Next-Generation iPads Due in April, iPhone 5S in August?

[bbeagle]

My approach is that an Apple PC has an average work life of around 2-3 years (3+ years it'll probably have depreciated to the point of not worth bothering with anymore - my four year old white MacBook can't run OS X Mountain Lion, it's battery life is awful, and I really should get it recycled somewhere - an SSD might revive it for a little while longer, but I don't honestly think it's worth bothering with). I expect to get at least 3 years life out of this Sandy Bridge full-fat iMac that was purchased by work early last year.

The trusty old white MacBook is great for surfing porn, and making sure that your other computers are safe from viruses.

Keep your search history clean for prying girlfriend eyes, look impressive to her that you haven't searched for porn in YEARS, and then hide the white macbook behind the sink and go all animal every night.

(Not that I know from experience or anything, just overheard it from my brother's friend's cousin)

 

[PatriotInvasion]

At this point, there isn't much more Apple can do on the hardware side that will change people's lives much (aside from Mini Retina).

Both the iPhone and iPad are glass rectangles with a metal back. These are now mature products much like the laptop. The real innovation now must come from taking the iOS UI to a new level. Static rows of icons is only scratching the service of what they can do on a touch screen (Android has some nice ideas but they can't market them like Apple can).

 

[irDigital0l]

Retina display? 4 times the speed? Lighter?

Let me guess, if Apple had added some "innovative" feature like "eye-scrolling" you would upgrade.....

Speed, display tech, battery life and design are pretty much the only ways smartphones/tablets upgrade these days.....gimmicky Samsung features don't count for me....neither do software features like Passbook that are available to older devices (or even ones that aren't like Siri).

This idea that phones need to be reinvented with innovative features every year is absurd.

The iPad 4 is a massive upgrade over the original iPad. If you don't feel that way, great - ultimately you use the device you feel works for your needs....but if the iPad 1 > iPad 4 isn't a substantial upgrade, I'm not aware of any recent tech (2010 - 2012) that provides a bigger upgrade.

Rerun display iPad mini

 

[iLLUMI]

Oh for fux sake! How much better can the new iPad be.
Geez.

I'm tired of waiting for something ground breaking. No IGZO in site, yet another pipe dream. When are they going to improve iOS.

*YAWN*

 

[Redrum509]

Wonder when the invites will come out?

 

[samcraig]

How about a FlexiPad - flexible screen and construction

I tease.

 

[SpectatorHere]

Apple isn't giving people the best experience they are able to provide. The company is the iPhone, and they've decided to limit it with a small screen. No one really knows why, maybe to prevent cannibalization of iPad sales, maybe to save on cost of production to keep profit higher, maybe to maintain a distinct appearance?

Regardless, the iPhone used to ship with the best display on the market. This made sense because smartphones deliver content visually. Some phone makers went bigger more quickly--Evo was one--but at the expense of resolution and terrible battery life. The iPhone has had hands down the best display on the market for almost all of its product life, this is no longer the case. Quite a few phones offer better displays...bigger, better resolution, equal battery life.

...incoming retorts of "but they're too bulky and won't sit in my hand well"...that's exactly what the other companies said about the iPhone when it had the best display. And BTW, if Apple really cared so much about ergonomics would they have made these things completely flat?

Somewhere along the line Apple decided to stick with smaller screens and the current form factor (silly small modification in height for the 5 notwithstanding). This was and remains a BIG mistake.

Apple usually doesn't get the big picture wrong, but they've stumbled with the iPhone lately allowing others to catch up. Smartphones are visual, and the best display is the MOST important aspect of a phone. Obviously there are limits on portability and battery, but the display is the phone.

Wonder if Apple will figure that out again?

 

[Rogifan]

Design is indicative of function. When you don't change design, it's difficult to add new functions or abilities to a phone beyond changing the processor or changing the camera.

Thus, the only people happy with S-updates are spec-wankers who argue over benchmark scores and people who inexplicably want better quality for the photos they take and then compress to all hell when they upload to twitter.

So if the new iPhone was colored plastic it would change the function?

