I really don't care when the next iPad drops. My current iPad works great and will continue to work great for a long time.
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Next-Generation iPad and iPad Mini Rumored for March Launch
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Apple could, in theory, be looking to return the iPad to the "priority" position with regards to the A chipsets.
Before the iPad 3, the iPad always got the newest A chipset first followed by the iPhone.
iPad got A4 in early 2010, iPhone 4 in mid 2010.
iPad 2 got A5 in early 2011, iPad 4S in late 2011.
iPad 3 got A5X in early 2012, iPhone 5 got A6 in late 2012.
The iPad 4th Gen is nothing more than the iPad 3.5. Same design, a tiny bit heavier (in numbers but not noticeable in hand), same thickness, same display.
The 5th Gen iPad would most likely bring the new A7 chipset to the public, possibly a true Quad Core CPU and GPU rather than the constant GPU updates we've seen from A4 to A5 to A5X to A6X. The CPU needs to be updated eventually, it can't remain Dual Core forever.
An IGZO display to reduce power consumption and a redesigned chassis would also make this a far more worthwhile update to the 3, rather than a speed bumped GPU and a new charging port.
Of course. I am probably completely wrong.
Before the iPad 3, the iPad always got the newest A chipset first followed by the iPhone.
iPad got A4 in early 2010, iPhone 4 in mid 2010.
iPad 2 got A5 in early 2011, iPad 4S in late 2011.
iPad 3 got A5X in early 2012, iPhone 5 got A6 in late 2012.
The iPad 4th Gen is nothing more than the iPad 3.5. Same design, a tiny bit heavier (in numbers but not noticeable in hand), same thickness, same display.
The 5th Gen iPad would most likely bring the new A7 chipset to the public, possibly a true Quad Core CPU and GPU rather than the constant GPU updates we've seen from A4 to A5 to A5X to A6X. The CPU needs to be updated eventually, it can't remain Dual Core forever.
An IGZO display to reduce power consumption and a redesigned chassis would also make this a far more worthwhile update to the 3, rather than a speed bumped GPU and a new charging port.
Of course. I am probably completely wrong.
It's a bit like buying a house because once your foot is in the door, keeping up to date with the latest apple hardware i doesn't have to be expensive. Residual values on iPads is so good that upgrading is cheap.
I had purchased an ipad 3 on release day and sold it two weeks before the release of the 4 to buy the 4. It cost just £150 to upgrade. It meant that the value of my ipad 3 devalued by less than £1 per day.
By having the latest kit means maximum return when selling it.
I will upgrade to the 5 when it is available and it's not going to hit my wallet that much.
If apple want to release a new iPhone and ipad every 6 months then that's fine by me.
I had purchased an ipad 3 on release day and sold it two weeks before the release of the 4 to buy the 4. It cost just £150 to upgrade. It meant that the value of my ipad 3 devalued by less than £1 per day.
By having the latest kit means maximum return when selling it.
I will upgrade to the 5 when it is available and it's not going to hit my wallet that much.
If apple want to release a new iPhone and ipad every 6 months then that's fine by me.
You're right, the iPhone 5 isn't the most powerful phone CPU-wise, but it is far superior to the Galaxy Nexus (I own both, though use the GNex as my main actually). It is worth noting though that Apple's AX chips have outstanding GPUs that are among the best if not the best depending on task.
Sorry, couldn't disagree more. The A6X is supreme in every way to the A5X ...the benchmarks in the A6X more than doubled the overall performance from the A5X and did so all the while generating less heat. Throw in faster charging and a better connection port in Lighting and you've got some major differences. Just because they look the same means nothing. My late 2008 Core 2 Duo 15" MBP would get killed trying to hang with one of the newer Core i7 versions, even though they look the same and use a lot of the same internals still.
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macrumors 65816
Interesting stuff. I think shorter product cycles are fine, as long as this doesn't diminish the value proposition when buying a new Apple product. Apple buyers pay more but this is often in the belief that what they buy will be around and useful for a few years.
Of course they'll loose potential sales. Each iPad is at best a 500$ investment, and if they are comming out every 5-6 months people won't upgrade until something really different comes out. So instead of people buying a new iPad every year, it might get pushed to two years. I had the First iPad, as soon as the second one came out a year later I ditched it because the second was a much better piece...thinner, camera, facetime, etc. Since then I have not upgraded because i didn't see the 3rd nor the 4th different enough to warrant an upgrade.
Apple might be enjoying the frenzie of new products sellout really quickly, but at some point people will just stop. It doesn't make sense changeing.
Not saying the A6X isn't faster, I've seen the benchmarks although current games do not show a significant improvement other than slightly sharper textures and an slightly improved frame rate. Sure, games will come which are programme specifically for the A6X and only then will we see the true potential of the 4th gen. The fact they look the same DOES mean something, specifically if you follow iOS devices.
You compared a 2008 MacBook to the newer i7 versions. iOS devices and their designs are systematic indications of how Apple sees the device. If the 4th gen was the true next gen iPad then it would not have retained the same design. It's a speed bump, in incremental update. Just like the S iteration of iPhones, which retains the look but increases the specs to tide the public over until the proper next generation model. The 4 is as much a stop gap as the 3 was a test model for the Retina Display.
