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Apple Targeting Third-Generation iPad for Doubled Display Resolution?

Not to "keep beating a dead horse"... but the current iPad is NOT a pleasure to read on... nor is my MacBook Pro. I could NEVER read a book, newspaper, etc on either of them.

However... with my iPhone 4.. the screen is BEAUTFUL and MUCH easier on the eyes. I often go out of my way to find things on it to read because it's a PLEASURE.

Again, if Apple wants the iPad to be used as a reader.. they need to upgrade the display. They aren't idiots.. they know this. With the way that Steve stressed how amazing the Retina dislay is and that once you use one, you won't want to go back.. I'll be surprised if it's not in the next iPad. Rumors, rumors, rumors.. NO ONE really knows. People can try to figure out the pricing and say it's too expensive.. but really? What do you know? You're going by "current" pricing. Who says what the price can be driven to by Apples demand... THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY DO and it's part of their job.

I'm not yet buying that the screen is going to be the same... I think it would be a mistake and I don't see them making that. This is the beginning of what Steve said is the future.. they need to "put the pedal to the metal". To have one of the worst displays of all tablets during all of 2011 would not be doing that. We'll see.. everyone is an expert, but no one really knows until it's announced.. but people trashing the idea of a CLEAR and LEGIBLE screen is just moronic.
 
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Personally, mobile hotspot and better tethering options are nearly top on my list... Will be waiting for iPhone 5 ATT version for these features, and then likely will not seek a new one regardless of generation until absolutely necessary.
 
Small White Car said:
You're not alone.

Fun Fact: The iPad's pixels per inch is higher than a 2009 iMac's screen.
Click to expand...

Yes, but the 2009 iMac's screen is not 9.7", and the device is used at a closer distance than a desktop computer. The lack of resolution is pretty obvious, even coming from my old 2007 Dell LCD.
 
I thought Id add to the speculation (why not I think its fun). This is my first post on an Apple forum (I got my IPhone only a few months ago). Ive been dying to get the IPad but Ive decided to wait at least till the anouncement of the IPad 2 which is killing me.

From what Ive read online I get the idea no one has a scooby about what the new IPad will feature. Personally I think a slightly higher resolution screen seems likely just because its such a key feature of the IPad (being the main part of the device the user interacts with). I think dual core is a given and beefed up graphics. 2 cameras seems to be a given but I think the back one will be the same or close to the specs of the Iphone 4's camera (front will be VGA). If the screen resolution isnt increased then there will be some improvement in the backlighting or maybe even the screen itself (better type of IPS screen?) that will improve contrast and clarity of the display without the need to increase the resolution.

I also get the feeling that there will be some new features added that no one could have guessed of...I dunno something like improved cohesion with mobile me or something that involves being more connected to "the cloud". External changes will be kept to a minimum I think since its only been a year since the first IPad came out. I also think that Apple will be working simultaneously on the IPad 3 as well especially if its going to be a huge leap from the second generation (there is only so much you can develop in one year). I guess I better stop my ramblings. It will be interesting to see how wrong (right) I am when the next generation IPad is announced! :D
 
notabadname said:
Well, it is cool that you have a grasp on the final profits an the iPad. Most of us aren't fortunate enough to see those numbers. I personally have always been curious how much it cost to develop the product, build the factory(s), pay the manufacturing employees, market the product, distribute it, (insert long list of other expenses here) and of course use remaining net profits to pay all employees of Apple. I've always wondered what the final bottom line was. Please share.

Additionally, while the density is somewhat higher on the Galaxy Tab at 614,400, the iPad still has 28% more pixels at 786,432. So it would be hard for people to say the iPad is the looser in Tablet screen quality.
Click to expand...

I wish! :p

http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/Ne...eMaximumProfitsforApple,iSuppliEstimates.aspx
http://www.gadgetonian.com/2010/04/...is-almost-twice-lower-than-the-selling-price/

EDIT: Yeah the first batch of tablets weren't that great in comparison to the iPad but the ones that are coming out this year are VERY impressive and Apple is going to have some stiff competition with products like the Motorola XOOM. If they ran iOS i would definitely buy one.
 
Small White Car said:
You're not alone.

Fun Fact: The iPad's pixels per inch is higher than a 2009 iMac's screen.

So, you know, sometimes there's a disconnect between "what's good" and "what's the newest thing available." Sometimes they're not the same thing.

Yes, I'd like a higher-rez iPad screen. I really really would. But sometimes 'good enough' is good enough. Certainly when you're trying to hit a $499 price point on a device that everyone thought was gonna cost $999 last year. Remember that? Remember how shocked we were by the price? That comes with compromises.
Click to expand...

