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

[PatriotInvasion]

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'm not necessarily asking for Android's bloated home screen interface, but I do think there are some things that Apple can do within the grid structure to make things a little more interesting and useful.

And, when I'm in an app, I think they can do better than the current app switching procedure of double clicking the home button and scouring through a horizontal scroll of madness until I see the app I want. Just saying, I think there's still plenty of room for innovation on the iOS side more than the hardware side.

 

[iSunrise]

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.

I am going to test it at a store first. I don´t want my thumbs to sit on the screen space. I actually like the look of the iPad as it is now.

If iOS7 doesn´t offer any improvements on the software side, I also won´t upgrade. Apple better start to implement something useful for a change. Only that is worth it, nothing else. My iPad3 is gorgeous, not going to sell it if the new devices don´t offer anything new. The iPad 4 was a huge letdown.

I have way better ideas where I can spend my money on.

 

[mdelvecchio]

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.

apple doesnt expect conumers to upgrade every generation. thats insanity, which is limited to geeky enthuthiasts like ourselves, not the normal public. no different than TV or auto manufacturers refreshing their product lines every year -- nobody expects you to upgrade those and i doubt you do.

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

the QC process is designed on each line as its current. once theyre depreciated it's a matter of following the well established QC doctrine. not terribly difficult to a seasoned vet.

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The bitter side of me wants the 5S to fail. Then maybe the yawn-inducing S models will be a thing of the past.

once you realize the S-models are merely refreshed updates to the hardware, the sooner youll stop being disappointed. it is not expected to reinvent the wheel each release, and consumers are not expected to upgrade each release. (enthusiasts are not the target market)

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...or in other words, nothing new coming out. But some old stuff gets repacked.

What happened to 'Think Different'?

apple's product strategy has been iterative improvement for longer than youve probably been aware of them.

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Completely re-designed?

No.

But do something more than slap an "S" on the box and call it an "upgrade."

you havent really researched the differences between the S models, have you? the 3GS was a vast, vast improvement over the 3. everything was way more fluid, the maps could auto rotate, etc. the 4S had siri, of course, all new antenna system, faster cellular, a great camera, etc etc.. both had something like double the CPU and 4x th GPU.

neither of these could be anything other than an upgrade.

again: they are not designed to compel users to upgrade everything single release. they are incremental refreshes to an existing line. like your stereo, or TV.

 

[quickmac]

Only if you ignore actual dates and actual demand.




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.

Except all you need to do is look at the product lines. Show me the innovation. Because when I look at a 2007 iPhone and a 2013 iPhone I see the same rectangular shaped device with the same interface and same icons. The same UI and the same form overall. Sure some new features got added and some new specs were introduced but it's nothing innovative, just incremental upgrades. Same with the Macbook Pros, Mac Pros, iMacs, and iPads. The retina display was the "biggest" thing to happen to macs in years and even that's just a spec upgrade. Look at a 2007 Macbook pro and a 2013 Macbook pro. Same design unless you consider a few millimeters thinner innovation. That's a lack of innovation.

Before the iPhone Apple really did push limits and put out innovative designs. Their designs were fresh and the industry followed their lead. Hell they practically created new markets and new product lines. Thinner isn't innovation. The same UI since 2007 isn't innovation. They're stagnant because people expect Apple to be innovative and groundbreaking and they haven't done anything since 2010's iPad.

 

[BaldiMac]

Except all you need to do is look at the product lines. Show me the innovation.

Sure. How many do you want?

Here's a few from the iPhone:
Retina display
External antenna with intelligent switcing
App Store
Siri
Unified notification server
iCloud
Passbook

Because when I look at a 2007 iPhone and a 2013 iPhone I see the same rectangular shaped device

with the same interface

Only if the home screen is the only feature you use on your phone.

and same icons.

The same UI and the same form overall.

Only if you willfully ignore all the changes.

Sure some new features got added and some new specs were introduced but it's nothing innovative, just incremental upgrades. Same with the Macbook Pros, Mac Pros, iMacs, and iPads. The retina display was the "biggest" thing to happen to macs in years and even that's just a spec upgrade. Look at a 2007 Macbook pro and a 2013 Macbook pro. Same design unless you consider a few millimeters thinner innovation. That's a lack of innovation.

Only if you define innovation arbitrarily to fit your argument.

