New Images of iPad Air 2 Parts Show Touch ID Home Button Cable, Logic Board With A8X Chip, and More

[malexandria]

THINNESS Over FUNCTION The Apple Way

Frankly, I have never used the mute button on my iPad. Even for rotation lock, there are alternatives already built into iOS 8, so a physical button is not required. I could see the removing the volume buttons over time as they now have alternatives for that as well.

Less mechanical parts means less things that break and also means less opening for dust or water to get in.

In other words, it not just about thinness.

At least that's how I see it.

Posts like this annoy the crap out of me. Just because YOU don't use a feature doesn't mean there's no one else in the world that DOES. I happen to like having the switch to lock my phone. It's CONVENIENT. God forbid things be easy and functional - because THINNESS is the ONLY thing that matters.

 

[Psypher]

I was really hoping for an integrated display. I looked at an iPad Air on display a few days ago and couldn't get over how deep the gap between the glass and the display was. I've gotten spoiled by my iPhone 6 Plus. I believe this also leads to the "dust under the glass" issues that were prevalent in the iPad Air and Minis. I probably would have preferred the integrated display over Retina HD.

 

[zedsdead]

I really don't like all the recent rumors about the lack of a rotation lock. Never cared about the mute switch on the iPad, but I remember the uproar when they first switched to a mute and didn't have an option to put it back to a rotation lock.

I will likely delay upgrading my iPad for a while if they remove that feature.

As for the A8x, there is no reason for this unless apple is adding a higher resolution display. So I would say there is a good chance of that.

 

[Sodner]

so:
-TouchID
-2Gb RAM
-A8x
-thinner profile
-gold option
-32 Gb 64 Gb 128 GB options for the same money
-WiFi ac

seems that it is a nice touch to upgrade for those with ipad 4 and earlier and a slightly upgrade BUT still an upgrade for those with ipad air as well

Probably going to have improved battery life as well. I think this is one of the best updates to the iPad so far. I mean the key word here is FAST. A8X, 2Gb RAM and ac networking!!!

Only problem is the existing Air is still an excellent device.

 

[Rogifan]

I was really hoping for an integrated display. I looked at an iPad Air on display a few days ago and couldn't get over how deep the gap between the glass and the display was. I've gotten spoiled by my iPhone 6 Plus. I believe this also leads to the "dust under the glass" issues that were prevalent in the iPad Air and Minis. I probably would have preferred the integrated display over Retina HD.

How do we know it won't be?

 

[MacModMachine]

You are my best friend now haha

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I hope you are correct I will gladly buy a 64GB iPad Air 2 if it comes with 2GB of RAM, and an A8X would be great too!

i highy doubt you will see 2gb ram , considering they just released a phone with 1gb.

 

[Serban]

i highy doubt you will see 2gb ram , considering they just released a phone with 1gb.

i think if apple put 2 gb in the iphone 6 plus... the ipad will be no longer interesting. But know with ipad air with 2 gb ram people will still see the need for the ipad

 

[Rodster]

iPad Air 2..."same as it ever was".....'Talking Heads'.

What I want is a new Mac Mini optimized to make Yosemite fly.

 

[Nevaborn]

The continued lack of whisper on the mini is interesting.

 

[Psypher]

How do we know it won't be?

I suppose you're right. It could be that we're only seeing the front glass / digitizer and that a display could still be integrated later in the manufacturing process. I would think it would have all been together though.

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

i highy doubt you will see 2gb ram , considering they just released a phone with 1gb.

I see they doing it on the iPad Air 2 only (not even the iPad Mini 3 which I'm guessing will the the same as the iPhone 6's). It allows the RAM suppliers to increase the amount produced slowly so the demand can slowly ramp up. An iPads seem to get RAM staved much more than the phones due to apps usually being more complex as well as extra RAM being used as VRAM.

 

[malexandria]

Speakers and Audio

Apple really, desperately needs to improve the Audio and Speaker quality on ALL of their devices. The speaker on my MBP is absolutely pitiful and I've never understood their thought process for putting the speaker on the iPhone in places that makes zero sense. I'm hoping with Beats audio purchase they'll start including that audio processor in their line up next year. I mean I know a lot of people poo poo beats. But their audio tech in Hardware really does improve sound - like on PC Laptops, HTC Phones, etc with Beats audio chips.

 

[Alith]

It's not really Apples job to make the iPad "interesting", that's the job of the app developers.

It's Apples job to make the iPad as invisible and efficient as possible. When it's a super powerful, completely unobtrusive window between you and the content then they are done.

This looks like another great iteration. I'm just hoping that the reason they have an A8X is because they have a laminated Retina HD screen in it.

 

[RobertMartens]

no mac mini part leaks?
finally, doubling down is working

It's sweet of you to mention the mac mini.

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Apple really, desperately needs to improve the Audio and Speaker quality on ALL of their devices. The speaker on my MBP is absolutely pitiful and I've never understood their thought process for putting the speaker on the iPhone in places that makes zero sense. I'm hoping with Beats audio purchase they'll start including that audio processor in their line up next year. I mean I know a lot of people poo poo beats. But their audio tech in Hardware really does improve sound - like on PC Laptops, HTC Phones, etc with Beats audio chips.

The sound comes out of your ear pieces.

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because THINNESS is the ONLY thing that matters.

yes it is true.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

While the A8X revelation is interesting, it is actually disappointing in a way.

While it means that we will most likely be getting a Retina HD @3x screen, all previous "X" processors have been generally underpowered in relation to their previous generation brethren.

