Which vendors are shipping large numbers of tablets larger than the iPad Air?
They will, and they are ahead already. Samsung has been doing that for a while I believe believe begining of this year if not earlier, Microsoft as of this summer, and Asus also.. probably others that I'm not aware of.
Holy crap. 3 billion transistors on the A8X. 40% faster CPU and 2.5x faster GPU.
I was really surprised at that. I'm sure we all expected to see another minor 100MHz speed bump, which would have added a very small improvement, when we heard about the "x" model, I expected another 50% bump in graphics performance as per the older "x" bumps. But this threw me.
Either Apple has bumped the speed up by much more than 100MHz, or has done something dramatic in the design in addition to a larger speed bump. With an entire extra billion transistors, they seem to have made major additions to the SoC.
Boy, I just can't wait for Anandtech to get their hands on this!
Definitely more impressive than the lacklustre iPad mini 3, but no 3x display upgrade - I was really hoping for that as the A8x can handle it. So 3x res solely for a future larger screened iPad Pro/Plus maybe?
I haven't been there yet today, but they didn't have the phones early, so I figure they don't have this either. But I'm sure they were there today, so they will at least have an impression of how it feels in use, as should ArsTechnica.
Under the notes for wifi - cellular version, it says unit comes with an Apple sim card that works with AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Verizon user will need a sim from Verizon. And that the Apple sim can be used by other over seas carriers that participate, or use their own sim. This seems to indicate that buying a cellular enabled version will be compatible globally. Not sure if the China version will be different.
Definitely more impressive than the lacklustre iPad mini 3, but no 3x display upgrade - I was really hoping for that as the A8x can handle it. So 3x res solely for a future larger screened iPad Pro/Plus maybe?
That's what I'm thinking. I wonder where the extra oomph in CPU performance came from.
If you look at the A8 X-ray photos, you'll see that, as usual, there is between 35-40% of the area used for unknown functions. I can see some of the extra transistors in the A8x going to the extra graphics, but surely not all of it. A small extra for the CPU's enhanced performance. What else could account for the huge increase in graphics performance?
Under the notes for wifi - cellular version, it says unit comes with an Apple sim card that works with AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Verizon user will need a sim from Verizon. And that the Apple sim can be used by other over seas carriers that participate, or use their own sim. This seems to indicate that buying a cellular enabled version will be compatible globally. Not sure if the China version will be different.
I haven't been there yet today, but they didn't have the phones early, so I figure they don't have this either. But I'm sure they were there today, so they will at least have an impression of how it feels in use, as should ArsTechnica.
He was probably kidding around. Anand now works directly for Apple (since at least August) and yes probably got his hands on it some time ago.
Pretty bad when most of Phil's presentation was spent on the camera. Sigh. And considering we're an hour into the presentation my guess is this is it for iPads.
the camera in our devices is perhaps the most exciting thing about them, especially for normal consumers. the camera defines how we see, and how we remember, the world around us.
Comments
Just checked back on the iphone 6 presentation.
A8 is 25% faster CPU performance and up to 50% faster GPU performance than A7.
Now....
A8X is 40% faster CPU and up to 250% faster GPU versus A7.
"Look how thin it is because it is the only new thing we can do."
Which vendors are shipping large numbers of tablets larger than the iPad Air?
They will, and they are ahead already. Samsung has been doing that for a while I believe believe begining of this year if not earlier, Microsoft as of this summer, and Asus also.. probably others that I'm not aware of.Fixed.
I was really surprised at that. I'm sure we all expected to see another minor 100MHz speed bump, which would have added a very small improvement, when we heard about the "x" model, I expected another 50% bump in graphics performance as per the older "x" bumps. But this threw me.
Either Apple has bumped the speed up by much more than 100MHz, or has done something dramatic in the design in addition to a larger speed bump. With an entire extra billion transistors, they seem to have made major additions to the SoC.
Boy, I just can't wait for Anandtech to get their hands on this!
An even better upgrade for those of us still with the original iPad 1!!
Boy, I just can't wait for Anandtech to get their hands on this!
I'm sure Anand already got his hand on it
This is a nice improvement over the first air, but for the price, i'll just stick with what I have.
I haven't been there yet today, but they didn't have the phones early, so I figure they don't have this either. But I'm sure they were there today, so they will at least have an impression of how it feels in use, as should ArsTechnica.
That's what I'm thinking. I wonder where the extra oomph in CPU performance came from.
If you look at the A8 X-ray photos, you'll see that, as usual, there is between 35-40% of the area used for unknown functions. I can see some of the extra transistors in the A8x going to the extra graphics, but surely not all of it. A small extra for the CPU's enhanced performance. What else could account for the huge increase in graphics performance?
Possibly, for the first time, graphics RAM?
No NFC, meaning no store purchases. Why, Apple?
Because paying with an iPad in a store is fucking ridiculous.
No, Shiller said that. Same unit for China.
Good update!
I'm definitely getting one tomorrow! I haven't decided on 64 GB vs 128 Gb, we'll see.
Basically, all of the things that I wanted were included, so I guess I'm happy.
He was probably kidding around. Anand now works directly for Apple (since at least August) and yes probably got his hands on it some time ago.
Pretty bad when most of Phil's presentation was spent on the camera. Sigh. And considering we're an hour into the presentation my guess is this is it for iPads.
the camera in our devices is perhaps the most exciting thing about them, especially for normal consumers. the camera defines how we see, and how we remember, the world around us.
http://uneedtech.com/2014/10/16/apple-announced-ipad-air-2-thinnest-and-fastest-tablet-ever/