iPad Momentum Falls Flat as Tablet Market Experiences First Year-Over-Year Decline

[Narcaz]

You can make it much simpler: connect the iPad to a projector with an adapter. No need for an Apple TV. I do this often.

It is not a good solution for everyone. The old Dock/HDMI adapter (for the iPad 3) had better quality with full 1080p support. The Lightning Digital AV adapter delivers only 1600x900, lags sometimes and has MPEG artifacts while playing a video. So it is not really better than an Apple TV.

Safari is the worse among all the browsers for iPad. I use Mercury, that has a download option, and a lot other useful small little things.

I use iCab mobile for that reason. But you can't change the default browser. And some third-party browser like Chrome don't use the faster Nitro Java Script engine.

 

[a0me]

Live sports and television shows is been popular lately. I have NBA League Pass when the game is on commercial break, you can switch between any app without re-opening the again. The possibilities is endless and some people like that feature.

Sports and TV shows I can understand.

 

[thekeyring]

Nothing wrong with making a mistake, but this is hardly comparative to the 11". The screen shows the same amount of content as the 13".

I know, which is why I followed that sentence with "No competition. The Surface is lighter".

 

[Zendokan]

It's not iPad or iOS!

The device is a good mixture of quality and capability and still the standard to achieve by competitors in the tablet market.

The operating system does what an operating system needs to do, namely being a software layer between the hardware and apps. There are still some small quirks of stability and speed that have to be addressed, but Apple is coming there.

The new functionality has to be delivered in the "software for iOS" apps category and that is more a the third party problem than an Apple Inc problem.
Where is
Apple Xcode for iOS?
Microsoft Visual Studio and SQL Server for iOS?
Oracle database suite and financial applications?
LibreOffice for iOS?
CRM, ERP systems for iOS?
Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Audition...for iOS?
and hundreds of other software that can be ported to a touch UI?

There is where the limiting factor for iPads is and not in the iPad itself!

So long other companies don't create new iOS apps, that can replace or in worst case scenario become an extension of desktop software, the iPad functionality will stay limited. This means that because of those limitations, it isn't needed to update the hardware every two years.

Apple Inc has ported most of their software (iLife, iWork, FileMaker) to iOS, yet I would like to see them also port Xcode.

I'm not interested about running OSX on an iPad. OSX is graphical designed for mouse/pointer interaction, not touch interaction.

 

[peterdevries]

Where is

CRM, ERP systems for iOS?

Just an example, but Salesforce.com, SAP and Oracle all have apps for their services.

I think the "issue" is not that the iPad is not suitable for what it was intended. It was positioned by Apple as an in-between product between a laptop and a smartphone, and it is exactly and precisely that. This is also supported by the app portfolio available for the iPad.

I think the real "issue" is that the demand and market have slightly shifted. The iPad has paved the way for tablets and proven that it is a useful device. The market now wants additional functionality that goes beyond the current one. Nothing wrong with that, but that doesn't mean the iPad needs to change. It could be time for an additional product to cater for that demand => iPad Pro.

In addition many people still expect a tablet to cater to the same use-cases as a laptop. I don't agree with that view. All attemps at merging the two concepts have come up short. Two examples that I have personal experience with:

• The Surface Pro. Well built device but elememts of the desktop OS are difficult to control with touch. The keyboard is not suitable and responsive enough for long writing sessions.
• Lenovo touchscreen / convertible laptops. My company is implementing them as the standard consultant laptop. They have the same issues with touch control of the desktop OS. E.g. Internet Explorer has issues itself with touch control, freezing in certain javascript operations. The device is also too heavy to support long term handheld computing.

 

[Mattsasa]

What are you trying to accomplish here? iPads have their strengths, but Webbrowsing isn't one of them. Safari is missing basic features like a download option. And there are still a lot of websites that are barely usable on an iPad. It's not Apples fault, but they don't offer any solution. If something doesn't work, you have to live with it, hope for an app or use another device. The lack of browser extensions like Adblock, Ghostery etc. makes it even worse. I love this fullscreen layer adds with a small x, which cannot be blocked.

Every iPad (except Air 2) has a problem with tab reloading. This problem is not existent with a Windows machine. Why do you want to compare the raw processor power with a synthetic benchmark? Atom Tablets and iPads don't play in the same price league. The A8X has certainly enough power and is maybe even faster. But this is irrelevant for the user experience, which suffers from artificial software limitations and bugs.

