Next-gen 7-inch iPad to have Retina Display, 128GB storage - rumor - Page 2

My thoughts exactly. Apple wouldn't risk ridiculous fragmentation like that. Not this early in the game. In a few years, after the iPad is old news and 1024x768 can be put out to pasture, but not now.

They could go 25% or 50% on each axis instead of 100% on each axis like they did with the iPhone 4, but it would still need an SDK change and for Apple and devs to adjust for it. Its probably one of the most inexpensive changes they can do, but it does provide a level of inconvenience.

The system will still work fine but certain elements will need more detail images for the denser pixels. Many things are just better off as bitmaps, from what I hear. I still see iPhone app updates that state that they updated it for the Retina Display and you can easily tell which apps arent updated, often by looking at their icons.

Another rumor... ho-hum.

However, I have been seeing more people just walking around and using their iPads. Starting to look like Star Trek invades real life! Fascinating, Jim!

Could this be a software problem? I don't know because I don't own an iPad yet. Are there choices in the drawing app market? I have noticed that HP is hyping their tablet as a design tool on Project Runway. But I'm never sure whether the fashion design contestants shown using them are just doing it for the camera, or whether they actually find them useful. They are also shown using conventional media for their sketches.

128GB would be the sweet spot for me. My music collection is around 90GB and I'd love to be able to carry it all around with me.

Would prefer to keep the current 9.7" screen though. Bigger is better for games and video.

The whole point of a mobile computer is to use it while mobile. The whole point of a tablet computer is to use it in your hands while standing. If you have to put it down on a table and put it at a special angle in a special case, or use a special extra keyboard attached to it, then why not just use a laptop?

I currently type between 40 and 60 wpm in thumb-type mode on my iPhone and I write thousands of words a day that way, standing up, while walking or on transit. I just want to do that but in a larger more comfortable format with better software/hardware support (like a simple documents folder that could be accessed without jumping through a dozen hoops would be nice).

I won't get too much into the drawing thing as it gets really subjective really fast, but I want to be able to draw fast, and accurately as if I was using a rapidograph or a standard pen and ink set. David Hockney's lovely blobby watercolour paintings aside, you can't actually do this on an iPad yet. You can do accurate and slow, or fast and messy.

You can use one of these:

http://www.tenonedesign.com/sketch.php

And there is an endless list of drawing apps available (which I will not list). Some even for technical drawings. Depending on what you are looking for.

SD NAND is also less reliable and fairly pricey for what you get.


In re: the SDD on the iPad and iPhone. I have been under the impression that the limited iOS support for multitasking was directly related to the use of SSD -- Apple wanted to avoid paging out apps or content due to larger/longer/fragmented writes and reduction in NAND life expectancy.

In thinking about this, the MacBook Air has an SSD option, and this does not seem to be a concern for it.

Without knowing the detail specs for both SSDs, I wonder if it is practical to use a [floating] portion of the iPad SSD as a true virtual memory paging device.

Certainly, a future Dual Core CPU and more RAM would help -- but, with an iOS change, it may be possible to squeeze more capacity and performance from the current iPad with 256MB RAM.

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More storage would solve the only real issue I have left with the iPad. Video takes up space, and 16/32/64 is kind of sad.

I don't believe Apple will go to a 128 GB iPad any time soon.
I think it is more likely that if they introduce a 7" option, they will reduce the number of configurations.

They currenly have 6. I doubt they want to offer 12 choices.
I believe they may reduce the memory options to just 16GB and 64GB.

I like mine but it does fall a bit behind in usage compared to my other computing devices. I am getting it stocked with new movies for my upcoming vacation for which I think I will use it quite a bit on flights and waiting in airports. Unfortunately I will have to take my MBP as well in case I need to do something technical, so rather than less weight it is actually more that i will have to carry.

