBA and MBP. We just need a MacBook available in 12" 14" and 16" screen sizes. You can have a cheaper "consumer" or more advanced "pro" variants of each size simply by varying the specs and prices.

I also don't see the need for an iPad mini/air/pro. Just call it the iPad available in 8" 10" and 13" variants. Why confuse people. That's why Steve preferred to stick with one version of every Apple device.

 

[J.gerbes]

another row of apps in my folder. score!

Don't be so sure.

 

[AFDoc]

Does anyone else feel like that now that phones are an average of 5 inches that tablets are no longer relevant? I know personally, that I grab for my phone 9 times out of 10 before i grab my tablet, and if I need something bigger, i grab my laptop.
Also, Tablet sales have been on a rapid decline. I feel like tablets have overstayed their short lived welcome.

No..... they have not. They fill a very particular niche and they do that well. Just like the netbook craze the tablet craze will and is settling but they certainly have not lived out their welcome.

 

[AleXXXa]

Is the iPad the most boring Apple product? Is there something they make which is more boring than iPad? I mean, apart from Pages or something...

I'd say iTunes but that's just ****ing infuriating which maybe is the direct opposite of boring...

A big bendy iPad is still a boring iPad.

Agree. And as long as it will run ios it will remain boring.
Now if they'll release an ipad pro with mac os... that would be interesting!

 

[derekamoss]

I bought a Surface Pro 3 when they released and it's been so darned good to me that I sold my iPad, MacBook Air and even my Desktop PC - the SP3 serves all three purposes. Say what you like about Windows 8 - yes it's a confusing OS but maybe MS are onto something with the converging device and OS theory that Apple also plan to tap into ? With Apple's attention to detail and design it is going to get VERY interesting if they come up with something designed to be a "Surface Killer" !

1000

I agree. I bought a Surface Pro 3 and it has replaced everything I have owned. Windows when it comes to tablet interface has it down pat. iOS just sucks so much. This is coming from a long time Mac fan. Macs I love if I had a non touch screen desktop or laptop but anything apple when it comes to tablets and phones is just boring really. Make it bigger and thinner.... If they released OS X on a tablet. I might thing about going back. Yeah Windows App Store doesn't have a whole lot of apps but who really needs the app store when I can run ANY windows program anyways. Not saying I dont use the app store but it doesn't need everything there because I can just download it from some where else. Start Screen on a tablet is the best touch ui out there I think. Its not even hard to use the desktop in touch mode and if I am having troubles I could attach my type cover and have no problems at all. I'm not saying Microsoft is the best company all the sudden. I'm saying the surface pro 3 is the best tablet/laptop hybrid there is. They found the right middle ground.

 

[lincolntran]

That sounds really wrong.

That stupid autocorrect!

 

[StoneJack]

The only things that preclude iOS from being content-creating (rather than consuming as of now) would be pressure sensitivity (which seems to be addressed in hardware), which will greatly help in content creation in arts and digital imagery,
and promotion of content creation in text form, such as copy, paste, selection, multiple windows simultaneously displayed, etc. Thats input precision and cursor arrows or so, maybe addressed by keyboard. If such things are indeed added in hardware and software, it means that iPad has matured. In music, it is already content creating machine (not sure about video, probably video requires better selection methods than by fingers, because it is very precisive).

It means that we don't need OS X in tablets. Thats a wrong choice to install OS X with much smaller user base and app base on iOS user base which is much wider. Instead, one has to move iOS up the pro quality ladder. Already in many fields it is a leader because of its strengths (services, construction, POS, etc).

Some day, iOS Pro will rival OS X in terms of content creation capacity.

 

[sracer]

I'm saying the surface pro 3 is the best tablet/laptop hybrid there is.

That is setting the bar fairly low.

They found the right middle ground.

I disagree. It is highly skewed toward a notebook rather than a tablet. Consider that Microsoft NEVER advertises the Surface without the TypeCover and doesn't even offer a non-keyboard cover as an option. It is a mandatory option. (talk about oxymoron)

 

[becneel]

If this is true, then it is a big step forward for Apple.

Pair it with some good specs, good looks and good accessories and it would crush Surface for many years to come.

 

[nia820]

If it still runs iOS it’s not Pro.

Exactly. The iPad pro needs to part ways with iOS if it wants to be taken seriously as a "Pro" device.

 

[rowspaxe]

Does anyone else feel like that now that phones are an average of 5 inches that tablets are no longer relevant? I know personally, that I grab for my phone 9 times out of 10 before i grab my tablet, and if I need something bigger, i grab my laptop.
Also, Tablet sales have been on a rapid decline. I feel like tablets have overstayed their short lived welcome.

Who wants to read on a 5" phone? Who wants to lie down with a laptop? Who wants to draw and write on a laptop? Tablets will be around for a while.

 

[rowspaxe]

I'm saying the surface pro 3 is the best tablet/laptop hybrid there is. They found the right middle ground.

