Why the iPad 2 won't be a huge update like everyone is saying.

[baummer]

Here is why the iPad 2 won't be a huge update.
The iPad had and still will have a remarkable market share of the tablet market this year. Apple is gonna do what they did with the iPhone and simply let it make as much money as it can before the "competition" catches up to them in market share. I think the next iPad will have minor new features. Cameras front and back, minidisplay port and some other small little features but nothing that is gonna make the iPad's profit margins small for Apple.

As Apple did with the iPhone there gonna make a ton of cash until the competition heats up in 2012 with android.

There won't be any change in display resoultion with the next iPad. There will be a proccesor and gpu bump.

Anyone else agree?

Disagree. But then that depends on your definition of a "huge update". To many, any new hardware features (minor according to you) would be considered a major upgrade, whereas updates to internal memory and storage would fall into the refresh category.

look back to the iPhone 3G to 3Gs that wasn't a huge update no design change. Just procceser bumps and better cameras. There was no push from competition at the time from android. Apple had no reason to make the iPhone any better they made a ton of money then when Android market share started riseing. They released the iPhone 4 which was the biggest update to the iPhone since it's release in 2007.

According to Apple, they don't view Android as a direct competitor (research their press releases and past keynotes), so Android wasn't the reason they made major changes. Apple doesn't do a lot of things based on what the market is doing. Instead, they prefer to create their market and establish the bar that other companies aspire to reach. From OS X to the iPod, they've transformed relative niche markets into billion dollar profits. Truly remarkable from a business perspective, especially in such a saturated industry.

From the beginning I have said that the resolution increase is not coming for iPad 2. There are a multitude of sound logical reason that it won't and mainly nerd wishful thinking that fuels speculation that it will.

Why it won't.

1: Product planning. Apple plans long term. They didn't spend years designing an iPad around a custom 1024x768 screen, only to change it after one year. Even planning it for only 2 years is short.

That alone seals it IMO.

2: Too large a leap in multiple areas. The crazy high res screen quadruple the pixels, higher than 99% of desktop monitors. The quadruple the GPU power to drive it. You can quadruble pixels when they are staying a trivial amount like on the iP4, but here we are pushing well past typical desktops, to resolutions that would challenge my desktop GPU. This too large a leap to expect on the silicon side. They need to stay within power/heat envelopes.

3: Margins. Crazy quad pixel screen, crazy quad power mobile GPU, quad video ram will all drive up costs at a time when they are already certain to be adding a couple of cameras. Margins go to heck.

4: They don't need to do anything other than a minor tweak at this time. They own the market, they own the mind-share, that won't change because some Android tablet has a few more pixels. In 2011 people will be thinking of in terms iPads and iPad knockoffs. Most of the knockoffs (HP tablet, RIM Tablet, most Android tablets) all have the same or less resolution only a few better by a small amount.

The counter arguments for it all seem to stem from nerd wishes summed up as: "I want it, so it will happen", or "Apple needs it to compete, (because I want it)"

I actually remain dubious that we will even see the is monstrous resolution in iPad 3, but I am quite certain we won't see it in iPad 2.

Good points. I agree that any plans for a higher resolution iPad won't be until the iPad 3 or later. They are putting the wheels in motion for such a move though through long-term deals with screen suppliers, much like they did with flash memory/storage.

 

[drjsway]

Here is why the iPad 2 won't be a huge update.
The iPad had and still will have a remarkable market share of the tablet market this year. Apple is gonna do what they did with the iPhone and simply let it make as much money as it can before the "competition" catches up to them in market share. I think the next iPad will have minor new features. Cameras front and back, minidisplay port and some other small little features but nothing that is gonna make the iPad's profit margins small for Apple.

As Apple did with the iPhone there gonna make a ton of cash until the competition heats up in 2012 with android.

There won't be any change in display resoultion with the next iPad. There will be a proccesor and gpu bump.

Anyone else agree?

You are crazy.

Tablets are the new PC and will eventually replace laptops. Apple already lost the first PC war to Microsoft and the tablet revolution is Apple getting a second chance. They are going to do whatever it takes to win this war.

Tablet computing is still in its infancy and growing at a phenomenal pace. Apple's current market share means absolutely nothing. It's anybody's game right now and Apple knows this. They can't afford to be shortsighted. In a recent press conference, Apple stated that profit margins will shrink in 2011. They know what they need to do.

iPad 2 will out spec all 2011 competitors at a price point nobody can't compete with, just like iPad 1.

 

[baummer]

You are crazy.

