If it is going to be a pre-Xmas update we'll know very soon. In order to get into people's heads, onto wish lists, and into budgets they will have to announce within 30-45 days.
One factor arguing for an accelerated update schedule might be the phenomenal success it has had. We tend to think of cycles as having to do solely with the calendar, but units sold is also part of the equation. Think of AppleTV as the reverse--had it sold as well as iPad it would have been through updates once a year instead of once in a blue moon.
Another factor is that the camera was probably already engineered in, and for whatever reason was left out at the last minute. Wouldn't take much to reverse that.
Maybe it'll show up with iOS 4.2 in November? "Oh, and one more thing . . . "
I'm still puzzled on why the iPad didn't have a camera in the first place. They were able to shove one on last year's Nano.. Then maybe they wouldn't have to go out of cycle to release the second generation (that's if).
Maybe a Bluetooth "clip on" camera made by a third party or Apple themselves will become available? Just so the original iPad doesn't get left out when iPad 2 comes out with a camera. I don't know. Just a thought..
It may not be a big deal to some but it is to some people.. Apple is promoting FaceTime heavily so I guess it is a big deal for them as well.
One that plugged into the dock connector would work magically
I will buy an iPad when it has 2 fully functional USB ports.
Just plug a camera connection kit and a USB hub in. Who wants cables hanging off their iPad though. Wireless accessories are more interesting.
I'm more interested in two dock ports. That way I can dock it in landscape mode. A cover that flips over it like on the MacBook Pro xpresscard slot would definitely be cool. A built-in SDHC slot would be nice too.
"possible launch ahead of this year's holiday shopping season"
This confirms what my gut has been telling me for almost 2 months. It makes so much sense for Apple to update the iPad hardware around November. And then Steve Jobs mentioned last week that the iPad was getting HDR photos in November, which would require the iPad to have a camera in November.
A front facing camera, and maybe more RAM, are some of the only hardware advantage the (future) iPad competitors have going for them. If Apple comes out with the iPad 2, with front and back cameras, FaceTime, 512 MB of RAM, before the holiday season, it will completely crush any supposed competition. I'm already skeptical any of the future competitors will gain much of the table market, but with a new iPad, it will literally be like the Kin release. All the competitors will be DOA.
Imagine this linup:
iPad v1 starts at $400
iPad v2 starts at $500 (with cameras, FaceTime, and twice the RAM)
New iPod touch starts at $229
That right there will be a bloodbath for the holiday season.
Now imagine if Apple can put the RetinaDisplay in the iPad 2. That's quite a few pixels, and might require a beefier GPU, but it would be awesome.
The iPad is held further from the face, so that kind of pixel density isn't as big of requirement.
I don't think Facetime will make it to the iPad Pre-2011. It's very un-Apple, not to mention how many early adopters will be pissed off, and the many that have no problem pitching the old iPad for the new one, just wasteful, but it happens. They may add FT to iPad 2.0 but not a 1.5. Personally, I think before I invest in the iPad, they will need to add a better display, given that the retina display on the iPhone/touch is so much better.
I also think the real story here was the previous AI post about Apple working on integrating Facetime to OSX and PC platforms. That will really boost the usage and almost necessitate a forward camera on every iOS device.
I don't think Facetime will make it to the iPad Pre-2011. It's very un-Apple, not to mention how many early adopters will be pissed off, and the many that have no problem pitching the old iPad for the new one, just wasteful, but it happens. They may add FT to iPad 2.0 but not a 1.5. Personally, I think before I invest in the iPad, they will need to add a better display, given that the retina display on the iPhone/touch is so much better.
Simple. Make it smaller with a lower quality screen. They probably need to do that anyway.
Although even if it were identical to the current iPad plus a camera, it isn't like Apple hasn't made similar changes early on. Original iPhone had a price drop two months after it came out. First Unibody MacBook Pro was updated with more memory, newer chipset, and faster processors for less money a couple months after the original model came out. There are many more examples of this. Things change, you have to accept that if you want to own technology.
Did Steve Jobs specifically say that about the iPad and HDR? Not a misspeak related to iOS4 coming in November?
I don't know about the Table market, I think Microsoft has that.
I would say that if a new model comes this year, it will be 7" with a camera, same resolution, same amount of RAM, lower price, and a lower quality screen.
i agree, except that i think they'll keep the same price points as the larger one, then increase the price points for the larger one when they update it in the spring. there seems to be quite enough demand to sustain the current price points and higher. the 7" screen will be different so the iPad Large owners won't be too pissed. i can see a 7" facetiming model as the most popular gift for mothers, kids, and grandparents this holiday season. i just hope the north carolina facility is fully operational by christmas day..