I agree, generally. But i also feel the device will evolve alot over the next generations. The key cover could be much better--the felt-ish backing is a
dirt magnet. The pen is pretty good--but palm rejection isn't nearly as good as wacom. I hope microsoft won't sit on this tech now that they own it--i hope they take it up a level.

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I use it in a PROfessional setting almost every day and it worked brilliantly.

Chipotle doesn't count

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Oh man, I've said this a million times but I really want an iPad that has native pressure support for drawing..

Just get a surface, or at least check out articles on surface pro artist site.

 

[derekamoss]

That is setting the bar fairly low.


I disagree. It is highly skewed toward a notebook rather than a tablet. Consider that Microsoft NEVER advertises the Surface without the TypeCover and doesn't even offer a non-keyboard cover as an option. It is a mandatory option. (talk about oxymoron)

When I first got my SP3 I didn't have the money to buy the keyboard. But it didn't really matter at all. It wasn't mandatory. I was using it mostly as a tablet, and the times I needed to be productive I just pulled the kick stand out and plugged my USB hub in.... and bam! Had my wireless keyboard and mouse and 12 inch monitor. If I bought a monitor and docking station the Surface Pro 3 could literally then replace my desktop, laptop and tablet. Eventually got the type cover but it in no way not having it kept me from using the device to its full potential.

As just being a tablet alone with no keyboard or mouse, the Surface Pro 3 does everything the iPad can do and more. Adding a type cover makes it a decent laptop as well. The iPad is just inferior and Microsoft got it right.

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I agree, generally. But i also feel the device will evolve alot over the next generations. The key cover could be much better--the felt-ish backing is a
dirt magnet. The pen is pretty good--but palm rejection isn't nearly as good as wacom. I hope microsoft won't sit on this tech now that they own it--i hope they take it up a level.


And thats true too but at that point is just coming down to personal preference with the felt. I don't know much about the palm rejection because this device is the first I've ever had that could do it and to me it just seems to work. No experience with Wacom vs. N-trig so can't say anything about it. Hopefully with Microsoft buying N-trig that's no longer a problem. I will say before the SP3 I was never interested in using a pen on a tablet until I played with it. I use it to take all my notes in class now and don't even worry about using paper.

 

[nj-morris]

The only things that preclude iOS from being content-creating (rather than consuming as of now) would be pressure sensitivity (which seems to be addressed in hardware), which will greatly help in content creation in arts and digital imagery,
and promotion of content creation in text form, such as copy, paste, selection, multiple windows simultaneously displayed, etc. Thats input precision and cursor arrows or so, maybe addressed by keyboard. If such things are indeed added in hardware and software, it means that iPad has matured. In music, it is already content creating machine (not sure about video, probably video requires better selection methods than by fingers, because it is very precisive).

It means that we don't need OS X in tablets. Thats a wrong choice to install OS X with much smaller user base and app base on iOS user base which is much wider. Instead, one has to move iOS up the pro quality ladder. Already in many fields it is a leader because of its strengths (services, construction, POS, etc).

Some day, iOS Pro will rival OS X in terms of content creation capacity.

This exactly. Everybody listen to this person.
Nobody is asking for a completely different OS. We're just asking for a version of iOS that is optimised for the power of the iPad Pro. iOS 9 will be an optimisation release allegedly, so good news for pro users. It just needs to retain the efficiency of iOS

 

[Padaung]

I did. And even many of those who love their Surface devices admit that tablet user experience is less than it is with an iPad. Primarily because of the lack of touch optimized apps. Using desktop apps in touch mode is sub par.

Check this article out: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/04/29/windows_android_ios_compatibility/

My hunch is that the Surface Pro 4 may be pretty amazing. One hopes MS launch a fanless option (so thinner an lighter) as well as the existing i3, i5 & i7 versions.

Surface Pro 4 with Windows 10, and plenty of touch enabled apps from the compatibility initiative linked above is an exciting prospect.

My feeling is that tablets will be around for a long time yet, but I don't think they will remain a growth industry. The market has matured already.

Tabets can be used for work (especially if an organisation has developed their own app specific to their needs), but the sheer versatility of a Surface Pro is compelling, especially once MS nail the touch/desktop experience in one device.

Tablets at home for families and children browsing and playing is a great experience.

 

[StoneJack]

Check this article out: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/04/29/windows_android_ios_compatibility/

My hunch is that the Surface Pro 4 may be pretty amazing. One hopes MS launch a fanless option (so thinner an lighter) as well as the existing i3, i5 & i7 versions.

Surface Pro 4 with Windows 10, and plenty of touch enabled apps from the compatibility initiative linked above is an exciting prospect.

My feeling is that tablets will be around for a long time yet, but I don't think they will remain a growth industry. The market has matured already.

Tabets can be used for work (especially if an organisation has developed their own app specific to their needs), but the sheer versatility of a Surface Pro is compelling, especially once MS nail the touch/desktop experience in one device.

