What improvements is the iPad 2013 going to have over the 2012 version?

[Fruit Cake]

Still iOS could benefit from quad-core (hopefully A15 architecture).

Because they limit what multitasking it can do (VoIP etc), multiple cores won't do alot for it. Most developers couldn't program multithreaded computational threads very well, so higher clocked cores would benefit their code more.

 

[Beta Particle]

So what you are saying is an A5X (same as A5 on iPad 2) and the quad-core graphics (2X iPad 2) can't handle a retina display when it's as smooth as the iPad 2.

It is absolutely not as smooth as the iPad 2 with tasks like reading image/diagram-heavy PDFs where the same CPU has to decode/render 4× as much data.

Having twice as much RAM makes it faster with some tasks, and the GPU can be faster in some cases, but again it’s 2× the GPU power for 4× the pixels.

The iPad 3 is absolutely the better device, because everything looks so much better with the retina display, but the user experience is worse.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Because they limit what multitasking it can do (VoIP etc), multiple cores won't do alot for it. Most developers couldn't program multithreaded computational threads very well, so higher clocked cores would benefit their code more.

Grand Central Dispatch has been in iOS since version 4. Multitasking has little to do with it because threading is an intra-app process. The OS benefits from being able to thread processes from multiple apps.

I'll be surprised if the next iPad isn't a quad core.

 

[interfreak]

Apple iPad Wifi (4th Generation)

Height: 241.2 mm
Width: 185.7 mm
Depth: 9.35 mm
Weight: 640 g

Storage
16GB32GB64GB

Display
Retina display
9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi)
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Support for displaying multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Chip
Quad-core Apple A6X custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip with quad-core graphics
Wireless and Cellular
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)
Bluetooth 4.0 technology

Cameras, Photos and Video Recording
8-megapixel iSight camera
Autofocus
Tap to focus
Face detection in still images
Video recording, HD (1080p) up to 60 frames per second with audio
Video stabilisation
HD FaceTime camera with HD-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second
Photo and video geotagging

Battery and Power
Built-in 50.0-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video or listening to music
Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
Input and Output
8-pin magsafe dock connector port
3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
Built-in stereo speakers
Microphone

Sensors
Accelerometer
Ambient light sensor
Gyroscope
Location
Wi-Fi
Digital compass

Audio Playback
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Audio formats supported: HE-AAC (V1 and V2), AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3 and 4; Audible Enhanced Audio; AAX and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV
User-configurable maximum volume limit
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through with Apple Digital AV Adapter (sold separately)
TV and Video
AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV support at 1080p
AirPlay video streaming to Apple TV (second and third generation) at up to 1080p
Video mirroring and video out support: up to 1080p with Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately)
Video out support at 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cables sold separately)
Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

 

[ZZ Bottom]

Put 4 speakers on it...Yes, 4.

4 speakers will allow stereo in horiz. and vert. orientation.

(At least 2 speakers...come on Apple!)

I heard the next iPad is going to be based off a boom box with a 12" sub, complete with a 7" touchscreen. It will have 5.1 surround built in. That might suite your needs.

Or they could always just slap a Beats Audio sticker on it and not make any actual changes that make it sound better... that seems to work for lots of other people.

 

[applefanDrew]

I figure:

- SOC is going from 45nm to 28nm in order to save power / reduce heat.

- With reduced power usage I could see Apple making the battery smaller to try and make the iPad a little thinner / lighter.

- Camera might get a bump up from 5mp to 8mp.

These above seem completely underwhelming but other than these I am stumped as to what can actually be improved

What do you guys think will be the improvements for the 2013 iPad?

You forgot the IGZO display. Which will allow it to be thinner and lighter. The battery will be able to shrink since it won't take as much power to push the display.

 

[Abazigal]

I too agree that the new ipad needs to be better at rendering larger images. I find it ridiculous that when I sometimes turn to a new pdf page, I have to stare at a screen full of square pixels for a second or two before the image appears.