iPad 3

[mobias]

So who's getting one then? I must admit I'm a bit disappointed its not going to feature this http://senseg.com/ as was rumoured. They're obviously saving that until a later model at which point I will buy one to replace my old one. The idea that I will at last be able to genuinely feel a porn stars tits online has me intrigued as well as aroused.

[buntyman]

So it barely does anything different apart from displaying more pixels than a human eye can detect. I spent a long weekend in London, was on plenty of busy trains and tubes and didn't see anyone with an ipad. Have people come to the realisation that these are more cumbersome than they're worth for carrying about now?

[chocky909]

I think they're popular for sofa use replacing laptops - too big for public transport. I think I've only seen 3 or 4 out in the wild and I live in London. Plenty of Kindles around. Maybe Apple would do well to do something sized between an Iphone and and Ipad?

[Subtle Mocking]

I think they're popular for sofa use replacing laptops - too big for public transport. I think I've only seen 3 or 4 out in the wild and I live in London. Plenty of Kindles around. Maybe Apple would do well to do something sized between an Iphone and and Ipad?

Like a Samsung Galaxy Note?

[buntyman]

I know, I saw lots of kindles out and about too. Surprised apple haven't tried to nip in there

[mobias]

They're definitely for sitting up in bed with or sitting on the sofa farting about online. Long plane flights and train journeys are where they come into their own too. The battery lasts much longer than any laptop I've owned. As a sort of general digital media interface they really can't be beaten. I'm much less convinced by the PC cross over stuff, using them to do things you would normally use a proper computer for such as editing photos or even prolonged typing. I'm not a fan of the virtual keyboard.

I should imagine the new iPad screen will look incredible though. There are other smaller tablets out there that have noticeably better screens than the old iPad's and they do look beautiful. With the iPad raising the bar even higher movies and photos will look fairly jaw dropping I think. They've had a really hard time getting the new screen to work apparently.         

[Ignatius_S]

So who's getting one then? I must admit I'm a bit disappointed its not going to feature this http://senseg.com/ as was rumoured. They're obviously saving that until a later model at which point I will buy one to replace my old one. The idea that I will at last be able to genuinely feel a porn stars tits online has me intrigued as well as aroused.

Surely doubly aroused?

Seriously though, the senseg rumour was pretty last-minute, which gained some legs yesterday with The Guardian's reporting but I think it was going to be a huge long shot.

You might have already seen this, but demo here: http://cnettv.cnet.com/senseg-demos-prototype-touch-feedback-technology/9742-1_53-50115714.html

So it barely does anything different apart from displaying more pixels than a human eye can detect. I spent a long weekend in London, was on plenty of busy trains and tubes and didn't see anyone with an ipad. Have people come to the realisation that these are more cumbersome than they're worth for carrying about now?

Well, being able to shoot 1080p is nice - but it's the new processor with quad-core graphics processing that I think is very, very neat. I look forward to seeing what kind of apps will be coming out now.

As for it being cumbersome, well I carry mine a hell of lot more than my laptop. When I go away, I tend to always pack it - if I don't actually use it, no biggy as it's so easy to carry around.

I think they're popular for sofa use replacing laptops - too big for public transport. I think I've only seen 3 or 4 out in the wild and I live in London. Plenty of Kindles around. Maybe Apple would do well to do something sized between an Iphone and and Ipad?

I'm starting to more in the wild - saw five at just one cafe/bar a few days and two people carrying in the street (although one of them might have mugged the other).

As for having a smaller form factor, it's mainly the analysts who have been calling for that - Apple have been pretty dismissive, you never can take that as being certain they won't be though.

I know, I saw lots of kindles out and about too. Surprised apple haven't tried to nip in there

Amazon's been reportedly reducing the number of Kindles from suppliers and there are suggestions tablets are eating into the ereader market.

[Ignatius_S]

...I'm much less convinced by the PC cross over stuff, using them to do things you would normally use a proper computer for such as editing photos or even prolonged typing. I'm not a fan of the virtual keyboard....

I quite like virtually keyboards but prefer a physical one for long periods - thought about buying one, but so far, I haven't been in a situation where I've felt I really could have done with one.

I use Nik Software plug-ins for editing photos on my desktop, but love Nik's iOS app Snapseed. Using a touchscreen offers something different to the traditional interface - not necessarily better, but different - and it's the sort of thing I can see some folk would prefer. If I'm away, I've found Snapseed to be a great way of doing fairly straightforward editing when I've wanted to send images - but also, it's been great for working out some ideas of what I want to do when I'm at my desktop.

