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Apple May Reintroduce Discontinued iPad 4 Alongside 8 GB iPhone 5c Tomorrow

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Apple may have plans to reintroduce the discontinued fourth-generation iPad alongside the 8 GB iPhone 5c tomorrow, giving customers a lower-cost iPad option with better specs than the existing iPad 2.

A source that spoke with 9to5Mac has indicated that shipments of the fourth-generation iPad with Retina display are arriving at Apple retail locations, with notices that they're to be opened tomorrow.

Reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo initially predicted the shift from the iPad 2 to the iPad 4 back in February, suggesting Apple would wind down iPad 2 production during the first quarter of 2014, replacing it instead with the more powerful iPad 4.

Apple originally ceased selling the fourth-generation iPad when the thinner, lighter iPad Air was introduced in October of 2013 and continued to offer the 2011 iPad 2 as its lower-cost tablet option instead. Priced at $399, the iPad 2 is currently offered for $100 less than the $499 iPad Air.

Apple has presumably opted to keep the iPad 2 in its lineup because of its position as the last Apple tablet using a 30-pin adapter, but with its A5 processor and 512 MB of memory, it is significantly less powerful than the iPad 4, which includes Apple's A6X chip with 1 GB of memory.

With the iPad 2 being replaced by the fourth-generation iPad, Apple's tablet lineup will be all Lightning for the first time. It's also possible Apple's current low-cost iPhone option, the iPhone 4s, will be discontinued at the same time in favor of the 8 GB iPhone 5c, marking the end of the 30-pin adapter in all non-iPod mobile products. Apple's iPod Classic will be the sole device using the adapter if the iPhone 4s and the iPad 2 are replaced with updated options.

Pricing for the 8 GB iPhone 5c and the reintroduced fourth-generation iPad have not yet been revealed, but it is likely Apple will make an announcement on the new products tomorrow.

Article Link: Apple May Reintroduce Discontinued iPad 4 Alongside 8 GB iPhone 5c Tomorrow
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/03/17/apple-to-reintroduce-ipad-4/
Maybe they'll also update the iPod touch line tomorrow?

Here's hoping. :cool:
 
losthorse said:
More evidence that Apple is failing to innovate.
Click to expand...

I would't say that! I just hope that if they reintroduce the 4th gen iPad that they keep it at the iPad 2 price point.

I wish Apple announced products like Steve did. They introduce a truck load of products in September/October every year now, and the stay silent January, February, March, April, May, June (well except for the Mac Pro), July, August.. Thats a LOOOOOONG time!! Why not new iPad models in March or April, notebook/desktop refresh in April and October, new iPhone and iPod updates in September?

Preview iOS and OS X at WWDC and ship them in the fall (well they have done that)!

I don't like the idea of dropping a heap of new stuff in 1 month at 1 event and doing nothing in the mean time. Besides they took an entire year for rather small updates or new products.
 
I don't see where apple would benefit from a 8gb 5c other than 4s and 4th gen iPad over the 2nd gen but it benefits us so I'm ok with it.
 
Truly innovative. Who would think that reintroducing an old, outdated product would make it new again? This will be called the "Tim Cook Distortion Field".
 
Peas and rice.

Remember when Steve Jobs came back, one of the things he did was kill off a bloated and confused product line?

The iPhone comes in three models, the iPad (if this rumour is to be considered true) comes in five. Both use two different types of connector and the price difference between some iPad models is minimal, with the addition of the 8GB 5C, this is likely to be the case again.

Not to mention the frankly useless non-retina MacBook Pro… I think some serious pruning is needed.

I'd crop the iOS lineup down to the Retina iPad Mini and Air (renamed iPad), 5S and 5C (possibly branded as iPhone and iPhone C) and iPod Touch (going up to 128GB)

But that is just my personal opinion.
 
This is completely unrelated to any innovation or anything like that, so what's with all the essentially irrelevant "innovation" one-liners? Seems like the equivalent of inane "Safari is snappier" one-liners.
 
As I've been saying with the iPhone 4S in light of the 8 GB iPhone 5c, this may be Apple's way of cutting off iOS support for the iPad 2. It may not get iOS 8.

This makes sense for the iPad 2, as like the iPhone 4, it has gotten iOS 4-7.
I'm not sure about the iPhone 4S, though. If the 3GS got iOS 3-6 and the 4 got iOS 4-7, it should be getting iOS 5-8, and it definitely has the horsepower to run iOS 8.
 
Lostanddamned said:
Peas and rice.

Remember when Steve Jobs came back, one of the things he did was kill off a bloated and confused product line?

The iPhone comes in three models, the iPad (if this rumour is to be considered true) comes in five. Both use two different types of connector and the price difference between some iPad models is minimal, with the addition of the 8GB 5C, this is likely to be the case again.

Not to mention the frankly useless non-retina MacBook Pro… I think some serious pruning is needed.

I'd crop the iOS lineup down to the Retina iPad Mini and Air (renamed iPad), 5S and 5C (possibly branded as iPhone and iPhone C) and iPod Touch (going up to 128GB)

But that is just my personal opinion.
Click to expand...

I think the reason it's convoluted at the moment is just the fact that we're going through a transition. Retina displays are still new and expensive. The only reason the $999 MBP exists is because it can hit that price point. I'll be surprised if that lasts more than a year or two. As soon as Apple can axe non-retina screens while at the same time hitting lower price points, they'll do it.
 
I'm looking forward to picking up an iPad 4 for $299 at Walmart once they go on sale.

I know this sounds strange, but I actually prefer the form factor of the iPad 4 over the iPad Air.

But hey, I also think the iPhone 4/4S was the best iPhone design.

I guess I have a thing for fours.
 
Is this getting rid of the 30-pin connector or getting rid of the A5?

As a side note, what difference is there in A5 chip/hardware between the iPad Mini that gets airdrop and transparent UI and the iPad 2 that gets neither? And the iPod Touch 5 that gets airdrop and the iPhone 4S that doesn't?
 
Assuming they do this to remove the iPad 2, this serves two purposes. Removes any lightning connector devices, and removes devices that will likely not get iOS 8.

To those complain about lack of innovation, this is not a new product announcement. It is replacing old equipment with less old equipment for likely the same price. A better value.
 
Gosh, technology moves so fast! I'm still enjoying my 4. It still gets a lot of use in our house.
 
KingofGotham1 said:
What's with everyone talking about "innovation" on this announcement??
Click to expand...

Ya, I don't get that sentiment either.....

It's not some new product introduction or attempt at innovation. Simply Apple has likely sold off enough of their iPad 2 and iPhone 4S inventory and their doing a line revamp - getting rid of all 30-pin devices.

Why not be happy about this? Essentially, they'll replace the 4S at the $0/$450 price point with the 5C and the iPad 2 at the $399/$529 price point with the iPad 4.

Again....why so much hate? B-words be crazy.....
 
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