iPad [Leaked!] Ipad Air unboxing and A7 chip disassembly pictures

[Charliebird]

***. There will be NO IPAD PRO and NO A7X. ***

I fully agree about the iPad Pro comment. Seriously, what would make up an
IPad Pro? Developers already shoot for the lowest common demonomator so they aren't going to optimize Apps for a 'pro' model. Apple is all about consistancy in the IOS lineup and a 'pro' model would break that. This same silliness was spread around soon after the iPad 2 was released and Apple was rumored to be releasing a 'pro' Retina screened model. That being said adding 'Air' to the iPad name is a real head scratcher.

 

[BoredAtWork]

my take would be a definite iPad Pro in the future. the iPad air will then be turned into the "budget" line replacing the iPad 2.

As such, you would have the air/pro naming scheme as the macbook line.
I would still buy an iPad Air this year, as it would seem to be a long lasting tablet just like the iPad 2.

 

[temna]

I fully agree about the iPad Pro comment. Seriously, what would make up an
IPad Pro? Developers already shoot for the lowest common demonomator so they aren't going to optimize Apps for a 'pro' model. Apple is all about consistancy in the IOS lineup and a 'pro' model would break that. This same silliness was spread around soon after the iPad 2 was released and Apple was rumored to be releasing a 'pro' Retina screened model. That being said adding 'Air' to the iPad name is a real head scratcher.

I think the Air surname was simply added to show the massive weight loss for the full sized ipad. That is all.

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my take would be a definite iPad Pro in the future. the iPad air will then be turned into the "budget" line replacing the iPad 2.

As such, you would have the air/pro naming scheme as the macbook line.
I would still buy an iPad Air this year, as it would seem to be a long lasting tablet just like the iPad 2.

No pro, can't happen. No room in the lineup for it. Ever.

 

[SamuraiMinis]

I think the Air surname was simply added to show the massive weight loss for the full sized ipad. That is all.

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No pro, can't happen. No room in the lineup for it. Ever.

I think there might be an iPad Pro next year, but i think it would simply be the next name for the 9.7 iPad. It's Air this year because its thin and light. Next might be iPad Pro do to it being mainly an internal upgrade/performance improvement that will yet again at least double the performance of the previous generation, the iPad Air.

Just one possibility of many!

 

[offall]

This time it seems ipad air is unlikely to run out of stock, the fact it is available in so many countries in initial launch has showed Apple has plenty of stock.

Also according to multiple posts, almost every single apples store have now received plenty of the air by yesterday. So I assume there is no need to order online at 3AM, you can just walk in any store on Nov 1st and get what you need.

In the mean time, there is still no 'official' air reviews surfaced, it is already Tuesday, rumor has it reviews will be in today after 9PM EST, well, less then 11 hours to go!

 

[smiddlehurst]

I fully agree about the iPad Pro comment. Seriously, what would make up an
IPad Pro? Developers already shoot for the lowest common demonomator so they aren't going to optimize Apps for a 'pro' model. Apple is all about consistancy in the IOS lineup and a 'pro' model would break that. This same silliness was spread around soon after the iPad 2 was released and Apple was rumored to be releasing a 'pro' Retina screened model. That being said adding 'Air' to the iPad name is a real head scratcher.

I'd disagree with this, I can see an iPad Pro in the line up quite easily. What would it offer? How about a bigger screen size running at a higher resolution and a tweaked version of the A7 with improved performance aimed at productivity apps (in other words not necessarily graphics boosts)? Why do it? Two reasons:

1) To offer a device to the rapidly growing business end of the market and to those who just prefer a bigger screen than the Air offers.

2) As a 'tech preview' of sorts. If they released it in the spring they can then use the iPad Pro line to give developers a baseline for the next year's mainstream SoC's, lay out potential improvements in screen resolutions, run widespread but not mainstream tests on new manufacturing processes (ala the a5 in the Apple TV) and maybe hint at design language changes.

There's another reason too but I'm going to offer it here just for discussion rather than as something I'd actually argue. With both the Air and Mini Apple have two superb products but they're constrained by the compromises needed to make mass market devices. An iPad Pro would potentially fill the gap that the new Mac Pro does for the OS X line - the halo product. What Apple can do when they can build to their philosophies without those compromises.

Not saying they'd necessarily go ahead with a Pro, just that I can see circumstances where they may do so.

 

[zbarvian]

If the A8 is double the speed/GPU of the A7, then I think we might see a unified device and operating system. That would explain the early move to 64-bit architecture, and the rumors of a 12 inch iPad/MacBook. Something that could run a hybrid of iOS and OSX, and have access to both app stores. Feverish speculation, I know, but it's within the realm of possibility given the power of ARM chips, Apple's control over their ecosystem, and the disparate operating systems they've been making slow strides to merge.