[Santa's Boyfriend]

So who's getting one then? I must admit I'm a bit disappointed its not going to feature this http://senseg.com/ as was rumoured. They're obviously saving that until a later model at which point I will buy one to replace my old one. The idea that I will at last be able to genuinely feel a porn stars tits online has me intrigued as well as aroused.

Apple hate porn though, even if they did deliver such a surface feature they'd probably find a way to prevent you from using it like that!

[Replies From View]

Jailbait.  I mean, jailbreak.

[Jack Shaftoe]

Wasn't there a rumour they were going to do a Touch that was twice the size of the current one - taking it into the Kindle sort of territory? I love my Touch, great for checking email away from home without needing an actual iPhone level of connectivity.

[Jamie Oliver is fat]

And next year, it will have SIX blades and a moisteurising strip!

[buntyman]

Imagine how excited the Apple fans would get if they actually made some practical improvements. A USB slot and a reasonable amount of hard drive space would surely make a few hearts flutter.

[Steve Lampkins]

I use my 32GB Wi-Fi iPad 2 every day. The screen is just fine for me. Not worth the upgrade in my case. I guess I just have to avoid seeing the retina screen in real life...

[Replies From View]

I reckon these backlit tablets will be seem old once colour e-ink technology (or whatever it might be) properly takes off.

Whatever became of Mirasol colour displays?  It seemed for a while like Amazon would be leaping on the technology, but then they didn't. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT_B9qbVQDk

[Ignatius_S]

Wasn't there a rumour they were going to do a Touch that was twice the size of the current one - taking it into the Kindle sort of territory? I love my Touch, great for checking email away from home without needing an actual iPhone level of connectivity.

There have been rumours, but the success rate of rumour sites is very much on the low side. Additionally, plenty of sites indulge in speculation to drive Web traffic as The Onion alluded to, so a lot of the reporting is based on very little tangible evidence.

If Apple did bring out a smaller iPad it would be to compete with the Kindle Fire (and to a lesser extent other smaller tablets), rather than the Kindle E ink models. Recently, it's been reported to that Amazon have cut in half the number of Fires ordered from suppliers – this could be due to a lull after the holidays, but it's been suggested that Amazon were holding off because of the iPad 3 (that said, the recent advertising has very much gone for Apple, saying  that you could get a Fire and a couple of Kindle ereaders for the price of an iPad). In any case, it doesn't sound like Amazon will be selling the Fire outside in the States this quarter or Amazon expecting massive demand in the current market.

Some analysts have said one reason that Samsung hasn't done well in the tablet market (where it's offering a variety of different models and sizes) is because it went with a 7" model to begin with and there wasn't the demand for that. One Samsung executive has very recently said "Honestly, we're not doing very well in the tablet market," so whereas there's been lots of talk about having a large range of products will give a competitive advantage, this doesn't seem to have worked well there. The Playbook has sold incredibly badly – it's had lots of issues so there are other factors at play, but RIM thought the smaller form factor would be a huge plus – from what I've heard in retail (via friends), it's been the opposite.

When I played around with a Samsung model, I actually quite liked the small form factor – whereas previously, I was rather dismissive. However, for 7" models to take off, arguably they really need to be priced low enough to stimulate impulse buying. Also, it's great having something so portable, but not being able to use in outside daylight is limiting – if they had something other than backlit technology, it would obviously be a huge plus.

...
Whatever became of Mirasol colour displays?  It seemed for a while like Amazon would be leaping on the technology, but then they didn't. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT_B9qbVQDk

I mentioned it a while ago in the ereader thread – basically, the technology has been harder to develop than Qualcomm thought, which was one reason that whenever there was a public demo, it was pretty much the same as the previous one. Also, this would explain why there was a soft launch for an ereader last year in Korea -  very much a work in progress and the product was a dog. Cost is meant to be an issue as well – colours are meant to be washed out, but I suspect that will change.

Qualcomm are building a huge new plant in order to have mass production so it's probably next year that we'll start seeing products with the technology.

Amazon has been rumoured to have order a load of E ink Triton displays that display colour. That technology was announced about 18 months ago, but didn't have the lift-off that some expected. It was also being reported that Apple has been working on hybrid E ink and LCD screens, going on patents filed a while ago.