Hmm, I guess I am saying that web browsing is a strength of the iPad. you make a very good point that certain web browsing features are very poor or non existent on iPad. I do not disagree that when you need these features the iPad will be very lacking.

However, I feel that the iPad will load and navigate webpages more smoothly and quickly than the atom laptop, making it a better user experience when you don't need many tabs or other features. Which often times a consumer will not be needing these. And I believe this to be true even if the iPad had less raw cpu/gpu power than the atom. And in this case the iPad has more, therefore I believe the iPad in certain situations will be significantly faster and better user experience for simple web browsing and other simple tasks.

As I type this out, I am realizing I am arguing something silly, that iPad has its strengths in some areas.

 

[Zendokan]

Just an example, but Salesforce.com, SAP and Oracle all have apps for their services.

I think the "issue" is not that the iPad is not suitable for what it was intended. It was positioned by Apple as an in-between product between a laptop and a smartphone, and it is exactly and precisely that. This is also supported by the app portfolio available for the iPad.

I think the real "issue" is that the demand and market have slightly shifted. The iPad has paved the way for tablets and proven that it is a useful device. The market now wants additional functionality that goes beyond the current one. Nothing wrong with that, but that doesn't mean the iPad needs to change. It could be time for an additional product to cater for that demand => iPad Pro.

In addition many people still expect a tablet to cater to the same use-cases as a laptop. I don't agree with that view. All attemps at merging the two concepts have come up short. Two examples that I have personal experience with:

• The Surface Pro. Well built device but elememts of the desktop OS are difficult to control with touch. The keyboard is not suitable and responsive enough for long writing sessions.
• Lenovo touchscreen / convertible laptops. My company is implementing them as the standard consultant laptop. They have the same issues with touch control of the desktop OS. E.g. Internet Explorer has issues itself with touch control, freezing in certain javascript operations. The device is also too heavy to support long term handheld computing.

Different wording, but same view of matters.

It's not the iPad and iOS, it's adding more "professional software" and promoting them that will make the difference.
A new section in the Appstore would be a good start, followed by campaigning to the business specific market.

Adding an iPad Pro to the iPad family wouldn't hurt, but it wouldn't be a market accelerator unless it has an exclusive feature.
The only thing that comes to mind would be splitscreen/multitasking, but making that exclusive to the iPad Pro would be a very bad decision of Apple because everyone with an iPad 3/4 and iPad Air 1/2 would feel cheated.

This makes that splitscreen/multitasking needs to become an iOS 9 feature instead of an iOS 8 feature. The iPad 2 (with 512 Mb RAM) will probably not be supported by iOS 9.
That means that splitscreen/multitasking would need to run on minimum 1 Gb RAM to support the iPad 3/4 and Air 1, which could mean that an iPad Pro wouldn't have to need more than 2 Gb internal RAM.
So hardware wise the iPad Pro could be quit similar to the upcoming iPad Air 3.
I'm taking into account here that a 9"7 screen isn't a lot smaller than a 12"2 that it would hinder splitscreen usage.

I'm curious to the next iPad introduction to see how Apple Inc tackled this problem.

 

[2IS]

It's not iPad or iOS!

The device is a good mixture of quality and capability and still the standard to achieve by competitors in the tablet market.

The operating system does what an operating system needs to do, namely being a software layer between the hardware and apps. There are still some small quirks of stability and speed that have to be addressed, but Apple is coming there.

The new functionality has to be delivered in the "software for iOS" apps category and that is more a the third party problem than an Apple Inc problem.
Where is
Apple Xcode for iOS?
Microsoft Visual Studio and SQL Server for iOS?
Oracle database suite and financial applications?
LibreOffice for iOS?
CRM, ERP systems for iOS?
Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Audition...for iOS?
and hundreds of other software that can be ported to a touch UI?

There is where the limiting factor for iPads is and not in the iPad itself!

So long other companies don't create new iOS apps, that can replace or in worst case scenario become an extension of desktop software, the iPad functionality will stay limited. This means that because of those limitations, it isn't needed to update the hardware every two years.

Apple Inc has ported most of their software (iLife, iWork, FileMaker) to iOS, yet I would like to see them also port Xcode.

