Apple Announces Thinner, Lighter iPad Air With 64-Bit A7 Processor

[trip1ex]

Have you tried the touch cover much??? Works absolutely great. I can type on it just about as fast and accurate as on a regular keyboard.

Regarding the USB, the point is not to have to load anything. You can just playback directly from the thumb drive (i.e., no monkeying around with transferring files to the limited storage on a tablet and juggling available space - just pop in the drive, play back a movie and pop it back out - simple). Connection kit doesn't work the same way - and definitely doesn't offer the microSD type of added storage that is seamless and without any added bulk/accessory.

On your final point, managing files over several user accounts is super simple - any folder you want to share between multiple users is as simple as a right click and selecting the other user - or just put the files you want to share in a public folder. And by the way, 64GB Surface is $549 - plus the ease of adding storage on microSD makes limited tablet storage when sharing with family members less of an issue.

I only tried it in store and thought it was horrible. I would rather use the on screen keyboard. Not sure who that is for.

Yeah I don't think many want to monkey with USB sticks.

Yeah but I don't think anyone wants a lightweight tablet so they can sit there and click check boxes to share folders with someone else on the same tablet. And the problem I was talking about was more more about managing disk space. Now you just split a small amount of space between many user accounts and you make it more of a chore to go in and see what garbage is on the tablet that can be deleted. I deal with multiple user accounts on my pcs and Mac. There are hassles associated with that that don't change because you have a tablet.

Overall I think all those features you mentioned are better served by the laptop.

 

[parish]

We've got an original iPad and according to the presentation the Air has 8x the performance and a staggering 72x graphics performance

I'm struggling to say 'No' when the wife asked if we could get one.

 

[Vtwo]

Hate how Apple always keeps certain features... That was the case with the Retina Screen on the iPad Mini (which should have been on it last year) and now the Touch ID on iPads. Guess we already know how Apple will revolutionize the tablet industry next year...

Still, a very nice keynote. 128g Mini ftw! And Mavericks is downloading as I am typing!

According to reports, they are having trouble with the mini retina display yields, would have been hard to imagine them doing it a year ago without a huge cost issues.

Touch ID would have been nice. But 2 months ago, no one would make such a big fuse about it. No other device in the world besides the iphone5s has it.

 

[Taipan]

Ok let's look at your claims:


Price:

16GB WiFi Nexus 7: $229
16GB WiFi iPad mini: $399


Touch ID:

Nexus 7: No (but still has other effective security measures)
iPad mini: Yes


iOS: Not everyone likes iOS 7


Cloud Storage:

Nexus 7: Yes; Google Drive
iPad mini: Yes; iCloud

Resolution:

Nexus 7: 1920 x 1200 @ 323ppi 7" screen
iPad mini: 2048 x 1536 @ 326ppi 7.9" screen (welcome to 2012)

Mind you, the Nexus 7 had a 'retina' display since it debuted last year. The iPad mini did not. Yes the iPad mini has a higher resolution screen now, but 3 more pixels per inch isn't anything to brag over.

So go ahead and spend nearly $400 when you could have virtually the same thing for $176 less.

Now if you excuse, if I to go say 'hi' to my Nexus 7.

Sources: Apple | Google

Please report back, everyone likes a good laugh.

 

[FLee]

iPad Air

I understand no biosensor due to limited supply, but why no 256GB or 802.11ac?
128GB is what the iPad Mini has ... No room for another 128 GB chip? or is that 6 months from now?
Please give us what we want ... Now!

 

[cheesyappleuser]

You totally ignore the fact that the Mini has a significantly faster processor.

And that it doesn't have Touch ID just yet.

 

[iFanboy]

So Apple spends a great amount of their presentation on productivity apps, and people still claim Apple is selling the iPad as consumption device. That is outright bizarre.

You're seriously equating specific and limited use with it being a general purpose productivity device like a PC?

My calculator has mathmatical functions, but it's never going to replace a PC with microsoft excel.

----------

That's not true though.

I like the bit where you backed that up.

 

[tech4all]

$229 for a Nexus 7? No Touch ID? No iOS? No iCloud? Lower Resolution?

Hello, iPad Mini.

I must corrected myself regarding my first reply to you. The iPad mini 2 does not have Touch ID. This makes your justification for getting an iPad mini 2 over the Nexus 7 even less convincing.

 

[yow.]

I expect them to use the G6630 for iPad Air, G6430 for mini 2.

So did I - but they said the iPad Air has an A7.