Just to be clear, SSDs contain NAND, but iDevices have NAND built directly onto that board. That said, I think SSDs have chips specifically designed for handling desktop OSes with these writes, as well the software option of TRIM that eventually came about.

Also, PCs tend to have plenty of RAM these days so virtual memory/paging isnt very frequent or done in the same was a SoC with 256MB or RAM would need to do it to run any and all apps the same way. Even if it could I dont think that is the correct way to run a handheld device moving forward. Apple has done a pretty good job with their multitasking implementation. The only thing I wish they would do is add a badge to icons in the Fast App Switcher that are still actively using RAM. My brother was deleting these apps from there every few hours thinking they were still all running in the background.

Yes, it gets subjective and I take your point. I guess you have tried many more software solutions than I have. I would have thought that fast and accurate would be hard using your finger. As for the point of a tablet - I am not sure it is as clear cut as you say, but obviousy the iPad is too big for writing while walking. I do it often on my iPhone but keep falling off the sidewalk. A 7" pad might be just the thing, then...

Have you tried one? I have tried a similar one which I found to betotally useless - even more inaccurate than finger input.

I have an iPad and I think both the bezel is far too big (it makes playing games with virtual d-pads completely impossible) and the screen should be 16:9. Watching movies on the iPad with huge black bars above and below the picture is ridiculous, as is zooming it up to old school 4:3 and missing half the film.

No one has, but I see no reason that a developer could not develop a split, thumb virtual kb for the iPad-- where 1/2 of the kb is on the left, the other 1/2 on the right, and all keys of each, within the span of a thumb. I think that MS showed something like this on one of its prototypes:

http://www.core77.com/blog/technolog...board_3496.asp

Here's a proof-of-concept mock-up for the iPad:



http://blog.42at.com/thumb-keyboard-...t-for-the-ipad

I have a Pogo stylus and it is quite fast and accurate.

They are even working on pressure sensitive software for the iPad:

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/02/press...g-on-the-ipad/

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Yes, I have one. And have used it. It takes awhile to get used to how much pressure is needed. NOt perfect, but better than finger for some situations. Maybe they will improve on the design in the future.

Try the Pogo-- it works fine! I even use it for handwriting recognition with the WritePad app.

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And crappy for the most common thing people do with tablet devices: read. Apple made the wise choice here.

As for the bezel being too big, My thumbs are already wider than the bezel and its smaller than the bezels Ive seen from many other tablets. What would you have them do, offer a Velcro iPad glove so you can stick to your hand?



That is how I expected the keyboard to come on the then unannounced Apple tablet. I can type crazy fast on the iPhone, but not on the iPad. Its one handed hunt-and-peck. Maybe when they get the back-panel sensor technology in place they will be able to intelligently sense how you are holding the device to offer the most appropriate keyboard.

Here are some other concepts and a patent filed on this very thing years ago:

Yes, but... even on PCs, if you are editing a large document, image, video -- the content can easily get to be larger than the available RAM, and some of it gets paged out.

Not too likely to be doing that on an iPad, though.

IMO, iOS multi-tasking could be greatly improved by an optional user setting that limits the number of stopped apps to, say 10-- rather than every app you've ever run.

Another thing, the flow between:
-- running an app
-- stopping an app
-- invoking Spotlight Search or
-- invoking the MT drawer
-- accidentally invoking Accessibility Options (Three-Press the Home Button)

needs work -- it's clunky on an iPad where you tend to do more MT and use more apps than on an an iPhone

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I want a 10" retina display. 1900x1200, IPS.

I would think they would drop the classic once they had an iPod touch with comparable storage (I don't think people are buying it for the interface), although I don't know if 128GB would be considered enough.

There is no question that a lot of print media companies would be very unhappy with a small screen size and the elimination of the current model. The 9.7" display is just about perfect for print publications that have ported over to the iPad AND include graphics and video.

If we were only talking about text, like the Kindle, a seven inch screen would probably be fine. But magazine (and newspaper) art directors love the current iPad model because it replicates print -- only better.