I'm not interested about running OSX on an iPad. OSX is graphical designed for mouse/pointer interaction, not touch interaction.

Not really. There's only so much software can do with the restrictions placed on them via Apple and the OS. It's simply to restrictive and too simplistic to be as productive as it potentially could be. No software is going to allow for something like split screen multi tasking without the OS supporting it. No software is going to be able to give you different user profiles without the OS supporting it. The OS is responsible for a whole lot more than you're giving it credit for.

 

[manu chao]

Wrong, and please show me where to buy a 9.7" iPhone

We have 7" tablets and 7" phones.

 

[Narcaz]

Hmm, I guess I am saying that web browsing is a strength of the iPad. you make a very good point that certain web browsing features are very poor or non existent on iPad. I do not disagree that when you need these features the iPad will be very lacking.

However, I feel that the iPad will load and navigate webpages more smoothly and quickly than the atom laptop, making it a better user experience when you don't need many tabs or other features. Which often times a consumer will not be needing these. And I believe this to be true even if the iPad had less raw cpu/gpu power than the atom. And in this case the iPad has more, therefore I believe the iPad in certain situations will be significantly faster and better user experience for simple web browsing and other simple tasks.

As I type this out, I am realizing I am arguing something silly, that iPad has its strengths in some areas.

Your statement was true around 2011/2012. Apple killed the netbook market with the slow and very bad atom processors. But I have the strong feeling that you haven't tested any of the latest android/windows tablets. Competition really caught up and surpassed Apple in the Webbrowsing area. If you look at the upcoming fanless tablets with Intel Core M, they give Webbrowsing on the iPad a hard time: Full X86 compatibly, browser extensions, easy to use tablet mode, faster in many benchmarks and most of them are cheaper than the iPad Air 2. I am not saying that iPads are bad in general. I liked my mini 2 a lot (with iOS 7.1), but right now webbrowsing is way better on other platforms. Apple could easily change this situation by dropping some of the software/browser restrictions.

 

[Zendokan]

Not really. There's only so much software can do with the restrictions placed on them via Apple and the OS. It's simply to restrictive and too simplistic to be as productive as it potentially could be. No software is going to allow for something like split screen multi tasking without the OS supporting it. No software is going to be able to give you different user profiles without the OS supporting it. The OS is responsible for a whole lot more than you're giving it credit for.

I do know what an OS can do since I myself am a software test engineer.

The point that I was making in my two previous posts is that the catalyst will be more and more specialized professional software for iOS, instead of drastically changing the hardware or even the iOS.

Splt screen/multi tasking will be a feature of the operating system, consisting with each screen running 1 specific thread of 1 specific app simultaneously. This would make split screen running two different apps side by side instead of running 1 app in several different threads over two screens.
The first way of parallel usage of different apps wouldn't need to do an complete overhaul of the source code from iOS 8 to iOS 9, which would guarantee a more stable and faster developed version of the operating system. Still a lot of work.

Different user profiles, concerning end users aren't a necessity in the professional world, unless you are talking about an administrator account for helpdesk. Automated external data back-up is more important.

Different user profiles for home usage is against the business model of Apple Inc. If you can create several users on one iPad, why would you buy then two? Apple Inc isn't going to shoot themselfs in the foot sales wise.

 

[tdale]

Tablet users simply do not upgrade every three hours like phone people do. That's a huge reason why tablet sales are flat. I went from an iPad 2 to the Air which means I skipped two generations of product before updating. Probably wait that long or longer or longer next time. Why? Because I can. I'm not on sone obnoxious cell phone contract. Since the ipad is much less visible to others than a phone I have no need for always having the latest and greatest to show off. Ipads just keep working..... And that's that.

This proves that the iPad IS more like a real computer or laptop since updates are fewer and more far between. It's a consumption device mainly but I get quite a bit "done" on mine too.

Why does Apple care anyways? Didn't they just post earnings of like eleventy trillion billon or whatever?

100% correct

 

[akbarali.ch]

Your entire argument is based around a single usage case - the inability to share files in the traditional way. In 4 years of using iPads I can't think of a single time this was a meaningful concern for me...

Whats a computer with no ability to share files, thats one main reason why my company VP got a samsung tablet for his daughter rather than iPad, to use for school project work, where as he uses iPhone and recommends iPhone to others.

