Earlier today, Apple wrapped up its press conference detailing what we thought would be called the iPad
3. The new tablet is the same size and shape as its predecessors, but
changes a lot of things under the hood. For quick information on the new
tablet, check out our news recap. But if you have a bit of time, we’ve
compiled a more comprehensive list of things you should know about
Apple’s next hot device.
It’s not an iPad 3. It’s “The new iPad”
The first thing that confused us is the name. Instead of going with
the name iPad 3 or iPad HD, Apple has gone back to the basics and is
simply calling this the ‘iPad,’ or “The new iPad.” While this naming
convention is sure to confuse and annoy us geeks and press people of the
world who must write about “The new iPad” everyday, it shouldn’t mean
much to you (unless you’re one of us!). It’s a third-generation iPad.
Same size and design
While it’s called the new iPad, it looks exactly like the old iPad.
The new device has the same exact design and nearly identical dimensions
as the iPad 2, though it’s slightly fatter (9.4mm vs. 8.8mm) and
slightly heavier (652g vs. 601g) due to the larger internal battery
needed to run the ‘resolutionary’ screen you’re about to read up on.
It’s Resolutionary!
We can’t imagine Steve Jobs approving a word like ‘Resolutionary,’
but that is how Apple is describing the new iPad’s screen. It is still
9.7 inches (diagonally), but the new screen packs 2047×1536 pixels, or
twice the resolution of the iPad 2. While this resolution is essentially
the 3:4 aspect ratio equivalent of the widescreen 1080p (1920x1080px)
format, Apple is right to tout that an iPad packs many more pixels than
even 1080p devices do. Supposedly this will improve the viewing
experience dramatically, as demonstrated by Apple many times, though we
played with a high-resolution Asus Transformer Infinity recently and didn’t notice too much of a leap. However, that was not iOS and not an iPad.
Apple is also bringing back the term “Retina display,” which was used
to describe the 960×640 pixel resolution of the iPhone 4 and 4S.
However, the scale for what constitutes a “retina display” has slid
downward with the marketing. While the iPhone 4 has a 326ppi (Pixels Per
Inch) display, which means that a normal person (said Steve Jobs)
wouldn’t be able to distinguish pixels at 10 inches away). The new iPad
may have a much higher resolution, but it’s also a much larger screen,
giving it a 264 ppi. At that rate, you would have to hold the iPad 15
inches away (we think) to not notice any pixelation. Is it a Retina
display? We don’t know, but it’s still probably the best one on the
market.
Quad-core graphics (but not processing)
Like many of the upcoming high-end Android smartphones and tablets,
the new iPad will have a quad-core processor in it, and in true Apple
fashion, it is a custom chip built by the Cupertino company itself.
Strangely though, it’s not the main processor that’s quad-core: it’s the
graphic processor (GPU). The central processing unit (CPU) is likely
still dual-core, but Apple is deceptively pushing the entire tablet as a
quad-core device. If we were to follow Apple’s logic, then all Android
devices running the quad-core Tegra 3 processor would actually be
labeled as 12-core devices, since that’s how many cores are in the Tegra
3 GPU.
Marketing lingo aside, no specific specs on its clockspeed or
capabilities are yet known, but Apple showed off some impressive new
games by Namco and Epic during its press conference and claimed that the
iPad now had power comparable to gaming consoles like the PS3 and Xbox
360. Without knowing more, we can’t necessarily disagree.
As for the rest of the tablets relevant hardware specifications, we
know that it will still come with either 16, 32, or 64GB of internal
storage, we are guessing it has 1GB of RAM, and it has an audio
headphone jack and standard Apple charging and dock port. Sorry guys,
still no microSD or Micro USB. The camera is quite nice though.
Be sure to check out our full spec comparison between the new iPad, iPad 2, Asus Transformer Prime, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1.
iSight for all
The name is cheesy, but if you compare the new iPad camera to that of
the iPad 2, it looks like it will be an entirely new experience. The
iPad 2 had a cheap and crappy camera, but Apple has integrated what
appears to be the same rear camera as the iPhone 4S (and it’s nice) into
its new tablet. It can take photos at 5 megapixels, record video at
1080p and has other standard features like autofocus and tap to focus.