Tablets at home for families and children browsing and playing is a great experience.

As for hardware, I fail to see what so much special in Surface. It is just another Intel notebook. The OS, Windows, itself is a failure in terms of security, driver nightmare, BSOD, viruses, malware, etc, you name it. The Windows itself negates the machine.

iPad have highly specialized and optimized software, with very small space, efficient, quick and highly praised. Its installed base (iOS) alone is close to all Windows and greatly exceeds already Windows 8. The market has spoken against 20 year old DOS based program and OS.

 

[Stiksi]

The OS, Windows, itself is a failure in terms of security, driver nightmare, BSOD, viruses, malware, etc, you name it. The Windows itself negates the machine.

It's not Windows XP anymore, 8 is much, much closer to OS X in function and security. I've been a mac and idevice user for over ten years and the next tablet to replace my iPad will probably be a Surface Pro, simply because of the pen digitizer, ability to run Photoshop, Lightroom, Manga Studio, Painter (those are all OS independent between Win and Mac btw.) or whatever I need. I won't have to put up with whatever hamstring cuts Apple has put on the device to keep it from eating Mac revenue.

I don't like Windows logic, but at least I can get my work done on it.

 

[fitshaced]

If it runs 26 miles, it's a marathon.

Marathoner

 

[meechy]

It will just be a bigger iPad air running iOS, no special features. Don't get too excited folks.

 

[StoneJack]

It's not Windows XP anymore, 8 is much, much closer to OS X in function and security. I've been a mac and idevice user for over ten years and the next tablet to replace my iPad will probably be a Surface Pro, simply because of the pen digitizer, ability to run Photoshop, Lightroom, Manga Studio, Painter (those are all OS independent between Win and Mac btw.) or whatever I need. I won't have to put up with whatever hamstring cuts Apple has put on the device to keep it from eating Mac revenue.

I don't like Windows logic, but at least I can get my work done on it.

Never heard about Manga studio, but for others thats your choice of OS. For graphics, macs are usually best because of color consistency. Digitizers can be used on Wacoms, but on move, iPad doesn't seem bad either. WIth pressure sensitivity, I think seriously that iPad will exceed any desktop OS in terms of efficiency of productivity on mobile in drawing and painting, such is the level of concentration. Just thinking about painting on Windows makes me feel bad.

----------

It will just be a bigger iPad air running iOS, no special features. Don't get too excited folks.

We will see soon. There is interesting possibility that not display, but Apple stylus (digital pen) will be pressure sensitive. I guess this will give the pressure sensitivity option to non-Pro ipads, a very smart move. iPad Pro's rumored nano sensitivity is of course, a better option if it comes.

 

[sracer]

As just being a tablet alone with no keyboard or mouse, the Surface Pro 3 does everything the iPad can do and more. Adding a type cover makes it a decent laptop as well. The iPad is just inferior and Microsoft got it right.

It depends upon one's definition of "everything".

No, the Surface Pro 3 cannot do everything the iPad can do (for what I use these devices for). Yes it can do more in many respects, but there are plenty of things that the Surface Pro 3 cannot do... not due to hardware limitations but because of (lack of) software.

If all one does is surf the web, check email, keep up on social media, then yes the Surface Pro 3 can do "everything" that the iPad can do... heck, even Fisher-Price's "My First Tablet" can do "everything" that the iPad can do.

Generally speaking, those who defend the completeness of the Surface claim that those apps that are unique to the iPad (and not available on the Surface) are "niche" or "specialty" not needed by most. ie. a conveniently carved out definition of "everything".

 

[Patriks7]

Does anyone else feel like that now that phones are an average of 5 inches that tablets are no longer relevant? I know personally, that I grab for my phone 9 times out of 10 before i grab my tablet, and if I need something bigger, i grab my laptop.
Also, Tablet sales have been on a rapid decline. I feel like tablets have overstayed their short lived welcome.

Nope, I feel the exact opposite. Ever since I got my iPad mini, my iPhone is now pretty much just a phone. I think I even do more calls and texting from my iPad.

 

[threesixty360]

It's not Windows XP anymore, 8 is much, much closer to OS X in function and security. I've been a mac and idevice user for over ten years and the next tablet to replace my iPad will probably be a Surface Pro, simply because of the pen digitizer, ability to run Photoshop, Lightroom, Manga Studio, Painter (those are all OS independent between Win and Mac btw.) or whatever I need. I won't have to put up with whatever hamstring cuts Apple has put on the device to keep it from eating Mac revenue.

I don't like Windows logic, but at least I can get my work done on it.

But SP3 competes with the macbook air/pro not the ipad.
The SP3 is too big and awkward to just carry around. The ipad is more in line with devices like tv's or a cd player. It's a mass consumption device that isnt meant to be configured to do anything you want like a PC is. If you didnt have the SP3 you would use a laptop with a wacom tablet, you wouldnt bother with the ipad. Its just too different a machine.