That's fine, and they could've demonstrated that by giving the iPad mini 3 the plain A8 chipset while keeping A8X for iPad Air 2. That would've made more sense than what they did. It's a head scratcher to charge $100 more for Touch ID alone.
I don't know exactly why Apple chooses to do what they do in each particular instance of course, but here's a wild theory that I will throw out there.
Apple can't make iPhone 6s fast enough (supply is no where close to demand, perhaps not until 2015, according to Tim Cook), and maybe they need all of the A8s that they can get for iPhones?
On an iPad Air, I was only able to open five tabs before Safari choked. On the iPad Air 2, I was able to open a dozen of them before the browser felt less than snappy.
Iterative, my ass. If the screen of the iPad Air 2 is anything like the one on my iPhone 6 as promised, that will be reason enough for me to upgrade. The fact that the three-core processor smokes the original Air is all gravy.
Approximately a 10% increase in overall speed over iOS 8.1 on the iPad Air 1.
Keep in mind I am, for the moment, still running an 802.11n router so speeds could be considerably quicker still.
I have also, so far, opened up six tabs and flicked backwards and forwards between them with no refreshing whatsoever.
That increase in speed can be felt right across the entire operating system even when opening stuff like Mail, Notes, Reminders, Calender, iBooks, etc...
Scrolling is even more buttery and smooth.
You know, when I first saw the keynote, I initially wasn't going to get this, based on what I saw. However, once again, Apple has shown that specs are meaningless and that user-experience is everything.
Yippee! Can't wait to get one. Guess the additional RAM does matter. Will be curious to hear your opinions on battery life. Apple is usually pretty accurate with their battery claims and they quote same battery life as previous gen. The Verge review says great battery life but the Engadget review claims battery life is a bit worse than the Air.
Keep in mind I am, for the moment, still running an 802.11n router so speeds could be considerably quicker still.
Unfortunately, I don't have a new router yet either, but I do think that it makes a significant difference. This review claims many times faster WiFi!
WiFi
Apple says WiFi is much faster on the iPad Air 2 — and wow, do you feel it. Apple could do an ad showing this year’s iPad loading webpages side by side with last year’s iPad, if it didn’t make last year’s look like such a slug. NYTimes.com, for example, loads in one second on the new iPad; it arrives five seconds later on last year’s model (same WiFi network).
Much the same was said in Joanna Stern's review, which noted the Air 2 is a good upgrade for those who skipped on the first-generation model....
But...but...but... all the Fandroids, iHaters, and all-around whiners are gonna say that the iPad Air 2 is actually the FIRST-generation of the 2nd generation iPad Air 2!! We need to wait for the iPad 3 so it is the 2nd-generation of the the iPad Air 2... but then that would make it the first generation of the iPad Air 3 no??
Keep in mind I am, for the moment, still running an 802.11n router so speeds could be considerably quicker still.
Now that the new iPhone 6/6 Plus and iPad Air 2 all support 802.11ac, its worth getting an 802.11ac router. It really is noticeable IRL, not just in benchmarks.
The iPad Mini 3 is great for enterprises, who want TouchID for security. That's the reason it exists.
I think that many people will be choosing the iPad Mini 2, because of the cheaper price tag, but there is also one more category of people who will have no choice but to choose the iPad Mini 3. That category is people who want the smaller sized Mini iPad, but who also demands more storage space, as the iPad Mini 2 doesn't go larger than 32 GB.
Keep in mind I am, for the moment, still running an 802.11n router so speeds could be considerably quicker still.
You know, when I first saw the keynote, I initially wasn't going to get this, based on what I saw. However, once again, Apple has shown that specs are meaningless and that user-experience is everything.
802.11n is rated around 700mb/s. Is your Internet access in the gigabit speed range? I don't see how getting an 802.11ac router will improve your speed if the pipe coming in can't feed that appetite.
I agree on the user experience. Something so simple is completely lost with the Android crowd, or perhaps they just settle for less.
