Apple to Launch 'iPad HD' This Fall Alongside Pro Apps?

[Wolfpup]

This boggles my mind. I have an iPhone 4, which I love. I bought an iPad 2 recently, and I can't tell the difference in screen resolutions. Is it because I hold the devices at difference distances from my eyes? Likely. But never once, not for a second, have the words "low res" entered my thoughts in regard to the iPad.

It's not low resolution (actually it's slightly higher resolution than the 3.5" iOS devices). The only thing I think it matters for personally is if you hold it close to your face and read on it for a long time. That's why I'd like to see a 4x resolution eInk screen, since I don't really want to read on an iPad anyway.

Just please don't call it iPad "HD". HD stands for everything and nothing. Specifically, it's supposed to mean a group of low resolutions used on television. The iPad's current screen resolution is 1024 x 768, which is already higher than "HD".

Eh? No it's not. "HD" doesn't necessarily mean anything in and of itself, but HDTV does. Specifically it's a TV with an ATSC tuner and support for at least 480i/p, 720p, and 1080i. Anything labeled an "HDTV" is higher resolution than an iPad, though frankly I don't think calling the current iPad "HD" is bad...for a 10" screen it is high resolution, and heck, 640x480's been called high resolution back 15 years ago when it was 4x the res of the more typical 320x240 console games were rendered at.

If you make the iPad's screen "Retina" resolution, you'll instantly get waaaay more pixels, which doesn't even compare to HD.

That "Retina" thing isn't a resolution, it's (if anything) a pixel density. The iPad, which has a LOWER resolution than 720p HDTVs already has a higher resolution than the "retina" display in the 3.5" devices, they're just crammed closer together.

Anyway, I don't think it would be very Apple to have a low-resolution and high-resolution version of the iPad. Even if they did do it, it would only be because they can't get the retina screen price low enough, so you'd only have two models for like a year, after which only the retina version would remain.

I don't see how it is or isn't "Apple like", and seems like a reasonable move if they don't have access to enough 4x resolution screens, or they just cost to much. Seems like a good idea to me, if handled right.

 

[*LTD*]

When it comes to this subject, I've resigned myself to put aside any concerns I have and simply let Apple do what they're going to do anyway. Things tend to turn out just fine when that happens.

If a better iPad is released prior to the regular yearly interval, I'll simply sell my current (mint condition) iPad 2 and pay the difference. Done.

Just leave it to Apple, folks. They know what they're doing.

 

[Wickedgardengtp]

Lots of love

 

[Wolfpup]

I'm not laughing at all - about time a media consumtion device have decient sound. If not stereo, at least a forward-facing speaker costing a couple pennies more.

I don't necessarily care about stero, but I'd like it to be loud enough to easily listen to podcasts in a medium sized room while doing the dishes or the like. The iPod isn't, and I don't think the iPad is either. Needs to be probably 4x louder, without distortion.

 

[Popeye206]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8J2)

Let's hope the pro apps also work on iPad 2 and it's a gimmick to get the iPad HD

I think some are over thinking this... All they are saying is they are bringing their "Pro Apps" like FCP to the iPad... not specifically for the iPad HD.

IMO... all the iPad HD is, is a way for Apple to introduce a Retina display option. I'm guessing there will be limited supply and the cost will be higher, so having it as an option allows them to keep a $499 model while offering something totally beyond the competition for those customers that want it until they can get the supply up to meet the overall ipad sales. Face it... not everyone needs a retina display for the iPad. I find the current one is just fine... not to say Retina wouldn't be cool too.

 

[macduke]

iPads will eventually be used by Pros. Does anyone disagree? I'm talking about the future.

What if Apple does this? An iPad that slides into a 27" multitouch display with pressure sensitivity that folds down flat in front of you for ease of use. Inside this display there is a thunderbolt connector that hooks into the iPad. There would also be additional hardware components, such as larger storage drives, and even extra processing core or additional video cards to pump up the processing power of the iPad inside. So when you're on the go, you can do sketches, quick edits, you know—the stuff pros do on the go. Then when you come back to your workstation, you just slide it in and it transforms into this powerful, giant multitouch workstation.

