Apple Readying New FaceTime Equipped iPads?

[kntgsp]

the camera and facetime will make iPad one of the most wanted devices on the market im sure gettin an iPad 2 with retina display and back n front camera think i've dreamt of this device Apple!

Christ why do you all just continue to vomit keynote slides and scream "retina" whenever talking about iPad upgrades? Those kind of comments completely justify the "gee bees iphone4 vs evo" video stereotype.

Do you have any idea what kind of resolution would be required to make the ipad display "retina"? Even with the iPad being held further away from your eyes (usually) we're talking at least 220 ppi, which on a screen with the iPad's dimensions is well beyond 1080p.

The soon to be considered anemic SGX535 that powers the iPad (in addition to the iPhone 4) would not be able to even remotely run a display at that resolution and size. I doubt even the SGX540 in the galaxy S phones/tablet could do it smoothly. The iPad internals would have to be completely overhauled to facilitate that kind of display and the cost of producing the device would skyrocket (with the display itself being insanely expensive).

Not to mention you'd basically create the exact same problem in the ipad as on the iphone with apps looking lousy unless they are upgraded.

No, just no. The chances of that kind of display and hardware being shoveled into the iPad while maintaining the current prices is almost zero.

 

[darrenbeige]

I'm just hoping that iPad G2 is not just iPad G1 + frontcam. I'd settle for frontcam and a new A4 processor (cortex A9?), and a bit of a weight and bezel size reduction.

 

[kntgsp]

Yeah, FaceTime everything. I want FaceTime in my Car, on my computer, on the TV, and everywhere else.

I can see Apple updating the iPad quickly. It sure needs the camera. A bump in memory would be nice too.

The iPod Touch seems to be stuck on 64Gb on the high end. We won't see the other products get bumped up until the iPod Touch's max goes to 128Gb.

Not necessarily. Ipads require more storage for programs on the app store. Hell that "elements" app is well over 1gb just by itself. Just because the iPods are stuck at 64gb does not mean that the iPad won't make the jump to 128 first. Although at the moment the number of people really clamoring for more than 64gb in the ipods or ipads is relatively small.

 

[diddl14]

a lesson to you all , NEVER BUY 1ST GENERATION APPLE PRODUCTS

Guess what happens to the 2nd gen when we all follow this lesson of not buying the 1st gen?

 

[kntgsp]

I'm just hoping that iPad G2 is not just iPad G1 + frontcam. I'd settle for frontcam and a new A4 processor (cortex A9?), and a bit of a weight and bezel size reduction.

Personally I'd like to see apple justify not giving us a full OS on the device once dual core A9's and newer become standard.

This cutesy app store with no side loading is going to be for the birds once the mobile hardware gets to the point where running a full fledged operating system is viable. Mobile hardware is developing faster than predicted by Moore's law. In a few years time you will see mobile hardware that easily matches the capabilities of core2duos.

There will come a time where Apple will either have to take the training wheels off or slip back into the minority position with their mobile devices.

 

[darrenbeige]

Personally I'd like to see apple justify not giving us a full OS on the device once dual core A9's and newer become standard.

This cutesy app store with no side loading is going to be for the birds once the mobile hardware gets to the point where running a full fledged operating system is viable. Mobile hardware is developing faster than predicted by Moore's law. In a few years time you will see mobile hardware that easily matches the capabilities of core2duos.

There will come a time where Apple will either have to take the training wheels off or slip back into the minority position with their mobile devices.

Define a "full OS".

 

[archurban]

now it seems to become trend? remember first time when Apple made iphone, ipod touch? then they have started to make very similar design for imac, macbook pro, then made ipad. now, facetime will be every mac, ipod, ipad, iphone, or who knows? they will put this small technology for ubiquitous apple device. it's not even new technology. I'm done here.

