Yep.... Definitely could not go back to the 3 now, 24hours with the Air is enough to make it a "keeper" 
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iPad iPad 3 to iPad Air
- Thread starter Italianblend
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I agree that iOS 7 looks pretty ugly what with all the white and neon colors. However, to say it looks like Android is an insult to Android. The stock Holo interface actually looks quite easy on the eyes and unlike Helvetica Neue, the font used is thick enough so you don't have to squint. No idea about how iOS 7 compares to various manufacturer skins though.
That said, there are quite a number of improvements in iOS 7 so if Apple can fix performance and app compatibility issues, adjust the typesetting to be more readable and get rid of the white and neon (or maybe include a proper dark theme instead of the invert color weirdness), there's a lot to like about iOS 7.
I've owned every iPad except the 4, and used the heck out of every one of them for both entertainment and work. On Saturday I upgraded from my 3rd Gen iPad to the Air. What an upgrade!
Because of the huge jump in processing performance, the Air is like a whole new product category for me. I say this because, for the first time, I don't envy the speed of my PC when doing an intensive task on my iPad. It doesn't matter what I'm doing on the Air - it feels just as responsive as my quad-core desktop PC. Especially web browsing. Previously on the iPad 3, if I was doing intensive web research or trying to plan a vacation (hotel, fight, car, etc.) and was working through multiple tabs at a time, loading complex forms, etc., it got to be a real drag on the iPad. It just wasn't fast enough, and I like to move quickly on the computer. I'd usually give up and go to my desktop. Which was a bummer.
But now with the Air, I'm finding lots of reasons not to touch my PC. It's great. I can't believe how quick it is to jump around this forum, for example. It's nearly instant.
Yes I do see the slight animation stuttering in iOS, but I'm sure this is a software issue. It can't possibly be the CPU, because the CPU flies through everything else.
Plus, the Air is lighter, nicer looking, easier to hold, lasts longer on a charge, charges MUCH faster, runs cool, has louder speakers, you name it. It's just a whole new level.
Because of the huge jump in processing performance, the Air is like a whole new product category for me. I say this because, for the first time, I don't envy the speed of my PC when doing an intensive task on my iPad. It doesn't matter what I'm doing on the Air - it feels just as responsive as my quad-core desktop PC. Especially web browsing. Previously on the iPad 3, if I was doing intensive web research or trying to plan a vacation (hotel, fight, car, etc.) and was working through multiple tabs at a time, loading complex forms, etc., it got to be a real drag on the iPad. It just wasn't fast enough, and I like to move quickly on the computer. I'd usually give up and go to my desktop. Which was a bummer.
But now with the Air, I'm finding lots of reasons not to touch my PC. It's great. I can't believe how quick it is to jump around this forum, for example. It's nearly instant.
Yes I do see the slight animation stuttering in iOS, but I'm sure this is a software issue. It can't possibly be the CPU, because the CPU flies through everything else.
Plus, the Air is lighter, nicer looking, easier to hold, lasts longer on a charge, charges MUCH faster, runs cool, has louder speakers, you name it. It's just a whole new level.
I am coming over from the iPad 3 and you nailed it. It might just be me but the screen also looks better. The thinner glass has the display just right at my fingertips and it has more pop to me.
I know what you mean and I am surprised more reviews didn't pick up on this aspect. The screen looks much crisper and just floats beneath your fingers. This alone makes it feel like a whole new device. The other weird thing is that the screen now looks bigger because of the smaller bezel. In know it is just an optical illusion but it is a really nice effect.
You're right about the screen. I noticed that too. I put my iPad 3 right next to my Air the other day and did see a difference.
Things like brightness, color saturation, and clarity were not any different.
But, reflections are reduced, and the lighting was much more even across the display on the Air. The reading experience is definitely improved.
It's more like iOS 7 can't handle itself. Animation aside, the new multitasking interface clearly has a lot of bugs. Most of the crashes (yes now iOS crashes quite a lot on my iPhone 5s and iPad Air) happened when I switch apps. I did some crude test and found that it's most likely to happen when you go to the multitasking interface and switch to an app that has not been updated for the iOS 7 interface. I'd expect Apple to issue a bug fix in the coming weeks.
I think the display is noticeably better then the 3.
The screen? Not so much.
With the 3, I barely felt like I was touching glass, the fingers would glide effortlessly over the screen.
With the air, along with the issues I mentioned with the Bamboo stylus, it feels (less slick?)
Sometimes my fingers will just hit the brakes out of nowhere.
It also feels different to the touch.
Trust me, if that means much more battery life, less heat, and better display, I am more then happy with it.
I would just give the iPad 3 the edge on "screen feel".
The screen? Not so much.
With the 3, I barely felt like I was touching glass, the fingers would glide effortlessly over the screen.
With the air, along with the issues I mentioned with the Bamboo stylus, it feels (less slick?)
Sometimes my fingers will just hit the brakes out of nowhere.
It also feels different to the touch.
Trust me, if that means much more battery life, less heat, and better display, I am more then happy with it.
I would just give the iPad 3 the edge on "screen feel".
How does the Air handle animated GIF's?
Sites like this:
http://sploid.gizmodo.com/19-perfectly-looped-gifs-that-go-on-forever-and-ever-1461060951/@barrett
Make my iPad 3 choke balls.
Sites like this:
http://sploid.gizmodo.com/19-perfectly-looped-gifs-that-go-on-forever-and-ever-1461060951/@barrett
Make my iPad 3 choke balls.
I was at the apple store tonight. Saw the ipad air. I have to admit I'm disapointed. There was nothing screaming out at me that I absolutely had to have this device. Maybe it's faster and thinner and all that, but its still just an ipad. It didn't feel so thin and so light that I had to have it.
Now I really don't know what to do.
Now I really don't know what to do.
That site was hard for my macbook to handle
But yeah the iPad 3 was completely incapable.
Works fine on my Air. Takes a few seconds to load the images but then each one animates fine on the main page and you can expand each to view it larger without problems.
I have the 3 and for what I want it to be its fine. Is it better than the iPad two iterations later? Surlly not - is your statement false anyway - most certainly yes.
I would like to bump this thread and ask if there are any screen differences between the 3 and the air. I read some things about the screen quality not being as good. Which is weird.
This thread is making it harder for me to make my iPad 3 upgrade decision. It almost seems like a 50/50 split on whether it is worth it to upgrade from the iPad 3 to the iPad Air. My iPad 3; for the most part, works well. I have started to notice some lag issues on my iPad 3 with the upgrade to iOS 7. It is not the end of the world, but it is starting to be noticeable. I might be willing to upgrade to the Air, but I have seen a few reports that another iPad might be released in the Spring. It seems realistic to me that a fingerprint sensor and more RAM would be introduced. If a Spring release were likely with these upgrades, then I would wait to till then. If it were a year long wait for the next iPad iteration, I would probably upgrade now. Too bad that my Apple crystal ball is not working right now!
Well I would expect a lay person to remember something shown brightly in big font at Apple's widely watched release event; rather than its "official name".
That was my plan too. I'm returning the retina mini today, though. I think I'll hang on to my ipad 3 a while longer.
Why are you returning it? Still love the iPad 3 better than the new mini after all?