You really only notice the pixels in large areas of flat colour specially greys. Like the border to Macrumors comment box. But with more real life media, photos, movies, PDF, text it really is quiet good already. Doubling the pixels would still be a massive step forward but i'm not sure it would really help the usage.

To me the screen current let down is the range of ambient lighting it works well in. It's too limited. In really low light (yes i know bad for my eyes) the brightness does go low enough, ok for somethings but not reading. At the other end you need sit under fairly shady tree and the grass isn't very soft under them.

There is still the rumour that they will still use a new screen technology. So maybe they'll use one of new high density tech's that also have the added benefit of improving the light transmission. Bring it in in two stages iPad2 same res but far better light range. Then next year they up the res when the technology has had a run in period and can sample high enough.
 
tmt345 said:
But they are playing catch up in terms of technology. Maybe not in software, but the other tablets sure do give a better bang for the buck for what you get.
Click to expand...

Ah, you mean all those "other tablets" that aren't even shipping yet? :rolleyes:
 
TechNutt said:
Plural of this: "these"

Seriously, a relative of mine (who cannot stand Apple because of the way everything is locked down, secretive, and limited with the company) made a good point. Apple hypes up their products when in fact they are playing catch-up with current technology. I mean, look at the rumored camera on the iPad2. Yes, it should have a camera this time around. It should have had a camera LAST YEAR. But now we are getting reports of just a 1MB camera. Seriously, there are good things about Apple, but with them holding back on certain technology pieces just so they can do it NEXT YEAR is getting a little bit freaking old. Another example is the iPod Touch, in which they just had a camera put in the last model when we expected it back in 2009.
Click to expand...

It is the fact that Apple don't rush to jam as many features into their products as is technically possible that distinguishes them from the crowd. They work hard to ensure each added component works as well as it possibly can, adding them only when they are ready.

On the other hand, if they do put a 1MP camera in the back of the iPad 2, that would be rather unforgivable. For Facetime, the back camera's light-sensitivity on my iPhone 4 is really helpful. I have used the camera on the back of the iPod Touch at it looks pretty damn yucky in comparison. And no doubt developers would come up with myriad other uses for a nice camera with a massive screen. It would be short-sighted of Apple to negate this eventuality.
 
msb3079 said:
Not to "keep beating a dead horse"... but the current iPad is NOT a pleasure to read on... nor is my MacBook Pro. I could NEVER read a book, newspaper, etc on either of them.

However... with my iPhone 4.. the screen is BEAUTFUL and MUCH easier on the eyes. I often go out of my way to find things on it to read because it's a PLEASURE.

Again, if Apple wants the iPad to be used as a reader.. they need to upgrade the display. They aren't idiots.. they know this. With the way that Steve stressed how amazing the Retina dislay is and that once you use one, you won't want to go back.. I'll be surprised if it's not in the next iPad. Rumors, rumors, rumors.. NO ONE really knows. People can try to figure out the pricing and say it's too expensive.. but really? What do you know? You're going by "current" pricing. Who says what the price can be driven to by Apples demand... THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY DO and it's part of their job.

I'm not yet buying that the screen is going to be the same... I think it would be a mistake and I don't see them making that. This is the beginning of what Steve said is the future.. they need to "put the pedal to the metal". To have one of the worst displays of all tablets during all of 2011 would not be doing that. We'll see.. everyone is an expert, but no one really knows until it's announced.. but people trashing the idea of a CLEAR and LEGIBLE screen is just moronic.
Click to expand...

One of best comments.. Apple should do something to differentiate ipad from all other tablets. Best way is a great screen. So, who knows. This is Apple, they love surprising us ;)
 
phpmaven said:
As the man in black said: Get used to disappointment ;)
Click to expand...

I'm still very excited to get my first iPad with iPad 2 and I have been taking the Retina display with a grain of salt knowing the potential issues myself, but it is hard to go back to a non Retina screen after having an iPhone 4!
 
msb3079 said:
...To have one of the worst displays of all tablets during all of 2011 would not be doing that. We'll see.. everyone is an expert, but no one really knows until it's announced.. but people trashing the idea of a CLEAR and LEGIBLE screen is just moronic.
Click to expand...
Would you care to define "worst displays of all tablets..."? The current IPS display on the iPad is very good and note that the recently announced Motorola Xoom (at a base price of $700) has a pixel density that is only 13% better than the current iPad (Xoom 10.1" at 1280x800, iPad 9.7" at 1024x768). And the Xoom was given Best of Show at CES 2011 by CNET and was widely considered to be most outstanding Android tablet that has yet been shown. Sure, it would be nice to have a display on the next iPad that offered higher pixel densities, but to claim that it is current the "worst" is just plain alarmist and suspect of reason.
 
Well, if the iPad 2 does, in fact, end up with the higher res screen I bet it will be pandemonium trying to get one on release date.