 

[dampfnudel]

Anyone think this iPad Air is going to be the next iPad 3?

It is such a minor upgrade.. I don't think it can carry the premium tablet torch for a whole 12 months. I would not be the least surprised if, after the holidays, they come out with an iPad Air 2 that has, at the bare minimum, an A7X chip in it, probably touch id (by then, supplies shouldn't be so constrained), and possibly camera upgrades. Maybe even the rumored larger screen.

And with Apple giving away so much for free, give us 32GB for $499, dang it! I'd rather have 32GB base storage than iWork.

That's an interesting and more to the point, plausible theory. I also believe that Apple wants to determine the future of the iPad Air by matching the specs of both the iPad Air and iPad mini 2 to see which one sells better, based on screen size and weight alone.

 

[b3ats]

You ARE spec obsessed but just don't want to admit it. What would be the difference in usage between an A7 and the imaginary A7x?

And of course, Apple could have done 'better', with their cash, they could sell both for $99 and not go broke...

I am not sure if you have a job. But it is like your boss saying you can probably afford to work for less and still not starve to death. But does that mean you should work for less because it would be 'better' for your company?

Well actually I am NOT spec obsessed. I buy what is right for ME based on MY requirements.

I do not believe that putting the same processor in the new flagship iPad as is in the 5S to be a good idea. The performance will be different and as far as I have always been aware the iPad was always more powerful than the iPhone for this very reason. Considering the iPad is designed and expected to do more processor and graphically intensive tasks than the iPhone this is fundamental.

Again, these are all my thought and opinions. If you don't like them or agree with them then that's your hard luck.

 

[trip1ex]

Actually, I'm far from spec obsessed but I certainly know what I want. This is not what i was hoping for. It's not the best that Apple could have done or were even expected to do, hence the reason why I'm not going to upgrade.

I use my 3rd gen every single day for a variety of tasks, so actually I am thinking about nothing but how I'm going to use it.

I've given other reasons why I am disappointed and there's more than just the processor. I've also given reasons why I don't believe the processor to be what it should be - these are my reasons and as far as I'm concerned that's all that matters.

I thought the 3rd gen was a terrible upgrade. The only thing improved was the screen but it came at the expense of slower performance, longer charging time, worse battery life, and a slightly heavier and thicker iPad. So you lost as much as you gained.

Meanwhile I never thought the ipad2 screen was anything other than (at least) good. Certainly better than 99% of laptop screens out there.

 

[Razeus]

...which has all of that, of course...

You missed the point.

 

[melendezest]

Think about it in terms of price points for the entry level models. There is an enormous gap between the $499 iPad and the $1299 MBA.

Lots of room for a $699 iPad Pro. Ideally they would love something at the $899 point, but they are stuck at $499 due to competition.

Corporations spend a lot of time planning their revenue streams, not just performance points.

I would've loved an iPad in larger form (before iOS 7), so I don't disagree the opportunity is there. I just don't think they'll do it because that could seriously cannibalize their ecosystem hub: laptops. That and for the same reason they are not giving us something between an iMac and a Mac mini.

 

[patseguin]

I love it, exactly what Apple needed to do. I use my mini the most because the full size one is so heavy and bulky. I might just have to sell both my iPad 3 and my mini and go with the Air (kind of a dumb name but who cares). Do I need LTE? I don't know. It came in handy camping a couple years ago and at a saxophone lesson. I might just get it so I have internet access at airports and such. I have the 64GB version now and about 12GB is free and I have to keep a lot of movies off it if I want to keep space free. Anyone going with 128GB?

 

[priyamsingh]

Disappointed

I was hoping for AT LEAST an IGZO display if nothing else.

Battery life is the same, screen is EXACTLY the same, it has the processor of a phone, RAM is the same, camera the same crappy 5MP back and 1.2MP front, no 802.11 ac, only 16GB base. On top of that iOS 7 is currently just a stretched out version of the iPhone version for iPad. "iPad Air" is already fully outdated before even being released. MAJOR disappointment.

BTW does anybody know why IGZO display was not included or when it will be included?

 

[bluespark]

The amount of people complaining about "no A7X" chip in here is absolutely hilarious and worrying.

You realise the chip doesn't exist? And even if it did, it would just be a name? Apple created the X chip to power the larger screen, they obviously don't need to now. The fact that people are complaining about a name for a chip that doesn't even exist is just incredible.

Apple could have called it the A7X, made exactly the same device, and these same people would be happy - ridiculous when you think about it. These people are morons.

