Production of Next-Gen iPad to Ramp in February? 'World Mode' Cellular Data Access?

[macintoshtoffy]

Look at the world map of CDMA subscribers here.

Just the ones in North America alone could easily become 1/3 of world iPad/iPhone sales.

(Many people have a naive belief that billions of GSM dumbphone users automatically translate into billions of GSM smartphone users who can pay for data plans. Actual sales results have been quite different, especially in poor countries.)

Those statistics are meaningless because the majority of these networks are being transitioned to W-CDMA from CDMA2000 so in many cases these networks have ceased taking new customers on board in favour of transitioning existing CDMA2000 customers to their new network. Why would Apple create a product for a technology that is being phased out in the majority of countries where it exists? in 5 years time the only bastion of CDMA2000 will be the US and a few banana republics who don't have the cash to upgrade let alone purchase an iPhone.

 

[pika2000]

Those statistics are meaningless because the majority of these networks are being transitioned to W-CDMA from CDMA2000 so in many cases these networks have ceased taking new customers on board in favour of transitioning existing CDMA2000 customers to their new network. Why would Apple create a product for a technology that is being phased out in the majority of countries where it exists? in 5 years time the only bastion of CDMA2000 will be the US and a few banana republicans who don't have the cash to upgrade let alone purchase an iPhone.

You got it. Even in countries like Japan and S. Korea, their CDMA providers are transitioning to W-CDMA/UMTS for 3G. Apple would probably rather focus on LTE rather than CDMA. Also, doing a CDMA iPad means provider locked. Apple seems to want the iPad to be provider agnostic.

 

[Northgrove]

Why always this focus on thinner? I can understand lighter, but a couple of mm's arent going to change the form factor and ease of use of the current model much. So why go trough all the trouble (and extra cost on the ipad) to, create something thinner?

I think there is a fetish among certain apple excecutives.

Because Apple are perfectionists, and price sometimes comes in second hand.

They're like that and have always been like that, and it's what's behind their strong brand.

Call it "fetish" if you wish -- if they weren't like this and felt like they could frequently skimp on features to meet low price goals, they'd be Dell.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Because Apple are perfectionists, and price sometimes comes in second hand.

They're like that and have always been like that, and it's what's behind their strong brand.

Call it "fetish" if you wish -- if they weren't like this and felt like they could frequently skimp on features to meet low price goals, they'd be Dell.

As long as they make big stuff too I am happy.
I like big thing like my MBP 17" and if they made it 18" i would buy it too.

 

[macintoshtoffy]

You got it. Even in countries like Japan and S. Korea, their CDMA providers are transitioning to W-CDMA/UMTS for 3G. Apple would probably rather focus on LTE rather than CDMA. Also, doing a CDMA iPad means provider locked. Apple seems to want the iPad to be provider agnostic.

in the case of New Zealand the current XT Network which is based on a 850/2100Mhz combination, 850 for coverage and 2100 for built up areas for capacity. HSDPA/HSPDA+ is being offered but I'd say that when CDMA2000 has finally been closed off there will be a move to offer LTE. The good side to using CDMA2000 for those years is that it forced Telecom NZ to do a clean build out of their W-CDMA setup rather than the horrible half baked half assed 'couldn't be bothered even if I tried' build out that Vodafone is currently doing.

 

[ibosie]

Is CDMA currently capable of the same speed as GSM?

 

[macintoshtoffy]

Is CDMA currently capable of the same speed as GSM?

CDMA2000 using EDVO has a max of around 3.1mbps depending on which technology the carrier chooses to implement.

W-CDMA, it depends on what technology the carrier chooses to use but down here in New Zealand XT Network has HSDPA, the 3G thumb device I use has a theoretical maximum of 3.6mbps but with better equipment you can get up to 7.2mbps using their mid range device and 21mbps using their top end Sierra Wireless 308 thumb device. As for download speed - I quite regularly get around 300KB/s when downloading stuff using my device (which has a max of 3.6mbps) so I'm reaching close to the max through put of my device

 

[Dias]

I wish Apple would offer a 7inch ipad size option on top of the 9.7 like they do with the macbook line. Thats the main reason i didn't buy a first gen...couldn't manage to fit it in at least a back pocket. I hate having to carry bags.

I agree, I'd love to have 7'' iPad, the current one is just too heavy/big as a reading device. :/

 

[drsmithy]

I really don't get this call for a higher resolution screen. 1024 x 768 is as many pixels as the 17" monitors of less than a couple of years ago, squeezed into roughly half the dimensions, this for a device which is held at arms length.

Really, the screen should be physically capable of at least 720p - or ideally 1080p - and accompanied by a form-factor change to accommodate the different aspect ratio. As a device almost entirely focused on media consumption, it amazes me it wasn't from day one.

 

[Bytor65]

Really, the screen should be physically capable of at least 720p - or ideally 1080p - and accompanied by a form-factor change to accommodate the different aspect ratio. As a device almost entirely focused on media consumption, it amazes me it wasn't from day one.

Nope. That should be the last consideration and given the 4:3 ratio, it was.

Video isn't even in the top 5 usage.

 

[karlwig]

I sense a very modest update.

Everything will be the same. Except:

- 512mb RAM
- Camera(s)
- Gyroscope

That's it. I can see this -- and this only -- coming a mile away.

iPad 3 will probably be the big, proper update with complete redesign, new processor, screen res bump and all that.

 

[drsmithy]

Video isn't even in the top 5 usage.

What's the list ?

 

[jca666us]

I agree but I'll also add this in. How are they going to do that? How can they leave it same size, and magically reduce weight. I know there is probably a few things, but would it really be noticeable? Also for those who say leave it same size and make a bigger battery. That = more weight. Don't get me wrong, I'm as excited as the rest of you because I held out for v2 for the facetime. My wife and I use it a ton. She's a stay at home mom w/ my lil boy so when I travel for work (1-2 weeks) at a time, it's nice to see them w/ my iPhone4, because sometimes the phone is all I got.

A different display technology that was more power efficient and/or better battery technology could enable a lighter iPad.

To make the iPad thinner - better battery tech and - if it's not already done - stealing a page from the iphone4 and glueing the front glass and led screen together.

The one thing that puts the iPad ahead of every tablet out there is the thinness PLUS the excellent battery life. Apples not stupid enough to sacrifice battery life for a few millimeters of thickness.

 

[jca666us]

I sense a very modest update.

Everything will be the same. Except:

- 512mb RAM
- Camera(s)
- Gyroscope

That's it. I can see this -- and this only -- coming a mile away.

iPad 3 will probably be the big, proper update with complete redesign, new processor, screen res bump and all that.

I think you're wrong on the CPU - I expect apple to go dual core with iPad 2 - because iOS 4.2 supports grand central dispatch.

Rim's playbook will support cortex a9, so I expect an a9 derived design for ipad2.

 

[jca666us]

Nope. That should be the last consideration and given the 4:3 ratio, it was.

Video isn't even in the top 5 usage.

While I agree changing the form factor of the device makes no sense, slightly higher resolution - like - 1440 x 768 wouldnt hurt.