Second Source Claims Apple Will Launch 10.5-inch iPad in 2017

[Rob_2811]

If Apple can put the kind of computing power they did in a little trash can (Mac Pro) why can't they put something close to it in something as large as an Imac? They can make it thicker if they want to.

Yes I can honestly see them making making the iMac thicker!

Have you seen the cooling system of the Mac Pro? That design allows for much better thermal management than the thin iMac chassis.

The trash can Mac Pro was deliberately designed like that with the cooling in mind, the fan is massive and the core is basically one big heatsink.

The Mac Pro fan, basically the entire top of the device ..

If you've ever used an iMac and a Mac Pro you know how much quieter the Mac Pros run under load.
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Don't forget "The iPad is dead." Even though the iPad has expanded in great lengths and is the best tablet on the market.

Expanded in size maybe but that's about it.

The sales are tanking. They've deceased for eight straight quarters in a row and a currently slightly above the lowest level they have ever been. That isn't just a blip.

If there is one product Apple should be concerned about it is the iPad.

 

[44267547]

Yes I can honestly see them making making the iMac thicker!

Have you seen the cooling system of the Mac Pro? That design allows for much better thermal management than the thin iMac chassis.

The trash can Mac Pro was deliberately designed like that with the cooling in mind, the fan is massive and the core is basically one big heatsink.

The Mac Pro fan, basically the entire top of the device ..

If you've ever used an iMac and a Mac Pro you know how much quieter the Mac Pros run under load.
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Expanded in size maybe but that's about it.

The sales are tanking. They've deceased for eight straight quarters in a row and a currently slightly above the lowest level they have ever been. That isn't just a blip.

If there is one product Apple should be concerned about it is the iPad.

I think tablet sales in general are stagnant. Agreed about the iPad sales halting for various reasons. Part Of reason is because is the plateau effect where nothing has changed significantly over the past few years. The Pro line offers quad speakers, Pencil Support and Tru-Tone display, is the major perks.

And the other reason is due to consumers don't feel the need to upgrade their current iPad, for reasons on par with their current device having plenty of power, affordability, newer features in the latest iPad they don't care about, ect.

Apple is in a position where now they are marketing the iPad as a device that can replace your computer. But I'm not disparaging against the iPad, it's the best and Most premium tablet on the market, in my opinion. Apple knows this, but technology can only move so fast. That said, what does Apple have in store for us this March? Guess we will find out.

 

[Davemania74]

I want Elon Musk how Apple CEO! The really person that can to change something in Apple

 

[Rob_2811]

I think tablet sales in general are stagnant. Agreed about the iPad sales halting for various reasons. Part Of reason is because is the plateau effect where nothing has changed significantly over the past few years. The Pro line offers quad speakers, Pencil Support and Tru-Tone display, is the major perks.

And the other reason is due to consumers don't feel the need to upgrade their current iPad, for reasons on par with their current device having plenty of power, affordability, newer features in the latest iPad they don't care about, ect.

Apple is in a position where now they are marketing the iPad as a device that can replace your computer. But I'm not disparaging against the iPad, it's the best and Most premium tablet on the market, in my opinion. Apple knows this, but technology can only move so fast. That said, what does Apple have in store for us this March? Guess we will find out.

Maybe but they aren't enough to make people upgrade particularly given the price increases.

The problem Apple have got with the iPad is simple, they cannot leave it a bigger iPhone and expect that people will want to part with $600 plus for them. This is precisely the reason that people are holding on to older models, the newer model don't offer enough reason to upgrade, it can do 90% of what the newer models can.

 

[sracer]

I think tablet sales in general are stagnant. Agreed about the iPad sales halting for various reasons. Part Of reason is because is the plateau effect where nothing has changed significantly over the past few years. The Pro line offers quad speakers, Pencil Support and Tru-Tone display, is the major perks.

And the other reason is due to consumers don't feel the need to upgrade their current iPad, for reasons on par with their current device having plenty of power, affordability, newer features in the latest iPad they don't care about, ect.

