iPad How can Apple increase iPad sales?

[Mliii]

The iPad is NOT a creation tool, it is a consumption tool...

For some people, that's correct.
However, there are many of us who use it as a creation tool. I write. That's creation. And I use it exclusively instead of a laptop.
I find that it creates fewer barriers to production when I interview people to create a story. And If I have a LOT to write, I use a Bluetooth Keyboard.
Can it be made an even more effective creation tool?
Absolutely!
But don't assume that everyone uses a tablet the same way you do.

 

[Pakaku]

Turn the iPad into a Cintiq Companion competitor, and I'd upgrade instantly. It would be the first time in forever that I'd be excited for a new Apple toy.

 

[Abazigal]

Is there a need for sales to increase?

If you look at sales numbers, Apple actually sold thrice the number of iPads compared to the number of Macs. So it's not that people aren't buying them. I daresay that the initially high sales are simply because everyone was rushing to get one early on. Now, the people who want one already have one, and they aren't in a rush to upgrade anytime soon.

 

[Piggie]

I think the market is saturated with tablets. A two year old iPad works near as good as the current Air 2. If they want to increase sales, give us a reason to upgrade like a USB port and SD card slot!

That's only because there has been almost no innovation from Apple since the launch of iPad1

From a across a room, you would not be able to tell an iPad1 from an iPad Air2

Same dumb speaker position, same screen size, home button, Screen layout/icons etc, pretty much zero development, still tiny icons in a field of backdrop.

No wonder people are not upgrading.

 

[Abazigal]

That's only because there has been almost no innovation from Apple since the launch of iPad1

From a across a room, you would not be able to tell an iPad1 from an iPad Air2

Same dumb speaker position, same screen size, home button, Screen layout/icons etc, pretty much zero development, still tiny icons in a field of backdrop.

No wonder people are not upgrading.

The same can be said of PCs. It doesn't really matter what new features it brings; people generally don't upgrade a PC every year.

 

[Newtons Apple]

That's only because there has been almost no innovation from Apple since the launch of iPad1

From a across a room, you would not be able to tell an iPad1 from an iPad Air2

Same dumb speaker position, same screen size, home button, Screen layout/icons etc, pretty much zero development, still tiny icons in a field of backdrop.

No wonder people are not upgrading.

Per my statement I agree on the innovation thing, Apple needs to give us a reason to upgrade.

As far as you complaint about the devices looking the same, I have no problem with that as I am not trying to impress anyon with the looks of my device. I am pretty happy with the current iPad Air 2. Just ask for Apple to PLEASE not make it any thinner.

Looking forward to maybe an Apple iPad Pro but also keeping my eye out for the Surface Pro 4. It is surposed to be a giant leap in tech.

 

[Osamede]

I have begged my wife to let me get rid of her Ipad 2 and replace it with the current Ipad Air and she refuses. Which kind of tells you what you need to know about this product line: not much genuine progress in 3-4 years.

When you then consider that it is a secondary product (people also have a phone and a PC) and that there are a flood of cheaper tablets that can do much the same, well....

If Apple was clever they would allow people to pair their "watch" to the ipad mini and sell them as a package. That would at least provide a boost.

 

[R1PPER]

The problem with iPads is they are now just iterative. I simple spec bump is not enough to pull in early adopters or tech trend setters. The iPhone will now hit this barrier and PCs have had this problem for a few years now. Apple needs another leap in technology. This might be a massive GPU bump or VR integration, the last 10 years have always had progression with retina, camera, storage, nfc, lightning but we now have it all. I've always known where tech is going but i can't predict the future with the iPad, maybe that ship has sailed. we will all be transitioning into VR over the next 5 years. maybe that is the future for the iPad.

 

[Rodster]

The problem with technology is how quickly things change. Apple really hasn't done anything with the iPad other than higher rez (iPad 3) speed bumps, thinner and lighter. The iPad still looks and operates the same way and the OS in some ways has gotten worse due to bugs. And the competition has not only caught up but in certain areas has surpassed the iPad.

If someone has never owned an iPad then it's a great time to buy one but if you've owned several like me, it's just another stale iPad.

 

[srshaw]

I think the market is saturated with tablets. A two year old iPad works near as good as the current Air 2. If they want to increase sales, give us a reason to upgrade like a USB port and SD card slot!

I agree. I'm still with an old ipad 3. Apert from the new lightening (or is it thunderbolt, I can never remember which is which) connector, there's nothing about the new models that would tempt me.

Give me a bigger screen, ability to read memory cards, fold out keyboard, just something different.

 

[960design]

For some people, that's correct.
However, there are many of us who use it as a creation tool. I write. That's creation. And I use it exclusively instead of a laptop.
I find that it creates fewer barriers to production when I interview people to create a story. And If I have a LOT to write, I use a Bluetooth Keyboard.
Can it be made an even more effective creation tool?
Absolutely!
But don't assume that everyone uses a tablet the same way you do.