 

[newcronos]

If they release the iPad 5, will there be a "normally priced" iPad 2 still around, or will that become the iPad 3?

iPad 3 is not going to become anything because it does not exist anymore. Apple had wiped out everything related to iPad 3 on its website.

 

[BaldiMac]

Apple isn't giving people the best experience they are able to provide. The company is the iPhone, and they've decided to limit it with a small screen. No one really knows why, maybe to prevent cannibalization of iPad sales, maybe to save on cost of production to keep profit higher, maybe to maintain a distinct appearance?

Regardless, the iPhone used to ship with the best display on the market. This made sense because smartphones deliver content visually. Some phone makers went bigger more quickly--Evo was one--but at the expense of resolution and terrible battery life. The iPhone has had hands down the best display on the market for almost all of its product life, this is no longer the case. Quite a few phones offer better displays...bigger, better resolution, equal battery life.

...incoming retorts of "but they're too bulky and won't sit in my hand well"...that's exactly what the other companies said about the iPhone when it had the best display. And BTW, if Apple really cared so much about ergonomics would they have made these things completely flat?

Somewhere along the line Apple decided to stick with smaller screens and the current form factor (silly small modification in height for the 5 notwithstanding). This was and remains a BIG mistake.

Apple usually doesn't get the big picture wrong, but they've stumbled with the iPhone lately allowing others to catch up. Smartphones are visual, and the best display is the MOST important aspect of a phone. Obviously there are limits on portability and battery, but the display is the phone.

Wonder if Apple will figure that out again?

Bigger does not equal better.

 

[charlituna]

Well, if you're a regular reader on Engadget, you would have known new models are out soon ... so why bitch on here!

Unless they aren't

Smart folks get what they need when they need it and get over new stuff. If it happens on track for them the swap, great. If not, what they have still works so that's great too.

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Regardless, the iPhone used to ship with the best display on the market.

Based on? Geek wet dreams of phones so big you need two hands to use them? PPI wanking way beyond anything that produces a noticeable difference in display performance and kills battery?

Like it or not Apple isn't designing for geeks. They design for common folks who would rather get another hour or two out of their battery that have 100 ppi that looks the same as the old screen

 

[kazmac]

My approach is that an Apple PC has an average work life of around 2-3 years (3+ years it'll probably have depreciated to the point of not worth bothering with anymore - my four year old white MacBook can't run OS X Mountain Lion, it's battery life is awful, and I really should get it recycled somewhere - an SSD might revive it for a little while longer, but I don't honestly think it's worth bothering with). I expect to get at least 3 years life out of this Sandy Bridge full-fat iMac that was purchased by work early last year.

iPhones - around 2 years which is what you get with an average phone contract if it's subsidised. iPhone 4 had started to suffer from home button woes (becoming increasingly difficult to acknowledge presses) at the time of the 2nd year renewal.

iPads - again, around 2 years - possibly 3. Depends on what approach Apple takes with iOS development - but that same can be said about its PC products too (hence MacBook and OS X ML).

By my reckoning - given the *rumours* about possible new generation products, I'll have jumped two or three generations by the time I replace my MacBook Air and iMac, three or four generations by the time I replace my iPhone 5 and iPad.

Sounds like the plan I'd like to get back on: upgrading my phone every 2.5 - 3 years, iPad mini every 2 years and computer every 3.5-5 years. It is just not worth getting upset over such frequent updates (remind me about that one at a later date )

I am always very impressed at the users who do not upgrade their computers for 5+ years at a clip. I'd like to get back to that line of thinking for many reasons.

 

[Mike MA]

this article is such a great read on my iPad 4 that I just got yesterday.

I don't expect much for the iPad 5 to change except of adapting the iPad mini design - if you had purchased the latter it would be worse in my opinion since the Retina display is likely to be introduced.

 

[slffl]

I can not wait!! 9.7" iPad is the perfect screen size for me. The lighter, faster, and more storage it gets makes me even happier!

 

[Jetson]

Dear Apple.

if iOS 7 , and the quality of Mac OS doesn't return soon..doesn't reiterate what makes Apple Different from the rest of the companies.. then you are truly lost.

