iPad What will 2GB of RAM do?

[TacticalDesire]

More tabs during web browsing and is a big one. At least for me. I have lots of tabs open on my desktop but when using my iPad I can't have more than 3-4 before they start refreshing and I lose whatever I was doing if I was filling out a form or in the middle of typing something. The other benefits will come with time as apps become more powerful in what they can do. 64bit will help things along.

 

[Smeaton1724]

Makes sense it will have 2GB of RAM, they won't mention it during the keynote, they never mention the amount of RAM an iOS device has, they go by processor, expect the A7X.

I'd imagine any pro level apps would also be compatible with the iPad 4, the performance leap over the iPad 3 was large (1750 vs 750).

 

[bbeagle]

I don't think they will either. People will speculate as they do but if apples past is anything to go by, they only seem to increase RAM when the screen resolution does. Ie the RAM needed by the GPU is greater.

Not true. 256mb in the iPad 1, 512mb in the iPad 2, no increase in resolution.

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Nothing. iPads don't run the real multitasking with side-by-side window. The only real use for more RAM would be for Safari's multi-tab feature.

Multitasking isn't the only reason for more RAM.

Any application which needs to put large amounts of information into memory for easy access needs more RAM. Think a 3-D model of the earth where you can spin in real time. The more data points, the more needs to be in RAM. Think a web page with lots of graphics. All those are in RAM. Calculations in Javascript - all in RAM. Games need large amounts of RAM for speedier game play.

 

[Ledgem]

Nothing. iPads don't run the real multitasking with side-by-side window. The only real use for more RAM would be for Safari's multi-tab feature.

This isn't quite true. I use my iPad Mini for work, and I'm generally between four to five applications throughout the day with one application getting the majority of my focus. If I do too much in one application, or if I switch over to using too many other applications, then my primary application needs to be reloaded when I try to switch back to it. The loading probably takes between 2-4 seconds, but it happens multiple times throughout the day and is pretty disruptive to my workflow.

Faster processors might help to cut down on load times, but more RAM most certainly would. With more RAM, the applications could load once and then remain in memory even as I swapped between them.

I know that my use case may be a bit unusual, particularly since iOS isn't designed with multitasking as a core philosophy. As such, I don't expect Apple to add tons of RAM to account for users like me. It would be helpful, though!

 

[Fruit Cake]

Not true. 256mb in the iPad 1, 512mb in the iPad 2, no increase in resolution.

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They did change GPU though, 7times more powerful then gen1 wasn't it?

 

[smiddlehurst]

They did change GPU though, 7times more powerful then gen1 wasn't it?

Of course the A7 (or, indeed, A7X) also sees a generational jump in GPU's...

Again though I think ultimately this is all going to come down to where Apple positions the iPad. If they make a proper push into a more content creation / pro side then 2Gb makes sense. Hell, even if they only add the capability to work with RAW image files the extra headroom would be useful. Not long to wait now until we find out....

 

[Fruit Cake]

Of course the A7 (or, indeed, A7X) also sees a generational jump in GPU's...

Again though I think ultimately this is all going to come down to where Apple positions the iPad. If they make a proper push into a more content creation / pro side then 2Gb makes sense. Hell, even if they only add the capability to work with RAW image files the extra headroom would be useful. Not long to wait now until we find out....

It's not a big surprise if they do, I've had 2gb in my phone for a year now, it's just apple have a habit of skimping on RAM for some reason (despite always seemingly having a decent GPU/CPU combo)