iPad 2 With NFC-Equipped Accessories, Carbon Fiber Body? 7-Inch iPad Still Alive?

[MrWillie]

I agree. Apple have a history (albeit limited) on doing U turns.

I never thought I'd see an Apple Netbook, but the 11" MBA came out.

And before I get jumped on...yes it is a netbook, but it is how all netbooks should have been built in the first place:

• A slick operating system that is responsive for start up and shutdown
• SSD for better performance (compensating for slower processor/components)
• Basically designed for its purpose - casual usage

NOT all things from a large laptop shoved into a small form factor, thus reducing battery life.

Remember net books were created to be cheap, to give to people in third world nations. ( Along with an iTunes account). Originally they ran Linux off of a compact flash card. Unnfortunitily elcheapos started buying them, and the race to the bottom went from a jog to a full bore sprint.

MBA is NOT a net book.

A 1 pound iPad is possible, but may not be this time around, I think.

Thinner display will reduce weight.
Carbon fiber back will also reduce weight.
Optimize super-efficient processors can run at lower wattage. Less power hungry means smaller battery, and consequently a lighter battery.

The current iPad weighs in at 1.6 pounds, while the Kindle weighs in at 0.6 pound (both WiFi versions).

It is possible and a big achievement. Weight is an important consideration when you have to hold a device for several hours while reading your favorite novel.

I don't understand the hold it concept. I am laying on the bed, the iPad is on the bed in front of me. I sitting in the chair, iPad is on the arm of the chair. Sitting at a desk or table, iPad is laying down flat. I also from time to time lay on my side, iPad has it's home button downward, landscape mode, one hand at top, scrolling with my thumb..

 

[roocka]

Liquid metal

In case you didn't know. There is only one machine in the world that processes advanced Liquid Metal and it is in Korea. You know why else is in Korea. LG Electronics!

I don't think carbon fiber will happen when Apple has been testing Liquid Metal ever since the 3G iPhone. If I'm right, you can kiss my tip.

 

[doug in albq]

absolutely, positively NO carbon fiber.

Costs much more...
no good recycle...
no real weight savings...

 

[tailgate1234]

Apple - are you listening? - put an end to the rumors and announce the **** thing.

 

[xfiftyfour]

Apple - are you listening? - put an end to the rumors and announce the **** thing.

x2.

 

[G58]

Carbon fiber? I seriously doubt it. Apple's all about the aluminum.

Why not? Carbon fibre would do a lot more than reduce the unit weight, it will give it unrivalled strength. I hoped Apple would use carbon fibre after titanium on the PowerBooks back in 2005 - when I predicted the iPhone. If it can be recycled, I think it's a great idea.

 

[Dr McKay]

My laptop is a mixture of carbon fibre and aluminium, and it looks great, not sure how this would work on an iPad though. I think a black carbon fibre iPad would look great, but then I like my gadgets in black.

 

[fleggy]

Remember net books were created to be cheap, to give to people in third world nations. ( Along with an iTunes account). Originally they ran Linux off of a compact flash card. Unnfortunitily elcheapos started buying them, and the race to the bottom went from a jog to a full bore sprint.

MBA is NOT a net book.

I agree, but I am talking consumer netbooks. In principal, the MBA is just what a netbook should have been. Portable, light and for simple usage with instant on etc. Apple did it right, but I think that is helped massively by OSX.

If it is not a netbook - what is it? The MBA's are certainly not cheap, and I personally think for ~$200 more, I'd prefer more power.

 

[0815]

I know, never say never ... but 7'' iPad or 2 different size iPads: NEVER !

 

[bretm]

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I really think they're missing the boat if the don't make a super portable 3" ipad. At that size, they could even put a phone in it and I'm telling you first, it would sell quite well.

 

[roocka]

Hahahahahahahahaha

Why not? Carbon fibre would do a lot more than reduce the unit weight, it will give it unrivalled strength. I hoped Apple would use carbon fibre after titanium on the PowerBooks back in 2005 - when I predicted the iPhone. If it can be recycled, I think it's a great idea.

Liquidmetal is twice the strength if carbon fiber.

 

[ufkdo]

If Apple really wants to increase iPad's market share, it will be a true move to produce a 7 inch iPad (there may be just one model, 16 GB and very cheap)

But, as far as I know Apple, they won't do a 7 inch tablet.

