Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Shares 'A Great Big Universe' iPad Pro Ad Ahead of Launch

Flow39 said:
I can feel for you here, but my interest is not decreasing in "the latest thing" but rather Apple itself. I have gotten more excited over the new Nexus phones, Surface Book, and heck, even the Blackberry Priv than I have with Apple's new string of products. The MB was a big joke. All we wanted was a retina screen in an MBA, but they gave us this gimped notebook with 1/10 the power of an MBA and 2 ports.

Apple Watch is okay, but not something I'd say competes on the level of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac, and it really is a solution in search of a problem. Can't say that I'd recommend it to a friend, at least in its current state.

Apple TV 4 was supposed to be a major revolution, but all they gave us was a taller ATV 3 that now has "the future of television" (apps) that have been around for years on other streaming boxes. With the amount of hype they had around this event, I thought they were going to blow every other competitor out of the water. Didn't happen.

And last but not least, the iPad Pro. The problem with this is that it's just a larger iPad. It costs a crap ton of money, has a smartphone OS running with a couple tweaks (Split screen), has a bunch of accessories to give you the full experience that cost another $200+ on top of the large price, and it can't run any true "pro" apps. Does anyone at Apple take this "Pro" name seriously? It doesn't do nearly anything worthy of its "Pro" name. Cook says it will replace many people's computers, but let's be real, at its current state, it's not doing anything "Pro" that would make people rush to get rid of their computers.
Click to expand...
If the iPad Pro was just a larger iPad I would have no interest in it. The performance boost is a plus. But it's really the screen technology coupled with the pencil that has intrigued me. A larger iPad wouldn't sell very well. This ha a new use case.
 
The building at the end looks remarkably like the South Pole Research Station, at The South Pole.
Consistent with the constellations being viewed on the iPad Pro.
 
I love my Air 2, but also for a very long time have wanted both bigger screen and drawing capability (no, you can't do anything serious/precise with just fingers). But I'm disappointed about the ever increasing pricing of everything Apple. The total price for LTE model with accessories is ridiculous. :( Imo the Pro to should have included LTE/GPS and Pencil as standard and not expensive extras.

Either way, I think I'll hold out for the gen 2 with 3D touch.
 
TechGod said:
They should have included the Pencil with the iPad at the very least.
Click to expand...

Well, you have to look at what Apple is doing and try to see the strategy. I'm just making this up, but it is curious that they are launching new technologies in the iPad Pro with no update to the Air beside it. As you point out, the Pencil and keyboard are options.

Maybe there is some constraint on the Pencil so they want to launch manufacturing with limited numbers?

Maybe they want to see how the keyboard and Pencil hold up in daily use with limited numbers before introducing them with the Air 3?

Maybe Apple wants to see what fraction of users would spend money for the keyboard and Pencil?

Maybe they have some other options that will be introduced with an Air 3 that use the Smart Connector and they want to get a feel for the response of customers to the Pencil and keyboard for six months before going into production with that?

With Apple, you often have to wait a year or two and then look back to try to understand why they did what they did.
 
Sandstorm said:
I love my Air 2, but also for a very long time have wanted both bigger screen and drawing capability (no, you can't do anything serious/precise with just fingers). But I'm disappointed about the ever increasing pricing of everything Apple. The total price for LTE model with accessories is ridiculous. :( Imo the Pro to should have included LTE/GPS and Pencil as standard and not expensive extras.

Either way, I think I'll hold out for the gen 2 with 3D touch.
Click to expand...
If you're good enough, you can do very precise and excellent drawing on the iPad with your finger. The problem most people find though is that they can't rest their wrist on the screen and feel they need to do so in order to draw anything. Drawing from the shoulder or elbow enables you to get started with an outline which can be what a beginner needs in order to be encouraged to continue. Once they start to see an acceptable image from just using the shoulder as a guide, they're confidence improves enough to stick with it and see speedy progress in their drawing ability. No different to drawing on paper really.
 
QCassidy352 said:
I don't know if it's a sign of my decreasing interest in "the latest thing" or Apple slipping a bit, but I haven't felt any particular urge to buy any of their most recent new products (MacBook, Apple Watch, :apple:TV4, and now iPad pro). The products they release these days are all too expensive for what they are (or, to put it another way, too limited for what they cost).

The iPad pro would be a great device for a small premium over iPad Air 2, but $800 for 32gb wifi? Maybe for creative professionals, I dunno, as that's not me. I can't see what an average user would do with this, especially for that price.
Click to expand...

I've been on this site a long time. New Apple categories are almost overwhelmingly met with negative remarks. iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, iPad Pro...

Then people use them, realise they are good with some gaps or flaws - 2nd, 3rd and 4th gens come out with more features and further refinement and more people buy them and enjoy them. Then a new device category is launched. It looks basic or limited compared to the mature alternative (see MacBook Pro with Retina vs Retina MacBook) - but that's how Apple have always done things. iMac without floppy drive, iPhone without App Store or 3G, iPad "just a blown up iPod", Apple TV 2 only 720p etc.:

http://www.macworld.com/article/1151235/apple_rolls.html

Apple have a great track record with hardware categories ever since the iMac launched. Maybe the run will end, but I know their products in the wider market are still very much in demand. Their tablet, laptop and watch all in the top 12 according to one Tech Holiday Wishlist survey:

1. iPad
2. Bose QuietComfort 25 Noise Cancelling Headphones
3. MacBook
4. Samsung 48” Smart 4K Ultra HD TV
5. Sharp 43” Smart HDTV with Roku
6. Microsoft Surface
7. Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II
8. Fitbit Charge HR Heart Rate and Activity Tracker
9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
10. Dyson V6 Absolute Bagless Cordless Vacuum
11. Vizio 43” Smart 4K Ultra HD TV
12. Apple Watch

https://www.macrumors.com/2015/10/22/ipad-tops-holiday-technology/

Like you mention in your first sentence, people definitely grow out of wanting the latest and greatest. When I was younger I wanted everything. Now I usually upgrade when there is more of a need.
 