For those more interested in gaming I suppose the smaller form factor might be better -- people here would know better than I -- but for media the current model is better.

I can certainly see a market for it, but is Apple ready to split the HW line of the iPad -AND- have new UI and SDK to deal with this new form factor? When it comes to CocoaTouch the iPad was the first deviation from the standard 3.5 display.

Looking at Apples history Id say a 7 is a no go for now. However, there are plenty of unknowns, like how important medical is to overall sales (since this will fit in a lab coat, what their partners and Fortune 500 companies have been asking for, what issues there are on components for the current iPad*, and kind of profit there bean counters would have predicted for a 7 iPad and what threat theyve assessed to their current monopoly** from others coming in with a 7 iPad.


* By iPad components, if they can get 2x as many of the A4 chips, etc., but will not be able to get enough 9.7 displays to meet demand, but can get 7 displays it might behoove them to pursue it as quickly as possible.

** Since they do control the market (which in itself is amazing and funny) diverging it with more products would make since so they can maintain that control and therefore keep profits up, just like they did with the iPod.

I thought there was already an App out there with a split keyboard. Can't think of the name (I think it was part of a note creating App).

Not perfect, but you can try "Keyboard Upgrade".

Here it is, it's called: ThumbPad. It's in the app store.

The one I tried was called iclooly. Just tried their website but it looks as if they may be going out of business.

Lets assume that the 128GB iPod Touch is the same price as the current model (though I expect a price hike) were talking $400 compared to the current iPod Classic that is only $250 and still has more 32GB higher capacity. Thats before you include the price drop I mentioned after interest dies down.

As for the interface, I do know people that have bought it for the interface. They still want something simple and straightforward that is only music focused and has a click wheel.

If we see a price drop right before or after the holidays Id say it could be toast next September. If not then I think next year could be a silent price drop. Are we even so sure a 128GB Touch will come next year?

The only unknown is really on the availability of the 1.8 HDDs, but if Toshiba stopped upping the capacity this year then I think theyll still be making then for at least another year.

The only reason the 9.7" iPad needs a bezel is because it doesn't fit in the palm of one hand. A 6-7" model, on the other hand, particularly one with a 3:2 or 16:9 shape, would fit in one hand.

With a minimalist iPod touch style bezel it would be narrow enough to fit into many pockets. With a larger bezel it would lose that ability and be just as non-portable as the current iPad.

The fact that the iPad is so big it requires its own carrying bag is the primary reason why I don't own one. It's just too freaking big to be a go-everywhere device.

At the other extreme the iPhone's 3.5" display is too small for my middle aged eyes.

I'm ready to give Apple my money, but they don't seem to want it.

With everyone else showing off prototype 7" products I think Apple will be forced to do something. They understand that it's far better to cannibalize your own products than let a competitor do it.

If the bezel is smaller, you can't hold it without mis-touching it.

Black bars may be "ridiculous" for you, but so is using 16:9 for reading books and working with other content.

And what about movies that are wider than 16:9 - I own several DVDs that have wider aspect ratios than 16:9 - should Apple make super wide iPads so those don't look "ridiculous" too?

64GB isn't enough to store my music collection let alone any videos.

Music (Apple lossless : average bit rate = 1024) : 280 GB

Music (converted to 256 AAC) : 70 GB

Ha!

I found an almost perfect solution for carrying my iPad -- It consists of:

-- a camo holster
-- an adjustable/flexible shoulder strap

ordered from separate sources.

The holster fits the naked iPad just fine. But I have Apple's iPad case and I want to keep it on the iPad, for protection and convenience (easel positions). I can cram it into the holster and drag it out with the case on... If the case were slightly wider (1/8 - 1/4 inch) or would stretch a little it would be perfect.

