Rumored March 2017 iPad Update in Question Due to Poor Chip Yield Rates

[soupcan]

Good, maybe this'll force Apple to focus on their actual computer lineup. You know, Macs.

 

[mtcowdog]

A rumored release of an unannounced product can't be delayed or late. I think Apple faces volume production issues with every product at a scale beyond those of any other tech company. In that sense. rumors of chip yield issues are hardly surprising in any context for Apple.

 

[lightmyway]

does anyone really need a "faster" iPad? It's an internet reading device...

It's a computer. My primary computer. If you haven't used an iPad Air 2 or Pro, I would understand thinking it's just an internet reading device. But the RAM and speed bumps have made it incredibly capable for me in ways that older ones really couldn't.

 

[pat500000]

Thinner and lighter concept...

Seriously, I rather hear Tim make bigger and thicker. I don't think we're ready for 10nm.

If it's delay, I really hope Mac Pro is announced on march.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Except Steve Jobs predicted that the iPad would replace the traditional computer.

By the time the world would rewrite the last 50 years of software to run on it, tablets and iOS will be as outdated and obsolete as the mainframe sitting in our basement.

some of it is just too difficult and costly to reconfigure for tablet computing. Even Apple themselves, after doing all the work it takes to try, admitted they couldn't figure out how to get a version of OSX on a tablet that's not a poor UX. I hate using a typewriter to interact with a computer, more than anyone, but iOS is not poised to take over the future of computing.

 

[GoodWheaties]

It even has more I/O 'ports' than the 12" MacBook.

How? They both have one port and a headphone jack.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

does anyone really need a "faster" iPad? It's an internet reading device...

Not for all of us.

(Sent from my iPad Pro which accomplishes real productive work)

 

[MaciMac100]

How? They both have one port and a headphone jack.

SIM-card slot?

 

[Koodauw]

Issues with a chip supplier yields and development? This is a new issue. Something something IBM.

 

[pommie82]

The only thing i could honestly say the iPad needs really is a bigger battery no one would moan at 20-hour battery life instead of a 10-hour battery life surely

 

[marty11]

Apple 2011:

Supplier: "Mr Jobs, chip yield is low and we can't produce enough for the upcoming project"

Steve Jobs: "I will either find another supplier or invest in a production facility to make what Apple needs on time and put you out of business"

Apple 2016: "Mr Cook, chip yield is low and we can't produce enough for the upcoming project"

Tim Cook: "Awe bummer, have a happy holiday"

 

[Apple Corps]

Let's be fair here, the low chip yield is not really Apple's fault. Delays like this are also nothing unique to Apple's suppliers.

Let's be realistic as well - Apple chose their chip suppliers and with all their resources they are expected to properly vet those suppliers for quality, volume capacity, price, etc.

 

[IG88]

Apple needs to take control over manufacturing and stop relying on other companies.

They don't want to. As it stands now they can bend the manufacturers over on unit pricing and fist them on schedule / production.

If Apple ran the mfg there would be pushback from whatever VP is in charge of it. That VP would push back on unit price / schedule / production rate because he gets measured on how well his dept meets commitments.

 

[magicschoolbus]

But what you are very clearly highlighting is a change by application developers, not iOS or the hardware. I'm a software engineer. Over the past 12 years, I've developed a framework that powers every website and web application that I develop. It has 20x more functionality today than it did 10 years ago, but consumes 1/10th of the resources.

It's up to application developers to *optimize* their software, and sadly, this is too-often omitted from the development workflow. I work in a company right now that has not cared about this over the past 5 years, and I'm left to clean up the mess. Optimization does matter.

I agree- but you've kind of made my point.

 

[satchmo]

I would be VERY VERY disappointed if Apple won't release an new iPad Pro in march

Fear not...Tim says they have great things on a roadmap and in a pipeline.

Besides, I think there are other products that need to be updated before the iPad Pro.

 

[BvizioN]

He missed the big one, porn watching device.....

He did but you didn't. Guess you too good on that

 

[smulji]

Except Steve Jobs predicted that the iPad would replace the traditional computer.

That's not what he said. Suggest you watch this

https://sixcolors.com/post/2016/12/cars-and-trucks-and-mac-suvs/

 

[Floris]

Ah great, another product that will be years behind ..

Why doesn't Apple just say: We don't want to do work anymore, we are so rich we can buy countries now and stop poverty in africa and give water to everybody in the world for 5 years .. But we really want to sell you an expensive car experience "once or twice and then delay it"

THey're seriously turning this fanboy into a yawnboy .. maybe its time i just stop checking the site in excitement, its like a first date, apple keeps standing me up.

ill just go spend my money on my rent i guess.

 

[profets]

How? They both have one port and a headphone jack.

SIM-card slot?

My guess is that the Smart Connector is what he was referring to.

 

[redscull]

does anyone really need a "faster" iPad? It's an internet reading device...

Yes. Because web pages are getting consistently slower with all the bloated crap and poor coding practices being used to make them. I can barely even browse MacRumors on my Air 1's A7 anymore it's so bad while the A9 in my phone handles it flawlessly.

I am waiting on an A10 iPad with 4GB. Whether it's March or September, that's getting my money. I miss being able to use my iPad for web browsing.

 

[Codeseven]

Unfortunately yes!
If the march iPad be delayed , I won't upgrade my Air 2 anytime soon

Same for me with my Air 1.

 

[xmonkey]

10nm? I never expected that to show up until the new iPhone. Don't see the issue in going with 16nm still...

 

[redscull]

You're machine does not get slower it just isn't as fasted the new processors. Give me an example of an application that's grown to the point of needing a faster processor?

Viewing MacRumors.com. Honestly I don't know if it's CPU or RAM cause it's not like I can upgrade just one or the other. But I used to be able to view this site fluidly and flawlessly on my Air 1. Now it's so painfully slow and prone to crashing I only use my phone (SE) or laptop to view it. And no, I assure you this isn't an internet speed issue.

To be fair, if it's not the fault of macrumors.com, then my example is iOS 10's Safari itself.

 

[smulji]

That is incorrect , Jobs compared the transition from desktop/laptop PCs to tablets with the transition from trucks to cars. And made it very clear "PCs are going to be like trucks. They’re still going to be around, they’re still going to have a lot of value, but they’re going to be used by one out of X people.”

He made it very clear that PC, like trucks today are very necessary, those who need them will continue to purchase them , no car can do the duties of a truck. On MR this quote is very much misinterpreted , trucks (PCs) are not going away, just most people do not require a computer to read email, surf the web, communicate , social media etc etc.

Couldn't agree more. Just to extend that analogy in 2016, I would say iPhones are like cars, iPads are like SUVs, and Macs are like trucks.

 

[69Mustang]

Except when we're using it for photo editing, word processing, coding (without compilers unfortunately), note taking, music editing, drawing, watching movies, etc.

I think the words that @NachoGrande replaced with the ellipsis were "for the vast majority of consumers."