iPad 2 (A5, 512MB RAM) and iOS 5 Revealed Next Week?

[cocky jeremy]

A bigger upgrade would be nice, but lets be honest, the competition is basically nonexistent at this point. Apple will step up huge with the iPad 3. Sure, there are other tablets out there, but outside of tech geeks, no one is going to even mess around with that. Apple had such a huge head start in the tablet world that iPad, iPad, iPad is all most people know or care about when it comes to tablets. By the time other tablets get popular, it will be late into the life of the iPad 2. Then the iPad 3 will blow them all away.

Personally, i'm far more interested in the iOS portion of this article. I hope it's true. And i REALLY hope we get a brand new notification system. There are several other things i want, but that's definitely the top of my list. A new messaging app that allows us to reply without closing our current app would be huge to me as well. That alone takes care of two of my jailbreak apps. (BiteSMS and Notified Pro)

 

[RalfTheDog]

When the iPad is turned on, sure. When it goes off into standby, the ratio of power consumption is a whole different issue.

How many devices have you designed that have nearly a month of standby time with instant on?

Easy solution. When the device goes on standby, copy the content of Ram to flash.

This being the internet... I invented and hold 3 patents related to said invention a component that is used daily by millions of people worldwide. It is also fundamental to the success of the iPhone, iPad and all but 1 Android phone.

I have also invented a propulsion system that is a paradigm shift from current rocket based technology and will see 1/10th LS achievable with in a specified time frame.

I am also the author and publisher of 3 NY Times best selling books.

I also won a Gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and am on the Apple board in an advisory capacity.

It goes without saying that I am a modest man. I have used the hardware you designed that sold in the millions. It is because of the innovation and foresight you envisioned that led me on the road to my achievements.

You were a pioneer. I just followed

That is nothing, I am a crazy person who thinks he is a talking dog.

More RAM, faster clock, 107 key external keyboard...

Everyone is getting excited about hardware. I do expect to see an improvement in the screen. It might not have a higher resolution, but it might have blacker black levels and better contrast.

In the long run, hardware is meaningless. It is all about the software. If more RAM and a faster processor lets Apple and new functions to IOS, the upgrade might be more impressive than just a Retina display.

 

[k995]

Ahhhhh.... the Xoom. At this point in time, having a faster web page refresh speed is about as useful as tits on a bull.

Sure people pick up an ipad, 5seconds to load webpage, people pick up a xoom, 0.5s , wich do you think they will prefer?

Apple changed the rules dramatically with the iPad. The functionality of the device, as in what you did with it, exceeded the need to have the biggest, bestest and fastest under the bonnet.

I see little you can do with an iOS and not on android .

I doubt that there's realistically anyone who has sat there and simply thought, Oh man... This iPad is taking SOOOOO LONG to load my page! If only I has a Xoom.... those things seemed so much faster on that video I watched.

Review actually, and at the time of the ipad launch there was nothing to compare to, now there is. Apple shouldnt get complacement.

Sure, I've had apps run slow. Sure, it would be nice to have it a bit faster. But, I can't say I've ever.... ever... ever been frustrated with anything but the speed that i've downloaded at... which honestly has nothing to do with the speed of the ipad, and rather the limitations of my broadband, and wifi.

Then lets try with the ram, how many times did webpages in a "tab" have to reload because the ipad ran out of memory and cleared that page out of memeory?

If it hasnt got at least 512MB of ram, I am not buying it.

To think that figures are the most relevant thing to producing an upgraded ipad, is like expecting everyone in the world to only want to settle for a V8 Mustang, or nothing less.

I never said figures are the only thing, I said actual speed matters, and loading a webpage ten times as fast(for example) is something you notice.

Please I know the default response is "specs dont matter" but try to read what I am saying before gicing that answer.

The customers aren't going to be walking between machines on display at the shops going 'Oh, which one displays web pages faster than the other'. No, they'll be going 'Which one makes web pages the easiest to read'?

Those same reviews give the xoom a PC like browing experience, in speed as wel in browser itself.

So according to those reviews, the xoom is "the easiest to read".

 

[marksman]

As you all know I am a famous analyst, and I am giving you all of this news first.

Apple is going to blow everyone's mind and not release an iPad 2 at all.

They are skipping and going right to iPad 3. It is going to be that good.

 

[pkson]

Anybody can do what Engadget is doing. That's just ridiculous.