I can't help but think that the new iPad Air @3x & A8X will only just match the current model with @2x & A7 in performance, and possibly be slightly worse in some benchmarks and real life usage experience.

Would almost have preferred in that case that they held off with the higher resolution one more year and produced an A9X that would be a true differentiator.

Hope to be pleasantly surprised with the performance though. Will keep an open mind until the first graphics benchmarks are posted.

On a related note, Xiaomi's MiPad (iPad mini clone) with the Invidia 192 Kelper GPU puts up some seriously impressive performance numbers, and 326 GFLOP's.

If Apple could match that sort of performance with their A8X my skepticism with it would be instantly alleviated.

 

[Serban]

i think the 15" MBP has the best laptop sound
i think yes, in the new imac there is room to improve the base sound

 

[mazz0]

why would they sacrifice the mute switch over thinness? there comes the point when function should be more important than a few 0.0x mm. especially with most people putting it into a bulky case anyway

next thing you know they will require their own headphones to be used because the device is too thin to handle the standard headphone jack, so stupid

As others have said - thinness makes no sense as a reason. The switch doesn't need to be any thicker than the volume buttons, and there's one on the iPhones 6.

Or they can do what is right and move the jobs back where they belong, but that would take some time.

Why do Americans deserve jobs more than Chinese people? I know America's not a great country to be poor or unemployed in, but it's better than China.

Hardware wise I'd like 3 things.

Not of which will happen now, or, knowing Apple may probably never happen, and they are very fundamental things I would of likes for years.

1: Separate Stereo speakers that face the user (not 2 speakers at one end directing sound sideways away from the user)

2: A flash unit for the Camera, so that if you wish to take a photo in dim lighting conditions, it will come out vastly better than without a flash.

3: The aspect ratio to be a little wider, so it's not a choice of thick black bars, or losing either side of the screen when watching video.

None of these I will get this year, or probably for many years, if ever

I don't mind, but I REALLY wish Apple was not so arrogant, and perhaps did produce more than one design so people did have a choice, as not everyone wants the same thing.

Why do you use your iPad as a camera anyway? Isn't your iPhone better for that?

I like the current screen ratio - good for reading and games, but I couldn't agree more about point 1. I don't think steroe's a big deal when they're going to be so close anyway, but it would be nice to have (in landscape), but the mind boggles when you try to work out why they face the speakers away from you! :s

 

[farmkittie]

Yeah right, only that Apple's design is not that new as many think

So does this mean because Apple didn't invent the rectangle?

 

[malexandria]

no mac mini part leaks?
finally, doubling down is working

I really want a Mini.

 

[KPOM]

I was thinking about that the other day, if they do get rid of the mute/rotation button, couldnt they just add a software function for it in its place?
.

You mean like the little rotate lock button that shows up on the shortcut menu when you swipe up from the bottom of the screen?

 

[Alith]

I can't help but think that the new iPad Air @3x & A8X will only just match the current model with @2x & A7 in performance, and possibly be slightly worse in some benchmarks and real life usage experience.

I think you are right but it's a non-issue. I doubt people would notice outside of benchmarks or graphically intensive games. The A7 is still stupidly powerful on the current screen and underutilised by apps.

Also there is Metal. Only a handful of games are using it so far and it will bring performance gains across the board once more developers are writing for it. Lastly, graphically intensive games have often not run at native resolution and likely still won't.

 

[KPOM]

Retina Mini

If the A8X has extra RAM it would be disappointing if the Retina Mini gets only the regular A8. I prefer the smaller size of the rMini. It's much bigger than a 7" Android tablet because it is 4x3 rather than 16:9 or 16:10. But it is easier to carry around than the larger iPad.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

As others have said - thinness makes no sense as a reason. The switch doesn't need to be any thicker than the volume buttons, and there's one on the iPhones 6.



Why do Americans deserve jobs more than Chinese people? I know America's not a great country to be poor or unemployed in, but it's better than China.



Why do you use your iPad as a camera anyway? Isn't your iPhone better for that?

I like the current screen ratio - good for reading and games, but I couldn't agree more about point 1. I don't think steroe's a big deal when they're going to be so close anyway, but it would be nice to have (in landscape), but the mind boggles when you try to work out why they face the speakers away from you! :s

Those are our jobs!!! Do your research! that way you'll see where those jobs and patents came from and what china stands for.

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i think the 15" MBP has the best laptop sound
i think yes, in the new imac there is room to improve the base sound

I agree and a 5k iMac will rock!

 

[crashoverride77]

I was thinking about that the other day, if they do get rid of the mute/rotation button, couldnt they just add a software function for it in its place?
So from the lock screen you could have a button for Mute and one for Screen Rotation. And when your iPad is unlocked you can just swipe up to reveal the same buttons in Control Center.
Or even have an option where you can set the Home button so that a triple tap will either lock the rotation or even alter the rotation and lock it at the same time.

Makes you wonder if Apple never introduced a physical switch for screen rotation would people have wanted one?
I've locked my iPad in landscape mode and any app that requires portrait mode automatically switches to that mode. So I never really need to worry about switching rotations.

As long as they don't get rid of the auto brightness sensor like they did with iPod Touch 5th gen (Grrrr!) then I'm defo getting one.

Come on guys, rotation lock is in control centre since ios 7 and if you hold the volume button (to lower sound) for 1 sec it mutes. Not hard at all. That mute buttom is the most useless part of the iPad by far, on iPhones maybe a bit more useful.

 

[Traverse]

Hmm, as long as a new screen with accompanying A8X chip doesn't become the next iPad 3 with an A5X (what I'm using), I'm interested.