Mid-Range and High-End iPad 3 Launching at iWorld Seems Unlikely

[MacRumors]

There have been an increasing number of rumors about the next generation iPad which is expected to launch sometime in early 2012. Digitimes is the source for many of these reports, but some of the claims are becoming increasingly questionable.

The latest report from the publication now claims that Apple will unveil its next generation iPad at the Macworld|iWorld conference on January 26th, 2012.

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Aside from a surprise Apple return to Macworld|iWorld, Digitimes also reports that the new iPads will keep 9.7" screens, carry 1536x2048 Retina Displays, A6 processors, 5-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras, and over double the battery capacity (6500mAH -> 14,000mAH) for the higher end model.

The two new models are described as targetting the mid-range and high-end segments.

Digitimes has a bit of mixed record on Apple rumors with our internal tracking putting their accuracy at 55%. Examining the rumor more closely, this isn't the first time that a high end or "HD" iPad has been suggested. ThisIsMyNext suggested this possibility back in July. At the time, this "iPad HD" was described as a "pro" device aimed at video and photo professionals. While Apple is widely expected to introduce an Retina-display iPad at some point in 2012, the most recent prevailing rumors have not been suggesting that Apple would split the iPad line into mid and high range models.

High end iPad questions aside, the other even harder-to-believe claim from Digitimes is the launch of any new device at the Macworld|iWorld conference. Apple officially withdrew from Macworld in December 2008, and Apple's last official presence at the show was in January 2009. Apple had said at the time that trade shows were becoming a very minor part of Apple's overall strategy. They company has been able to successfully launch products on their own timetable by simply holding their own media events with a single week's notice.

Macworld has continued on with Apple's absence, but with a smaller presence than before. This year, the conference was rebranded to Macworld|iWorld, reflecting the increasing importance of the iOS ecosystem.

Article Link: Mid-Range and High-End iPad 3 Launching at iWorld Seems Unlikely

 

[osx11]

I hope the january 26th intro is true....

 

[macbook pro i5]

I call bull ,this aint gonna happen.

 

[damir00]

So what's the claimed difference between the mid- and high-range models?

 

[arn]

So what's the claimed difference between the mid- and high-range models?

from what is said, it seems like cameras, and battery at the least. The rest was a little fuzzy.

arn

 

[2IS]

So what's the claimed difference between the mid- and high-range models?

Apparently the battery capacity...

 

[haruhiko]

Digitime: Show me a true leak of parts or this won't happen.


I don't think the next iPad will carry a significantly changed design.

 

[pewra]

14 Ah battery seems dubious, to say the least. I doubt that energy density is even possible with current technology.

To put that in perspective:
• you would need to charge the thing for 28 hours on a standard 2.5W USB port
• if you ran an iPhone off the same battery, you'd get somewhere close to 6 days of continuous talk time
• it is 130 times the capacity of the 6th generation nano's battery, if you had this battery in the nano, you'd get close to 133 days of playback time.

14,000mAh is absolutely, impossibly gigantic.

 

[damir00]

Apparently the battery capacity...

That's how it reads, grammatically, but it beggars belief they'd intentionally put in a worse battery than they could.

 

[usersince86]

unlikely seems like the right word

BUT it would be a nice surprise if it was announced that early!

 

[GeniusJon]

There is a possibility that Apple will use next generation specs for the 32 and 64 GB models while only upgrading the casing for the 16 GB models.

 

[Michael Scrip]

14 Ah battery seems dubious, to say the least. I doubt that energy density is even possible with current technology.

To put that in perspective:
• you would need to charge the thing for 28 hours on a standard 2.5W USB port
• if you ran an iPhone off the same battery, you'd get somewhere close to 6 days of continuous talk time


14,000mAh is absolutely gigantic.

I thought you couldn't even charge the iPad over USB. Doesn't it say "Not Charging" if you try?

Apple includes a 10W charger with the iPad... that's a big hint!

 

[WhoDaKat]

File this under a swing and a miss for Digitimes. No, Apple won't start selling you iPads in every size. They have iPhones on one side and macs on the other. Simple product lines, elegant products.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

They had me until...

...they mentioned 14,000 mAh battery. In an iPad!?!?

FYI, the 17" Macbook Pros have 9,000 mAh batteries, which themselves are 2x thicker than an iPad. Unless there has been a battery technology breakthrough of which we haven't been notified, the report holds zero credibility.

 

[pewra]

I thought you couldn't even charge the iPad over USB. Doesn't it say "Not Charging" if you try?

Apple includes a 10W charger with the iPad... that's a big hint!

Not quite, you can either use it without draining the battery, or charge it with the screen off. It seems like an oddity to include it, but I know a lot of people to solely charge their iPad from a computer, or the older 2.5W charger.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Not quite, you can either use it without draining the battery, or charge it with the screen off. It seems like an oddity to include it, but I know a lot of people to solely charge their iPad from a computer, or the older 2.5W charger.

Ah... good to know!

 

[cvaldes]

from what is said, it seems like cameras, and battery at the least. The rest was a little fuzzy.

arn

It's Digitimes.

Throw this one in the circular file.

 

[charlituna]

I hope the january 26th intro is true....

Don't count on it. Apple was pretty firm that they were done with announcing at outside events.

As for the rest. Frankly this whole 2 model thing is a rehashed Digitimes rumor from last year about the iPad 2, which as we saw didn't come true this time either. And I don't think it will in 2012. I think all this 'high end' stuff IS the iPad 3. Better battery, better screen, better camera. Perhaps not all the way to what they are claiming but perhaps Apple will go that large. And yes perhaps they will keep the lowest end of the iPad 2 (but not likely anything more than that) similar to the whole iPhone 4 and iPhone 3gs.

 

[tylerk36]

Apple has decided to bypass the dubbed name of iPad 3 and move directly to iPad 3.7. Because they can.

 

[Spock]

Retina and Siri

iPad from $449

 

[cvaldes]

Don't count on it. Apple was pretty firm that they were done with announcing at outside events.

Correct.

It's about control.

Apple has maximum control by announcing product at its own events. They control the time, date, venue, messaging, security, guest list, etc., and avoid mindshare with other companies.

There is no one-upmanship on the days that Apple announces new product. All the key tech media folks are there, totally focused on Apple. They have the attention run-up of a week when the e-mailed invites go out plus a couple of days of post-event analysis.

They really gain nothing at announcing at a third-party event.

 

[50548]

File this under a swing and a miss for Digitimes. No, Apple won't start selling you iPads in every size. They have iPhones on one side and macs on the other. Simple product lines, elegant products.

This is Digitimes we're talking about...so I don't even understand why MR keeps giving them so much media space...they have ZERO credibility.

 

[notjustjay]

While we're at it, let's throw in a rumor that the new iPad is going to have a $200 price drop.

 

[AppleHater]

14 Ah battery seems dubious, to say the least. I doubt that energy density is even possible with current technology.

To put that in perspective:
• you would need to charge the thing for 28 hours on a standard 2.5W USB port
• if you ran an iPhone off the same battery, you'd get somewhere close to 6 days of continuous talk time
• it is 130 times the capacity of the 6th generation nano's battery, if you had this battery in the nano, you'd get close to 133 days of playback time.

14,000mAh is absolutely, impossibly gigantic.

I can't imagine how heavy it will be with such a battery. I don't mind thicker, but not heavier.

 

[MacDarcy]

A couple of days ago, the rumor was that the iPad 3 was going to be released in February for Steve Jobs birthday....now its January for iWorld?

I call BS on both rumors, and think the ipad 3 will in fact be released in March as were the previous 2 iPads versions.

But hey....who knows.