Tim Cook Says 'Exciting Things' Coming to iPad as Tablet Sales Continue to Drop

[Digital Skunk]

Great! Can't wait to see what they have. Especially since some things are obvious. I really hope they keep the current iPad Pro accessories relevant, and for some time into the future. Update and improve those accessories, and release new ones, but let's not make the iPad Pro "thinner" and make the $180 keyboard utterly useless.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Something I can buy for under $10, instead of renting for $6/view.

OK I get it now. I agree, and I want BetaMax players too because I can get those even cheaper on eBay.

 

[gnipgnop]

Speaking from my own use case, the bigger phone does not take over for the iPad. Not even close. I have the 7 plus, yet when I want to read a magazine, look at a book with photos (photography/food/landscape/art), look at or edit my own photos, look at photos on Flickr/Facebook, watch a video, read a comic, browse the web, multitask with two apps, use the Pencil to take some notes or touch up a photo on Pixelmator, I much prefer the iPad. If you are talking about the iPad Mini, then maybe your statement makes more sense, but the 9.7 inch or 12.9 inch screens > than a 5.5 inch screen for a lot of tasks.

Definitely agree per larger screens providing greater ease of use and functionality. For myself, I really liked the 9.7 before the 12.9 was released, but now I would never go back to that screen size for iPad.

 

[TechZeke]

Remember, Timmy said.

“I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?” ...
“Yes, the iPad Pro is a replacement for a notebook or a desktop for many, many people. They will start using it and conclude they no longer need to use anything else, other than their phones.

What an idiot.

The biggest mistake IMO was increasing the price to Surface Pro 4 levels without Surface Pro functionality. Students are quickly moving to Surface at my University - I must see them more than Macs now. When I started College in 2012, it seemed like 70% of the students were using MacBooks. The important thing Timmy should be taking note of is that MacBooks are being replaced by Surface devices - not iPad Pros, which should be worrying for Apple in-general.

While the iPad surely wins in its simplicity and battery life; and the Apple Pencil has to be the best digital writing utensil on the planet - for the average student spending $1000 on a single device, they would much rather have the full functionality of a standard computer as their only machine. I can only imagine for Engineering-centric universities like mine this is even worse because of all the special windows software we have to use.

Ultimately, this is why I eventually replaced my Air 2 with my SP4. I don't have to lug around my 15" rMBP anymore unless I want the better keyboard or bigger screen. My SP4 can run all the engineering software I want, and battery life has gotten to be comparable with my rMBP after several updates. The ability to use the kick stand also makes it easier to use as a tablet on my lap or on the table despite its increased weight over my Air 2.

I was skeptical of Surface at first, but I enjoy mine.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Definitely agree per larger screens providing greater ease of use and functionality. For myself, I really liked the 9.7 before the 12.9 was released, but now I would never go back to that screen size for iPad.

For me, and this is a preference issue, the 12.9 is too big for a normal-laying-on-the-couch "browsing" session. While bigger screens are better, in general, there is a such thing as "too big" for a handheld device. That is why I went with the 9.7 inch Pro over the 12.9 inch. On the other hand, if they put Photoshop on the 12.9, I would probably use both sizes. I know Myke (podcaster) uses both sizes, so it might not be as crazy as it sounds.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Speaking from my own use case, the bigger phone does not take over for the iPad. Not even close. I have the 7 plus, yet when I want to read a magazine, look at a book with photos (photography/food/landscape/art), look at or edit my own photos, look at photos on Flickr/Facebook, watch a video, read a comic, browse the web, multitask with two apps, use the Pencil to take some notes or touch up a photo on Pixelmator, I much prefer the iPad. If you are talking about the iPad Mini, then maybe your statement makes more sense, but the 9.7 inch or 12.9 inch screens > than a 5.5 inch screen for a lot of tasks.

Most people prefer larger screens. It makes it easier to see detail or fit more on the screen. Even reading a Kindle book on the 9.7 iPad feels like a better experience without page flipping nearly as often. That being said, a lot of what I mentioned can be done on an iPad 3.

They need to find a differentiating feature from the old iPads to get more people on board and to upgrade. As I mentioned, adding a Pencil isn't enough if the iPad is unable to run the Pro apps that people want to use the Pencil with. I am not sure that means a hybrid device, though I would buy one, but they have to at least give us more uses for the differentiating features.

All depends on what one does on the phone and where.

So, at home I'll read and use an MBP in clamshell mode w a monitor.

Then an iPad in bed for books and any place else my iPhone 6S Plus to read newspaper articles.

Agreed it wouldn't be convenient for an entire book, but I have read lengthy stuff on the iPhone.

I would like a really big iPad, even bigger than 12.7.

 

[5684697]

This is all Timmy ever says anymore. "Exciting things. Awesome pipline. Magical!" Still waiting for an actual Mac worth buying to replace my 2012 iMac...

He says "incredible" a lot. If you understand the actual meaning of the word, then it makes all the sense in the world!

 

[George Dawes]

Cook really should stay in the background..

Counting the pennies and let those with real charisma like SCOTT FORSTALL be the front man !

 

[SigEp265]

Remember, Timmy said.

“I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?” ...
“Yes, the iPad Pro is a replacement for a notebook or a desktop for many, many people. They will start using it and conclude they no longer need to use anything else, other than their phones.

