I hate to say it, but I think you are right. The iPad 3 processor upgrade was minimal and not sufficient for next generation games. A few of my games are slow to load and a bit laggy as well. I think I may have to spring for the iPad 4 which will have a variant of the A6. I think the iPad 3 will be unusable for some applications shortly after the next update.
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Ipad 4 specs already clear?
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I hate to say it, but I think you are right. The iPad 3 processor upgrade was minimal and not sufficient for next generation games. A few of my games are slow to load and a bit laggy as well. I think I may have to spring for the iPad 4 which will have a variant of the A6. I think the iPad 3 will be unusable for some applications shortly after the next update.
Although these are nice improvements, they all are irrelevant to current needs, my 3 suits me perfectly fine. I would not feel the need to upgrade.
For me to justify any ipad upgrade they would have to provide something that the current model provide at all...(something thats actually useful by the way).
I subscribe to the Yorkshire Post newspaper. The rendering on my iPad 3 is very slow and everyone who has seen it says they are surprised how bad this miracle product is in reality. So faster graphics and more RAM please.
Real Racing 2 lags in the opening menus because it is receiving data from Game Center and attempting to sign you in. You should notice that when the stutter stops, the bar at the top comes down from Game Center saying "Welcome Back *Username*".
The game itself, mid race or in the menus which follow during races, doesn't lag after that point.
I've never seen the latest Modern Combat lag during games I've played either, so ...
If developers make games at iPad 2 resolution and upscale them it leaves the Quad Core GPU more juice to push frames and effects. Well, in theory that should be the case because it's not pushing the full resolution capable.
I'll happily go on record right now and say that Real Racing 3 will run perfectly well on the latest iPad, for example, along with the upcoming Street Fighter X Tekken, FIFA 13, and excellent looking NFS Most Wanted.
Again, no idea why, but the first two games you mentioned don't lag for me other than the opening menu you mentioned, but that has been explained.
Personally I feel the A5X is a cop out from Apple though. Schiller played a blinder with his little presentation and graphs detailing the graphical difference between the A5 and A5X but its a shame that it looks like it was taken at both running at the iPad 2's native resolution.
Given that in years gone by the latest chip has come to the iPad at the start of the year and then the iPhone later on, it is a bit disappointing that the current iPad didn't get the A6 and seems like nothing more than and iPad 2.1 with Retina Display and the GPU to power it. Especially as its my first iPad and I dropped £649 on the top model.
Edit: just gone and played the opening 5/10 minutes of Fallen Nation and there's no lag/frame rate issues whatsoever.
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Retina Display, CPU & Battery Life
Retina Display
Depending how things go with Sharp and whether they get the specs and production right with their IGZO panel, the panels could possibly make it to the iPad 4.
If it does this will mean iPad 4 will be thinner than iPad 2, use less power than iPad 3 and produce less heat than iPad 3. The display quality I believe will be much better than the current iPhone 5 display (made by Japan Display or LG Display). However as per the following article it appears Sharp have got the IGZO screens ready for the next batch of iPhone 5's. A good sign for the upcoming iPad 4.
http://www.webpronews.com/iphone-5-screens-finally-being-shipped-by-sharp-2012-09
CPU
The iPad2,4 model, released in 2012, features the smaller 32nm CPU which gives the battery roughly 11.7+ hrs life. My guess is that Apple will include the smaller CPU on the iPad 4 and most likely on all future iPads.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5789/the-ipad-24-review-32nm-a5-tested
Battery Life
So with an IGZO display that uses less power and CPU that uses less power, I'm guessing that the battery life on the iPad 4 could possibly exceed the 11.7hrs currently claimed for iPad2,4. This will be a big selling point for Apple.
On a personal note, my iPad2,4 has provided me with much longer battery life, closer to 18 hrs for general usage such as surfing the web and using non graphics intensive apps (videos/games). iPad 4 may possibly see that move up slightly to near 20hrs life. But I guess its really all subjective to how an individual uses their iPad.
So there is very much of a possibility that in 2013 we could see a thinner, lighter, cooler, brighter, longer lasting iPad4.
Retina Display
Depending how things go with Sharp and whether they get the specs and production right with their IGZO panel, the panels could possibly make it to the iPad 4.