 

[zenio]

I will be happy to buy a 7" the moment they are released (IF) they are.

Steve was very wrong. After hearing him bash the brains out of that size, I bought one. A Galaxy Tab.

It's perfect for airline travel and easy carrying in my laptop bag which must go everywhere I travel for work. The size is just perfect. Along with my MBP, it doesn't overload my bag.

My full size iPad is the ideal device for home use.

 

[wizard]

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I know, never say never ... but 7'' iPad or 2 different size iPads: NEVER !

Funny I can see a fairly strong market for 3 size of iPADs easy and maybe 4. A sub 7" device and a 12" device would fit the line up nicely. A fourth sub 5" model would work too but that might be called a iPod.

This isn't any different than people needing different screen size in a laptop or desktop. A sub 7" device is far more portable, yet has considerable screen space relative to pocketable devices.

As to all the whining about developers, let's cut to the chase, Apple has documented the need for developers to be aware of resolution multipliers other than 1 & 2 for a couple of years now. If developers can't get their apps to work on future iOS devices they have nobody to blame but themselves. Frankly iOS makes alternative screen support easier than just about any API out there, for the most part you have resolution independence.

As to the back I'd rather see an engineered plastic used. Something like Ultem. As to the whine about scratches, everything scratches, better to come up with a finish that hides the wear and tear.

 

[Fraaaa]

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100503/blast-from-d-past-video-apples-steve-jobs-at-d1-in-2003/

Thanks for this.

 

[neutrino23]

Aluminum back: 138 grams,
Battery: 148 grams,
LCD: 153 grams,
Glass (and frame): 193 grams,
Speaker: 17 grams,
Main board: 21 grams,
Everything else: 27 grams

Very interesting information. What is the source?

I doubt Apple will use carbon fiber on the iPad though I don't doubt they have a prototype or two like this. I'm sure they have hundreds of prototypes with all sorts of materials being tested. The Verizon CEO said there were about 1,000 prototypes of the iPhone for Verizon. There are probably 7" prototypes and 5" prototypes and 11" prototypes and who knows what else. Someone gets a glimpse of one of these and that launches a new rumor thread.

Carbon fiber is too labor intensive for mass produced items. Based on the information shown here it might only save a few grams. I don't know the exact alloy Apple uses in the iPad, possibly they could shave off some weight by going to a differently engineered Al alloy. By controlling crystal size and orientation they might engineer a material that will be stronger and lighter and manufacturable and cost effective.

Liquid metal is too heavy to use as a shell (IMHO). I think they would cast it or inject it to form a complex shape that was strong and durable and that would not require further machining or polishing. Probably some internal parts. That could save some manufacturing steps and maybe create a shape that was difficult to machine.

 

[Fraaaa]

I agree, but I am talking consumer netbooks. In principal, the MBA is just what a netbook should have been. Portable, light and for simple usage with instant on etc. Apple did it right, but I think that is helped massively by OSX.

If it is not a netbook - what is it? The MBA's are certainly not cheap, and I personally think for ~$200 more, I'd prefer more power.

Has been categorized as ultraportable.

The difference lies that a netbook is a media player/internet surfing device of low performance for a low price; an unltraportable is a premium and more powerful machine -compared to a netbook- that is reduced in a weight/format factor for a casual using.

As someone said, 'Netbooks are cheap laptops.' Ultraportable aren't.

On that note, as I said another time, this are just categories to identify a market, boudaries in technology are getting really thin.

 

[karsten]

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I really think they're missing the boat if the don't make a super portable 3" ipad. At that size, they could even put a phone in it and I'm telling you first, it would sell quite well.

i rofld thanks they could make one that size that plays music too just think!

 

[Fraaaa]

anybody who pooh poohs carbon fiber doesn't really know about it.

it's stronger than steel and for sure stronger than aluminum
it's lighter than aluminum
it has better electrical conductivity than copper
it is good enough 'beauty wise' to be used on bmws and boeing dream jets
there are more plusses but for me the best part is,

my carbon fiber stock went up over 20% today

Yes but that is not the argument people are on.

No one denies how good carbon fibre is, just Apple have a different strategy for their products. They shift to alluminium for getting points for their green list, as alluminium is fairly cheap, good for the enviroment, easy to shape and yet sturdy. I don't think carbon fibre gets point for recycling. And also they recently invested in liquid metal technology(that everyone is expecting on adopting), so what is the point on shifting to carbon fibre? Is it any cheaper than aluminium? Is it easier to recycle? Is it easier to adopt in mass production?