Tablets are the new PC and will eventually replace laptops. Apple already lost the first PC war to Microsoft and the tablet revolution is Apple getting a second chance. They are going to do whatever it takes to win this war.

Tablet computing is still in its infancy and growing at a phenomenal pace. Apple's current market share means absolutely nothing. It's anybody's game right now and Apple knows this. They can't afford to be shortsighted. In a recent press conference, Apple stated that profit margins will shrink in 2011. They know what they need to do.

iPad 2 will out spec all 2011 competitors at a price point nobody can't compete with, just like iPad 1.

I wouldn't say tablet computing is in its infancy. Tablet computers have existed for years, but the thing is no one was buying them (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_personal_computer). I chalk this up to failed marketing campaigns by the companies that produced them. Also, the early tablet computers were expensive and were nothing more than bulky laptops with special screens that could be folded like a notepad and were capable of receiving stylus input. Their use wasn't widespread because people couldn't get their heads around buying a laptop that could be used like a paper notepad when they could just use a paper notepad. Then Apple comes in, and puts their spin on it, and the rest is history (much like the iPod).

 

[drjsway]

I wouldn't say tablet computing is in its infancy. Tablet computers have existed for years, but the thing is no one was buying them (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_personal_computer). I chalk this up to failed marketing campaigns by the companies that produced them. Also, the early tablet computers were expensive and were nothing more than bulky laptops with special screens that could be folded like a notepad and were capable of receiving stylus input. Their use wasn't widespread because people couldn't get their heads around buying a laptop that could be used like a paper notepad when they could just use a paper notepad. Then Apple comes in, and puts their spin on it, and the rest is history (much like the iPod).

Mainstream tablet computing IS in its infancy. The reason tablets never succeeded has nothing to do with failed marketing. The technology wasn't there. It wasn't light enough, cheap enough, and the touch screen wasn't sensitive enough.

Even if Apple hadn't introduced the iPad, there would still be a tablet revolution now. If not in 2010, definitely in 2011. Technology has just caught up to finally make tablets useful to the mainstream. Apple didn't create the tablet market, it just got there a little earlier than its competitors.

 

[MythicFrost]

When Apple released the iPhone they were introducing their smartphone into a market full of competition... the iPad was unlike any other slate, it took off and they are dominating the market. They won't let that slip.

 

[maddav]

I disagree. The iPhone upgrade from 3G to 3GS was far more substantial than the upgrade from 2G to 3G:

2G->3G: Changed back to plastic, added 3G radio, added GPS, and... well that's it.

3G->3Gs: Faster processor, double the RAM, updated graphics, double the HSDPA data capability, higher res camera, magnetometer, and voice control.

The 3GS offered much more than the 3G did.

Whilst the 3G->3GS update changed more features, the 2G->3G update was arguably more substantial.

 

[kevink2]

Whilst the 3G->3GS update changed more features, the 2G->3G update was arguably more substantial.

The 3g was just putting in a capability that should have been there to begin with.

Ability, in select areas, to do voice/data at the same time without Wifi. Greater download speed.

The other features, like the camera and speed, would have been nice but not at unsubsidized pricing.

 

[PanAm-L1011]

Anyone else agree?

Absolutely. The Tabs coming out can barely compete with iPad1. iPad2 will be minor enhancements.

 

[StarkInc]

Anyone else agree?

I agree!

All it comes down to is that Apple wants to make as much money as possible in as small updates as possible!

Just look at how Apple has done with iPhone.

Comparing the difference of the iPhone 3G and the 3GS is totally useless in today's times now.
Back then, tablets barely existed, and only because of the iPad nearly a year ago did the battle really start, so yes, this will definitely be a significant update in order to satisfy existing and new/curious iPad customers.

To compare the iPhone 3G/3GS with iPad/iPad 2 is a very good comparison. For there will be a similar update for iPad 2 as it was with the iPhone 3GS!

There are two different products, but Apple do and will do the same with them.

So you have such high thoughts of Apple?

 

[darngooddesign]

... There will be a proccesor and gpu bump.

Anyone else agree?

I consider CPU, RAM and cameras a bigger update than screen res and a new case. Then again, I considered the 3GS to be a big update as well.

 

[Coukos34]

From the beginning I have said that the resolution increase is not coming for iPad 2. There are a multitude of sound logical reason that it won't and mainly nerd wishful thinking that fuels speculation that it will.

Why it won't.

1: Product planning. Apple plans long term. They didn't spend years designing an iPad around a custom 1024x768 screen, only to change it after one year. Even planning it for only 2 years is short.

That alone seals it IMO.