Before the iPhone Apple really did push limits and put out innovative designs. Their designs were fresh and the industry followed their lead. Hell they practically created new markets and new product lines.

And they've done that several times since the iPhone. Not sure your point here.

Thinner isn't innovation. The same UI since 2007 isn't innovation. They're stagnant because people expect Apple to be innovative and groundbreaking and they haven't done anything since 2010's iPad.

Again, pretending all the innovation and changes that Apple has made across their product lines since 2007 didn't happen isn't a real argument.

 

[Gym Hellwig]

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).

That same thinking brought us the disaster that was Windows 8. Not all "innovation" is for the better. Windows 8 proved that innovation can be for the worse.

 

[iBreatheApple]

I'm always against people bitching about product update. It's going to happen. Technology is evolving faster than ever. But s**tdamn, April already? I mean geez. This is getting kind of sloppy. Hoping this is just a rumor.

 

[irDigital0l]

iPad Mini with Retina display.

 

[Fireball Dragon]

I'm still rocking my original iPad. Haven't found any real need to update it. Based on my use case - added speed/memory isn't worth it. Only "worthwhile" feature for me would be the camera(s). But since my phone can do that - no rush.

Good on you for keeping with the original ipad! I wish I had that much self-control. I was planning to keep the original ipad (still prefer the curved back), but craved with the retina display on the iPad 3...

In all honesty, for the tasks I use the iPad for, I don't need anything more powerful...

 

[Infinitewisdom]

This has probably been said already, but I'm not wading through all 9 pages to check: no way new iPads are released in April. It's March already, we would've already heard of a gigantic ramp up in production by now if the release date were in April.

 

[Squilly]

I really think the only reason everything was updated early was due to the Lightning connector change. They'll probably still stick to the one-year cycle. At least I hope they keep it that way.

 

[iLilana]

Dear apple

TOOO FAST!!!!!! slow down. product releases back to once a year please. Give people a chance to catch up financially before you toss out some more crack... er i mean mac.

 

[smoking monkey]

If they release the iPad 5, will there be a "normally priced" iPad 2 still around, or will that become the iPad 3? If so, for the first time, you could get a retina iPad for the original iPad price. I think the new iPads are currently just too expensive.

I hope the iPad Mini with retina (whenever that will be) will remain the same price.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is an iPad 3 anymore. It's just 4 and 2. So if the 5 comes out, then the cheaper model will be the 4? I can't really see that happening to be honest. Perhaps they will just sell the one iPad model in 9.7 from the 5 forward with the mini as the differentiator...???

 

[WatchTheThrone]

The bitter side of me wants the 5S to fail. Then maybe the yawn-inducing S models will be a thing of the past.

The 5 was a yawn. The 5S is gonna have way more features on the hardware and software side!! iOS 7 is where it's at and that with a fingerprint sensor is what will get everyone buzzin again!!

 

[3lite]

Anybody know about the Best Buy 30 day return policy? Lets say I go and return my ipad 4 now, then go to a different store and buy the ipad 4, and within 30 days can I return said new ipad 4?

 

[senseless]

It'll be called the 5s because s stands for "siri"?

 

[newyorksole]

It'll be called the 5s because s stands for "siri"?

Lol

 

[SactoGuy18]

I do think a new full-size iPad with the iPad mini-like case is coming next month. And with its physically smaller size, will be a hot seller, too. The iPad mini with the Retina display may not arrive until this fall.

 

[Bokes]

ipad 5.
April.
yes.

 

[dampfnudel]

I do think a new full-size iPad with the iPad mini-like case is coming next month. And with its physically smaller size, will be a hot seller, too. The iPad mini with the Retina display may not arrive until this fall.

Yeah, it would probably be a wise move for Apple to give the iPad 5 a few months to shine before that cannibalizing retina iPad mini 2 arrives.

 

[buysp]

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.

Totally Agree

 

[Redrum509]

So if iPad 5 does come out next month when would the invites for the announcement come out?

 

[ZivaD]

When a new iPad or iPhone comes out do all the older models suddenly stop working, or is it just that all the entitled children just get a little too excited and complain till mummy buys them a new one?

It's not like they don't go to say, I don't know, mac rumours so wouldn't know about impending updates is it...

 

[irDigital0l]

So if iPad 5 does come out next month when would the invites for the announcement come out?

a week before

 

[Redrum509]

a week before

Ok thanks.