Wow, Walt Mossberg's review was quite negative. Probably the most negative review I've ever seen from him with an Apple product. I'll bet Phil Schiller got heartburn after reading that.
Wow, Walt Mossberg's review was quite negative. Probably the most negative review I've ever seen from him with an Apple product. I'll bet Phil Schiller got heartburn after reading that.
I've skimmed through some of the reviews and most of them are highly subjective, with some of the reviews even contradicting each other.
One reviewer states that they feel no difference between the iPad Air and the iPad Air 2, when it comes to thickness and weight, while another reviewer easily notices the difference when they hold it." src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
One reviewer said that the WiFi is just a hair faster on the new iPad, while another reviewer says that it's significantly faster." src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
I've skimmed through some of the reviews and most of them are highly subjective, with some of the reviews even contradicting each other.
One reviewer states that they feel no difference between the iPad Air and the iPad Air 2, when it comes to thickness and weight, while another reviewer easily notices the difference when they hold it.
One reviewer said that the WiFi is just a hair faster on the new iPad, while another reviewer says that it's significantly faster.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Yep I noticed that too. I do agree with Jessica Lessien though: it's the software stupid. Hardware is fantastic, now we need software to catch up. Apple should have a software team 100% dedicated to iPad software. I think all of Apple's first party apps could use improvement on the iPad.
Wow, Walt Mossberg's review was quite negative. Probably the most negative review I've ever seen from him with an Apple product. I'll bet Phil Schiller got heartburn after reading that.
I have read many bloggers saying how they won't be buying the new iPad Air 2 because it doesn't do anything new for them.
If a person just reads email, twits, writes simple articles and surfs the internet, iPad Air is definitely fast enough.
For casual users like Walt and the above bloggers, they have no use for the extra power from iPad Air 2.
iPad Air 2 is really for the upgraders from iPad 4 or older and power users. That is, until newer and more powerful apps/games and apps pioneering new usage start appearing for the A8X.
I have an Air at the moment. Gone back and forth on upgrading the last few days.
Really you don't need to update every year. In fact I see it as a waste of money unless you really really need Touch ID. By the time developers leverage the hardware in this machine it will be time for the next iPad.
Overall, I'm just telling myself that there's even more to come next year, as the A9 will be a tick rather than a tock.
I think one has to be real careful here applying Intel marketing terminology to what Apple is doing. Overall we are seeing that this is a rather massive update to Apples SoC. In fact I'm rather confused by some of the media comments because we are seeing very non trivial increases in performance.
Plus, I have a year left on my Air's extended warranty anyway. And I might miss the mute switch.
The mute switch won't be a problem. In fact I suspect most would be better off without it. Too many times I've found the switch accidentally set.
As to selling that is up to you, but consider this. Sell your machine when a compelling piece of software needs this updated hardware.
What's wrong with evolutionary change or, say, evolutionary improvements?
Nothing really, especially in a mature product like this. That being said I'm not sure why this Air 2 is seeing such negative commentary, it is a massive overhaul of the machine with nothing left untouched. It is more than an evolution as you see in the PC industry these days.
I still use iPad version 4, and though the iPad Air was not a evolutionary product worth buying for me, the iPad Air 2 with A8X, far lighter, and TouchID, makes it a new species by comparison.
The whole package makes it a best of breed species. I'm not sure why this has been missed by the media. Maybe they didn't have a clue as to the devices internals.
Actually, I'm wondering about the rumored evolution to the 12" iPad, supposedly delayed until the iPhone 6 models get in demand and supply balance.
For me that might be too big. However I can imagine a few compelling approaches that might make a 12" iPad a replacement for both a tablet and a laptop.
In any event many of these reports seemed to be whacked. Hell I'd go for the machine simply for the RAM and Touch ID.
That's fine, and they could've demonstrated that by giving the iPad mini 3 the plain A8 chipset while keeping A8X for iPad Air 2. That would've made more sense than what they did. It's a head scratcher to charge $100 more for Touch ID alone.