People cared about great hardware from you when they were in love with your software.

well, that love is dying. clearly apple's hardware divisions haven't fallen short since the dawn of Apple's great era.

but your software divisions are in huge need of focus and attention. you need to downgrade craig federghi to some lower level, as a provider of ideas. but you need someone like that bertland guy, to write Decent, reliable, and nearly bug proof Software.

I'd like to upgrade to iTunes 11, but haven't.

I've heard nothing but bad things with it so I'm staying faaaar away until iTunes 12 or they fix iTunes 11.

It's a shame that Apple took away or crippled features people liked without much if any performance increase.

Overall though I think that Apple's software is fantastic and has been steadily improving - except for iTunes, alas.

 

[slffl]

At this point, there isn't much more Apple can do on the hardware side that will change people's lives much (aside from Mini Retina).

Both the iPhone and iPad are glass rectangles with a metal back. These are now mature products much like the laptop. The real innovation now must come from taking the iOS UI to a new level. Static rows of icons is only scratching the service of what they can do on a touch screen (Android has some nice ideas but they can't market them like Apple can).

I don't understand this fascination with the launch part of iOS and Android. People run APPS 99% of the time, the other 1% is looking for the app in the OS. So what will adding widgets, themes, or long animations (aka Windows Phone 8) do other than make the whole UX worse? Oh that's right, it will make people who buy things because they can put an animated wallpaper on it, buy it. Pathetic.

----------

I'd like to upgrade to iTunes 11, but haven't.

I've heard nothing but bad things with it so I'm staying faaaar away until iTunes 12 or they fix iTunes 11.

It's a shame that Apple took away or crippled features people liked without much if any performance increase.

Overall though I think that Apple's software is fantastic and has been steadily improving - except for iTunes, alas.

Love iTunes 11. My favorite version yet.

 

[dcorban]

cant wait for the new ipad form factor in the full size version. Im hoping for a major decrease in weight like happened with the iphone 5s. I dont know why, but the ipad feels very heavy in my workbag!

I agree with you. Obviously, the current iPad is rather light given its size, but it can feel heavy after holding it a while. I will be ordering the next model immediately if it is lighter.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

I don't understand this fascination with the launch part of iOS and Android. People run APPS 99% of the time, the other 1% is looking for the app in the OS. So what will adding widgets, themes, or long animations (aka Windows Phone 8) do other than make the whole UX worse? Oh that's right, it will make people who buy things because they can put an animated wallpaper on it, buy it. Pathetic.

I agree... adding new features some customers might actually enjoy - even if others aren't bothered by it - is ridicilous. Unless Apple announces something like that... such as Siri. Than it's awesome, and the future. And you know, the best thing to happen to iOS... since iOS.

 

[komodrone]

Not at Apple Stores...guess you got it at another retailer?

yep.

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And you'll be able to read the review of the iPad 5 just as well on it!

Stop your damn complaining, there are people without food out there.

you're complaining about me complaining.

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Not if you buy them at Target. They accept everything and anything! No restocking fee :]

i didn't get it at target.

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I don't expect much for the iPad 5 to change except of adapting the iPad mini design - if you had purchased the latter it would be worse in my opinion since the Retina display is likely to be introduced.

aaaaaand they're introducing iPad 5 with fingerprint recognition

 

[quickmac]

I think those commenting how people shouldn't complain about increased product releases/updates and "just buy when you need it" are missing the points of others discussing how in some ways Apple is slipping:

- Apple products used to be released when they were ready and usually updates were never less than a year apart depending on the product line. This meant to Apple and consumers that 1.) consumer is getting a powerful, useful, and cutting edge product that will remain useful and relevant at least a year and 2.) This limited exposure created higher demand, remember all the lines around the block to get Apple products? And now note how those lines are shorter or non-existent as Apple updates product lines more quickly.

- Why is Apple suddenly updating and coming out with new versions of iPhones and iPads every few months versus every year or so? And is this trend also starting to occur in their computer line and iPod line? Seems like Apple is trying to just compete with others who release quantity over quality some might say.