Apple is in a position where now they are marketing the iPad as a device that can replace your computer. But I'm not disparaging against the iPad, it's the best and Most premium tablet on the market, in my opinion. Apple knows this, but technology can only move so fast. That said, what does Apple have in store for us this March? Guess we will find out.

That situation is aggravated by the view that it's not the hardware that needs to be further advanced, but the software... iOS in particular. No, not in an iOS-must-morph-into-OSX type of way, but trivial, minor, and one or two moderate tweaks that would go a long way with further exploiting the platform without compromising the tablet experience.

But Apple is a hardware company. They produce software as a "necessary evil" for the advancement of sales of their hardware.

They're in a tough spot. Not a bad spot, but a tough one.

Maybe but they aren't enough to make people upgrade particularly given the price increases.

The problem Apple have got with the iPad is simple, they cannot leave it a bigger iPhone and expect that people will want to part with $600 plus for them. This is precisely the reason that people are holding on to older models, the newer model don't offer enough reason to upgrade, it can do 90% of what the newer models can.

Yes. That is a vicious treadmill to be on. Easy early on as advancements are made, but the iPad is a mature platform. There isn't much they can do that would add the same relative wow-factor to these later generations.

 

[0lf]

Maybe but they aren't enough to make people upgrade particularly given the price increases.

The problem Apple have got with the iPad is simple, they cannot leave it a bigger iPhone and expect that people will want to part with $600 plus for them. This is precisely the reason that people are holding on to older models, the newer model don't offer enough reason to upgrade, it can do 90% of what the newer models can.

I mostly agree, but to nuance a bit : at end of 2015, close to 2/3 of iPads in use where iPad 4 or earlier which are not compatible with split screen, slide over and PiP.

 

[Rob_2811]

I mostly agree, but to nuance a bit : at end of 2015, close to 2/3 of iPads in use where iPad 4 or earlier which are not compatible with split screen, slide over and PiP.

Which proves my point, a lot of people aren't rushing out to buy an iPad Air 2/Pro because of those features. The problem with the newer iPads is the added functionality isn't of much interest to a lot of casual users and is of limited use to power/pro users.

The iPad, particularly software wise, needs something closer to revolution than evolution.

 

[Mascots]

The sales are tanking. They've deceased for eight straight quarters in a row and a currently slightly above the lowest level they have ever been. That isn't just a blip.

If there is one product Apple should be concerned about it is the iPad.

They shouldn't be freaking out, but what's crazy is that Apple really doesn't seem at all concerned.

I think the hardware has been killing it - but marketing and pricing and software has been terrible.

 

[Rob_2811]

They shouldn't be freaking out, but what's crazy is that Apple really doesn't seem at all concerned.

I think the hardware has been killing it - but marketing and pricing and software has been terrible.

I agree.

 

[44267547]

Maybe but they aren't enough to make people upgrade particularly given the price increases.

The problem Apple have got with the iPad is simple, they cannot leave it a bigger iPhone and expect that people will want to part with $600 plus for them. This is precisely the reason that people are holding on to older models, the newer model don't offer enough reason to upgrade, it can do 90% of what the newer models can.

I agree Apple's price points for the iPads are over priced. When they increased the iPad Pro 9.7 by a $100.00 over the original $500.00 Air 2 price point, I was rather disappointed. And for features that could have been more promising besides Tru-Tone. But the quad speakers was a nice add on.

 

[koruki]

The Surface pro killed this in the water, the iPad is the most useless piece of tech I have in the house. Most of the time it's used as a Spotify jukebox.

 

[kdarling]

I'm surprised at the lack of love that some show the iPad.

My wife uses a regular sized one, and I have minis all over the house and use them constantly. Especially in the bathroom or in bed, to surf, purchase, research, socialize, you name it.

People are correct that there's very little reason to upgrade them as long as they work.

Although I'm about to do that on the one I use the most, partly because I'm out of storage, and partly because I hate that it cannot support ad blocking. (I'd also like split screen as a perk.)

 

[0lf]

I'm surprised at the lack of love that some show the iPad.

