Will TWO next-gen iPads be unveiled at January's iWorld?
No.
Apple will unveil not one but two iPad 3s on 23 January at the iWorld conference, according to a somewhat unlikely rumour breathlessly reported by gossip pumpers Digitimes. According to moles within the Apple supply chain, one of the next-generation fondleslabs will be higher specced than the other - carving out new product …
Digitimes are not entirely reliable in their rumour-mongering.
And this has been confirmed by someone which much better sources than Digitimes has access to:
http://www.loopinsight.com/2011/12/29/apple-will-not-release-ipad-3-at-macworld-or-ces/
quote:
"an iPad 3 is not planned for release at Macworld. In case you’re wondering, an iPad 3 won’t be released at CES either. You can also mark a TV off your list for either one of those shows too — it’s not going to happen, according to my sources."
A budget model with a cut down iPad2 camera resolution to 200kp
A high end model with a retina camera with upgraded iPad2 camera resolution to 1.2Mp
Really does someone want to wake Apple up and tell them my Asus Transformer has 10x the camera resolution and 30% more screen pixels than the iPad2.
But it doesn't matter. A quad-core ipad will be known as the first quad-core tablet and all others will be regarded as cheap Chinese copies. If they do an 8.2" ipad, it will be a magical new format - far superior to the 7" devices Jobs derided - and Xoom 2 Media Edition will be a cheap Chinese copy. "Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before..." with a massively biased media and blogosphere telling the world what Apple wants the world to be told. Meanwhile, they rest on their laurels and patents.
I don't know. I prefer the wide-screen 7 inch doo-dahs like the Galaxy Tab and the Archos they fit nicely into one hand. I think the iPad looks a little too big from the way I see people trying to stand up on trains using them. Sitting down they work quite well but when do you get a chance to sit down on public transport?!
and who cares anyway?
But I'll bite...
It's far too early for a new iteration of the iPad, unless it's going to be a 7" cheaper model as an answer to the Kindle Fire, but that's also very unlikely, as Apple currently don't need to compete in this area. Also it would be seen as Apple veering away from the Jobsian view and it's far to early for that.
Instead, they are going to launch the new Apple TV.
"The new iPads will feature quad-core Samsung-made A6 chips"
Presumably Samsung make more money from selling Apple their chips than from selling their own Galaxy Tabs? Surely one way to deal with the lawsuits Apple are flinging at them is to refuse to supply processors for iPads? I would assume that if I can think of that, then Samsung's far more business savvy people have already dismissed it...
>It's far too early for a new iteration of the iPad<
No it's not, I predict a new model for March, you can take that rumour to the bank.
>unless it's going to be a 7" cheaper model as an answer to the Kindle Fire, but that's also very unlikely..... Also it would be seen as Apple veering away from the Jobsian view and it's far to early for that.<
The dude's dead, all bets off, I can see them introducing a smaller model, not necessarily cheaper, if the size seems popular.
I've got an ipad1, been waiting for a better any other version to come out but they either omit an sdcard, make it widescreen, or the touch component / viewing angle / price performance is off. I'm invested in enough ios apps that I'll probably upgrade to the ipad3 now.
I still can't believe how unbelievably stupid the competition has been in this arena, the playbook (sans working email), the touchpad (don't try lowering the price to find a customer friendly point, just bin the entire product line in a fire-sale).
Special shout out to Asus (transformer) who at least are obviously researching somewhat, but I don't like the widescreen aspect - I watch widescreen films on my 40in TV, I read ecomics on my tablet. It'd be nice to see both aspects catered for, maybe.
It would be following the same product introduction cycle that Apple's been following for years. Introduce a new form factor (e.g., the iPod), get everyone used to the idea, then introduce a high end version (like the iPod Touch) and a low-end version (like the Shuffle-- limited capabilities, but does them very well). Keep the original version around and call it "The Classic".