 

[petvas]

The second generation iPad isn't coming this year. I assume that it will be announced around January and with general availability in March 2011. That would mean that the first gen. iPad will be one year old by the time the second iPad comes. I can't say that I regret buying the 1st gen iPad. I love it! This is the best device I ever had. It is so personal, it makes everything a much better experience, despite its limitations. The second generation will surely be better and I am getting it too
The base iPad model costs 500$, so I don't undertstand people that think of waiting for the second generation iPad. I would understand that if it was December or even January. I would also wait..If somebody now asks me what he/she should do, I just say to buy an iPad now. I don't think that anybody can regret such a purchase.

 

[kntgsp]

Define a "full OS".

OSX without training wheels.

Allow us to install our own applications and ones that run third party APIs if we so choose.

 

[darrenbeige]

OSX without training wheels.

Allow us to install our own applications and ones that run third party APIs if we so choose.

The App Store itself will never become a free-for-all. Sideloading may eventually appear, but I don't think that a new higher-specced processor necessitates that?

"Third party APIs" like what? Apple doesn't stop that. Do you mean "private APIs"?

 

[WilliamLondon]

a lesson to you all , NEVER BUY 1ST GENERATION APPLE PRODUCTS

as they haven't had enough real world testing and are too expensive with things missing that are later added by Apple (such as 3G to the iphone, sd card slot to macbooks/imacs, ios 4 to ipad, a working antenna to the iphone 4, blu -ray(?) and now a camera to the ipad).

Wait until 2nd Generation and look in amusement at the cool kids/wanna-be celebs lay down their rent money for the Apple product of the month.

Thanks for the advice but I *ALWAYS* (to use your all caps emphasis<grin>) buy 1st generation Apple products and I never regret them, ever. I enjoy them for the features they have, and sometimes I upgrade (after selling them at near retail value) them to the latest version. What I get is full enjoyment of the product from launch date. This I know doesn't work for everyone - there are some that feel that a product isn't complete without a niggly little feature, which I'm happy to forgo. Hell, I'm looking at 5 Apple products right now that I bought 1st generation and have traded up on 2 of them, which means that 3 of them I'd be not enjoying right now, which I do - how silly would that be?

 

[phantomc]

You might think it's stupid, but Apple doesn't think so. Evidence abounds that Apple is thinking / was going to put a camera in the iPad.

Unlike a Laptop, An iPod Touch / future iPad will accept a FaceTime call when it's asleep. So when I call home via FaceTime, I don't have to worry if someone is using it at the time, like on a laptop. That feature alone will make FaceTime more useful than iChat video conferencing, to me. It will be as easy as placing a regular phone call, rather than something I have to arrange beforehand. The iPad is also a lot easier to carry around and show things going on than with an awkward laptop (especially if there is a rear camera, though I doubt that will happen).

Sorry, FaceTime on an iPad is far from useless. And it's coming.

Unfortunately your reasoning is wrong, as when an iPhone / iPad / iPod touch is in sleep mode, WiFi is disconnected. If WiFi does not disconnect, battery issues would start coming up, ad you would have to be connected 24/7 to receieve a call, or have a 3G iPad model. So WiFi only iPad is useless for receieving FaceTime calls.

 

[mojohanna]

If this is true, I will finally bite the bullet and buy an iPad. I've been holding out, and this is one of the reasons why. Lack of facetime is a dealbreaker for me

That's funny. When the iPad came out, there was no such thing as Facetime. Can't see how that is a deal breaker. Its amazing that all you folks get so caught up in one feature. Thats like saying a mac book without firewire is a deal breaker. How much are you actually going to use the feature? Daily?
I just don't see facetime as that convenient. Yes, nice to have, but certainly not a deal breaker as some of you describe.

 

[rmwebs]

Psst....guys, I've got an inside tip! Dont buy the 2nd gen...the 3rd gen has a coffee maker built right into the headphone port!

To those whining saying "shouldnt have bought the 1st gen" - why not? Having a camera on such a big device is fairly pointless when there's a perfectly good iPhone in your pocket. Seriously if you actually think a large number of people will make use of facetime, you are dead wrong.

