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

[44267547]

Looking forward to the new iPads, hope they add something that compels me to update, my iPad Air 2 has me no reason getting the iPad Pro, and the iPad 12.9 is great.

That seems to be the consensus with the Air 2. Aside from Tru-Tone display, quad speaker And Apple Pencil Support, there is no real reason to upgrade over the Air 2. And the 9.7 Pro is only 19% faster.

I think the March 2017 KeyNote will be compelling enough to see where Apple is taking the iPad and what significant changes will be made. Because the way I see it, the Air 2 is fairly comparable to the 9.7 Pro.

 

[Jsameds]

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

Top comment complaining that Apple are releasing faster machines. Unbelievable.

The asylum has been taken over by the inmates.

 

[MH01]

Or maybe it's just that for those people, their needs cannot be met with a conventional PC.

I don't see why it's considered so taboo to admit that a PC is not a perfect fit for 100% of PC users out there, and that for these people, the iPad might meet their needs better.

Most users don't need a PC , hence why the iPad is great
[doublepost=1482568925][/doublepost]

I don't think you realised that I was being sarcastic....

But I agree with you, iPads can replace computers for most of the same people that smartphones replaced their computers. An iPad is a more suitable replacement but it has always been for those people, regardless of the 'Pro' in the name.

My bad, I'm a fan of good sarcasm , my bad for missing it

 

[Abazigal]

Most users don't need a PC , hence why the iPad is great

Correction. It's not that we don't need a PC. It's that our needs can't be met with one. There's a difference.

@MH01 updated.

 

[MH01]

Correction. It's not that we don't need a PC. It's that our can't be met with one. There's a difference.

I think you are missing a word there, again please.

 

[Hank Carter]

The resolution back then was 600 by 400px though

More like 320x200 or 640x200.

But regardless of the resolution no one wants to squint at a tiny cramped screen like that to do serious work.

 

[Fatboy71]

I hope that if a rumoured 10 inch model is released with no bezels and no Home button, that the larger and smaller sized iPad's are bezel and Home button free too. Seems a bit stupid to have one out of the three models having these features.

It's heavily rumoured the iPhone will be a Home button and possible bezel free design next year, so why not get users used to the idea by having all three iPad models sharing this design.

 

[macgabe]

Never stop being amazed by that figure. 10nm. 1/50th the wavelength of visible light. How on earth do they do it?!

Sources in Apple's supply chain are suggesting that "lower-than-expected" yield rates for the 10-nanometer manufacturing process could "disrupt the schedule" of next year's iPad launch, previously rumored to be coming in March 2017 (via DigiTimes). Specifically, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Samsung are said to be facing the biggest issues with their 10nm processes, and TSMC's in turn has the potential to delay production for the A10X chips in the next-generation of iPads.

Apple typically sticks to the same manufacturing process for "X" labeled chips, and the current-generation A10 chip was crafted using the 16-nanometer process. The move to a more efficient 10nm chip in a new iPad line, while still unconfirmed, would go towards making the tablet more power efficient and able to fuel a speedier operating system experience for users.

Recent rumors suggest that the 2017 line of iPads will include three models: refreshed 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch versions, along with an all-new bezel-free 10.9-inch model. The new bezel-free model is said to be a thicker iPad at 7.5mm (the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro measures 6.1mm) and not include a Home Button. The specific size of the new iPad has varied in reports, including rumors that it will be 10.1 inches, 10.5 inches, and -- most recently -- 10.9 inches.

In the same report, DigiTimes mentioned that TSMC is also gearing up to produce A11 chips in the upcoming "iPhone 8." According to supply chain sources, volume production for those chips is expected to begin in Q2 2017, which aligns with Apple's annual September iPhone launch schedule.

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

 

[NachoGrande]

Let me guess, and you only use your iPhone to make calls?

Nope, I flip through the internet on it too. But the ipad is a consumption device. Every type of input is painfully clumsy. Copy paste/selecting email attachments. Even my email address with a under score is a pain because I have to go down two levels.

I've never felt the need to upgrade it and I'm looking for a reason too. The Pro looks somewhat nice but for the price point I can edit photos in my desktop with my wacom tablet.

 

[UltimaKilo]

We're still 2-3 years away from seeing the iPad and MacBook merged. Once they've perfected 10nm (Icelake/Tiger Lake?), I can really see the iPad boasting enough power to be a laptop replacement.

Until then, it's not even worth opening up the OS.

I agree, the current iPad is more than enough to replace a computer for a lot of consumers. However, Apple needs to do something with the iPad; it's competitors are offering great alternatives for a fraction of the cost and have quickly caught up to Apple.

 

[NachoGrande]

Top comment complaining that Apple are releasing faster machines. Unbelievable.

The asylum has been taken over by the inmates.

What a well written and meaningful retort It's a consumption device. I surprised they didn't move to a 18/24 month release schedule sooner, but they need to release something,bucause the surface is gaining traction.

 

[maflynn]

process could "disrupt the schedule" of next year's iPad launch

I don't keep up on the iPad news, but boy I bet Cook and team can't wait to see 2016 head off into the sunset. Its been a year of reacting to bad news.

Hopefully this is a temporary situation and the iPads won't get delayed

 

[dj23andMe]

A10X 10-nanometer low yields implies: Cannon Lake --> "Cannon Late".

 

[Abazigal]

Nope, I flip through the internet on it too. But the ipad is a consumption device. Every type of input is painfully clumsy. Copy paste/selecting email attachments. Even my email address with a under score is a pain because I have to go down two levels.

I've never felt the need to upgrade it and I'm looking for a reason too. The Pro looks somewhat nice but for the price point I can edit photos in my desktop with my wacom tablet.