[falafel]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/video/2012/mar/07/new-apple-ipad-3-video

The Guardian's Charles Arthur showing how, when you zoom into a photo, even when you zoom way in, you "still can't see where the pixels are". Uh. Did he really just say that? Was it a joke?

Still don't see the point of these things.

[I accept the terms of the]

"...which means it has what they call a Retina Display, which is..."

It's not a THING, it's a marketing term they've invented. Stop using it like it's a thing, you tool. Haven't you seen this pattern before, you awful mooing man?

"That means that when you have applications like the new iPhoto..."

Like "the new iPhoto"? Who talks like that unless they've just been coached to push a product?

"Still can't see where the pixels are" when zooming in a high-res photo? Yes. That's not a property of the screen though, is it you tit. That's just a high-resolution photo. Go away for a while, learn what is useful about a high density screen and then come back with an example. Don't just talk.

[Jamie Oliver is fat]

Look at all the fucking losers with their iPad 2's!! that thing was a pile of shit!

THIS is the one you want, SHINEY SHINEY BUY ME

[Replies From View]

Look at all the fucking losers with their iPad 2's!! that thing was a pile of shit!

THIS is the one you want, SHINEY SHINEY BUY ME

Does anyone here have any experience of owning anything like an iPad when the next generation rolls around, flashing its lights at you?

My previous HTC phone (bought late 2009) started going wonky by the time my contract was running out, so I replaced it with an iPhone 4S this year.  More than my HTC ever did I am constantly being invited to update all my apps, so I now have a version of iBooks, for example, that, as well as having a number of essential bug fixes, has optimum visual support for iPad 2 users.  Pointless on the 3.5" phone screen, and it's surely taking up more room and memory.  I imagine people who had fairly brisk iPhone 3GS or even iPhone 4 devices when they first came out must be feeling them slowing down, not because they're wearing thin in themselves, but because all the software has changed beneath their feet.

All I'm really saying is that it wouldn't surprise me if the iPad 2 has indeed become fairly redundant 12 months from now, not because people are shallow and must have the latest thing, but because all the apps will have been updated to such a degree for higher spec devices that the iPad 2 will have become less practical when dealing with them.

[Steve Lampkins]

Well I think universal apps are a good thing in general.

I'm not that interested in games on the iPad, for example. So I can't see things like Tweetbot, Safari, Facebook, and AVPlayerHD (the main apps I use) needing such beefy hardware. At most, I think they'll include hi-res assets. Apple will still sell the iPad 2 at a discounted price, so I think devs will keep that in mind.

There are apps that do warn that they are really designed to run on iPad 2 hardware, and you might struggle with the original iPad.

[shiftwork2]

Outclass iPad users in meetings.  While they're carefully folding the cover into a little stand, set out before you your pen, your paper notepad, and £500 in used readies.  A big bag of pound coins - even better.

[jutl]

It's not a THING, it's a marketing term they've invented. Stop using it like it's a thing, you tool. Haven't you seen this pattern before, you awful mooing man?

It's a marketing term with a concrete meaning, though. In fact if people start using it to refer to the general concept then Apple may eventually lose the trademark, so it's not such a bad thing.

"That means that when you have applications like the new iPhoto..."

Like "the new iPhoto"? Who talks like that unless they've just been coached to push a product?

Well it's new to the platform but old software, so it's not that ridiculous to say that.

"Still can't see where the pixels are" when zooming in a high-res photo? Yes. That's not a property of the screen though, is it you tit. That's just a high-resolution photo. Go away for a while, learn what is useful about a high density screen and then come back with an example. Don't just talk.

Yes... that is a little odd. Still, the real reason you can't see the pixels is that Apple software tends to stop you zooming to the point where they become visible.

[Replies From View]

Didn't want to start a whole new thread for iOS 5.1, which is now available and appears to be creating the platform for the next iPad rather than bringing very much to the iPhone 4S.  It came out a couple of days ago and I've just downloaded it; I've not really had a chance to see if it's made any difference to battery life as was hoped.  Any thoughts that Siri might escape beta or become more functional in the UK with this update have gone - it still can't do any location or business stuff outside of the US which makes Siri pretty much useless, really.  All iOS 5.1 really seems to add to my eyes is a "swipe to activate camera" thing on the lock screen.

Anybody else downloaded iOS 5.1 for their phone, and any thoughts?

