What would make the new iPad "Pro"

[sracer]

As I said In my previous post.

If it can't run PROFESSIONAL mainstream software that professionals use around the world every day, how could it ever be called a "PRO" Professional product, and be taken seriously ?

Because you have a very narrow view of what constitutes "professional mainstream software".

The currently iPad is used by professionals in some fields with great results. I suppose that by your definition, those professionals aren't actually professionals.

 

[MacDawg]

IMO an iPad Pro ≠ pro computer, but rather a pro iPad

 

[Sydde]

I see some interesting possibilities:

- Apple will not develop a pressure sensitive stylus for either the iPad or the iPad Pro, instead they will make the screen pressure sensitive, which the UI will implement in ways beyond just graphics editing.

- The A9i CPU will have one, or more, Intel cores, or hardware logic for direct emulation of x86-64, so that apps that are not compiled for ARM will run on it.

- The lower border of the bezel (where the home button is) will be 2.5 times as wide, in order to include an outlined rectangle that can serve as a trackpad for times when touch is problematic.

- The Finder designed for iOS will also be available for the Air and mini lines, if you want to pay the extra $100.us for it. This will include the ability to transfer files using the Pro's SD/microSD card slot (but not the separate camera card reader device).

I already have a fine keyboard/case combo, so no one actually needs to develop one of those.

 

[sracer]

I see some interesting possibilities:

- Apple will not develop a pressure sensitive stylus for either the iPad or the iPad Pro, instead they will make the screen pressure sensitive, which the UI will implement in ways beyond just graphics editing.

- The A9i CPU will have one, or more, Intel cores, or hardware logic for direct emulation of x86-64, so that apps that are not compiled for ARM will run on it.

- The lower border of the bezel (where the home button is) will be 2.5 times as wide, in order to include an outlined rectangle that can serve as a trackpad for times when touch is problematic.

- The Finder designed for iOS will also be available for the Air and mini lines, if you want to pay the extra $100.us for it. This will include the ability to transfer files using the Pro's SD/microSD card slot (but not the separate camera card reader device).

I already have a fine keyboard/case combo, so no one actually needs to develop one of those.

Those are indeed interesting possibilities. Regardless of the specifics, I fully expect Apple to take an unconventional approach to the topic of the iPad Pro.

 

[Piggie]

You have to start somewhere. It will have the hw to run professional mainstream software. The third parties just have not developped it. But herhaps there will be some pro apps developped, when it starts to sell. Let' s wait what apple has to unveil tomorrow.
You can' t call it " ipad pro in 1 year"

Well Microsoft's tablet can run all those apps, so it's 100% a "Pro" device by any definition.

Let's see what Apple call it, if they do indeed launch an advanced iPad, and not a 12" iPhone, tomorrow.
I hope it is amazing.
I really hope it's just not a tweaked iPad running iOS with a stylus, and that's all they have done.

 

[thedon1]

Perhaps if you can run the full version of AutoCAD on an iPad in a genuinely usable way then it might be a PRO product.
And perhaps Photoshop and 3dStudioMax also.

Get it running all those programs, and full versions of Office and I think we'd be happy to call it pro.

The question is, why would the developers of those apps produce a pro version of those apps if the install base on the normal iPad is comparatively so large? Say they did develop more fully featured versions, when the iPad Air gets a speed bump next year and is comparative to this years Pro, what's stopping Adobe just porting that pro app to the air? Then apple no longer have a differentiator vs the Air.

I think they have 3 clear choices:
-Have a really compelling hardware or OS level feature for the pro, e.g. USB C connectivity for peripherphals
-Intentionally stunt the hardware progression of the air and reduce the price (killing the mini)
-Kill the air, keep the mini

 

[Sydde]

Surface has been on the radar for several years. Complaints about the limitations of the iPad are older than that. If Apple announces a nothing-to-see-here quality "Pro", they deserve to be laughed off the shelves.

However, the iPad/tablet market is very big. I suspect many homes have ditches that fan-box for a less intrusive iPad or other tablet. Just how far into that market would the "Pro" reach? Compared to the regular iPad, the Pro will have to have a hefty-enough premium to make Apple believe it worthwhile. I know I want more, but I also know I am a minority.

 

[thedon1]

I see some interesting possibilities:

- Apple will not develop a pressure sensitive stylus for either the iPad or the iPad Pro, instead they will make the screen pressure sensitive, which the UI will implement in ways beyond just graphics editing.

- The A9i CPU will have one, or more, Intel cores, or hardware logic for direct emulation of x86-64, so that apps that are not compiled for ARM will run on it.

- The lower border of the bezel (where the home button is) will be 2.5 times as wide, in order to include an outlined rectangle that can serve as a trackpad for times when touch is problematic.

- The Finder designed for iOS will also be available for the Air and mini lines, if you want to pay the extra $100.us for it. This will include the ability to transfer files using the Pro's SD/microSD card slot (but not the separate camera card reader device).

I already have a fine keyboard/case combo, so no one actually needs to develop one of those.

These are great points, those are exactly the type of things that would warrant a different product category.

 

[sracer]

Well Microsoft's tablet can run all those apps, so it's 100% a "Pro" device by any definition.