 

[nelmat]

sad part is 512 megs of ram is pretty weak. It should be 1 gig of ram min

Why? What part of iOS could benefit from a gig of ram - which 'power application' needs this? The performance with the current set up is amazing, 512 would be incredible. You obviously think that higher numbers = higher performance.

Hell, the Ipad should have 8gigs of ram a terabyte of hard drive just to push up the price for no particular reason.

Apple are not interested in number, they're interested in performance and price point.

 

[nelmat]

Sure people pick up an ipad, 5seconds to load webpage, people pick up a xoom, 0.5s , wich do you think they will prefer?



I see little you can do with an iOS and not on android .



Review actually, and at the time of the ipad launch there was nothing to compare to, now there is. Apple shouldnt get complacement.




Then lets try with the ram, how many times did webpages in a "tab" have to reload because the ipad ran out of memory and cleared that page out of memeory?

If it hasnt got at least 512MB of ram, I am not buying it.


I never said figures are the only thing, I said actual speed matters, and loading a webpage ten times as fast(for example) is something you notice.

Please I know the default response is "specs dont matter" but try to read what I am saying before gicing that answer.




Those same reviews give the xoom a PC like browing experience, in speed as wel in browser itself.

So according to those reviews, the xoom is "the easiest to read".

You think Apple are complacent?

Have you actually used a xoom? I can tell you there is no perceivable difference when you have the two next door to each other and load a complex web page. 0.5s is simply bull - no page renders at that speed over 3G, you'd need to be on wi-fi with a significant download speed, or be loading a page of plain text. I'll stick with my usable day of battery life and more responsive screen and OS over the xoom.

Nowhere in the reviews does it say the xoom is the easiest to read, stop with your own interpretation to suit your 'argument'. If anything I find the iPad screen brighter, clearer and the more smoothly rendered. Having also compared with the samsung tab, I can tell you that the tab looks, feels and performs like a very, very poor relation.

If the iPad doesn't do what you want, then don't buy it. You seem to be comparing products - neither of which you own and have proper real world experience of. If you don't like something, don't buy it. Why the need to criticise something you don't own, your opinion can only be based on short term use if you think anything you discuss is an issue. For the record, this page on iPad loaded in a little under 2 seconds on wi-fi, and it's a lot easier typing this on the iPad than on the xoom.

And this is before iPad 2.

 

[k995]

You think Apple are complacent?

No I said they shouldnt get it, it was a response to the "just release ipad 1 a 100$ cheaper"

Have you actually used a xoom? I can tell you there is no perceivable difference when you have the two next door to each other and load a complex web page. 0.5s is simply bull - no page renders at that speed over 3G, you'd need to be on wi-fi with a significant download speed, or be loading a page of plain text. I'll stick with my usable day of battery life and more responsive screen and OS over the xoom.

Battery life is just as good on the xoom according to reviews, and there are quit significant differences over wifi yes, I do still think thats where most tablets are used.

Nowhere in the reviews does it say the xoom is the easiest to read, stop with your own interpretation to suit your 'argument'. If anything I find the iPad screen brighter, clearer and the more smoothly rendered. Having also compared with the samsung tab, I can tell you that the tab looks, feels and performs like a very, very poor relation.

"Simply put: the Xoom puts the iPad to shame. The combination of an ultra fast javascript engine with a pair of 1GHz Cortex A9s makes the Xoom feel less like a tablet and more like a PC when browsing the web. Particularly over WiFi the web browsing experience is just awesome. It’s like using a netbook, which in this case isn’t meant as a knock but rather a compliment.

It’s not all about performance though, functionally the Honeycomb Browser is a huge improvement over anything else out there: it supports tabbed browsing. I can’t stress how much better this makes browsing on a tablet. "

So faster and better then "anything else out there" . "puts the iPad to shame" seems pretty clear to me.

If the iPad doesn't do what you want, then don't buy it. You seem to be comparing products - neither of which you own and have proper real world experience of. If you don't like something, don't buy it. Why the need to criticise something you don't own, your opinion can only be based on short term use if you think anything you discuss is an issue. For the record, this page on iPad loaded in a little under 2 seconds on wi-fi, and it's a lot easier typing this on the iPad than on the xoom.

I own an ipad and thinking of getting another one (for kids and wife) , havent used a xoom but have used several other (branded and non branded) android tablets, so I do have an idea what I am talking about.

And this is before iPad 2.

Oh yes, this will no doubt put apple back on top, altough I do hope iOS 5 gets some significant improvements.

 

[nelmat]

I'll definitely pass. The 'retina' display rumoured in the next iPad was the main thing that was motivating my purchase. Looks like I'll have to wait 6-12 months for that though in which case my interest may wane.