The 4th gen is not a significant enough step up from the 3rd to make owners of the 3rd gen upgrade. When a Quad Core of BOTH the CPU and GPU comes around, along with an increase in RAM (doubled to 2GB), we'll see the TRUE next generation iPad.
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I can get on board with some of that. I posted earlier that the real problem with the 3 was that it felt rushed to the game. I now use a 4, upgraded from a 2 and while I loved the Retina screen on the 3 when it came out, within a few weeks after the 3's release you had many complaints about heat, about real world speed (or lack thereof, compared to the 2, even though Apple had boasted about how great the A5X was). Point is, the 4 was what the 3 should have been. When I saw people posting before Christmas asking if the extra 50 or 100 bucks they'd pay to buy the 4 (vs. 3) was worth it, I was amazed to see how many people responded that it wasn't that big of an upgrade. If you were going to spend $500-600 on an iPad, the $50 you could skimp and save by getting a 3 would be a terrible purchase compared to the 4. That's not a knock against 3 owners, it's a knock on Apple for ever putting the 3 out. That, I propose is why the 3 had such a short shelf life.
So, Apple should listen to you so as not to lose (with one "o", please! loose means something entirely different!) any sales. Besides, people might not be pushed to buy a new iPad regardless of refreshing cycle so your opinion is invalid.
The only ones who are concerned and pissed off of a more regular update cycle are the ones who ought to have the latest and the greatest. The rest of us just use our iPads. When I reach the moment most apps I'm interested in require a more advanced iPad than mine I'll be forced to upgrade. Until then, my iPad 2 is just fine, regardless of the update cycle, and this is the viewpoint of every conscious consumer. The situation when one upgrades their iPad without a sensible reason is called consumerism. Having to have the latest is a perfect example of what I mean.
Of course, some of the new features are 'nice to have', such as retina display. Or, if you are a gamer you'll benefit from the faster graphic. People with weak hands will benefit from reduced device weight. And, of course, if you are a developer it might be worth having the latest iPad. But, I'm afraid, I touch completely other grounds which are not the topic of this conversation. The bottom line is - Be happy with what you have. There will always be something cooler in the next few months.
Justify it any way that you like. IPad 3 has Siri too BTW. I'm not saying the iPad 4 isn't great. I'm saying if you had a 3 it didn't make much sense to upgrade though many did. It was comparable to the iPhone 4 & 4S.
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iOs Devices are used to bring people in to purchase Macs. Mostly Airs,and MBP's. Macs sale continue to grow compared to the rest of the industry.
One could call them a niche based on percentage of market, but that increases every Quarter. People are moving to Notebooks over Desktops in almost every category anyhow.
Our IT people are fine with iOS 6 and 10.8. Most use MBP's. So, niche? iMac maybe, but no way in MB Air, or MBP.
On a side note, WIN8 is not allowed yet.
What's up width the kiddies wanting to have the latest rev, snob much?
I'm more worried about Apple's keynote losing its wow effect because of more minor upgrades.
I'd love to have an iPad mini retina. I'll give my iPad 2 to my nieces in a heartbeat.
I'm more worried about Apple's keynote losing its wow effect because of more minor upgrades.
I'd love to have an iPad mini retina. I'll give my iPad 2 to my nieces in a heartbeat.
updated devices
My two pence goes: what ever we all think the news in March will be: NEW SALES RECORD FOR APPLES NEW xxxxxxx! I do agree that the product cycle would be rather more palatable at 12-18 months but lets not forget that to sustain the economical growth we all need to keep buying these products we need to buy them more often.
My two pence goes: what ever we all think the news in March will be: NEW SALES RECORD FOR APPLES NEW xxxxxxx! I do agree that the product cycle would be rather more palatable at 12-18 months but lets not forget that to sustain the economical growth we all need to keep buying these products we need to buy them more often.
Maybe but I don't think the should release it until they can do it for the same price. Why do they need to keep around the 1st gen? Especially when they're selling the 32GB retina touch for $299.
What's up width the kiddies wanting to have the latest rev, snob much?
I'm more worried about Apple's keynote losing its wow effect because of more minor upgrades.
I'd love to have an iPad mini retina. I'll give my iPad 2 to my nieces in a heartbeat.
I didn't upgrade my 3rd gen because I figured what Apple really wants is the full size iPad in mini form factor (weight, thickness) and with the mini supposedly selling very well I'm sure they're going to do whatever they can to get a thinner and ligher full sized iPad out ASAP.
Maybe, but not with all the storage sizesthe iPad2 is only sold with 16GB wifi or 16GB wifi/cellular and it would be reasonable to expect a bottom end iPad mini to have the same limited SKUs.
No they arent. You arent forced to buy anything. Apple doesnt stop supporting its older devices for at least three years. You just want to say you have the latest whatever it is. They are trying to break people of the habbit of upgrading with every product launch because its not good from a number of angles. Apple wants new customers not people going broke trying to keep up with every Apple release for no good reason.
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