2: Too large a leap in multiple areas. The crazy high res screen quadruple the pixels, higher than 99% of desktop monitors. The quadruple the GPU power to drive it. You can quadruble pixels when they are staying a trivial amount like on the iP4, but here we are pushing well past typical desktops, to resolutions that would challenge my desktop GPU. This too large a leap to expect on the silicon side. They need to stay within power/heat envelopes.

3: Margins. Crazy quad pixel screen, crazy quad power mobile GPU, quad video ram will all drive up costs at a time when they are already certain to be adding a couple of cameras. Margins go to heck.

4: They don't need to do anything other than a minor tweak at this time. They own the market, they own the mind-share, that won't change because some Android tablet has a few more pixels. In 2011 people will be thinking of in terms iPads and iPad knockoffs. Most of the knockoffs (HP tablet, RIM Tablet, most Android tablets) all have the same or less resolution only a few better by a small amount.

The counter arguments for it all seem to stem from nerd wishes summed up as: "I want it, so it will happen", or "Apple needs it to compete, (because I want it)"

I actually remain dubious that we will even see the is monstrous resolution in iPad 3, but I am quite certain we won't see it in iPad 2.

Finally someone with some intelligence! It's amazing how little there is around here . People need to wake up from dreamworld and remember how things actually work.

 

[Cagle]

Cameras front and back, minidisplay port and some other small little features...
Anyone else agree?

why would they add a mini display port? Theres more chance of a display upgrade than that. When I'm looking at websites in portrait view, the iPad resolution really makes the text look terrible.

 

[Buck987]

Your predictions and opinions would be worth noting if you were someone of relevance in the industry.

Can you give us your qualifications?

where is that in the agreement when you sign up?

 

[JoEw]

You are crazy.

Tablets are the new PC and will eventually replace laptops. Apple already lost the first PC war to Microsoft and the tablet revolution is Apple getting a second chance. They are going to do whatever it takes to win this war.

Tablet computing is still in its infancy and growing at a phenomenal pace. Apple's current market share means absolutely nothing. It's anybody's game right now and Apple knows this. They can't afford to be shortsighted. In a recent press conference, Apple stated that profit margins will shrink in 2011. They know what they need to do.

iPad 2 will out spec all 2011 competitors at a price point nobody can't compete with, just like iPad 1.

I honestly hope your right.
But if you look at apple's history, market share isn't normally there goal, profit is.

From the beginning I have said that the resolution increase is not coming for iPad 2. There are a multitude of sound logical reason that it won't and mainly nerd wishful thinking that fuels speculation that it will.

Why it won't.

1: Product planning. Apple plans long term. They didn't spend years designing an iPad around a custom 1024x768 screen, only to change it after one year. Even planning it for only 2 years is short.

That alone seals it IMO.

2: Too large a leap in multiple areas. The crazy high res screen quadruple the pixels, higher than 99% of desktop monitors. The quadruple the GPU power to drive it. You can quadruble pixels when they are staying a trivial amount like on the iP4, but here we are pushing well past typical desktops, to resolutions that would challenge my desktop GPU. This too large a leap to expect on the silicon side. They need to stay within power/heat envelopes.

3: Margins. Crazy quad pixel screen, crazy quad power mobile GPU, quad video ram will all drive up costs at a time when they are already certain to be adding a couple of cameras. Margins go to heck.

4: They don't need to do anything other than a minor tweak at this time. They own the market, they own the mind-share, that won't change because some Android tablet has a few more pixels. In 2011 people will be thinking of in terms iPads and iPad knockoffs. Most of the knockoffs (HP tablet, RIM Tablet, most Android tablets) all have the same or less resolution only a few better by a small amount.

The counter arguments for it all seem to stem from nerd wishes summed up as: "I want it, so it will happen", or "Apple needs it to compete, (because I want it)"

I actually remain dubious that we will even see the is monstrous resolution in iPad 3, but I am quite certain we won't see it in iPad 2.

agreed. One of apple's strongest marketing ideas with the iPad is it's magical all day lasting battery life. Everyone I have talked to says their iPad is leaps and bounds better then there laptop's battery life.

Quadrupling pixel count would just make the battery life shrink the iPad 2's battery by half, compared to an iPad 1. I see a "retina" display coming to an iPad 3 when designers have figured out how to make processors and gpu's for power efficient.

 

[baummer]

Mainstream tablet computing IS in its infancy. The reason tablets never succeeded has nothing to do with failed marketing. The technology wasn't there. It wasn't light enough, cheap enough, and the touch screen wasn't sensitive enough.