You'll wait a lot longer than that. Apart from the fact that a resolution of that density on iPad simply isn't needed (the display is already stunning) do you understand how much power would be needed to drive that, both in terms of graphics and battery?

If that's what stopping you buying an iPad, then you've missed the point and I suggest you go buy something else.

This is a refresh ladies and gentlemen - not a redesign. You don't re-invent the wheel when it's doing just fine. The iPad is a near perfect device, there are more featured devices on the way (or so we keep hearing, but have yet to get our hands on) but they cost 200 - 300 more, and there are smaller devices which cost less and underperform.

Consumers love iPad, it continues to sell as fast as it can be manufactured. What problem do Apple have to overcome exactly?

The major changes will come with iOS 5, which will obviously run on iPad 2 - the form factor is already brilliant, the increase in RAM along with the further performance improvements to iOS will continue to blow the competition away.

 

[nelmat]

No I said they shouldnt get it, it was a response to the "just release ipad 1 a 100$ cheaper"


Battery life is just as good on the xoom according to reviews, and there are quit significant differences over wifi yes, I do still think thats where most tablets are used.




"Simply put: the Xoom puts the iPad to shame. The combination of an ultra fast javascript engine with a pair of 1GHz Cortex A9s makes the Xoom feel less like a tablet and more like a PC when browsing the web. Particularly over WiFi the web browsing experience is just awesome. It’s like using a netbook, which in this case isn’t meant as a knock but rather a compliment.

It’s not all about performance though, functionally the Honeycomb Browser is a huge improvement over anything else out there: it supports tabbed browsing. I can’t stress how much better this makes browsing on a tablet. "

So faster and better then "anything else out there" . "puts the iPad to shame" seems pretty clear to me.




I own an ipad and thinking of getting another one (for kids and wife) , havent used a xoom but have used several other (branded and non branded) android tablets, so I do have an idea what I am talking about.



Oh yes, this will no doubt put apple back on top, altough I do hope iOS 5 gets some significant improvements.

Ignore the reviews - the Xoom does about 6 - 8 hours, I've yet to see it last longer. This is the current problem - reviews in test conditions, and biased reports from 'experts' getting nice bribes from manufacturers - not real world feedback from consumers.

if you own iPad 1 and are thinking of getting more, then what on earth are you complaining about, no one buys a duplicate device unless it's great at it's job.

For the record, most tab switches on the xoom browser result in a complete page reload. iOS panelled/switching is smoother, often quicker and a better/more intuitive use of screen real estate. I've found that having three/four tabs open on the xoom and you can see the battery life draining. The multi tasking implementation is poor, they have a lot to learn from Apple.

Let's not forget here that we're also comparing a vastly more expensive device to the iPad. For the consumer market this is all about infrastructure, price point and brand recognition. That is why the iPad will trounce the xoom in the home market.

Also, just to state again, nowhere in those reviews does it say the xooms display is better quality, or easier/better to read. Your were not talking page loading times, you were talking about quality of screen display - "easier to read".

 

[k995]

Ignore the reviews - the Xoom does about 6 - 8 hours, I've yet to see it last longer. This is the current problem - reviews in test conditions, and biased reports from 'experts' getting nice bribes from manufacturers - not real world feedback from consumers.

And isnt 6 to 8 hours a full days of work? I see al reviews quit consistant so I ahve little doubt into not believing them.

if you own iPad 1 and are thinking of getting more, then what on earth are you complaining about, no one buys a duplicate device unless it's great at it's job.

Did I ever say it wasnt great?

For the record, most tab switches on the xoom browser result in a complete page reload. iOS panelled/switching is smoother, often quicker and a better/more intuitive use of screen real estate. I've found that having three/four tabs open on the xoom and you can see the battery life draining. The multi tasking implementation is poor, they have a lot to learn from Apple.

Strange on all the android tablets I had I didnt notice this. Nobody mentitions this in reviews I have read, in the contrary even it lasts lon,ger surfing over wifi then the ipad, video seems to be its weakpoint for battery.

Let's not forget here that we're also comparing a vastly more expensive device to the iPad. For the consumer market this is all about infrastructure, price point and brand recognition. That is why the iPad will trounce the xoom in the home market.

More expensive? The ipad 32GB 3g is 699, add some $ for adapters wich come standard on the xoom and you have the same price.

And the same arguments where given for the iphone. Its also about avaibility and price.