For most (normal) people, a camera would not be a tipping point. We all knew this was going to happen so its not really news. Before the iPad even came out, and we saw the moulds and spacing on the back and front of the logic board, it was damn obvious that it was a space for a camera, just like the iTouch spacing.

If you think this is great news or "magical" then Stevie has brainwashed you.

// sidenote

I also think its pretty disloyal of Apple if they do release this less than a year after the iPad came out in some countries. At the end of the day, its not just about keeping the US market happy (shock, horror!). The international market is worth a lot more (monetary wise).

 

[bobob]

1st quarter of next year sounds about right for the next gen iPad, so I will go ahead and say this rumor is true.

Exactly. Nothing to see here, move along.

 

[CplBadboy]

No way will Apple launch new iPads before Q1 2011. They are not going to alienate their most loyal customers who will rush out to buy a new one 12 months after the initial launch, but almost certainly will not buy again this year.

LOL! Do ya think that? You make it sound as though Apple cares about what Auriche thinks LOL!!!! Who cares that you wont buy the 2nd gen this year if it arrives? You bought the first gen - money in Apples pocket. Get over it you aint that important.

Lets be honest the iPad is a success and Apple may launch the revised version sooner than people think because they are on a roll with this beauty. Dont get me wrong i love the iPad and it was only a few days ago that i very nearly purchased 2 but i had it right in the back of my mind that the 2nd gen is right around the corner. Looks as though i was right. However for Apple to release a new version with just one additional feature (FT) doesnt really make sense so my guessing is there will be an inclusion of maybe a USB port \ SD card reader for importing camera content etc. Better screen perhaps, more RAM??? All in all though it will be nice to say to 1st gen owners "My iPads better than yours, MEH!!!!!!" LOL

 

[2992]

heh, almost a year to add a camera?!... now that'll be fast. Congrats Apple!

Too bad (for Apple) I've already got my netbook which can do video (with Skype and not only) since quite some time already. Sorry iPad... no buy. Not now, nor in the future.

 

[wizard]

Very sweet and exactly what I'm hoping for.

The article says:



That would be November, which coincides with the release of 4.2 for the iPad. What if 4.2 and the new iPad were released at the same event, just like the iPod touch and 4.1? Would be pretty sweet.

Sweeter than candied yams on Thanksgiving.

The big question is just how big of an update. Frankly cameras on a device like this are not of a big interest to me. I might use it but what I really want is a dual core A9 Cortex processor (1.5 GHz) and at least 512 MB of RAM. Those two items would make for one hell of an update. Going a bit further they should also add a SD slot and a USB port.

Given the production capacity Apple could sell 20 million easy world wide in November and December. This sort of upgrade would make a huge number of apps feasable that currently are difficult to implement. It is also exactly what Apple needs to compete with the coming ATOM and ARM based tablets. Finally the device would have a much longer useful life, especially for those of us that need to spread such purchases out over years.


Dave

 

[Piggie]

I just pray, OH how I pray (please please god) that we don't just get a front mounted Camera but a rear mounted camera of iPhone4 quality also.

There is a ton of space to fit it.

Ok, perhaps you don't want it and can't see the point, well them don't buy it. but I do want it please.

No I'm not going to carry the iPad around as a camera that would be stupid, but I have my iPad with me and am holding it more than any other device, so it would be great to just lift it up and snap a pic without getting another device out.

I want a nice still and video camera on the back, perhaps you don't and can't see the point, but I do........

Se please, don't let the iPad be the one apple device that misses out.

 

[diddl14]

Steve promissed HDR to come to iPad in November with iOS 4.2

Without adding a camera to the iPad that obviously doesn't make sense.
So either Steve mixed thinks up or Apple does have some new hardware in store as part of the iOS 4.2 launch in November.