Even if Apple hadn't introduced the iPad, there would still be a tablet revolution now. If not in 2010, definitely in 2011. Technology has just caught up to finally make tablets useful to the mainstream. Apple didn't create the tablet market, it just got there a little earlier than its competitors.

All that being said, you can't really call the iPad a true tablet computer either. In many ways it's a hybrid netbook/tablet/media device. I agree that Apple got to this new market first.

 

[MythicFrost]

Apple isn't going to release a minor update, they are dominating the market share and competition is scrambling to catch up -- they aren't going to let it slip.

Whatever Apple releases will be a good solid update. I'm hoping/expecting something like this:

• A5 dual core + SGX543MP2
• IPS 2048x1536 res display
• Lighter weight + similar battery life
• FaceTime (front + rear cam)
• SD card slot, no home button, new design and a better speaker

I can't wait until it's announced then I can know for sure!

 

[yodaxl7]

Here is why the iPad 2 won't be a huge update.
The iPad had and still will have a remarkable market share of the tablet market this year. Apple is gonna do what they did with the iPhone and simply let it make as much money as it can before the "competition" catches up to them in market share. I think the next iPad will have minor new features. Cameras front and back, minidisplay port and some other small little features but nothing that is gonna make the iPad's profit margins small for Apple.

As Apple did with the iPhone there gonna make a ton of cash until the competition heats up in 2012 with android.

There won't be any change in display resoultion with the next iPad. There will be a proccesor and gpu bump.

Anyone else agree?

Depend on your definition of huge. I do think the chip will be a dual core and duo graphics. We may see a larger storage. 1 gig of RAM. two cameras and facetime and maybe photo booth. Plus, maybe a sd card slot and micro-usb.

retina display would be nice. It is still a big upgrade.

True multi-tasking is only important for serious work. No tablets will able to do serious work until inputing data is as easy as typing.

 

[Androidpwns]

Apple isn't going to release a minor update, they are dominating the market share and competition is scrambling to catch up -- they aren't going to let it slip.

Whatever Apple releases will be a good solid update. I'm hoping/expecting something like this:

• A5 dual core + SGX543MP2
• IPS 2048x1536 res display
• Lighter weight + similar battery life
• FaceTime (front + rear cam)
• SD card slot, no home button, new design and a better speaker

I can't wait until it's announced then I can know for sure!

Unfortunately, what you're expecting will not translate into an official iPad update ( this year anyways lol ). Furthermore, this scrambling you speak of... I wouldn't call the Adam or the Xoom a scramble. The tablet race is a sprint, with Apple left lagging at the starting lane.

Sure, Apple will weave their marketing magic but the actual hands on experience will prove to be a second class citizen in comparison to Android products. Such a shame Apple didn't make their iOS a true multi tasking environment. Their users are losing out ( again ).

 

[MythicFrost]

Unfortunately, what you're expecting will not translate into an official iPad update ( this year anyways lol ). Furthermore, this scrambling you speak of... I wouldn't call the Adam or the Xoom a scramble. The tablet race is a sprint, with Apple left lagging at the starting lane.

It's been over eight or nine months without any competition for the iPad, everyone is trying to get a competitive slate out as fast as possible which is 'scrambling'. Apple isn't lagging at the starting lane, there was absolutely no competition for ages and they've sold millions of iPads. Everyone else has only just released their slate or is releasing it soon, and iPad 2 will leap frog them in another couple of months.

The majority of what I wrote we will get, if not all of it. The A5 + SGX543 is pretty much guaranteed, as is the rest of it except the retina display which evidence quite strongly supports Apple is at the very least testing it, I expect we'll get it too.

Sure, Apple will weave their marketing magic but the actual hands on experience will prove to be a second class citizen in comparison to Android products. Such a shame Apple didn't make their iOS a true multi tasking environment. Their users are losing out ( again )

Marketing sells the product, but that doesn't stop anyone from returning it. And, iOS's multi-tasking is great -- Android's multi-tasking isn't that much different.

 

[neutrino23]

I don't know if Apple will introduce a higher resolution screen this time or not. The main reason for the rumors being so intense is not wishful thinking but the finding of a high resolution graphic and some alleged inside information.

I think that it is possible for Apple to do this, whether they choose to or not.

The iPhone has an even higher resolution IPS display so this technology is possible.

You can extrapolate from the prices of existing larger, high resolution IPS displays to find that a 10" panel would not be unduly expensive.

The biggest sticking point seems to be the ability to drive this display at low power. That I don't know. It seems possible. Even though current GPUs sport hundreds of MBs of memory if you go back a decade or so we were driving the same resolution with much less memory. Certainly 3D graphics will take a hit but more mundane tasks may work fine. If you look at the specs for the Tegra 2 it claims to drive very high resolution displays at very low power.