Also complaining about the base size? Sorry what happened to options for people? Ive never needed to own a model bigger than 16gb, so its just fine for me thanks, you do have every option up to 128gb if you want more though. Its amazing people complain Apple doesn't give choices and then when they do, tell them its wrong and they should get rid of the choices.

Yep its only a minor update to fit all that extra power into a body nearly half the size of last years model...just minor engineering that haha.

Thank you for this. I agree completely.

 

[CairnsRock]

According to reports, they are having trouble with the mini retina display yields, would have been hard to imagine them doing it a year ago without a huge cost issues.

Touch ID would have been nice. But 2 months ago, no one would make such a big fuse about it. No other device in the world besides the iphone5s has it.

The low mini retina yields may be part of the reason to increase the price to $399.

The higher price will reduce demand and/or move it to the iPad Air. Plus they get a larger revenue / profit return on a limited supply of mini screens.

 

[bluespark]

Well actually I am NOT spec obsessed. I buy what is right for ME based on MY requirements.

I do not believe that putting the same processor in the new flagship iPad as is in the 5S to be a good idea. The performance will be different and as far as I have always been aware the iPad was always more powerful than the iPhone for this very reason. Considering the iPad is designed and expected to do more processor and graphically intensive tasks than the iPhone this is fundamental.

Again, these are all my thought and opinions. If you don't like them or agree with them then that's your hard luck.

I don't understand the "hard luck" bit. I do disagree, but my luck is fine. The reason I disagree, though, is something you seem not to have considered: the A7 is capable of more than what it is being used for in the iPhone because of that device's extreme thermal limitations. Unshackled from the iPhone's tiny body, this chip can easily power a retina display and do everything a top of the line iPad should be able to do graphically. Besides, as some others have pointed out, the A7 is the best option that actually exists. You should expect very good performance from this new, ridiculously-named, iPad Air.

 

[Tyrion]

Do we know anything about the RAM?

 

[Rocketman]

Still 16GB? Wtf?

I agree, but since margin is everything to Wall Street, this is the path to that. Buy the 2nd tier memory option and over-utilize iCloud.

Rocketman

 

[iRock1]

I'm shocked... seriously...

Still selling the iPad 2?

I mean, we are not talking about selling a previous generation device, but a FU**ING THREE GENERATIONS OLD DEVICE!!!

Seriously, I think Tim went too far with this one.

 

[frisnit]

It's interesting that a few fellow iPad 3 owners on here have thought the same as me i.e. it's just not worth upgrading, which is a surprise as I thought I was going to be sorely tempted by a reasonable spec bump. I also thought I might be a customer Apple would be targeting as well as new users.

The memory price difference and lack of an increase from the base 16Gb has been (rightly) derided at each iphone/ipad iteration, so that's nothing new but I'm still surprised it's exactly the same given how all other components get incremental upgrades. £479 for 32gb is just too much, when it's not enough space to comfortably have photos/movies, a few AAA apps at 1Gb+ and a couple of HD movies.

The lack of a 5S quality camera, MBP ac wifi, and 5S touchID (love it) are nails in the coffin for an upgrade for me. Really only the reduced size and weight look attractive. I can see how that would be a killer feature for some, but I don't travel much with mine so it isn't crucial for me. It's still a great first buy device, but I'll just wait for the next one.

 

[damir00]

So...does it do anything the previous iPad didn't?

 

[WilliamG]

Please report back, everyone likes a good laugh.

lol so funny. I have a 2013 Nexus 7 and it really is a pile of absolute junk. The ONLY thing it has going for it is its resolution.

*begin rant*

Touch lag is a joke. Sleep/wake sensor doesn't work most of the time. There are apparently some workarounds like making sure wifi and BT are left on, but... seriously?

What else.. Oh yeah the speakers have crackling interference in them until about 30% volume, which affects EVERY SINGLE 2013 Nexus 7.

Screen touch response is flakey. Google already put out an update to 4.3 to fix this, but hey... it didn't fix mine.

And my particular unit's microphone doesn't even work.

What else... It's also a smaller display than the iPad mini. Quite a bit smaller.

I'd take an iPad mini 2013 over a Nexus 7 2013 any day of the week. Wife is also sick of her Nexus 7, too.

*end rant*

There's absolutely no doubt if you want the best ~7" tablet on the market, the iPad mini is it. NO QUESTION. And take that from someone who wouldn't touch last year's with a barge pole due to no Retina display.

This year, I was expecting to get the mini after being without an iPad for a while, but with the Air being so light/redesigned, it's an Air. Day one.