I think to really show they're serious about all its functionality, they really needed to include the pencil. I was critical of MS for charging extra for the type cover, but they at least included the stylus.
 
TechGod said:
This is hilarious. I meant, chuck in the Pencil with the cost price. The price wouldn't have to increase.
Click to expand...

This makes no sense. The Pencil is an accessory, it's not essential to using the product. Why would they reduce their profitability by adding something that lots of people will never use? That would be like giving a free case with every iPhone or iPad. Sure, it would be nice, but some people wouldn't use it, so it's just flushing money down the toilet.

maflynn said:
I think to really show they're serious about all its functionality, they really needed to include the pencil. I was critical of MS for charging extra for the type cover, but they at least included the stylus.
Click to expand...

MS has to do things like that, because they are trying to capture market share. If the iPad Pro sells badly, Apple will probably do that in the future. But right now, it's an accessory, and from a business perspective it makes no sense to give it away for free. (Even though it would be nice). Some people just wouldn't use it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
All this hype... it's just an iPad we've had for years just not as portable (and they've finally added more RAM). 2GB for an extra $500. wahoooooo!
 
What is the name of this App Apple are showing off in the advert?
Not at the end, but for the 1st 3/4 of the advert with all the lovely visuals of all the planets etc?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MTShipp
TechGod said:
They should have included the Pencil with the iPad at the very least.
Click to expand...
They aren't really a give you something for free company. I think they have proven themselves for that over and over and the people who will want one of these at $800 will spend the extra to get the accessory, some won't. But in the end they will sell like crazy either way.
 
Again.....

Apple are showing this app with amazing graphics running on their new iPad Pro in this advert.
Can someone please tell me the name of this stunning looking app please?
 
adnbek said:
Yep, what he said
Click to expand...

I'm confused.
Apple are showing this running on the iPad Pro to demonstrate what it can do to the world.
So what is the name of this app they are showing running with these amazing visuals?
 
Curious to know which app this is too. Would've loved an App like that as a child. (Learning about the planets & stars was always my thing) so the curious child within is dying to know too
 
Retrogecko said:
Curious to know which app this is too. Would've loved an App like that as a child. (Learning about the planets & stars was always my thing) so the curious child within is dying to know too
Click to expand...

Well, i'm sure Apple are not going to be lying to the world in the BIG launch new product commercial and show their brand new device running a visually stunning app, that does not actually exist.
They would not fake that for the world would they?
 
While I like the iPad Pro I really think Apple needs to kind of explain why we need this to produce content rather than just consume it.

In a nutshell, here's the products and what they said they were for in their commercials or their debut.
Mac-Create great content easily (remember mac vs pc)
iPod-Thousands of songs in your pocket
iPhone-internet browser/phone/ipod in one device
iPad-Better than a netbook at consuming content

If they want to move the iPad to a production machine they need to show us how. They kind of did this a year or two ago I think with the release of the Air1 but it needs to be in a commercial.
 
Jynto said:
I hate to be that guy...
But this felt like a weak ad. It didn't show very many strengths of the product. Heck, it didn't even show the product for more than half of its length. It made me want to be an astronomer, more than it convinced me of the need of a slightly larger iPad.
Click to expand...

Benjamin Frost said:
This ad did nothing for me.

The music sucks, and the only example given was using a stylus. Poor Steve Jobs. Astronomy? Pointless. Advertise something that everyone will use.

The keyboard costs a ridiculous amount. No-one will buy it. If you really use a proper keyboard that much, just buy a laptop. The whole point of the iPad is its form factor. That means no stylus, no keyboard, just a clean slate.
Click to expand...

A lot to go through here so I will focus on the ad. Coincidentally, astronomy and space was a big theme of some of the marketing campaigns of OS X under Steve. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the product, except associate the product with something as grand, powerful, and moving as the universe and its features. So in addition to size being the focus of this campaign, you could argue that this was a focus as well.

I do agree that a slightly larger iPad doesn't have the same "wow" factor as the original iMac or MacBook Pro, but I don't see how there honestly could be anymore. This product has already been established; we know what it does. Even if you add on a larger screen and vastly superior, non mobile software, there's little room to make it wow. So, like Steve Jobs and Co. did with "Think Different", you associate the product with something that is either awe-inspiring or desire-worthy, etc. This isn't the greatest ad known to man kind, but this thing will still sell stupid crazy numbers.

As for the keyboard and stylus, I think they're both useful accessories, no doubt. Yes, they're stupid crazy expensive, but the keyboard can easily be replicated or done better by Logitech for cheaper. The sales of accessories isn't the factor necessary for success.

I think we're all subconsciously waiting for the next "wow" product from Apple. As long as they keep turning out quality products, I'll wait.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back