So my contention is that this is technically possible and financially possible at this time.

 

[snouter]

Without a doubt, one of the biggest features of the iPad is the REAL ~10 hours of battery time. When I heard they were thinking about a dual core CPU and GPU, I was skeptical. How can they increase the processing power that much, including powering more ram without hurting the battery life?

I think the only thing Apple regrets is letting the word out that the iPad would be replaced so soon.

No credible challenge emerged in 2010. They could probably sell this current version of the iPad deep into the summer if they wanted to.

 

[Snowy_River]

...
The counter arguments for it all seem to stem from nerd wishes summed up as: "I want it, so it will happen", or "Apple needs it to compete, (because I want it)"
...

I don't know if Apple will introduce a higher resolution screen this time or not. The main reason for the rumors being so intense is not wishful thinking but the finding of a high resolution graphic and some alleged inside information.

I think that it is possible for Apple to do this, whether they choose to or not.

The iPhone has an even higher resolution IPS display so this technology is possible.

You can extrapolate from the prices of existing larger, high resolution IPS displays to find that a 10" panel would not be unduly expensive.

The biggest sticking point seems to be the ability to drive this display at low power. That I don't know. It seems possible. Even though current GPUs sport hundreds of MBs of memory if you go back a decade or so we were driving the same resolution with much less memory. Certainly 3D graphics will take a hit but more mundane tasks may work fine. If you look at the specs for the Tegra 2 it claims to drive very high resolution displays at very low power.

So my contention is that this is technically possible and financially possible at this time.

At least there's someone else out there who's paying attention. Personally, I don't care if they upgrade the resolution or not. I have no issue with the resolution of my iPad. But, based on a not insubstantial amount of evidence, it does look like they are heading toward the 2x resolution bump.

Regarding power, the only real question is how the GPU power draw will be effected. The screen itself should draw virtually the same amount of power, regardless of the resolution. The biggest power draw for the screen is the backlight, and that changes based on size, not on resolution.

...
I think the only thing Apple regrets is letting the word out that the iPad would be replaced so soon.
...

When, exactly, did Apple let word out that the iPad would be replaced soon? It seems to me that all of these rumors are based on speculation regarding what the iPad's product cycle will be. I don't think Apple has, in any substantive form, "let the word out" that a new iPad is coming, unless I missed a press release, somehow...

 

[MythicFrost]

Without a doubt, one of the biggest features of the iPad is the REAL ~10 hours of battery time. When I heard they were thinking about a dual core CPU and GPU, I was skeptical. How can they increase the processing power that much, including powering more ram without hurting the battery life?

I think the only thing Apple regrets is letting the word out that the iPad would be replaced so soon.

No credible challenge emerged in 2010. They could probably sell this current version of the iPad deep into the summer if they wanted to.

The A5 should draw less power per core than the A4 (ARM9 vs ARM8) and finish tasks upwards of 2x as fast in multi-threaded environments, and if in any situation only one core can be utilised the other can be shut off. The SGX543 should be more power efficient than the SGX535 whilst offering better performance. In both situations the increased amount of power should be minimal, if at all... I'm not so sure about the RAM... but if they can fit 512MB in the iPhone 4, they can do 1GB in the iPad.

Regarding power, the only real question is how the GPU power draw will be effected. The screen itself should draw virtually the same amount of power, regardless of the resolution. The biggest power draw for the screen is the backlight, and that changes based on size, not on resolution.

Good to know, I think I've thought this at some point but was unsure. I read about a new IPS technology a few months ago which further increased the viewing angles over regular IPS whilst reducing power requirements by 30%... I could see that being in the iPad 2, if its ready.

 

[Bye Bye Baby]

Anyone else agree?

Could not agree less. Any good business, and apple is a good business, does not let its edge over the competition evaporate for a few bucks. I hope that apple will continue to dominate in the market and not let happen to itself what happened when windows blew it out of the water.

 

[neutrino23]

I agree!

All it comes down to is that Apple wants to make as much money as possible in as small updates as possible!

Just look at how Apple has done with iPhone.

Sometimes Apple makes bold moves. The iPod mini was a best seller when Apple canceled it and came out with the iPod nano. That was a stunning move at the time.

From the few statements that come out of Apple's executives it seems that they want to make the best products they can. They are striving for an experience, not for a set of specifications. Based on that they'll upgrade the screen when they think it is practical, without waiting for prodding from the competition. Though a little prodding never hurts.