I wouldn't be surprised to find that it is a production issue with the new chips. Considering how hot the new iPhones are that is a real possibility. The other possibility I'd that the Mini doesn't sell anywhere near as well as people think it does.
…
You know, when I first saw the keynote, I initially wasn't going to get this, based on what I saw. However, once again, Apple has shown that specs are meaningless and that user-experience is everything.
Your logic fails me here. In fact your report that was truncated here very much implies that specs are important and lead to a good user experience. For example many wanted more RAM, which we got, and that RAM apparently has resulted in a big usability improvement. Faster hardware has lead to that snappier feeling you alluded too.
This is why I don't understand some of the reports that AppleInsider is referencing. Usability would appear to be vastly improved with this machine. That is a key factor in consumer satisfaction.
People need to remember these are bleeding edge chips that Apple is shipping, there are few factories world wide that can even come close to producing these. I can even see strong demand for the new iPad causing problems once people realize just how impressive it is update wise.
I don't know exactly why Apple chooses to do what they do in each particular instance of course, but here's a wild theory that I will throw out there.
Apple can't make iPhone 6s fast enough (supply is no where close to demand, perhaps not until 2015, according to Tim Cook), and maybe they need all of the A8s that they can get for iPhones?
Comments
That's fine, and they could've demonstrated that by giving the iPad mini 3 the plain A8 chipset while keeping A8X for iPad Air 2. That would've made more sense than what they did. It's a head scratcher to charge $100 more for Touch ID alone.
I don't know exactly why Apple chooses to do what they do in each particular instance of course, but here's a wild theory that I will throw out there.
Apple can't make iPhone 6s fast enough (supply is no where close to demand, perhaps not until 2015, according to Tim Cook), and maybe they need all of the A8s that they can get for iPhones?
How is Safari on the Air 2?
On an iPad Air, I was only able to open five tabs before Safari choked. On the iPad Air 2, I was able to open a dozen of them before the browser felt less than snappy.
http://www.fastcompany.com/3037335/ipad-air-2-ipad-mini-3-review
Iterative, my ass. If the screen of the iPad Air 2 is anything like the one on my iPhone 6 as promised, that will be reason enough for me to upgrade. The fact that the three-core processor smokes the original Air is all gravy.
Yippee! Can't wait to get one. Guess the additional RAM does matter. Will be curious to hear your opinions on battery life. Apple is usually pretty accurate with their battery claims and they quote same battery life as previous gen. The Verge review says great battery life but the Engadget review claims battery life is a bit worse than the Air.
Keep in mind I am, for the moment, still running an 802.11n router so speeds could be considerably quicker still.
Unfortunately, I don't have a new router yet either, but I do think that it makes a significant difference. This review claims many times faster WiFi!
WiFi
Apple says WiFi is much faster on the iPad Air 2 — and wow, do you feel it. Apple could do an ad showing this year’s iPad loading webpages side by side with last year’s iPad, if it didn’t make last year’s look like such a slug. NYTimes.com, for example, loads in one second on the new iPad; it arrives five seconds later on last year’s model (same WiFi network).
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/hey-kids-its-time-to-play-apple-announcement-100629550179.html
BTW, Joanna Stern at the WSJ apparently dropped hers and broke the screen. Maybe next generation they should give her something like one of those ultra-padded Kindles they make for little kids instead.
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
Much the same was said in Joanna Stern's review, which noted the Air 2 is a good upgrade for those who skipped on the first-generation model....
But...but...but... all the Fandroids, iHaters, and all-around whiners are gonna say that the iPad Air 2 is actually the FIRST-generation of the 2nd generation iPad Air 2!! We need to wait for the iPad 3 so it is the 2nd-generation of the the iPad Air 2... but then that would make it the first generation of the iPad Air 3 no??