That's my dream, lol...maybe in 5-10 years.

 

[Speedy2]

This is all just a bunch of made-up nonsense.

If only Gruber had not speculated, we would not have to endure these silly "rumors".

 

[swarmster]

Are we really going to rehash all the retina iPhone rumours for the iPad now?

http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/iphone-pro-960x640-ips-a4-processor-q210/

^People were saying the same thing re: "iPhone Pro" and "iPhone HD" back then, too, if you remember.

Apple isn't going to take their 'system for everyone' and say 'well, that one's for most people, but professional people should get this one for some reason'. Especially when said 'professionals' will get worse performance from a retina display given the same internals (more RAM might help, but I haven't heard Imagination Tech say anything about their new chips being available any time soon, and A6 development still seems to be in proof-of-concept mode at TSMC).

 

[BTW]

That would be a great way to bring in the higher end display that would have a cost premium. Then once the yields are large enough the prices come down and the iPad 2 makes way for the iPad 3 with higher resolution displays.

The new iPhone won't be called anything but iPhone 5 (I prefer iPhone V). The iPhone 4 had all the bad press with the antenna and Apple wants to move beyond that.

I'm still holding out hope for a 4 inch iPod Touch with retina display for high performance gaming and HD movies.

 

[Wolfpup]

It just means a new OS is on its way in. Mac OSX replaced Mac OS 9 and a unified OS will likely replace iOS and Mac OSX. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. OSX has numerous, redundant and legacy features that simply aren't needed

Like what? Potentially real OS X (or whatever they want to call it) can replace iOS, but not the other way around. At least not if they still want to compete as a PC manufacturer, and it seems idiotic for them to give that up, given they're doing pretty great at it.

 

[Patriot24]

I'm just curious if they can actually manufacture a retina display at 10" and make enough of them to supply demand. It seems to make more sense to me to have a 7" model with a retina display. This will fill the gap between iPhone and iPad that all of the other manufacturers are attempting to plug with Android tablets.

iPod Nano > iPhone/iPod Touch > 7" iPad > 10.1" iPad > 11" Air > 13" notebooks > 15" notebooks > etc, etc

They would have a device of every size covered then.

 

[Wolfpup]

I'm still holding out hope for a 4 inch iPod Touch with retina display for high performance gaming and HD movies.

4" would be GREAT. I hope the rumors are true that they're moving to 4". 3.5" isn't terrible, and is a decent minimum (can't believe people make stuff with even smaller screens), but 4" seems great.

You probably know this, but the iPod 4 already has a "retina" display...or at least that 4x resolution (I guess they don't refer to it as that, probably because the iPhone 4's display is both 4x the resolution, and IPS, while I think the iPod 4 is still using TN. It is noticeably better than the iPod 3's screen though)

 

[rdowns]

So let me get this straight. Apple, the company that no longer cares for the people who stuck by them... (you know their whine), is going to make a Pro iToy?

I'm skeptical.

 

[jclardy]

So they aren't testing the iPhone 5 in its normal case with its own antenna?

Sounds a bit strange after "antennagate"

My guess is the iPhone 4 casings with upgraded hardware are just for the developers that Apple has selected, and the iPhone 5 itself is being tested internally.

As for "iPad HD" it sounds plausible, but what would make it for professionals over the normal iPad? Maybe if it had some more storage (For storing and editing HD video and managing photos) and ports, like thunderbolt (for syncing large projects) and USB (for getting files on and off a camera).

iOS would still need some updating to be used for "professional" work though. Namely being able to have a shared file storage place, so you don't have to copy data multiple times to move it from one app to another.

Lets say there is an After Effects like program, along with Final Cut. You take your clip that you need some effects work and import it into AE. When you are done you render it out, and that rendered file is stored in AE's document storage. Now when you "Open In..." into Final Cut you have two copies of that rendered file, both taking up a ton of storage space. And with the iPad only having flash memory this just won't work that well.

 

[joneildu]

I'd kill for an ipad with some kind of SD reader or USB reader that also held aperture and read RAW files.