What an idiot.

Yeah I would need a mouse for a true PC replacement. Android tablet is more of a PC "replacement" with file system, mouse support.

 

[Michael Goff]

Why do so many people in here keep repeating that iOS doesn't have a file system? It does. It even just changed file systems in the beta.

 

[hajime]

It may be "exciting" for Tim but it is certainly not exciting for some long term Mac users. If the iPad will have retina 13-15", can run Mac OS, compatible with Apple Pencil and last 15 hours or so with one charge. Then, it may be exciting.

 

[Uofmtiger]

All depends on what one does on the phone and where.

So, at home I'll read and use an MBP in clamshell mode w a monitor.

Then an iPad in bed for books and any place else my iPhone 6S Plus to read newspaper articles.

Agreed it wouldn't be convenient for an entire book, but I have read lengthy stuff on the iPhone.

I would like a really big iPad, even bigger than 12.7.

I think it is more about preference or mood. I have read parts of books on my iPhone when I am not at home. However, when I am home, I go with my preference and it is always the iPad. Reading magazines, comics, photography books, etc.. is not something I want to ever do on an iPhone. Yes, it is possible, but the experience is less than ideal and it is not a suitable substitute for an iPad. I rarely ever want to read a book on a laptop/desktop because of the form factor.

Personally, I am not down on the iPad. It is still an incredible device that gets more use at home than any other piece of tech I own. The problem isn't that it isn't great, the problem is that past generations are so great that people don't have a reason to upgrade.

For it to generate more $$$, they will have to figure out a way to expand on the great things it already does in such a way that people will be compelled to upgrade more often. It isn't an easy task because adding OSX to it might get rid of a lot of people that simply want "the internet in their hand" in a simple to use package. Ideally, they would create a hybrid device that does both a touch version of OSX and iOS and then also have the regular old iPad as the cheaper option. Not sure we will see that anytime soon, but I don't know how they will get much more growth without doing something more drastic than adding a keyboard (which we already had with Bluetooth) and a Pencil that can't be used natively with Photoshop.

 

[and 1989 others]

Tim ALWAYS say's there are exciting things to come. He's not got a great track record of actually producing great things, though.

 

[hajime]

Tim ALWAYS say's there are exciting things to come. He's not got a great track record of actually producing great things, though.

Maybe he has such a low standard that ANYTHING is considered to be exciting.

 

[DevNull0]

I just don't understand this obsession with having the iPad replace the PC. For me, I do things on my iPad which I can't do (or do as well) on my Macs, just as I use my Macs to perform tasks I can't get done as readily on my iPad.

Neither replaces the other or renders them obsolete. They complement one another very well and that's just the way I like it.

Did you actually just post something I agree with?

Now if only Timmy would realize that and keep the Mac doing what it does best .

 

[BarracksSi]

Why do so many people in here keep repeating that iOS doesn't have a file system? It does. It even just changed file systems in the beta.

They're just grousing about how you can't get confused by what files go into which folders (which is the most consistent bottleneck in any workflow... remember trying to explain it to Mom?).

 

[Michael Goff]

They're just grousing about how you can't get confused by what files go into which folders (which is the most consistent bottleneck in any workflow... remember trying to explain it to Mom?).

Pretty much. People put too much emphasis on the file manager and confuse it with a file system.

 

[Count Blah]

Why do so many people in here keep repeating that iOS doesn't have a file system? It does. It even just changed file systems in the beta.

You can't be serious, can you?

 

[Michael Goff]

You can't be serious, can you?

Obviously I'm just being pedantic. iOS has a file system. It has a damn good file system.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

I think they need to find some new adjectives.

"Incredible", "exciting", "magical", "awesome" and others have been used and abused so often, that they have become virtually meaningless when coming from Apple.

--

Hmm. OTOH, "incredible" does mean "too extraordinary and improbable to be believed", so perhaps Cook is simply telling us in his own way, to not believe anything he says

I prefer, from the old Don Martin books, "Supersegmental!"

 

[Rookbird]

That's Cook speak for: The next iPads are going to be pretty boring so we better start hyping them up now.

 

[JoEw]

The iPad is the best computer I've owned and I use it for everything but coding.
The problem with the iPad is the upgrade cycle is 5 years.

 

[BarracksSi]

The iPad is the best computer I've owned and I use it for everything but coding.
The problem with the iPad is the upgrade cycle is 5 years.

Right, and the interesting thing is --

If it broke sooner, causing owners to buy replacements more often, we'd hate it for sucking;

If it got more complicated with more hardware features, we'd hate it for being rapidly obsoleted;

But, because it's a solid performer, and the hardware platform has been consistent, we hate it for being "boring".

SMH. ‍♂️

(funny thing: iOS's predictive emoticons chooses the facepalm emoji for "SMH")

 

[rGiskard]

Remember, Timmy said.

“I think if you’re looking at a PC, why would you buy a PC anymore? No really, why would you buy one?” ...
“Yes, the iPad Pro is a replacement for a notebook or a desktop for many, many people. They will start using it and conclude they no longer need to use anything else, other than their phones.

What an idiot.

Tim Cook may know logistics but he sure doesn't understand computers.

 

[Abazigal]

That's Cook speak for: The next iPads are going to be pretty boring so we better start hyping them up now.