No doubt you are correct. I've seen people load hot tubs on their subcompact car, refrigerators on their bicycle, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. You can certainly use the iPad as a creation tool, or even mount it in a picture frame displaying a single image. Just because you can do something doesn't mean that is its intended purpose or best use case for the majority. Which is why it makes me cringe a little inside when I see comments like, add an internal stylus. Not really sure what benefit the stylus would be, but I can assume it is used or very poorly designed web pages or applications where you must tap a very small area. This isn't a problem with the iPad, this is an issue with the application developer.

Yes, I use my iPad for creation, but only supplementary.

 

[mrex]

How can Apple increase iPad sales?

(1)You have the option of purchasing a stylus. I'm not stopping you. In keeping this on topic, I'm sure many people purchase their iPad for the stylus options. They cannot use them without it.



(2)The iPad is NOT a creation tool, it is a consumption tool.

1. i dont know if you have used air2 or not, but none of the present styluses wont work ok with air2. they changed the screen technology for saving battery consumption but they didnt bother to tell that to stylus-manufacturers.

2. i can get a consumption tool for 100 dollars too. no need to get ipad for surfing...

 

[960design]

That's only because there has been almost no innovation from Apple since the launch of iPad1

From a across a room, you would not be able to tell an iPad1 from an iPad Air2

Same dumb speaker position, same screen size, home button, Screen layout/icons etc, pretty much zero development, still tiny icons in a field of backdrop.

No wonder people are not upgrading.

I've had ever iteration of the iPad. The iPad 2 was a big step up. The iPad Air was the next IMHO.

We have a fantastic tool, we need better developers filling the needs of the consumers. I'm trying, but my shop can only crank out so many applications. I need more people educated in UI and workflows.

PS. I've had a nexus10 with Ubuntu Touch loaded on it since it was alpha. Unfortunately that didn't go anywhere. The only mobile platform I feel safe developing for, is apple. I know what I can do to your Android devices and wouldn't have one for enterprise, ever. I'm sure many of you have been compromised.

 

[mrex]

How can Apple increase iPad sales?

I know what I can do to your Android devices and wouldn't have one for enterprise, ever. I'm sure many of you have been compromised.

you dont need to be compromised, it is enough when you know what you need and want. anyway, i would choose win for enteprise for sure, over ios/android, ipad are just overhyped. secondly, androids are atleast as good as ios devices for using in enteprises. windows os would take a win.

 

[mgipe]

Add a stylus, absolutely.

 

[Piggie]

I've had ever iteration of the iPad. The iPad 2 was a big step up. The iPad Air was the next IMHO.

We have a fantastic tool, we need better developers filling the needs of the consumers. I'm trying, but my shop can only crank out so many applications. I need more people educated in UI and workflows.

PS. I've had a nexus10 with Ubuntu Touch loaded on it since it was alpha. Unfortunately that didn't go anywhere. The only mobile platform I feel safe developing for, is apple. I know what I can do to your Android devices and wouldn't have one for enterprise, ever. I'm sure many of you have been compromised.

I suppose I just don't see:

Make it thinner and a bit faster as a "Big Step Up"
It's nice yes, and of course, any improvements are always welcome, but it's more just tinkering and polishing what you have, as opposed to offering any changes.

I do understand you don't want to change a winning design, and that's fair point, but it does not stop you making another design.

Just think how boring it would be if say Ford did this, and just fiddled with one model, or even two every year, and did not offer anything else.

 

[goobot]

No doubt you are correct. I've seen people load hot tubs on their subcompact car, refrigerators on their bicycle, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. You can certainly use the iPad as a creation tool, or even mount it in a picture frame displaying a single image. Just because you can do something doesn't mean that is its intended purpose or best use case for the majority. Which is why it makes me cringe a little inside when I see comments like, add an internal stylus. Not really sure what benefit the stylus would be, but I can assume it is used or very poorly designed web pages or applications where you must tap a very small area. This isn't a problem with the iPad, this is an issue with the application developer.

Yes, I use my iPad for creation, but only supplementary.

I think apple should just sell a stylus separate for those who want it. They can either add a holder to the smart cover or add a small magnet to the other side of the iPad to hold it.

 

[bruinsrme]

Stop dicking around with the storage, move to 64/128/256.
Stylus would be helpful.
Split screen
Kill apps with a single button press (as found in jailbreak)
Kill all safari windows at once
Be able to locally save multiple files with productivity apps
Increase the 100MB download limit
Multiple logins
Instead of swiping pages offer tabs that can be customized

 

[mrex]

Kill all safari windows at once

why not just "kill safari" -button

 

[Rodster]

1) How is Safari unreliable? I think it's the best and easiest to use out there.