If it does this will mean iPad 4 will be thinner than iPad 2, use less power than iPad 3 and produce less heat than iPad 3. The display quality I believe will be much better than the current iPhone 5 display (made by Japan Display or LG Display). However as per the following article it appears Sharp have got the IGZO screens ready for the next batch of iPhone 5's. A good sign for the upcoming iPad 4.
http://www.webpronews.com/iphone-5-screens-finally-being-shipped-by-sharp-2012-09
CPU
The iPad2,4 model, released in 2012, features the smaller 32nm CPU which gives the battery roughly 11.7+ hrs life. My guess is that Apple will include the smaller CPU on the iPad 4 and most likely on all future iPads.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5789/the-ipad-24-review-32nm-a5-tested
Battery Life
So with an IGZO display that uses less power and CPU that uses less power, I'm guessing that the battery life on the iPad 4 could possibly exceed the 11.7hrs currently claimed for iPad2,4. This will be a big selling point for Apple.
On a personal note, my iPad2,4 has provided me with much longer battery life, closer to 18 hrs for general usage such as surfing the web and using non graphics intensive apps (videos/games). iPad 4 may possibly see that move up slightly to near 20hrs life. But I guess its really all subjective to how an individual uses their iPad.
So there is very much of a possibility that in 2013 we could see a thinner, lighter, cooler, brighter, longer lasting iPad4.
I don't experience lag on my iPad 3 with mc3 or RR2 either
Looking forward to RR3 and SFxT
Aside from thinner and lighter, it'll probably have a gpu that is a lot more capable of running games at full res.
It'll need to do something pretty radical for me to be interested though, lack of retina was my only beef with previous iPads, and reading constitutes 90% of what I do on it. I game a little, but not enough that I'd *have* to own the next iPad for a better gpu, especially considering most of the games I do play tend to be 2D and already run flawlessly at max res. 3D stuff that really pushes it I tend to avoid 'cos touchscreen controls suck donkey balls in most cases.
It'll need to do something pretty radical for me to be interested though, lack of retina was my only beef with previous iPads, and reading constitutes 90% of what I do on it. I game a little, but not enough that I'd *have* to own the next iPad for a better gpu, especially considering most of the games I do play tend to be 2D and already run flawlessly at max res. 3D stuff that really pushes it I tend to avoid 'cos touchscreen controls suck donkey balls in most cases.
Ipad specs already clear?
I really want more storage. 64GB is frankly very small, and I'm surprised there hasn't been an outcry over the lame storage. 64GB wouldn't come close to handling my music library, photos, etc.
More storage is a must, Apple! Please give us at least 80GB, and preferable 128GB!
This would also be a great way for Apple to differentiate its products better, because with the coming iPad Mini and the high-end iPod Touches and iPhone 5s, the high-end is getting muddied with 64Giggers
Here's my wish list:
More storage (80GB or 128GB)
Better speakers
Higher resolution
Less heat
Faster processor
NFC!!!
Better cameras
Thunderbolt
Longer battery life
Thanks, Apple!
I really want more storage. 64GB is frankly very small, and I'm surprised there hasn't been an outcry over the lame storage. 64GB wouldn't come close to handling my music library, photos, etc.
More storage is a must, Apple! Please give us at least 80GB, and preferable 128GB!
This would also be a great way for Apple to differentiate its products better, because with the coming iPad Mini and the high-end iPod Touches and iPhone 5s, the high-end is getting muddied with 64Giggers
Here's my wish list:
More storage (80GB or 128GB)
Better speakers
Higher resolution
Less heat
Faster processor
NFC!!!
Better cameras
Thunderbolt
Longer battery life
Thanks, Apple!
?!
I've always been a high res junkie, but until there's a plethora of 4K content available - years away - upping the current res on a 9.7" screen would surely be a bad move on grounds of battery life, gpu, heat etc. for little reward.
Yeah, okay, if more heat and a shorter battery life is the trade-off, then I'd be happy with the current resolution. After all, we're getting spoiled by having EVERYTHING upgraded with every revision.
I'm with you otherwise
More storage and better speakers (along with obvious cpu/gpu/ram improvements) would be my chief wishes, although as I said above, it'd need something radically new for be to be interested in the next one.