- There's a clear lack of innovation on both hardware AND software across Apple devices. Some might say "if it ain't broke don't fix it." But we all saw how that affected companies like Blackberry. Most of Apple's devices haven't changed form or function in years. They might look nice but where's the innovation Apple is famous for? Hell iOS basically looks and functions the way it did in 2007 with some additional small features. And now they're pumping out more device versions more quickly?

Overall why is Apple increasing the frequency of update cycles? And then when it comes out it's 0.001 mm thinner and has the same iOS as before. Sure some could argue it captures the market of consumers who don't yet have Apple devices and if they decide to buy, there's a greater chance they'll have the "latest and greatest." But that comes at a cost of those who wait to buy the next latest and greatest (all those lined up customers) now not doing it "holding off for the next real update." So maybe it's a trade off, capture new customers who might wake up tomorrow and say "I want an iPhone but the iPhone 5 is already old, but oo look the NEW one comes out in 3 months" versus the old days when they'd either have to get a 6 month old device or wait at least 6 more months for a new one.

 

[Handsome Bacon]

Heck yeah got my money all ready for iPad 5!

 

[BaldiMac]

I think those commenting how people shouldn't complain about increased product releases/updates and "just buy when you need it" are missing the points of others discussing how in some ways Apple is slipping:

- Apple products used to be released when they were ready and usually updates were never less than a year apart depending on the product line. This meant to Apple and consumers that 1.) consumer is getting a powerful, useful, and cutting edge product that will remain useful and relevant at least a year and 2.) This limited exposure created higher demand, remember all the lines around the block to get Apple products? And now note how those lines are shorter or non-existent as Apple updates product lines more quickly.

Only if you ignore actual dates and actual demand.

- Why is Apple suddenly updating and coming out with new versions of iPhones and iPads every few months versus every year or so? And is this trend also starting to occur in their computer line and iPod line? Seems like Apple is trying to just compete with others who release quantity over quality some might say.

The obvious answer is that they are not. The Fall iPad update could simply have been to consolidate all of their iOS devices to the Lightning connector. One data point isn't a trend.

- There's a clear lack of innovation on both hardware AND software across Apple devices. Some might say "if it ain't broke don't fix it." But we all saw how that affected companies like Blackberry. Most of Apple's devices haven't changed form or function in years. They might look nice but where's the innovation Apple is famous for? Hell iOS basically looks and functions the way it did in 2007 with some additional small features. And now they're pumping out more device versions more quickly?

Your "clear" conclusion being completely subjective. Your lack of change in "form or function" being demonstrably false. And your claim of lack on innovation being completely arbitrary.

 

[mrhick01]

Dear Apple.

if iOS 7 , and the quality of Mac OS doesn't return soon..doesn't reiterate what makes Apple Different from the rest of the companies.. then you are truly lost.

People cared about great hardware from you when they were in love with your software.

well, that love is dying. clearly apple's hardware divisions haven't fallen short since the dawn of Apple's great era.

but your software divisions are in huge need of focus and attention. you need to downgrade craig federghi to some lower level, as a provider of ideas. but you need someone like that bertland guy, to write Decent, reliable, and nearly bug proof Software.

I have trust in the design aesthetic of Jonathan Ive.

Apple still have hundreds, thousands of talented programmers.

I am excited to see what they will produce in the next couple of years.

 

[Gym Hellwig]

What really concerns me with Apple's potential accelerated product launches (on certain product lines) is the impact all these new models are having on the environment and that of the market. It's going to lead to a lot of fragmentation as clearly many people cannot afford just to go out and buy a brand new Apple device every single time a new generation is released.

And can a company really maintain a realistic quality control on these products at the same time?

Apple needs to slow down a bit before it starts getting messy.

The only way this can impact the environment (negatively) is if Apple sells a boatload of more products, which is the whole point of being in business.

 

[Jetson]

Let's not forget either that the Galaxy S IV is coming soon. A rumored feature sounds very interesting:

http://bgr.com/2013/03/04/galaxy-s-...m_source=featuredposts-widget&utm_medium=home

Why didn't Apple think of that? It sounds.. Apple-like and if Apple would have thought of that, iPhone users would be drooling over it and standing in line.

Eye tracking is something I am NOT interested in.

Creepy!