As i said, as a toy you can use it to its fullest. I may be wrong calling that feature as main reason for its slow down, there are so many factors, but i at least i know 2 guys who other than price, second reason was sharing. I mean look at the email app, can't even attach a file to it, just your photos and videos as i said, toy.

 

[tdale]

The iPad just feels like so much missed potential. Apple has positioned the iPad as a fancy simple toy that will appeal to those already used to an iphone. I say this as the happy owner of an iPad but the base OS really is just an iPhone OS blown up despite the awesome apps that developers have made to take advantage of the bigger screen.

If Apple positioned their product like this they can't be surprised when their target market (the average consumer who doesn't really want to deal with a real computer) feels no need to upgrade and/or is satisfied with a cheaper product.

This applies to all tablets, read the thread.

Large phones are good enough for people who want to do very basic consumption tasks. This is the iPad market, but it works better on a bigger screen I'd love to see Apple reposition the iPad (and not just the Pro) into a more professional device that can basically replace paper, and work properly as a laptop replacement when needed (but still be a comfortable ergonomic tablet when a keyboard is not needed). This target audience may be smaller than the average consumer but they'll be better and more reliable customers.

Get an MBA 11.

 

[akbarali.ch]

All those scenarios will be solved once people start keeping their documents in the cloud, or perhaps on a secure corporate cloud, instead of wasting bandwidth and storage copying stuff between devices whether needed off-line or not. The power apps can all run in the cloud as well unless high-interactivity (gaming, 3D modeling, etc.) is needed.

Thus the biggest competition for tablets won't be laptops, but something more like chromebooks, which have already beaten out iPads in some school districts already due to ease of IT maintenance. Laptops are just walking corporate security leaks waiting to happen.

Yes, its opening up and the iCloud also looks good, but the progress is very slow. I know people will embrace chrome book more, its cheap, it will hackable/hookable to so many peripherals and basically its your device under your command. I don't like the openness of Android at all by the way, i prefer iOS anytime! but bit more relaxed will be a good thing.

 

[BSben]

I am still using the 1st generation iPad with retina display, and the only reason I haven't upgraded yet is that it is still a very good machine. Battery life is still great, the display is good and all my Apps are running very speedy with no problems. In the short term these high quality tablets could be bad for Apple, but in the long term this is a good thing. I have seen many people buying other tablets, and they quite often get a new one pretty fast, for reasons like battery, the thing getting slow etc.
I love the new thinner design, Touch ID, better camera, new screen etc, but at the moment have no excuse to upgrade. So when people ask I will always recommend an iPad.
The other problem seems to be that a lot of people still don't see tablets as an alternative to a laptop yet ( and they are probably right, except for the MS Surface). I see the tablet market still evolving, not dying.

 

[tdale]

I am still using the 1st generation iPad with retina display, and the only reason I haven't upgraded yet is that it is still a very good machine. Battery life is still great, the display is good and all my Apps are running very speedy with no problems. In the short term these high quality tablets could be bad for Apple, but in the long term this is a good thing. I have seen many people buying other tablets, and they quite often get a new one pretty fast, for reasons like battery, the thing getting slow etc.
I love the new thinner design, Touch ID, better camera, new screen etc, but at the moment have no excuse to upgrade. So when people ask I will always recommend an iPad.
The other problem seems to be that a lot of people still don't see tablets as an alternative to a laptop yet ( and they are probably right, except for the MS Surface). I see the tablet market still evolving, not dying.

Agree. TBH if I wanted a tablet to do more productive stuff, the MBA 11 is close to an iPads portability, and does it all.

 

[zhenya]

Whats a computer with no ability to share files, thats one main reason why my company VP got a samsung tablet for his daughter rather than iPad, to use for school project work, where as he uses iPhone and recommends iPhone to others.

As i said, as a toy you can use it to its fullest. I may be wrong calling that feature as main reason for its slow down, there are so many factors, but i at least i know 2 guys who other than price, second reason was sharing. I mean look at the email app, can't even attach a file to it, just your photos and videos as i said, toy.

The iPad can absolutely share files, just not in the one way that you are fussing about. Sure, that's going to be a limitation for some people at some times, but the vast majority of iPad users have moved beyond USB as their file sharing mechanism.