I'm with ya as far as upgrading...BUT, with the initial speeds and speculation on the A6 performance (Geekbench post), I'm pretty excited to see what Apple does with that power next year in the New, NEW iPad
Lol...Seriously? Obsolete faster than the '2'? Not sure who you're trying to convince here, but the new iPad is a massive upgrade with the Retina Display alone justifying it's purchase. The double up of RAM compared with the 2nd generation also allows better performance. I had actually quoted your next post on the specific games and your perceived flaws (running them on iPad 2 vs the new iPad) but WeegieMac did an excellent job in response. I, too, have an extensive library of games (both 2 and 3d) and have NONE of the issues you've described. Not sure the day you owned it gave it a fair shake, whether or not you had a bad unit...or even whether you've actually tried an iPad '3' at all! All apps had to be updated for the Retina display---and I was genuinely surprised how fast MOST companies did these updates.
Initially, the magazine apps were horrendous. Took a good 3-5 seconds to 'focus'. With the updates over the past 6 months, I've found nothing--not a single app 'laggy' on the new iPad. I would assume this is primarily because developers actually use the one and only iPad we're discussing to develop their games. While the processor is the same between 2 and new, there were never really any complaints about the perceived 'speed' of the iPad 2. Lack of RAM and resolution though---both addressed in the new iPad were surely welcome upgrades.
Again---All of the game you mentioned, my son and I both own. We've got one of each iPad in the house. The first gen, a second and the new one. We play on both all the time.
Just, not, true! The a5x is a screaming graphics design. If anything, the developers aren't even using all of it's muscle yet. And again, you're wrong about the obsolescence of the older unit. Sorry---but most of us use the iPad for other tasks than just gaming. When it comes to reading, it's second to none. Whether it be a mag, book, internet, email of Facebook---the clarity is astounding. This coming from a 41 year old that typically needs reading glasses.
Rant aside,
I think we can expect most of what has been addressed. The A6(x) is already double the speed if the GeekBench scores hold true. I, too, would love to see 128GB of storage. I can't count on the cloud all the time
As well---AT&T just flipped the switch to LTE two weeks ago in Anchorage Alaska. WOW!!!! The speed of my iPad is un-REAL!!!! I was able to consistently grab 30-40mb/s down yesterday while eating lunch---25-30mb/s up. Faster than the highest priced cable modem package our monopoly in town offers
To me---with the Retina, RAM and LTE package offered in the new iPad, the iPad 2 in our family is no longer something I use. It's my son's now. He's got excellent eyes at 7
J
I think it will be a relatively minor upgrade since this year was the major one.
I expect it will still be the new A5 reduced power SOC with the extra GPU cores, but a new A6 quad core is a wild card and might just happen since the iPads have tended to show off the new processors.
This will allow them to run cooler and have better battery life.
I'm expecting a move to the new connector too and I won't like that as I have several devices that connect with the old. Yes I know there will be an adapter but from what I can see it will not be a solid support and looks to stick out even more.
It is possible that they will move to the new thinner screen but I think the production process may not be ready to move to that large a screen in quantity for next year.
Probably better version iSight cameras too.
I'm thinking I will get the new Touch now and sit out the iPad update this Spring
I expect it will still be the new A5 reduced power SOC with the extra GPU cores, but a new A6 quad core is a wild card and might just happen since the iPads have tended to show off the new processors.
This will allow them to run cooler and have better battery life.
I'm expecting a move to the new connector too and I won't like that as I have several devices that connect with the old. Yes I know there will be an adapter but from what I can see it will not be a solid support and looks to stick out even more.
It is possible that they will move to the new thinner screen but I think the production process may not be ready to move to that large a screen in quantity for next year.
Probably better version iSight cameras too.
I'm thinking I will get the new Touch now and sit out the iPad update this Spring
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yup- the obvious:
thinner, lighter and a little bit faster.
My v3 doesn't really get hot- not sure why so many complain about this.
IMO- if a mini actually gets released any future full size iPad is going to go the way of the recently discontinued MBP 17inch.
You'll marvel at it in the Apple store- but most will go home with a smaller version.
thinner, lighter and a little bit faster.
My v3 doesn't really get hot- not sure why so many complain about this.
IMO- if a mini actually gets released any future full size iPad is going to go the way of the recently discontinued MBP 17inch.
You'll marvel at it in the Apple store- but most will go home with a smaller version.