Also, just to state again, nowhere in those reviews does it say the xooms display is better quality, or easier/better to read. Your were not talking page loading times, you were talking about quality of screen display - "easier to read".

I was talking about surfing, and as you said nobody is goign to put them next to eacht other, so the better screen of the ipad isnt going to get noticed most of the time.

 

[iPhoneCollector]

i can't wait just give us the gesture and i'll be happy

 

[zacman]

So the iPad2 will have almost the same specs like the Playbook which was announced... eh... 5 months ago? But I thought when the iPad2 will be available the Playbook will be outdated when it comes to specs? At least you could read that here...

 

[dethmaShine]

I think iOS 5.0 is going to be previewed just like iOS 4.0 was. On the other hand, iOS 4.3 will be released for the iPad and the iPhone.

I hope Apple decides to tweak the UI of iOS to make it much more elegant and not all that simplistic. Something like a webOS UI would be great. It is possible that Apple goes a different route and get a similar set of UIControls on iOS as on Mac OS X 10.7.

 

[rovex]

a5 chip is news I wanted, but no retina...

I'm not betting on it, but the pic with the dots packed together surely mean something..

 

[henrikrox]

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Haha engaget.... They are just trying to save some dignity after all their false information.

Blaming engineering issues. Lol

 

[dethmaShine]

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Haha engaget.... They are just trying to save some dignity after all their false information.

Blaming engineering issues. Lol

All they want is the trolls commenting on their threads so they could get some ad revenue. Love engadget, but this is what they have been for a very long time.

 

[TH3D4RKKN1GH7]

Engadget breaks a lot of good stuff and their tech coverage is unmatched. Why are engineering issues that hard to believe? Apple had a hard time painting a phone white. It's perfectly possible they weren't going to be able to do things up to Apple standards and dropped it.

 

[SBlue1]

Thats way too modest for the ipad refresh i defiantly expect more in order for it to better compete with the andriod 3 / web os/ rimm tablets.

what android tablets? i never saw one in public.

 

[rovex]

The only good news is that the iPad 3 will be a major revamp - touch bezel controls (no more home button, power and volume), 1 gig of ram, quad core CPU and GPU (like the new psp 2 - ultra powerful) and INEVITABLY a retina display ( if apple don't include this in the 3, they seriously fail.)

 

[camelsnot]

Apple changed the rules dramatically with the iPad. .

I didn't know there were rules to tablet development to begin with. You can smear lipstick on this pig but the iPad 2 is still DOA compared the rest of the lot shipping around the same time or shortly after. Apple is typically behind in hardware and it shows again. iOS5 is probably the only saving grace. New buys may continue to buy the ipad2, however, Apple's repeat business may suffer if all they're offering is a tiny bump as expected. And Apple thrives on repeat business. Fanboys need not buy this non-magical fruit-themed device.

 

[Shivetya]

512MB of RAM is pretty much expected, if kind of disappointing, since going from 256MB to 1GB is a very big jump in terms of fragmentation.

Engineering problems, ie. yield stopping Retina Display introduction makes sense, but what type of engineering problem can prevent the incorporation of a SD slot?

Why add a feature now when you can add it later because you know they will buy it regardless?

The lack of SD slot keeps this thing off my buy list, it is the primary reason for not owning one. I am not paying $29 dollars to get a dongle to do what should have been built in in the first place. (as in, like I need another small item to lose)

 

[rovex]

I didn't know there were rules to tablet development to begin with. You can smear lipstick on this pig but the iPad 2 is still DOA compared the rest of the lot shipping around the same time or shortly after. Apple is typically behind in hardware and it shows again. iOS5 is probably the only saving grace. New buys may continue to buy the ipad2, however, Apple's repeat business may suffer if all they're offering is a tiny bump as expected. And Apple thrives on repeat business. Fanboys need not buy this non-magical fruit-themed device.

That's what I've always held against apple - always behind in technology when they release a new product. I can guarantee you now they could have a retina display on the iPad 2. This "cost" and "manufacturing difficulties" is nonsense. But anyway, apple loyalists will buy anything new apple releases, even if it's just a colour change with no hardware upgrade.

 

[werty1098765]

Nice thinking

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Doesnt anybody else notice that one side has few dots (pixels) while the other side has double the dots?!? I think we will get the retina display still!

I have go to say that is is a very good idea. Very logical, something like that was not done by mistake as the effect is very clear.

 

[iPhoneCollector]

IOS 5 will be released along with the iphone 5 not with the ipad 2