The killer app for me thus far on the iPad has been NetFlix. I will always pick up the iPad for something good to watch (if the lighting conditions are favorable; see below). Comics are also very good, as are newspapers and newsfeeds. Others will say games.
I'm not a fan of the glare screen however as it will reflect any light possible, and often gives me headaches. I would love to see a matte/antiglare version but I'm not holding my breath.
I would also like to see a way to get greater touchscreen sensitivity for art apps like Sketchbook. It seems that now the only way would be for someone to invent a bluetooth stylus that can echo pressure sensitivity readings to the software.
i agree, except that i think they'll keep the same price points as the larger one, then increase the price points for the larger one when they update it in the spring. there seems to be quite enough demand to sustain the current price points and higher. the 7" screen will be different so the iPad Large owners won't be too pissed. i can see a 7" facetiming model as the most popular gift for mothers, kids, and grandparents this holiday season. i just hope the north carolina facility is fully operational by christmas day..
What does the data center have to do with this. Apple rarely increases prices. That is very unlikely. I can see a new model over a revamp. The main reason to push it out early is probably related to production concerns.
Jan'11 is probably the perfect time for the introduction of the new iPad with front facing camera and FaceTime. The price of the older base iPad can also be reduced to $399 at the same time.
In the meanwhile, a 7" iPad Mini (or iPod Touch XL) with retina display and front facing camera would be a killer product to fill up the product gap between the iPod touch and the original iPad.
The iPad is held further from the face, so that kind of pixel density isn't as big of requirement.
I use my iPad for a TON of things. One of the many things I do with my iPad is read. iBooks is awesome. I often lie in bed at night reading on my iPad. I definitely hold it close enough to my face when reading that I would notice a big difference if it had 4x the pixels.
One other thing - the latest book I've been reading in iBooks (The Way of Kings) has an illustration every couple of chapters. The illustrations are VERY detailed, but the image included with iBooks is pretty low rez. You can zoom into illustrations in iBooks (barely), but the details just get fuzzy because it is low rez. I wish iBooks would include better quality illustrations. Better quality illustrations along with RetinaDisplay would be AWESOME!
But, back in reality, quadrupling the pixels in the iPad would be a major feat that I don't expect any time soon. The resolutions would end up being 2,048 x 1,536. That is a TON of pixels in a mobile device with a screen less than 10".
The pixel density would be less than the iPhone, but a 9.7" screen with that many pixels would be expensive, and it would require a pretty beefy GPU to push those pixels, especially for games.
I don't expect Apple to add RetinaDisplay to the iPad very soon, but I'm sure it will happen eventually. And when they do, I'll be buying yet another iPad! They're AWESOME!
What does the data center have to do with this. Apple rarely increases prices. That is very unlikely. I can see a new model over a revamp. The main reason to push it out early is probably related to production concerns.
they do raise prices though, take the mac mini for example. i think they're especially cautious about cannibalizing mac products. while it is probably a halo effect right now, eventually people are most likely going to do most of thier computing on mobile devices. i think apple can sustain higher prices (which are still a great value, eg competing tablets proposed that start around 1k) for a years before a reduced price will make a significant difference. even at the moderate price points of today the ipad is hugely successful, and making another version before christmas would clinch apple's superiority in the tablet market. just imagine tens of millions of iOS devices activated and video chatting on christmas day, it would be a very significant moment for apple, and its servers.
I would also like to see a way to get greater touchscreen sensitivity for art apps like Sketchbook. It seems that now the only way would be for someone to invent a bluetooth stylus that can echo pressure sensitivity readings to the software.
This. Or some version of it.
Frankly I'm not even sure I need pressure sensitivity, but I would very much like to be able to use a small, precise stylus for drawing. In fact I'd take a Wacom Bluetooth tablet solution with the iPad: set them both facing each other in a notebook/folder configuration so when you open it the tablet lies flat and the iPad is propped up; or you can fold the tablet back entirely and just use the iPad for non-drawing applications. Ultra-portable digital sketchpad with a real Wacom setup.
I'm assuming the reason we haven't seen something like this already has to do with limited Bluetooth accessibility in the iPad (doesn't Apple restrict it to certain uses only? or am I wrong about this?).
You mean Apple is going to build FaceTime into it's new iPad models with a forward facing camera ... Gee, who on Earth would have seen that one coming?!?