 

[paradox00]

This is all just a bunch of made-up nonsense.

If only Gruber had not speculated, we would not have to endure these silly "rumors".

This was the most logical rumor I've heard. It addresses why the illogical 4S idea is going around and they are also sticking to their guns with their prediction from months ago. If I were a betting man, I wouldn't bet against thisismynext and Gruber.

 

[Slurpy2k8]

This is what the next iPad should have:

- Retina
- 1 GiB RAM
- 128 GiB storage
- Better cameras if they really are bad (good does not mean going overboard with megapixels)

128GB SSD? Yeah, completely reasonable for $499, right? I've never come close to filling my 16GB, I can't imagine there's many people out there who need or can take advantage of 128GB. Keep dreaming.

 

[JCanfield]

I'll believe it when I see it, but bring on lightroom for the ipad HD.

Forget about Lightroom. Bring Aperture to the iPad and I could sell my Macbook Pro.

 

[clibinarius]

128GB SSD? Yeah, completely reasonable for $499, right? I've never come close to filling my 16GB, I can't imagine there's many people out there who need or can take advantage of 128GB. Keep dreaming.

I'd buy a 128GB SSD, if not more. Be nice to take movies on the road with me without the laptop. And haven't you seen that 64GB is more expensive? I know! I was surprised by that fact, too. I mean, that 64GB is such a steal for $499, right? As is even the 32GB for, again, $499.

You do realize that different things cost different amounts of money, right?

 

[macse30]

But will it come in white?

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

Just leave it to Apple, folks. They know what they're doing.

Ask FCP users what they think of that statement.

Apple used to know what they were doing now they just follow one thing... $

 

[Reach9]

According to the report's sources, Apple is indeed planning a smaller and lighter design for the iPhone 5, but has also been testing those components within iPhone 4 enclosures, leading to the confusion over the company's plans.The current iPhone 4 design is said to have fallen "out of favor" with Apple executives, leading to the substantial efforts to introduce a redesigned form factor only a little over a year after the iPhone 4's debut.

The current iPhone 4 design is said to have fallen "out of favor" with Apple execs? This is fantastic news! How i hope this is true, and that we get a nice redesigned iPhone 5 in a few months!

The iPhone 4 is a horrible ergonomically designed phone. Can't wait to see what Apple does with the 5 and 6.

 

[Wolfpup]

iOS would still need some updating to be used for "professional" work though.

SOME updating? Forgot "professional" work, iOS is a disaster for something you take for granted on a PC like following and commenting on this thread. It's easy and painless on a PC...on iOS? So slow, clunky, and cumbersome that I've long since given up doing it...I just wait until I'm at a real PC.

Yeah, iOS needs real storage/file system. It needs multitasking. It needs quick switching around for that multitasking. It needs better stability for programs. It needs massively more RAM. It needs Core 2 or better performance levels.

In other words, what it needs is to be an actual PC...what I kind of hoped the iPad was to begin with.

As it is...even having my email or something on devices like this is only marginally useful since it's not practical even to follow a thread like this, much less anything more complicated.

 

[Reach9]

128GB SSD? Yeah, completely reasonable for $499, right? I've never come close to filling my 16GB, I can't imagine there's many people out there who need or can take advantage of 128GB. Keep dreaming.

You see, because Apple wants to push on the post-PC era, people might be using their iPads as their primary computing device. I.e, a 128GB SSD sounds fine.

For me, until the iPad can run OS X, it's not replacing my MacBook Pro.

 

[GQB]

This is all getting extremely confusing. One of the best thing I like about apple (or more specifically iDevices) is that they have a fixed update cycle. Now iPhone 5 is not on schedule, there are talks about high resolution iPad showing up within 6 months of last refresh, and there are rumors that apple will kill iPod touch (some dumb blog suggested it a few weeks ago but I of course dont believe it).

That Apple has released a given product in the same month for several years does not make it a 'schedule'. They have never said "we'll release a new phone every June." That is simply when they happened to have up done so to this point.
That some customers seem to have developed a Pavlovian drool response every June is their problem, not Apple's.