Unfortunately, there is no flash and the front-facing camera is still
VGA (640×480 pixels), meaning Apple isn’t making many upgrades to
enhance FaceTime.
The iPhone 4S camera is probably the best smartphone camera around,
which is why this announcement is particularly exciting. Combined with
the high resolution of the new iPad’s screen, this camera could do some
cool things. To celebrate, Apple is releasing a few new apps as well.
iOS 5.1
If you own an iPhone 4S, you’ve used iOS 5.1. In this update, Apple
added support for iCloud, which syncs up your files and backs them up
remotely as well as a number of other enhancements like an app
notification tray (a la Android) and other small enhancements like
Twitter integration, AirPlay mirroring, and iMessage.
iPhoto joins iMovie, iWork, and GarageBand
Apple has developed a new app called iPhoto, designed to work in
conjunction with the new iSight camera on the iPad. This app allows
users to edit their photos, and easily tweak color, exposure, and
contrast among other things. You can also use your fingers like
“brushes” and adjust small details of your photos, then share them
straight to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, or iCloud. AirPlay Beaming is also supported. iPhoto will cost $5 and will be available soon.
Updated versions of iMovie, iWork, and GarageBand will be released with a few new features each. Check out our New iPad apps rundown for more information.
Siri: No, but how about voice dictation?
Rumors pointed toward Siri being released for iPad, but it looks like
Apple isn’t ready for that just yet. The new iPad will not come with
Apple’s favorite little assistant, but it will have a new button on the
keyboard allowing for voice dictation. This feature should be fairly
straightforward, assuming it works well. You talk and the iPad types
what you say.
It’s got the 4Gs
Wi-Fi is great and 3G does the job, but if you want a fast
connection anywhere, 4G LTE is the best option (assuming it’s in your
area, of course). The new iPad
will have models starting at $630 that support 4G LTE on both Verizon
and AT&T. Unfortunately, when you purchase a new iPad, you will have
to specify whether you want an AT&T or Verizon model. Because the
two carriers use different LTE bands (technical jargon you don’t really
need to know), you won’t be able to switch from AT&T to Verizon.
Your iPad will be locked in. A cheaper Wi-Fi model will also be
available, as usual.
(Note: From what we gather, the 4G models will also be compatible on 3G networks.)
Battery life: 10 hours
Previous iPads have had 10 hour battery life (9 hours on 3G), and Apple
is maintaining that standard on the new iPad, despite its battery
draining high-resolution screen, quad-core processor, and 4G LTE
connectivity. This is possible because the battery is a bit larger,
pushing the thickness of the new iPad from 8.8mm to 9.4mm. We welcome
the girth and doubt most users will notice much difference.
New iPad, same price
The new iPad is also maintaining the same $500 – $830 pricing scheme
that all previous models have adhered to. If you want a 16GB Wi-Fi-only
iPad, it will cost $500; 32GB will run you $600; 64GB will run you $700;
and if you want 4G LTE, add $130 to the price. For those seeking a
discount, we suggest checking out the iPad 2.
iPad 2 now $400
As it has done with some iPhone models, Apple will continue to sell
the iPad 2 Wi-Fi and 3G models for a discounted $400. It may be just
clearing out inventory or it may plan to sell the old iPad for a longer
duration of time, possibly to combat cheap Android tablets. We aren’t
sure. If you don’t care as much about screen resolution, cool games,
photo editing, 4G LTE, or taking fancy pictures, then the iPad 2 may be a
good option for you.
How to get it
Apple has already opened pre-orders for the new iPad, which you can find by visiting apple.com/ipad/.
Your new iPad will ship on March 16. (Be warned, the purchasing site
seems to be going up and down. The site is likely being bombarded with
hundreds of thousands of pre-orders.)
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