You might want to save your email address as a text expansion snippet, using @@ as a shortcut. I do this on all my Apple devices, and it result makes typing out my email address a lot faster.

As for copy / paste, consider trying out the Copied app.

https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/copied-copy-paste-everywhere/id1015767349?mt=8&uo=4

Not sure what you mean by selecting email attachments. The icon is right there in the email app.

We're still 2-3 years away from seeing the iPad and MacBook merged. Once they've perfected 10nm (Icelake/Tiger Lake?), I can really see the iPad boasting enough power to be a laptop replacement.

Until then, it's not even worth opening up the OS.

I agree, the current iPad is more than enough to replace a computer for a lot of consumers. However, Apple needs to do something with the iPad; it's competitors are offering great alternatives for a fraction of the cost and have quickly caught up to Apple.

Competitors like who? The android tablet market is all but dead in the water and for all intents and purposes, the iPad market is the tablet market.

 

[cics]

10nm? Wow. That's about 100, 110 atoms wide?

Getting ever-closer to the limits of physics.

Yes! It's exciting. I think about what's next? Quantum CPUs?

 

[2457282]

I agree. One major gap is working on spreadsheets.

Back in the day, the spreadsheet was the killer app that made personal computers relevant. Even today, they are necessary for most office workers' day to day business activity. Without a pointing device (e.g. mouse), iPads are still suboptimal for working on spreadsheets. You can do it, but it can get real awkward if you are working on something even mildly complex.

And please don't try with the Apple Numbers App. It really lacks some basic stuff for anyone that wants to do mildly complex things, like pivot tables or database connections.

 

[Math889]

So disappointed with TSMC....... why not to put an 16nm A10X ?

 

[Abazigal]

And please don't try with the Apple Numbers App. It really lacks some basic stuff for anyone that wants to do mildly complex things, like pivot tables or database connections.

One of these days, I really have to get round to googling what a pivot table really is.

 

[MacBH928]

There was a time when people purchased products and kept them 3-5 years happy, which is still true for cars and consoles. iPod yearly upgrades spoiled people and made them expect a revolutionary product every 12 months.

If technology stagnated, then it did and there is nothing they can do about it. But I see a lot of place for improvement on the software side. If you go back in time, you can see ancient computers from late 80s and early 90s doing amazing things. Now what if efficient smart code was written for modern devices like the iPad?

 

[PsykX]

No new Macs, no new iPads in such a long time... Can I know what the hell they're working on !?

 

[Jsameds]

What a well written and meaningful retort It's a consumption device. I surprised they didn't move to a 18/24 month release schedule sooner, but they need to release something,bucause the surface is gaining traction.

It's true though. Moan when it's not fast enough, moan when when they're bumping the speed. Computing devices can never be made to be too fast.

As for a better retort, the device needs a higher res screen for 4K purposes really, and to support future more demanding iOS updates like more advanced multitasking and such, which basically means a longer lifespan of the device in general.

Anyway, have an nice Christmas!

 

[Math889]

No new Macs, no new iPads in such a long time... Can I know what the hell they're working on !?

Nothing . First , the traditional iPad cycle was broken. The IPad Pro 2 should have appeared on the October event .
Now, the iPad cycle is 1 year and half., that's ok, it is tolerable. Now TSMC can't produce 10nm chip ??? Aren't they SUPPOSED to be better than Samsung ? I can see the IPad cycle going for 2 years because of A DELAY in production of A10X chip. Well , If an new iPad won't be released in March , I will probably buy the 12.9' iPad . (I am in due to upgrade my iPad in march )
Question : is it worth to buy the 12.9 IPad in 2017?

 

[Pupi]

I don't see why Apple can't skip the A10 altogether and debut the A11 with the iPad in March... used to be that way with the A4 and the A5 with the original iPad and iPad 2.

 

[Count Blah]

Top comment complaining that Apple are releasing faster machines. Unbelievable.

The asylum has been taken over by the inmates.

Apple - Expect Less!!

 

[ipedro]

So on a serious question, if you went on a big job, you would use an iPad as your primary? Can u ask why over a laptop? Sounds like you are compromising using a weaker tool.

I'm not having a go, I want your honest opinion why you would use an iPad over a laptop

When it comes to work, I would only choose to use an iPad over a traditional computer if it gave me an actual advantage. After years of waiting, the iPad Pro finally does that.

Editing directly on the screen cuts my editing time down by a significant amount. This is possible because of Lightroom's Creative Cloud. Sitting at the shoot or a cafe with my iPad in my lap, swiping through photos in rapid succession using gestures to choose my selects and then directly manipulating sliders on the iPad to adjust settings beats sitting at my iMac doing the same with a mouse and keyboard. Most of the work can be done right in Lightroom for iOS and on occasion, I switch to Photoshop Fix for iOS to clean up an image that needs it and I use the Apple Pencil to get pixel point precision that I can't achieve on a computer without a Wacom tablet (sold mine).

So yes, I would and do use my iPad at big jobs. At all jobs. I haven't upgraded my MacBookPro (bought the iPad Pro instead) and it sits unused in its old laptop bag in the closet waiting for me to actually find a situation where I'd need it instead of the iPad Pro. I even use the iPad Pro when I'm home and the computer is right there. It's measurably better for my line of work.

Uploading and editing RAW photos works without lag on the iPad Pro but I do feel it pushing its limits because it warms up noticeably and I have just enough space (128GB) to upload and edit a big job before I get on WiFi and it offloads all the RAWs to the cloud.

So... once again, yes, bring on a more powerful iPad Pro. It's the future whether or not Mac traditionalists (I was an early Mac adopter) want it to be or not. The true measure of success in any field is one's ability to adapt to and take new technologies and methods to gain an edge over those who can't or won't.