 

[Fraaaa]

Very interesting information. What is the source?

I doubt Apple will use carbon fiber on the iPad though I don't doubt they have a prototype or two like this. I'm sure they have hundreds of prototypes with all sorts of materials being tested. The Verizon CEO said there were about 1,000 prototypes of the iPhone for Verizon. There are probably 7" prototypes and 5" prototypes and 11" prototypes and who knows what else. Someone gets a glimpse of one of these and that launches a new rumor thread.

Carbon fiber is too labor intensive for mass produced items. Based on the information shown here it might only save a few grams. I don't know the exact alloy Apple uses in the iPad, possibly they could shave off some weight by going to a differently engineered Al alloy. By controlling crystal size and orientation they might engineer a material that will be stronger and lighter and manufacturable and cost effective.

Liquid metal is too heavy to use as a shell (IMHO). I think they would cast it or inject it to form a complex shape that was strong and durable and that would not require further machining or polishing. Probably some internal parts. That could save some manufacturing steps and maybe create a shape that was difficult to machine.

Wasn't one of the property of Liquid metal that is 2 to 3 times better than steel, yet lighter than aluminium?

 

[fertilized-egg]

MBA is NOT a net book.

Exactly. People just don't remember the word "ultrathin" There were a ton of those underpowered but stylish svelte machines made well before the MBA showed up. Yet people just want to cling to the word "Netbook" and want to prove Jobs backtracked.

 

[SkippyThorson]

You know what I could see - that darker banner Apple's made. They didn't change the color for nothing.

Notice how white is no longer Apple's iconic color? Shades of grey are. Carbon Fiber fits in that category.

I can see some, if not most, (even if not all) of Apple's white plastic products moving to Carbon Fiber.

 

[Fraaaa]

You know what I could see - that darker banner Apple's made. They didn't change the color for nothing.

Notice how white is no longer Apple's iconic color? Shades of grey are. Carbon Fiber fits in that category.

I can see some, if not most, (even if not all) of Apple's white plastic products moving to Carbon Fiber.

I found this regarding aluminium/carbon fibre:

Some more aspect you need to take into consideration:
thermal resistance: carbon fibre does degrade quicker as temperature gets hotter.

Water absorption: unless it's a really top quality carbon with good sealant resin, CF will absorb water and degrade in performance.
Contamination by chemicals: see below.

Oxidation: carbon fibre oxidise and looses strength as it oxidise. The oxidation level is quite low at room temperature but increases with temperature and also chemical contaminant

Durability. as seen above CF will not have durability in time as you have with Aluminium. So be mindful as your product will not be as good in 10 years with CF as it is in Aluminium.

Also failure mode with CF is much more difficult to predict, analyse and failure are not a controlled as Aluminium. CF will shatter when crack initiate from a minimal defect or chip.

 

[Yamcha]

I think the carbon fiber is a bad idea, it won't look so great.. Apple needs to use another way to reduce the weight... I do think the weight is an issue, at least thats what I've heard from nearly every review.. for long term use it puts strain on your hands

 

[SkippyThorson]

I found this regarding aluminium/carbon fibre:

Some more aspect you need to take into consideration:
thermal resistance: carbon fibre does degrade quicker as temperature gets hotter.

Water absorption: unless it's a really top quality carbon with good sealant resin, CF will absorb water and degrade in performance.
Contamination by chemicals: see below.

Oxidation: carbon fibre oxidise and looses strength as it oxidise. The oxidation level is quite low at room temperature but increases with temperature and also chemical contaminant

Durability. as seen above CF will not have durability in time as you have with Aluminium. So be mindful as your product will not be as good in 10 years with CF as it is in Aluminium.

Also failure mode with CF is much more difficult to predict, analyse and failure are not a controlled as Aluminium. CF will shatter when crack initiate from a minimal defect or chip.

Well that certainly blows. I'm sure that there are some coatings that one could apply to help the exterior condition of the Carbon Fiber, but agreeably, I love my aluminum laptop. I do think Apple is moving away from White. Finally, and sadly.

I guess it's not nearly as good and versatile as I thought. Let it stay in Fast & The Furious then.