Reporting the obvious makes one about as psychic as Carnac the Magnificent (all my Johnny Carson fans).
I'll definitely look at getting an iPad then. I don't really need one, but I'd definitely find a use for it.
If they're going to put Facetime on the iPad then why not make it an option with the AppleTV. Third party manufacturers, or Apple, could make a head head mounted unit with a camera, mic, and light - great for ghost adventures.
Comments
One factor arguing for an accelerated update schedule might be the phenomenal success it has had. We tend to think of cycles as having to do solely with the calendar, but units sold is also part of the equation. Think of AppleTV as the reverse--had it sold as well as iPad it would have been through updates once a year instead of once in a blue moon.
Another factor is that the camera was probably already engineered in, and for whatever reason was left out at the last minute. Wouldn't take much to reverse that.
Maybe it'll show up with iOS 4.2 in November? "Oh, and one more thing . . . "
I will buy an iPad when it has 2 fully functional USB ports.
lightpeak might happen
I'm still puzzled on why the iPad didn't have a camera in the first place. They were able to shove one on last year's Nano.. Then maybe they wouldn't have to go out of cycle to release the second generation (that's if).
Maybe a Bluetooth "clip on" camera made by a third party or Apple themselves will become available? Just so the original iPad doesn't get left out when iPad 2 comes out with a camera. I don't know. Just a thought..
It may not be a big deal to some but it is to some people.. Apple is promoting FaceTime heavily so I guess it is a big deal for them as well.
One that plugged into the dock connector would work magically
I will buy an iPad when it has 2 fully functional USB ports.
Just plug a camera connection kit and a USB hub in. Who wants cables hanging off their iPad though. Wireless accessories are more interesting.
I'm more interested in two dock ports. That way I can dock it in landscape mode. A cover that flips over it like on the MacBook Pro xpresscard slot would definitely be cool. A built-in SDHC slot would be nice too.
"possible launch ahead of this year's holiday shopping season"
This confirms what my gut has been telling me for almost 2 months. It makes so much sense for Apple to update the iPad hardware around November. And then Steve Jobs mentioned last week that the iPad was getting HDR photos in November, which would require the iPad to have a camera in November.
A front facing camera, and maybe more RAM, are some of the only hardware advantage the (future) iPad competitors have going for them. If Apple comes out with the iPad 2, with front and back cameras, FaceTime, 512 MB of RAM, before the holiday season, it will completely crush any supposed competition. I'm already skeptical any of the future competitors will gain much of the table market, but with a new iPad, it will literally be like the Kin release. All the competitors will be DOA.
Imagine this linup:
iPad v1 starts at $400
iPad v2 starts at $500 (with cameras, FaceTime, and twice the RAM)
New iPod touch starts at $229
That right there will be a bloodbath for the holiday season.
Now imagine if Apple can put the RetinaDisplay in the iPad 2. That's quite a few pixels, and might require a beefier GPU, but it would be awesome.
The iPad is held further from the face, so that kind of pixel density isn't as big of requirement.
Sometimes you just have to hate Apple, or myself for adopting early.
I also think the real story here was the previous AI post about Apple working on integrating Facetime to OSX and PC platforms. That will really boost the usage and almost necessitate a forward camera on every iOS device.
I don't think Facetime will make it to the iPad Pre-2011. It's very un-Apple, not to mention how many early adopters will be pissed off, and the many that have no problem pitching the old iPad for the new one, just wasteful, but it happens. They may add FT to iPad 2.0 but not a 1.5. Personally, I think before I invest in the iPad, they will need to add a better display, given that the retina display on the iPhone/touch is so much better.
Simple. Make it smaller with a lower quality screen. They probably need to do that anyway.
Although even if it were identical to the current iPad plus a camera, it isn't like Apple hasn't made similar changes early on. Original iPhone had a price drop two months after it came out. First Unibody MacBook Pro was updated with more memory, newer chipset, and faster processors for less money a couple months after the original model came out. There are many more examples of this. Things change, you have to accept that if you want to own technology.
Did Steve Jobs specifically say that about the iPad and HDR? Not a misspeak related to iOS4 coming in November?
I don't know about the Table market, I think Microsoft has that.
I would say that if a new model comes this year, it will be 7" with a camera, same resolution, same amount of RAM, lower price, and a lower quality screen.
i agree, except that i think they'll keep the same price points as the larger one, then increase the price points for the larger one when they update it in the spring. there seems to be quite enough demand to sustain the current price points and higher. the 7" screen will be different so the iPad Large owners won't be too pissed. i can see a 7" facetiming model as the most popular gift for mothers, kids, and grandparents this holiday season. i just hope the north carolina facility is fully operational by christmas day..