 

[luckysob]

I think our next tablet for home will be one of those ~$100 Amazon models. Better configuration/parental control setup for the kids, runs the apps the kids like, and for the pricepoint, I don't care too much if it dies within a couple of years.

 

[Saturn1217]

What kind of functionality is currently missing that makes this not possible?

File management (they are getting close with icloud but we need a 1st party dropbox like solution that is supported in ALL apps but also has a stand alone app).

Full keyboard support (you can't use arrow keys to navigate through iOS so you have to switch back and forth between the keyboard and touch screen).

Multitasking. Some limited split screen ability that note taking apps etc can support would be great.

 

[2IS]

I do know what an OS can do since I myself am a software test engineer.

The point that I was making in my two previous posts is that the catalyst will be more and more specialized professional software for iOS, instead of drastically changing the hardware or even the iOS.

Splt screen/multi tasking will be a feature of the operating system, consisting with each screen running 1 specific thread of 1 specific app simultaneously. This would make split screen running two different apps side by side instead of running 1 app in several different threads over two screens.
The first way of parallel usage of different apps wouldn't need to do an complete overhaul of the source code from iOS 8 to iOS 9, which would guarantee a more stable and faster developed version of the operating system. Still a lot of work.

Different user profiles, concerning end users aren't a necessity in the professional world, unless you are talking about an administrator account for helpdesk. Automated external data back-up is more important.

Different user profiles for home usage is against the business model of Apple Inc. If you can create several users on one iPad, why would you buy then two? Apple Inc isn't going to shoot themselfs in the foot sales wise.

When your sales are stagnating, your business model needs to change. For any significant changes to happen, the OS needs to comply, and right now, it simply isn't. That's why you aren't seeing killer apps, not because no one wants to make them which is what you seem to be implying.

 

[Keirasplace]

I think our next tablet for home will be one of those ~$100 Amazon models. Better configuration/parental control setup for the kids, runs the apps the kids like, and for the pricepoint, I don't care too much if it dies within a couple of years.

You are a funny one.... Seriously $100, well be my guest, I'm betting it won't make it 6 months and be slow as a slug. Read reviews about $100 tablets and then come back to me with those ridiculous affirmation.

----------

Yes, its opening up and the iCloud also looks good, but the progress is very slow. I know people will embrace chrome book more, its cheap, it will hackable/hookable to so many peripherals and basically its your device under your command. I don't like the openness of Android at all by the way, i prefer iOS anytime! but bit more relaxed will be a good thing.

What openness? You're giving your life to Google by using them. Android is on a fast track to total lockdown making all Android OEM subservient to Google basically.

If you put linux on them, yes they make cheap machines to run it. Otherwise, I don't really get the whole "openness" that Google has somehow hoodwinked people into thinking anything they touch is "open" is one of the best marketing coup they could make...

 

[luckysob]

You are a funny one.... Seriously $100, well be my guest, I'm betting it won't make it 6 months and be slow as a slug. Read reviews about $100 tablets and then come back to me with those ridiculous affirmation.

These are reviews for sub $100 tablets....

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-HD-Displ...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[s2mikey]

Whats a computer with no ability to share files, thats one main reason why my company VP got a samsung tablet for his daughter rather than iPad, to use for school project work, where as he uses iPhone and recommends iPhone to others.

As i said, as a toy you can use it to its fullest. I may be wrong calling that feature as main reason for its slow down, there are so many factors, but i at least i know 2 guys who other than price, second reason was sharing. I mean look at the email app, can't even attach a file to it, just your photos and videos as i said, toy.

The email app can be improved, for sure but that shouldn't be a knock against the entire tablet or ipad. As for sharing files, I'm getting quite used to using the cloud for many documents. I use microsofts one drive and the icloud Apple version and both do what they are supposed to do. Highly sensitive documents get backed up and saved elsewhere but most stuff is fine on the cloud, IMO.

I have no idea how people use such a puny screen like that on a phone for any serious work or even browsing. Phones are just so BLEH to me but they rule the world right now. Whatever. I missed that boat. The screen is too damned small!

 

[Keirasplace]

These are reviews for sub $100 tablets....

http://www.amazon.com/Fire-HD-Displ...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

That's probably why it sold 70% less this year than last year despite costing less (and even being subsidized)... Yes, it was that bad for them (-18% for Apple), (-30% for samsung)... They must have had a "good" word of mouth.