[Famous Mortimer]

After getting my Samsung Galaxy tab stolen while on holiday, I am in now in the upgrade market. I mainly used it for Kindle-ing, watching videos, reading cbr comic files and doing normal laptop stuff - I guess the one reason I wouldn't get one of these is the way it's locked down. Unless it can now be used as a plug-in drive and doesn't have to be updated through iTunes?

[Dusty Gozongas]

Pointless on the 3.5" phone screen, and it's surely taking up more room and memory.  I imagine people who had fairly brisk iPhone 3GS or even iPhone 4 devices when they first came out must be feeling them slowing down, not because they're wearing thin in themselves, but because all the software has changed beneath their feet.

The olde Apple evangelists used to call that "bloat" and "forced upgrade path"whilst waving an accusatory finger elsewhere when I were a lad.

[Replies From View]

The olde Apple evangelists used to call that "bloat" and "forced upgrade path"whilst waving an accusatory finger elsewhere when I were a lad.

Yeah.  A pretty shitty path Apple have taken, really.  When they're not doing that they're making sure that newly released software only works with the latest devices, like Siri being the only selling point for the iPhone 4S (so keeping it off earlier models), and I hear the new iPhoto thing (whatever that is...) for some reason doesn't download naturally to the iPad 1.  I'm personally glad that I've only just got an iPhone with the latest model, as I can't really be arsed with what is clearly a "make an obvious hole and plug it with a later model that has its own obvious hole" approach.

I mean fair enough that specs should improve with new models, but not what they do to make upgrading an essential part of your device functioning fully.  It's not like Apple devices are basically perfect each time - there's always something crap at every stage that you hope will be fixed with a software update but isn't.  I remember when they announced that one of their new iPhone models had cut and paste options!  How nice it was of them to leave buyers of the first model without that!  I'm realising Siri won't escape beta or have all the features in the UK that it has in the US until the iPhone 5 appears, and of course that functionality won't be transferred over to the 4S, even though it was basically sold as "the Siri phone".  It's arse.

Want an aerial that isn't notoriously shit?  Get the next phone.  Want a phone with battery life that isn't notoriously shit?  Get the one after that.

[Ignatius_S]

...Anybody else downloaded iOS 5.1 for their phone, and any thoughts?

I have but wanted to check it out first a bit before responding – I'm more of a fan of the camera unlock than you! I was intending to post a bit more in this thread when I've got some time and I'll include my thoughts (for what they're worth) about it, but as you've pretty much said, it's a maintenance upgrade that includes iPad 3 (sorry, I mean the new iPad) compatibility.

... Unless it can now be used as a plug-in drive and doesn't have to be updated through iTunes?

They can be used as a plug-in drive, but you'll need software installed on the computer – so this isn't pure plug 'n' play on whatever computer you fancy. There are quite a few offerings out there - iExplorer is one that's free.

You can update iOS without iTunes now.

[mobias]

I mean fair enough that specs should improve with new models, but not what they do to make upgrading an essential part of your device functioning fully. 

What I find quite shocking with Apple isn't so much the company themselves as the people who rush out and buy the latest iPad, iPhone or whatever else it is. Apple are geniuses in some respects because they've managed to get themselves in a position where people will unquestionably just go out and buy a new iPad on launch day even though they have an iPad 1 and 2. I bet you that 100% of the people who fall over themselves to buy an iPad 3 this weekend will already own an iPad 2. For hardcore Apple devotees, who are all pretty much in a certain financial demographic, spending 400 quid or so (and probably a lot more) every year on the latest iGadget is absolutely nothing.
Apple don't give much of a toss about backwards compatibility, especially on their consumer goods, why would they when people are quite happy to part with them after a year.

[Replies From View]

I have but wanted to check it out first a bit before responding – I'm more of a fan of the camera unlock than you! I was intending to post a bit more in this thread when I've got some time and I'll include my thoughts (for what they're worth) about it, but as you've pretty much said, it's a maintenance upgrade that includes iPad 3 (sorry, I mean the new iPad) compatibility.

The camera unlock is growing on me, to be honest.

Are you finding your battery life less good since the update, by any chance?  When I first got the 4S I followed all the various bits of advice to optimise battery use, and it's not been that bad.  The 5.01 update made little or no difference either way, but since updating to 5.1 battery life has become really poor for me.  Twice now I've found my phone running out of charge while I'm out and about, when previously it'd last me until home.