That's a matter of opinion. Just today I launched Safari on my iPad 2 and it immediately crashed back to desktop and that was without loading a single webpage. If I don't disable Javascript, Safari has a propensity to crash on many sites including MacRumors. I own three iPad's and that's standard operating procedure for all of them.

I own a Google tablet and Google for Android is rock solid, never crashes to desktop with or without Javascript running.

 

[960design]

1. i dont know if you have used air2 or not, but none of the present styluses wont work ok with air2. they changed the screen technology for saving battery consumption but they didnt bother to tell that to stylus-manufacturers.

2. i can get a consumption tool for 100 dollars too. no need to get ipad for surfing...

Yes, I have every iteration of iPad in my office. I also have several dozen styli. Unfortunately they are at work and I cannot find the two or three I have at home. I use a Wacom for content creation. I would agree that would be very annoying to have your stylus stop working. I will try them out when I get back to the office on Monday. This would certainly be news to me.

 

[960design]

you dont need to be compromised, it is enough when you know what you need and want. anyway, i would choose win for enteprise for sure, over ios/android, ipad are just overhyped. secondly, androids are atleast as good as ios devices for using in enteprises. windows os would take a win.

Totally off topic and I'm sorry. But I couldn't disagree more. I know, I know, top security systems are running Exchange networks and windows machines only miles from my house. Fortunately they are on an entirely different internet and don't have to concern themselves with security. Normal corporations do have to concern themselves. Most of the time the security compromise is phishing hacks that or social engineering and those are tough cookies to defeat. I'd believe that any OS that requires a separate security package would be a dead give away, but people just trudge along. My favorite is Solaris and I'd have the world run on it if I could. Second is Linux ( Ubuntu branch or one its siblings ), third is MacOSX. I run Ubuntu for my servers, but Mac for my working system, mostly because it takes care of itself and is easy to use. Rant over, so sorry OP.

Android totally failed in our tests for enterprise. Trust me we really tried to get it to work. Even paying twice as much for some of our test devices ( compared to iPad ) to get something that was safe and friendly to use by 10,000 people. Ubuntu Touch was the closest, but fell by the wayside as Apple's App Store took off like a rocket. Right now, I still feel that iOS is the best bet for enterprise and have personally deployed over 4000 devices.

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I think apple should just sell a stylus separate for those who want it. They can either add a holder to the smart cover or add a small magnet to the other side of the iPad to hold it.

Really, not a bad idea. My understanding is that Apple wants to keep to their HIG. Any application ( web or local ) that follows these guidelines would not need a stylus. I use Apple's HIG for all development, even when working on with other OS, because it is pretty well thought out and keeps my applications in a common ( boring ) format that are easy to learn and use. Well, that's some of the comments, others are not quite so helpful. Haha!

 

[bob24]

Yes to the stylus ... You don't have to use it

Too much complexity and clutter in the product line - even optional - is what has killed and could kill apple Again.

Fewer options and perfect execution (or as good as possible) is what has made them strong.

Stylus only makes sense it it appeals to the masses and therefore justifies heavy investment / maintenance to ensure it works perfectly. They won't have it if it is restricted to a very limited audience.

 

[nj-morris]

I really think that it's software that kills the new devices. I really think that software is far more important than hardware, and it's basically the same on every device. Take the iPhone 4S. When it was released, it wasn't a huge upgrade from the iPhone 4. They added a few features which nobody really needed. And it was like that for two years until iOS 7 came out. The 4S ran the full version, while the 4 ran a stripped down, unstable version of it. Now the 4 is unsupported and still running the same iOS 7, while the 4S is able to run iOS 8, which is a fairly big difference. They say it will run iOS 9, and if it does, the difference will be substantial. And it took 4 years to do that. don't add software features unless they can add it to all the supported devices. I think we should see more features for the newer devices, instead of just running the same software from devices from 4 years ago.

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That's a matter of opinion. Just today I launched Safari on my iPad 2 and it immediately crashed back to desktop and that was without loading a single webpage. If I don't disable Javascript, Safari has a propensity to crash on many sites including MacRumors. I own three iPad's and that's standard operating procedure for all of them.

I own a Google tablet and Google for Android is rock solid, never crashes to desktop with or without Javascript running.

Oh. You mean reliable as in... Ok fair enough, hopefully will fix that.

 

[Osamede]

Apple certainly needs to move the tablet to bigger size in order to have any new territory to conquer. But going beyond 9-10 inches also requires rethinking the interface - and this is where stylus comes into play.

Some mock Microsoft for the stylus approach to the Surface tablet, but their approach is well founded for that product i.e. 11-12 inch tablet.

So stylus is going to be big for Apple in any “pro” tablet.


http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/gestural_interfaces_a_step_backwards_in_usability_6.html

http://www.nngroup.com/articles/large-touchscreens