I'm not a fan of the glare screen however as it will reflect any light possible, and often gives me headaches. I would love to see a matte/antiglare version but I'm not holding my breath.
I would also like to see a way to get greater touchscreen sensitivity for art apps like Sketchbook. It seems that now the only way would be for someone to invent a bluetooth stylus that can echo pressure sensitivity readings to the software.
But Johnny Ive said they left the camera out on purpose to make the iPad simple and minimalistic.
Sometimes you just have to hate Apple, or myself for adopting early.
I don't. I knew what I was buying, and I knew that new and improved models would appear within months. So what?
i agree, except that i think they'll keep the same price points as the larger one, then increase the price points for the larger one when they update it in the spring. there seems to be quite enough demand to sustain the current price points and higher. the 7" screen will be different so the iPad Large owners won't be too pissed. i can see a 7" facetiming model as the most popular gift for mothers, kids, and grandparents this holiday season. i just hope the north carolina facility is fully operational by christmas day..
What does the data center have to do with this. Apple rarely increases prices. That is very unlikely. I can see a new model over a revamp. The main reason to push it out early is probably related to production concerns.
In the meanwhile, a 7" iPad Mini (or iPod Touch XL) with retina display and front facing camera would be a killer product to fill up the product gap between the iPod touch and the original iPad.
The iPad is held further from the face, so that kind of pixel density isn't as big of requirement.
I use my iPad for a TON of things. One of the many things I do with my iPad is read. iBooks is awesome. I often lie in bed at night reading on my iPad. I definitely hold it close enough to my face when reading that I would notice a big difference if it had 4x the pixels.
One other thing - the latest book I've been reading in iBooks (The Way of Kings) has an illustration every couple of chapters. The illustrations are VERY detailed, but the image included with iBooks is pretty low rez. You can zoom into illustrations in iBooks (barely), but the details just get fuzzy because it is low rez. I wish iBooks would include better quality illustrations. Better quality illustrations along with RetinaDisplay would be AWESOME!
But, back in reality, quadrupling the pixels in the iPad would be a major feat that I don't expect any time soon. The resolutions would end up being 2,048 x 1,536. That is a TON of pixels in a mobile device with a screen less than 10".
The pixel density would be less than the iPhone, but a 9.7" screen with that many pixels would be expensive, and it would require a pretty beefy GPU to push those pixels, especially for games.
I don't expect Apple to add RetinaDisplay to the iPad very soon, but I'm sure it will happen eventually. And when they do, I'll be buying yet another iPad! They're AWESOME!
What does the data center have to do with this. Apple rarely increases prices. That is very unlikely. I can see a new model over a revamp. The main reason to push it out early is probably related to production concerns.
they do raise prices though, take the mac mini for example. i think they're especially cautious about cannibalizing mac products. while it is probably a halo effect right now, eventually people are most likely going to do most of thier computing on mobile devices. i think apple can sustain higher prices (which are still a great value, eg competing tablets proposed that start around 1k) for a years before a reduced price will make a significant difference. even at the moderate price points of today the ipad is hugely successful, and making another version before christmas would clinch apple's superiority in the tablet market. just imagine tens of millions of iOS devices activated and video chatting on christmas day, it would be a very significant moment for apple, and its servers.
I would also like to see a way to get greater touchscreen sensitivity for art apps like Sketchbook. It seems that now the only way would be for someone to invent a bluetooth stylus that can echo pressure sensitivity readings to the software.
This. Or some version of it.
Frankly I'm not even sure I need pressure sensitivity, but I would very much like to be able to use a small, precise stylus for drawing. In fact I'd take a Wacom Bluetooth tablet solution with the iPad: set them both facing each other in a notebook/folder configuration so when you open it the tablet lies flat and the iPad is propped up; or you can fold the tablet back entirely and just use the iPad for non-drawing applications. Ultra-portable digital sketchpad with a real Wacom setup.
I'm assuming the reason we haven't seen something like this already has to do with limited Bluetooth accessibility in the iPad (doesn't Apple restrict it to certain uses only? or am I wrong about this?).
Reporting the obvious makes one about as psychic as Carnac the Magnificent (all my Johnny Carson fans).
If they're going to put Facetime on the iPad then why not make it an option with the AppleTV. Third party manufacturers, or Apple, could make a head head mounted unit with a camera, mic, and light - great for ghost adventures.