Yes, a "Pro" ultrabook, but a mediocre tablet... on par with less expensive Android tablets. The Surface is a mediocre tablet not because of the hardware (which is world class) but because of the lack of touch-optimized Modern UI apps. Using the Surface without a TypeCover (aka, tablet) is not a very "Pro" experience. Microsoft knows it. That is why they never advertise the Surface without showcasing the TypeCover.

Ultimately it comes down to why would someone choose a tablet over an ultrabook? I've come to the conclusion that it basically comes down to the "talking dog" syndrome. It's not how well the dog speaks English but that it speaks English at all. It's not that the Surface is an excellent tablet but that it can be used as a tablet at all that is the appeal.

Using desktop apps in touch mode is not a good experience. There is more to making a desktop OS UI optimized for touch than simply magnifying the UI elements.

This is why iPads continue to be used in professional environments... legal, medical, manufacturing, construction, etc. in spite of not having a "Pro" designation.

Let's see what Apple call it, if they do indeed launch an advanced iPad, and not a 12" iPhone, tomorrow.
I hope it is amazing.
I really hope it's just not a tweaked iPad running iOS with a stylus, and that's all they have done.

I thought that the "the iPad is nothing more than a large iPhone" line had been played out... apparently not. One thing is for certain, no iPad 'pro' or otherwise will have a cooling fan.

 

[Will0827]

The Surface is a mediocre tablet not because of the hardware (which is world class) but because of the lack of touch-optimized Modern UI apps.

This is where i feel this device will be successfull, it can be argued that the apps on the iPad currently may not be "Professional" but they are made for touch based interaction first, yes the surface can run your existing apps which is great, but they aren't optimized for touch input, and developers aren't flocking to update their apps for that interaction. Im sure microsoft gave tools in the way apple does to make apps scalable regardless of screen for iOS apps, but atleast to my knowledge alot of the major apps still haven't gotten updated. So being that current iPads have a good foundation already, they can easily be updated to take advantage of the extra features and possibly even surpassing their existing desktop counterparts at some point in the future. Also i remember not long ago it was mentioned that Adobe is going to be announcing a revamped of Photoshop for mobile which would tie in great with the release of the iPad Pro.

 

[TheRealAlex]

Ipad air 3 won' t get the a9x used in the ipad pro.
My guess is:
Ipad pro: 4 core a9 soc with 12 graphic cores and 4 gb.(A9XL??)
Ipad air 3: 3 core a9 soc with 8/9 graphic cores and 2gb. (A9X lite???)

Just my guess. They will never put the same soc in the ipad air 3 as the ipad pro.

My guess is iPad Pro will be just that a Surface Pro competitor it will run Full Mac OSX and be a MacBook without the Keyboard and or have the OPtion to run iOS9

This would make it a Must have best of both Worlds and in that $800 to $1200 Range. And will sell out nationwide


I'll be happy with an iPad Mini 4 with 2GB RAM and a A8X
or an iPad Air 3 with A9X

 

[Amitme]

What do you think the new larger iPad needs to be considered "Pro"? You can already use a keyboard with an iPad air 2. You will also be able to run side by side apps.

Is the presumably sold separately stylus the only difference??

There has to be some other implementation within iOS 9 that is specific to that hardware. I can't imagine them segmenting app support and restricting things from the Air.

What do you guys think they could add to make this a different enough product from the Air 2?

I think ipad pro would be between 12 to 13 inches. It will be huge drawing tablet for artist. There will be optional pen. There will be a USB c type connector at the long side. There will be a keyboard accessory like the MacBook with Mac osx without the screen. If you dock the iPad plus screen with the above keyboard it will become macbook. Price of only ipad plus would be 799 and keyboard with Mac osx would be 499 to 699 dending on cpu. This way one can have hybrid ipad and mac osx laptop Sharing one screen. That's why apple created macbook 12 inch version.

 

[Sydde]

I think one thing that is being overlooked is ergonomics. This is almost certainly why there has heretofore not been a larger iPad. If Apple releases a 12" iPad Pro, it will be because they have refined the balance sufficiently that people will actually be able to hold the thing for more than ten minutes. Up to this point, they have been able to build a tablet with Pro-level power that is not also a Mac Portable anchor in the hands.

 

[ValO]

My guess is iPad Pro will be just that a Surface Pro competitor it will run Full Mac OSX and be a MacBook without the Keyboard and or have the OPtion to run iOS9

This would make it a Must have best of both Worlds and in that $800 to $1200 Range. And will sell out nationwide


I'll be happy with an iPad Mini 4 with 2GB RAM and a A8X
or an iPad Air 3 with A9X

Sorry, but the 32gb version really rules this out.

Still hoping for a new mac mini or maccover or something, shaped like the macbook keyboard part that can connect to the ipadpro and allow dual boot ios/osx.

 

[Scarpad]

I agree if it could run IOS as a Tablet and then Dual Boot OSX making it a Laptop I would buy in a sec

 

[Nautilus007]

Premium materials, LED Notification, wireless charging, Multi User login support, faster transitioning withn the OS.

 

[ET iPhone Home]

I really like the new iPad Pro. I might get one at 12.9"

 

[UltimateSyn]

Perhaps if you can run the full version of AutoCAD on an iPad in a genuinely usable way then it might be a PRO product.

Your wish has been granted.