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They can't keep up the number scheme forever. It's already broken with the iPhone models, though it still makes some sense there as numbering each model has become kind of an industry thing.

The iPad 2's box just says iPad, there's no "2" anywhere on it. iPod Touch has several generations but was never numbered either. Apple TV's second generation is quite different from the first as well, but it's still just referred to as Apple TV.

Dropping the number scheme makes sense on a few levels. First, Apple wants the iPad to be counted as a PC. Dropping unconventional naming may not seem like much, but it's a step in that direction. Computer models aren't numbered.

Secondly, it supports the notion that a smaller version may be released at some future date, or that the current iPad 2 may continue production. Changing the naming scheme to iPad HD & iPad allows both devices to be considered relevant in the market. Instead of the less expensive model being considered the older, soon to be obsolete model, it would simply be considered a no frills option at a lower price point. The iPad HD would be perceived as the premium option with an obviously different main feature.

Apple would be able to upgrade and potentially redesign each model on an annual basis without worrying about getting caught in a confusing number mess like they have with the iPhone. They can do it with every other product they offer, I don't see why the iPad would be any more challenging.
 
"iPad HD" makes far more sense then "iPad 3".

Why?

Because this is a minor feature bump, not a whole new iPad. The processor inside the machine is an A5X, not an A6. It likely contains extensions for Siri, but is otherwise identical to the one in the iPhone 4S.

The GPU is probably the same (maybe they've doubled the VRAM- but I doubt they'd have swapped the unit out for anything newer), the RAM is probably the same, the Flash capacities are likely the same.

Everything is the same except the display, and potentially whatever is required to drive Siri if they decided to include that.

It's not a "whole new iPad". It's just the iPad 2 on steroids, like the iPhone 4S is an iPhone 4 on steroids. It makes much more sense to name it the "iPad HD" (or "iPad 2 HD") in this manner then it is to bump the series number, because then people are going to expect a whole new device (similar to what we saw with the iPhone 5 looking nothing like the iPhone 4 chassis wise).

-SC

And the iPad 2 was just an iPad on steroids. Why did it get a new number and the iPad 3 shouldn't? The iPad 2 was just thinner with an A5.
 
Honestly I wish Apple would just follow the same pattern they do with the MacBooks in naming their iPad and iPhone line. Just like the computers are just the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (not MacBook Air 2 or MacBook Pro 3), they should just stick with iPad and iPhone. After a while they're gonna have to drop the numbers eventually. Might as well do it early since both devices are widely used and easily recognised.

Laptop and iMac come in different sizes so any number in the branding would be confusing with screen size. The iPod never really made a big deal out of the generation number either. Never understood why they suddenly did with the iPhone and iPad.

They really should just say iPad, although makes selling previous model harder.
 
I'm pretty sure it was one of those guidelines they had at the release of the first iPad. I'm not sure if it is still the case as App Store guidelines tend to be very fluid.

Apple put a lot of work into making the division consumer friendly with Universal app functionality, and their guideline from the beginning was to use that. It was demoed in the first keynote. Some developers sensed a money-grab opportunity and made a separate "HD" app instead.

Note how only Universal apps support iCloud (without weird workarounds). It's still a negative practice.
 
The numbers are almost as meaningless as any other moniker they put on the end of iPad (or iPhone). When people ask me what kind of computer I have, I answer iMac. Phone? iPhone. And iPad is so ubiquitous that it's strange to hear people call it a tablet.

Drop everything Apple. It's the iPad.
 
I can't wait for this to be released!!!
There is no doubt in my mind this will be an exceptional piece of hardware.
Not to marginalize this release in any way shape or form, being 100% honest about my motives, I have to admit that the main reason I can't wait for it's release is that I can't wait for focus to be elsewhere. :)
So its good all around. We get a new iPad that is sure to blow or socks off and we get to have other news. As I see it, it's a win win!
Heres to a successful release :apple:!
Heres to news other than iPad speculation.
At least until speculation of the next generation begins a few minutes after.;)
 
Honestly I wish Apple would just follow the same pattern they do with the MacBooks in naming their iPad and iPhone line. Just like the computers are just the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro (not MacBook Air 2 or MacBook Pro 3), they should just stick with iPad and iPhone. After a while they're gonna have to drop the numbers eventually. Might as well do it early since both devices are widely used and easily recognised.

I think they will eventually. And while I find it hard to believe developers and case makers have an inside track on the naming, if this is true I think the HD is a step in that direction.

I'm also amazed by reading the comments here that some people assume that HD denotes less of an upgrade than 3. I don't see it that way.
 
At iPad 10, they just call all models after as iPad X and then tag them with the species name of different primates.

Now that's just crazy talk! Oh, wait...

"iPad HD" make people confused because people will think this sort look like...

1st generation = iPad
2nd generation = iPad HD
3rd generation = iPad 2

That is true, maybe iPad 2 HD, if not iPad 3.
 
If this is true, it will likely be sold along with the iPad (2). They will sell the iPad and the iPad HD. They may even improve the iPad with the A5X and sell 8, 16, & 32 GB WiFi units for $349, $429, and $529 respectively, with the iPad HD at the old price points. This makes great sense to me

The mystery product number, B28 whatever, is likely a new smart cover with a back shell.
 
"CNet claims that the next iPad that is due to be announced on Wednesday will be named "iPad HD"."

Announced Wednesday or Tuesday? :confused:
 
To me HD always stand for 720p and 1080p.
EHD is 1440p.
UHD is 4k and 8k.

2048x1536 does not fit in any of those categories.

If you saw previous articles comparing the rumored retina display to other HD displays the retina is higher resolution
Even then blue ray
So that's where the HD comes in


On other thoughts... Isnt it also supposed to have new cameras to take HD pictures and videos?
 
I'd guess that this means there will be two lines of iPad. One with the so-called Retina Display (the HD model) and a continuation of the current iPad 2 which will probably be offered at a reduced price from today's unit (unless it gets LTE and then they'll probably keep the current prices).

In fact, the question as to whether the next iPad will offer LTE may also depend upon whether you get the HD model or the version that is basically a continuation of the current iPad 2. In that case, we could have the following:

Base iPad 2 starting somewhere between $399 to $449 for the 16GB WiFi model (perhaps with a slightly tweaked A5 processor to make it seem somewhat "new" -- perhaps the "iPad 2S").

Base iPad HD with 16GB and LTE starting somewhere between $629 to $729.

Between these two price points you'd have the "new" iPad 2 with more memory and/or 3G wireless. Or, maybe they would offer an HD model without LTE/3G. I'm thinking, however, that they may try to absorb part of the cost of the Retina Display by offering it only with LTE (and thus at a higher price point).

A lineup like this might explain why there have been so many conflicting rumors -- LTE or not, Retina Display or not, lower price or not, etc. Maybe we're getting all of those options with an expanded range of models.
 
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Ugh... please no.

More bastardization of the word "HD".

Another question: if Apple does announce an Apple TV with 1080p capabilities what will 1080p content on iTunes be called, being that 720p content is already "HD"? HD+?

Messy.
 
Maybe they're trying to sell it side-by-side with the regular iPad. A high-end model?
 
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WillFisher said:
It makes a lot of sense.
Apple won't want to keep naming their products by numbers, what if they get to something like the iPad 14. Just sounds silly.

What will they call the second iPad HD?
 
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