With more people NOT having an iPad than having one, November sounds like a great month to introduce soemething new. I don't mind making a family member happy with a 6 month old iPad

 

[Popeye206]

I HIGHLY doubt that Apple gives a rats ass about what is put forth in these forums. Apple leads and DOESN'T follow................

cheers
JohnG

Yes you are right... they are a leader.... but they listen too. As much as they don't always give us what we think they should, they do listen to customers and I would bet there are people watching and learning. They would be fools not to. As an ex product manager and current director of sales and marketing for a software company I would love to have these sort of blogs for my products to see what people are thinking and saying. So much to be learned.

 

[tribalogical]

I wish Apple will create a camera accessory that will plug into the iPad port so that Facetime can be activated.

I feel it's quite sad if a new model be introduced by January when a lot of countries only got the rollout of the iPads on the second half of 2010.

Not sure we would have to depend on Apple to create such an accessory. Once iOS is upgraded to 4.2 on iPad, supporting FaceTime, I see no reason a third-party vendor wouldn't come out with such a device. Seeing as there will be roughly 10 million (or more) of us as potential customers by then.

I use an audio interface / microphone that plugs into the port, which swivels to adjust direction. If it can handle that, the port can surely handle a small "facetime" camera module... I think that would be pretty cool! Just keep it low profile!

 

[tribalogical]

I want a nice still and video camera on the back, perhaps you don't and can't see the point, but I do........

Oh I see the point... a 10" screen for monitoring live video shoots? Wow?

I'm surprised we haven't seen a vid-cam to iPad monitor adapter yet... or have we? (I can't keep up with everything, it's all coming so fast)

 

[musukosan]

That was my thought as well. I am hoping that a FaceTime equipped iPad will be available with more than 64 GB of memory and an increased screen resolution...in a smaller form factor - maybe 7"?

If they can fit 64 GB into the iPod Touch...then they should be able to get more than 64 GB into the iPad.

I can hope and dream.

It's not about "fitting", it's about cost.

 

[wizard]

Are we a bit punchy today.

I will break it down for you all:

Facetime on the iPhone is a very cool and useful feature. Facetime on the iPod touch is the result of people without an iPhone wanting the same sort of functionality but ultimately completely useless because you cannot take it out of your house so what's the point.

How often does your phone leave the house? The new Touch can effectively replace the phone in many households. Besides that if you work on large campuses with good WiFi coverage it eliminates custom and expensive WiFi communications devices and would significantly lower cell phone usage.

Facetime on the iPad is stupidity at its best. The only people that will be able to use Facetime realistically will be the ones that purchase a 3G model.

or the WiFi model. At this time it appears that only the WiFi connection is being used anyways.

Otherwise, think about it.....when would you possibly use the iPad for video conferencing? This is why we all have laptops that stand up on their own etc. The iPhone is the only device that is the perfect size and fits the profile for a video conferencing device.

You assume that people will only use Facetime for video calls. What about audio only calls.

For those of you that already purchased the iPad, don't let the morons tell you that you're early adopters / beta testers, just enjoy your purchase and move on to more important things in life.

By definition they are early adopters. That is not a bad thing at all. As far as this beta tester nonsense, I'd have to agree as iPad is one of Apples best launches in years. By that I mean everything works as expected and for the most part has been trouble free.

For those of you that are now biting their nails contemplating whether to purchase on right now or not I say if you need it buy it, if not and you can wait a couple months then do that.

That is the general case with computing devices. However who really needed an iPad at introduction beyound a few developers? IPad wouldn't be the success it is without people buying on faith or seeing the potential.

I am sick and tired of the immature imbeciles bashing people for getting things before something is announced / rumored. This is the nature of technology, nobody can keep up with its pace so and people don't have time to wait for some stupid tweaks on the next revision because it is simply not worth it.

Sadly this sort of garbage doesn't fly well with me. In many cases people are better off waiting, especially if you see some of the iPhone 4 technology as compelling. It is far better to make informed choices rather than following the herd.

If you need something, you buy it when you need it, end of story. Good night and shut the **** up already!

Except that that conflicts with your earlier advice. You can't have it both ways and it is silly to buy iPad now if you know you will want features that are currently unsupported.