 

[bobright]

.
Also according to multiple posts, almost every single apples store have now received plenty of the air by yesterday. So I assume there is no need to order online at 3AM, you can just walk in any store on Nov 1st and get what you need.

Where?!?

 

[panzer06]

Where?!?

When the 4 was launched I just walked in to an Apple store in GA on my lunch. There were 3 people in line. In and out in 10 minutes. Same with the iPad 3 no issues on launch day; in both cases I bought 64GB Verizon, so maybe that was it, because 16GB seemed to sell out more quickly.

Cheers,

 

[smiddlehurst]

If the A8 is double the speed/GPU of the A7, then I think we might see a unified device and operating system. That would explain the early move to 64-bit architecture, and the rumors of a 12 inch iPad/MacBook. Something that could run a hybrid of iOS and OSX, and have access to both app stores. Feverish speculation, I know, but it's within the realm of possibility given the power of ARM chips, Apple's control over their ecosystem, and the disparate operating systems they've been making slow strides to merge.

Sorry about this but I disagree with every single point!

A8 almost certainly won't be double the performance of the A7. A7 was a generational jump over previous designs with both Rouge Series 6 GPU's and the move to ARMv8 coming together to see a performance boost no-one really expected. It's hard to see where on earth Apple could get similar performance gains from at this point. Faster chips and maybe quad core designs but even then it's doubtful.

Even if they did manage it why on earth would they want to go ARM? Look at the Air (the natural target for an ARM device). Size is already dictated by the size of the screen and the need to fit certain ports on the side. Battery life is already on a par with the iPad and performance is stellar. Going to ARM would drastically reduce that performance, likely cause major issues with existing OS X software and offer little benefit in form factor all for improving battery life that's already more than good enough for most users. They'd also lose the ability to run Windows which is a major plus point for them (despite what some on this forum would have you believe).

And then there's OS X and iOS. Certain functionality is shared, yes, but Apple very clearly stated on stage at the last Apple event that they don't believe a single OS on multiple form factors is the way to go.

The move to 64 bit is, effectively, nothing to do with the desktop and entirely about moving over to ARMv8. That offers massive benefits and by doing this move now they get a head start on everyone else and offer developers a natural break point to start the 64 bit transition with iOS 7.

There just seems to be no benefit at all to Apple of going over to ARM / unifying their operating systems and every reason not to do it.

 

[zbarvian]

Sorry about this but I disagree with every single point!

A8 almost certainly won't be double the performance of the A7. A7 was a generational jump over previous designs with both Rouge Series 6 GPU's and the move to ARMv8 coming together to see a performance boost no-one really expected. It's hard to see where on earth Apple could get similar performance gains from at this point. Faster chips and maybe quad core designs but even then it's doubtful.

Even if they did manage it why on earth would they want to go ARM? Look at the Air (the natural target for an ARM device). Size is already dictated by the size of the screen and the need to fit certain ports on the side. Battery life is already on a par with the iPad and performance is stellar. Going to ARM would drastically reduce that performance, likely cause major issues with existing OS X software and offer little benefit in form factor all for improving battery life that's already more than good enough for most users. They'd also lose the ability to run Windows which is a major plus point for them (despite what some on this forum would have you believe).

And then there's OS X and iOS. Certain functionality is shared, yes, but Apple very clearly stated on stage at the last Apple event that they don't believe a single OS on multiple form factors is the way to go.

The move to 64 bit is, effectively, nothing to do with the desktop and entirely about moving over to ARMv8. That offers massive benefits and by doing this move now they get a head start on everyone else and offer developers a natural break point to start the 64 bit transition with iOS 7.

There just seems to be no benefit at all to Apple of going over to ARM / unifying their operating systems and every reason not to do it.

As far as I know, the A7 isn't based on the ARM 53 and 57, and there are some ways like big.LITTLE to boost performance and retain battery life. I think the unification would jump start the industry, or at least attempt to, into a huge rethinking of interface design and software. If the A8 doubles performance, it wouldn't be much of a reduction in speed compared to Haswell, but I agree that Intel has become very competitive, so it could go either way. I think a 12" iPad pro would be a bet on the future of touch and gesture rather than point and click, even for productivity. Again, I see your point and actually agree, I'm just irrationally hoping for a device like that. I think the potential for a tablet to overtake a laptop is there, but the software needs to be revamped, and a move like that could be the catalyst.

 

[Charliebird]

I'd disagree with this, I can see an iPad Pro in the line up quite easily. What would it offer? How about a bigger screen size running at a higher resolution and a tweaked version of the A7 with improved performance aimed at productivity apps (in other words not necessarily graphics boosts)? Why do it? Two reasons:

I think this offering could undercut the MacBook Pro product line and we all know Apple is deathly afraid of undercutting their own higher ticket product lines. Also App developers are pretty notorious for targeting the lowest common nominator so it's unlikely Apple could get them on board to support such a device. But you never know with Apple and that makes things fun.