I've been holding out for the iPad2, but if the upgrades aren't very substantial over the first gen iPad, I might wait another year.

I'm still on an iPhone 3G, as I'm one of those guys who likes to get at least 3 years even out of my mobile devices, about 5 years out of a desktop - so waiting another year is no problem for me.

My 13" MacBook Pro does the job, except for when I'm sitting/lying on the couch or bed - that's where the iPad would hit the sweet spot for me. I will pull the trigger once the iPad has a higher res display.
 
emvath said:
Improved battery life is to be expected.

Of course we are all just speculating at this point.
Click to expand...

We are indeed speculating all right, but FWIW improved battery life is actually the least thing I expect. Why? A number of reasons. It's very good already, often cited as one of the iPad's great strenghts. People complain a lot about the iPad (and often on this forum), but it's always never about the battery life. So there's really no incentive to improve it. And competition is lagging behind here.

But there's another reason. I don't think Apple will change its display technology on iPad 2 (the IPS display is considered very nice, it's the resolution that needs to improve but we probably have to wait a generation for that). So the display won't get technology that saves battery, whatever that would be. And iPad 2 is expected to be thinner, leaving less room for things like batteries (which take up most of the space in iPad 1). That doesn't point towards better battery life IMO.

But of the "significant" upgrades, we will probably see better processor (A5?), ram and graphics (all welcome).
 
This is the classic Apple rumor cycle.

Step 1: someone floats an unrealistic rumor about Product A getting amazing new Feature X
Step 2: rumors about Feature X are quashed
Step 3: everyone screams "No way I'm getting Product A until it gets Feature X! I'll buy the competitor's device instead (even though it doesn't have Feature X either)!"

One would almost suspect Apple competitors of floating the unrealistic rumors about upcoming Apple products just to juice interest in their own sub-par fare.

That said, I also thought the double-resolution screen of the iPhone 4 was an unrealistic rumor, but we know how that one turned out. :)

There is an exception to every rule.
 
tmt345 said:
I wish! :p

http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/Ne...eMaximumProfitsforApple,iSuppliEstimates.aspx
http://www.gadgetonian.com/2010/04/...is-almost-twice-lower-than-the-selling-price/

EDIT: Yeah the first batch of tablets weren't that great in comparison to the iPad but the ones that are coming out this year are VERY impressive and Apple is going to have some stiff competition with products like the Motorola XOOM. If they ran iOS i would definitely buy one.
Click to expand...

Remember these teardowns don't include IP license costs of the chips just the physical chip. So the GPS and Radio Chips maybe be able $30 but the license on the IP in the them could be the same again. So the real cost of Hardware before Apple starts adding it's own value is higher than those numbers and it hasn't even left the factory.

Which makes and interesting possibility, that if they can go sim-less with the radio they could build the chips into all iPads. Then sell the activating IP license in the AppStore, as say iSim that let's you download SIM's for companies all over the world.
 
lets be honest! apples strategy to sell products has always been that they add things step by step. if they'd add a front and back cam AND retina display - who would buy ipad 3rd gen? no one!

i just wish they'd lower the price to 399 or even 299 us$. but i guess this won't happen as long as the competitors are also so expensive. prices will only drop if apple HAS to drop the prices. until then they'll keep the price that way.
 
This rumor that supposedly debunks the other rumor makes me sad.

Looks like I'm waiting for the high-res iPad 3. If I put $60/month in a jar for the next 14 months ... I'll see you in line on launch day, April 2012.
 
fpnc said:
Would you care to define "worst displays of all tablets..."? The current IPS display on the iPad is very good and note that the recently announced Motorola Xoom (at a base price of $700) has a pixel density that is only 13% better than the current iPad (Xoom 10.1" at 1280x800, iPad 9.7" at 1024x768). And the Xoom was given Best of Show at CES 2011 by CNET and was widely considered to be most outstanding Android tablet that has yet been shown. Sure, it would be nice to have a display on the next iPad that offered higher pixel densities, but to claim that it is current the "worst" is just plain alarmist and suspect of reason.
Click to expand...

I exaggerated, but not by a lot. I'm sorry for being an "alarmist and suspect of reason". :eek:
 
A few things


- iOS and OS X will merge in a few years. We've seen the UI start to match, and no doubt most of the code is the same anyways.

- The iPad is more of a computer than a phone. So I would expect Apple to start to market it as such.

Why can't we have TWO or THREE iPad models this year.

iPad lite - The current gen, starting at $449.

iPad - 2nd Gen with better processor, memory (528), graphics card, etc: Priced at $549.

iPad Pro - 2nd gen with the upgraded Screen, 1gig of memory. Prices at $649.

Eventually the upper versions of the iPad will be full blown computers running MAC OS X with NO tradeoffs like we see in Windows 7 tablets.
 
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