My wife uses a regular sized one, and I have minis all over the house and use them constantly. Especially in the bathroom or in bed, to surf, purchase, research, socialize, you name it.

My ipad is the device I use the most at home, and I very like the device.
At work I am sitting all day long at a desk working on a HP elitebook, and the last thing I want to do at home is sitting at a desk using a notebook.
So,
- the more I can do on the tablet the better
- the more unobtrusive the tablet the better

 

[hiddenmarkov]

Maybe but they aren't enough to make people upgrade particularly given the price increases.

The problem Apple have got with the iPad is simple, they cannot leave it a bigger iPhone and expect that people will want to part with $600 plus for them. This is precisely the reason that people are holding on to older models, the newer model don't offer enough reason to upgrade, it can do 90% of what the newer models can.

Basically. While the pencil is nice...its the only real IPP only feature I use. Graphics wise as seen by iOS gaming (best stress test of graphics imo really) more than the half of what is out there will run on the old stuff. And the small percentage that doesn't...runs on ipad mini 4's no issue. ties to iOS devs liking to make as much money as they can. making an IPP only game, or any application class in general, is a risky move. As it cut off a lot markets out there.
So for a few years older ipads supported but not latest and greatest will be the ye olde minimum requirements.

My upgrade spurred by split use wife/son older ipad mini was on its last leg really. Been to hell and back wear and tear wise and due to smaller memory size....I just tired of making room for new stuff. Got the 9.7 ipp, hand me downed the mini 4 to son/wife. This situation not in play....I'd have no reason to upgrade.

And with the old stuff still around (my px has the old stuff right next to the new stuff) we want to talk units sold these would be among them. Its not all expansion here the take away...its apple and 3rd party retailers selling off old stock to make a mild profit (if at all) vice a loss as that older gear is not getting any younger setting around the store.

 

[Rob_2811]

Basically. While the pencil is nice...its the only real IPP only feature I use. Graphics wise as seen by iOS gaming (best stress test of graphics imo really) more than the half of what is out there will run on the old stuff. And the small percentage that doesn't...runs on ipad mini 4's no issue. ties to iOS devs liking to make as much money as they can. making an IPP only game, or any application class in general, is a risky move. As it cut off a lot markets out there.
So for a few years older ipads supported but not latest and greatest will be the ye olde minimum requirements.

My upgrade spurred by split use wife/son older ipad mini was on its last leg really. Been to hell and back wear and tear wise and due to smaller memory size....I just tired of making room for new stuff. Got the 9.7 ipp, hand me downed the mini 4 to son/wife. This situation not in play....I'd have no reason to upgrade.

And with the old stuff still around (my px has the old stuff right next to the new stuff) we want to talk units sold these would be among them. Its not all expansion here the take away...its apple and 3rd party retailers selling off old stock to make a mild profit (if at all) vice a loss as that older gear is not getting any younger setting around the store.

Yep, they just aren't going to bother.

Which is in part due to the other major issue with the iPad, the software environment, not just the OS but the App store also.

Devs are put off creating pro grade software for iOS because they just can't sell it for the kind of money that they do on the desktop. Can you imagine somebody trying to sell an App on the App store for $300?

The App store rules are too restrictive aswell, no free trials allowed for example. Nobody is going to pay pro software prices without the benefit of a free trial so they can try before they buy.

In fact forget the OS that situation is an even bigger problem. If Apple ever wants the iPad to be a true productivity device they need to rectify that.

 

[0lf]

Which proves my point, a lot of people aren't rushing out to buy an iPad Air 2/Pro because of those features. The problem with the newer iPads is the added functionality isn't of much interest to a lot of casual users and is of limited use to power/pro users.

The iPad, particularly software wise, needs something closer to revolution than evolution.

To be more precise, I agree with

the newer model don't offer enough reason to upgrade

but I disagree the "bigger iPhone" part. The iPad is already more than that, thanks to multitasking, pencil and keyboard support. And only people who are not upgrading are stuck to a "bigger iPhone" experience.