Ugh... Those Fandroids are so smart! /s
Now that the new iPhone 6/6 Plus and iPad Air 2 all support 802.11ac, its worth getting an 802.11ac router. It really is noticeable IRL, not just in benchmarks.
The iPad Mini 3 is great for enterprises, who want TouchID for security. That's the reason it exists.
I think that many people will be choosing the iPad Mini 2, because of the cheaper price tag, but there is also one more category of people who will have no choice but to choose the iPad Mini 3. That category is people who want the smaller sized Mini iPad, but who also demands more storage space, as the iPad Mini 2 doesn't go larger than 32 GB.
Keep in mind I am, for the moment, still running an 802.11n router so speeds could be considerably quicker still.
You know, when I first saw the keynote, I initially wasn't going to get this, based on what I saw. However, once again, Apple has shown that specs are meaningless and that user-experience is everything.
802.11n is rated around 700mb/s. Is your Internet access in the gigabit speed range? I don't see how getting an 802.11ac router will improve your speed if the pipe coming in can't feed that appetite.
I agree on the user experience. Something so simple is completely lost with the Android crowd, or perhaps they just settle for less.
Wow, Walt Mossberg's review was quite negative. Probably the most negative review I've ever seen from him with an Apple product. I'll bet Phil Schiller got heartburn after reading that.
I've skimmed through some of the reviews and most of them are highly subjective, with some of the reviews even contradicting each other.
One reviewer states that they feel no difference between the iPad Air and the iPad Air 2, when it comes to thickness and weight, while another reviewer easily notices the difference when they hold it.
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
One reviewer said that the WiFi is just a hair faster on the new iPad, while another reviewer says that it's significantly faster.
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
I could go on, but you get the idea.
I just discovered my new pet peeve - 'colourable'. When the f**k did the text books change to add that usage?
And it is literally wrong as well - the iPad Air 2 comes in Gold - that colour was not available on iPads before.
No colourable difference, my a**.
Yep I noticed that too. I do agree with Jessica Lessien though: it's the software stupid. Hardware is fantastic, now we need software to catch up. Apple should have a software team 100% dedicated to iPad software. I think all of Apple's first party apps could use improvement on the iPad.
Wow, Walt Mossberg's review was quite negative. Probably the most negative review I've ever seen from him with an Apple product. I'll bet Phil Schiller got heartburn after reading that.
I have read many bloggers saying how they won't be buying the new iPad Air 2 because it doesn't do anything new for them.
If a person just reads email, twits, writes simple articles and surfs the internet, iPad Air is definitely fast enough.
For casual users like Walt and the above bloggers, they have no use for the extra power from iPad Air 2.
iPad Air 2 is really for the upgraders from iPad 4 or older and power users. That is, until newer and more powerful apps/games and apps pioneering new usage start appearing for the A8X.
The mute switch won't be a problem. In fact I suspect most would be better off without it. Too many times I've found the switch accidentally set.
As to selling that is up to you, but consider this. Sell your machine when a compelling piece of software needs this updated hardware.
For me that might be too big. However I can imagine a few compelling approaches that might make a 12" iPad a replacement for both a tablet and a laptop.
In any event many of these reports seemed to be whacked. Hell I'd go for the machine simply for the RAM and Touch ID.
I wouldn't be surprised to find that it is a production issue with the new chips. Considering how hot the new iPhones are that is a real possibility. The other possibility I'd that the Mini doesn't sell anywhere near as well as people think it does.
Your logic fails me here. In fact your report that was truncated here very much implies that specs are important and lead to a good user experience. For example many wanted more RAM, which we got, and that RAM apparently has resulted in a big usability improvement. Faster hardware has lead to that snappier feeling you alluded too.
This is why I don't understand some of the reports that AppleInsider is referencing. Usability would appear to be vastly improved with this machine. That is a key factor in consumer satisfaction.
People need to remember these are bleeding edge chips that Apple is shipping, there are few factories world wide that can even come close to producing these. I can even see strong demand for the new iPad causing problems once people realize just how impressive it is update wise.