Yeah it will probably make it another year or two based on price. I don't know why you'd expect a price hike on the iPod touch though. Apple traditionally ups capacity and keeps the price ranges the same, and they didn't even up the capacity this year (mostly like because flash prices didn't drop). They also don't have a lot of upward room with the iPad above it, and a possible 7" model coming (still don't know if I buy that idea yet).

I don't expect the iPod classics capacity to change until it's discontinued, but as you say, we have no idea what Toshiba's plans are for the drive. If its capacity doesn't change, perhaps a higher priced 128GB model can't push it out, but a 256 GB model may. I guess I'm getting ahead of myself though.

You're probably right that the iPod Classic will still be available next year.

So you are one of the people who zig zag walk while typing on phone. I was walking behind someone at work who was almost bouncing from wall to wall as she was walking down the hall. I thought she was drunk until she turned around and I saw her using her phone.

You may type fine, but you may not be walking fine.

The form factor doesn't matter all that much, it's about whether or not the device can do what it is intended to do. A 7" display could consume a lot less power so they can drop the battery size and maintain the same life-time. A 7" surface would allow them to use lighter glass and a thinner backing material. This would make the iPad significantly lighter.

I don't think it would be a good idea because one of the iPad's main strengths is the relatively large display but if they test it and it works ok, the lighter weight would be a huge benefit.


1280 x 720 = 720p
1920 x 1080 = 1080p

It could play full HD 1080p videos with bars top and bottom but might still only playback 720p. If they did get a display this resolution, I wonder if they'd make the aspect match the iPhone or keep with 4:3 in which case it would be 1920 x 1200 - naturally it would have the same scale as the current one just much sharper.

There's already a 1600 x 1200 6.6" IPS display:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/06/h...eaded-to-tabl/

so a 1080p 7.x" screen is a possibility. It will be simultaneously interesting and annoying that the lowly iPad would have a higher resolution and quality screen than the highest end Macbook Pro.


The high end model will get 128GB - currently a 64GB SSD is $100-200 and that is the upgrade pricing to get to a 64GB iPad. Nand Flash is moving to 25nm so SSD and mobile internal Flash chips will double in capacity for the same price over the next 6 months.

I'd expect iPad 2 to come out sooner than April 2011 simply because it helps offset the production from the iPhone 5. If they ship in January or February, that gets the Christmas shoppers buying the old ones as gifts and people with money received as gifts buying the new one.

The other part of this rumor that AI forgot to say is that its a Verizon exclusive.

Heck, I could have told you not to buy one about a minute after it was presented last January. Would've saved yourself a bundle. Personally, that tells me you either didn't understand SJ's keynote when he introduced it, or you thought there was some magic functionality hidden inside it.

It's been too many years to remember, but back in the dark ages (before personal computers) I worked in the emerging semiconductor industry. Manufacturing costs were a big item. But testing was also a big part of the costs.


I mention this because if the testing/rejects philosophy is still the same, Apple could:

1) Manufacture say, 1 GB RAM, Dual Core 1.5GHz Cortex A9 based A4 chips for the more expensive iPads and iPhones
2) Test to meet these specs for the more expensive products
3) Retest the rejects at, say at 512 MB RAM, 1GHz Single Core for less expensive products

Basically, a large percentage of the reject high-end A4 chips, could be used in lower-end products (iPod Touch, AppleTV, etc.).

This could reduce costs, increase availability of short-suppply components, and increase yield of critical production facilities.

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I totally agree with you that the iPad has not addressed the common "doodle" or the ability to just "take notes" like we do with a paper notepad, or make technical drawings like i do in the field of Architecture, but...

...that being said, i have to say i don't know you at all, but i already am pissed at you. You need to relax a bit. typing why walking is not as bad as while driving but i guarantee you're pissing off about a 1000x more people in the process. what is so important that you have to walk and type at the same time? relax, step aside and make room for people how are actually looking where they are going and not causing a nuisance! What is so important that you can't wait until you get to the office, or until you sit down in the subway?...jeeze...