 

[hiddenmarkov]

To be more precise, I agree with

but I disagree the "bigger iPhone" part. The iPad is already more than that, thanks to multitasking, pencil and keyboard support. And only people who are not upgrading are stuck to a "bigger iPhone" experience.

There is a wide variety of stylus choices for non IPP use. Something will exist to make a user happy. I use the pencil damn near like a stylus on my IPP. Only pencil feature I leverage is finger is now scrolling in say Notability and pencil signals to write. step up from double finger to scroll, 1 finger or stylus to write. Prevents miss writing when I forget this or do something wrong.

And the wireless apple keyboard works almost as well with non IPP as well. For basic uses like word documents and spreadsheets it works well enough. Used this setup when non IPP, worked well enough for tasks I whipped this setup out for.

that wireless keyboard a real nifty device tbh. It also worked with iphones, apple tv and Mac variants (ofc). Where as the keyboards for IPP kind of only work on IPP. Apple gave a nice matching set keyboard I will grant but....that generic keyboard says keyboard use nothing new here all the same.

 

[Rob_2811]

To be more precise, I agree with

but I disagree the "bigger iPhone" part. The iPad is already more than that, thanks to multitasking, pencil and keyboard support. And only people who are not upgrading are stuck to a "bigger iPhone" experience.

But most people are not upgrading because they dont care about the keyboard and pencil support.

Another problem is if you want the keyboard and pencil as well thats two more additional charges. The 128 gb 9.7 inch Pro in the Uk with Pencil and Keyboard is £887, the 12.9 same configuration is £1087

For £10 more than the 128gb 12.9 with pencil and keyboard you can buy a 256 gb 13inch MacBook Air, the 128 gb MacBook Air is cheaper! Thats crazy pricing really, Apple should've thought about bundling the keyboard case at least.

It will be interesting to see what they do with the hardware refresh, those prices go up any more and the 12.9 is going to in 13 inch MacBook Pro territory, 2015 version anyway.

 

[Rob_2811]

9to5 Mac reporting that he bezeless iPad is going to be thicker.

 

[ColdShadow]

"pro" stand for a feature set. A 10.5" and 9.7" ipads with same size and feature set make the 9.7 one irrelevant.
The 9.7 is relevant if it has a different feature set.

Sorry but what feature sets are available on iPad Pro 9.7 that were not available on iPad Air 2 beside the usual spec upgrades etc? the pencil and KB support could be added to any of the iPads.
these are very minor options and diesn't make the device "Pro",unless "Pro" is just a branding.which is.

 

[0lf]

Sorry but what feature sets are available on iPad Pro 9.7 that were not available on iPad Air 2 beside the usual spec upgrades etc? the pencil and KB support could be added to any of the iPads.
these are very minor options and diesn't make the device "Pro",unless "Pro" is just a branding.which is.

Yeah, beside what is different, they are the same device.

 

[ColdShadow]

Yeah, beside what is different, they are the same device.

there is nothing different that is "Pro" level.

 

[0lf]

there is nothing different that is "Pro" level.

Oh, I did not know you are the one who universally define what is "pro" level. My mistake.
Obviously, pro is a branding. It stand "pro" iPad are better at creation than non "pro" iPad. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[ColdShadow]

Oh, I did not know you are the one who universally define what is "pro" level. My mistake.
Obviously, pro is a branding. It stand "pro" iPad are better at creation than non "pro" iPad. Nothing more, nothing less.

Attaching a keyboard and supporting an stylus pen is all the difference.
so if these options define Professional grade to you then Ive got nothing to say.

 

[0lf]

Attaching a keyboard and supporting an stylus pen is all the difference.
so if these options define Professional grade to you then Ive got nothing to say.

These options do allow for better creation. Period.
Professionals don't let branding tells them what they can use for working. They know their need and choose a device accordingly. And some professionals do choose to use iPad pro for work. A pro grade tool is defined by its efficiency in doing some pro work. That is exactly what the iPad is for some task and some people.

By naming iPad and iPad pro, Apple do not tell that the iPad pro is a professional device and the iPad is not. Apple tell that, by its more extensive feature set, the iPad pro is a professional device for more people and for more tasks.