Tag Archives: Messages

Grading myself on iPad predictions

The speculation is all over now. We now know what the next iPad is going to be when it’s available in a few short days on Friday, March 16. Let’s see how I did with my predictions.

Retina Display

“The iPad is going to have its resolution doubled… It will be a revolutionary display.”

Ding! We have a winner. I get a star for this one. But, to be honest, a lot of people got this right. Pay attention to people that didn’t think this would happen and take whatever they say with lots of salt.

The name

“There are some rumors swirling about that Apple will name it the iPad HD. They won’t. In doing so, Apple would be under-playing their hand. The iPad has always been capable of displaying the 1280×720 variation of High Definition and HD video maxes out at 1920×1080. The Retina Display of the next iPad will pump out 2048×1536 pixels.”

Another winner. Not only did I call that it would not be named the iPad HD as many of the rumors were reporting and people were talking about on Twitter (I’m looking at you, Gizmodo) but I also telegraphed what Apple’s talking points would be during the event regarding the Retina Display iPad and HD. Apple had slides and video demonstrating how the iPad’s resolution is superior to 1080p HD.

A new app

“Along with an insanely high resolution display comes an app for organizing and editing photos and that means Aperture for the iPad. This puts me against John Gruber and agreeing with most of Gabe Glick’s points in a MacStories piece.”

OK, I got this one wrong. I thought the new app would be Aperture instead of iPhoto. Gruber was right. In retrospect, it makes sense that Apple would want to complete the iLife suite of apps on iOS by adding iPhoto to GarageBand and iMovie. I’d like to give myself half a star for knowing that Apple would release a new photo editing app, but that doesn’t seem right. No star!

LTE

“The Wall Street Journal published an article stating that the next iPad will have support for the faster LTE cellular networks. Their sources have been very good lately with respect to Apple. That combined with the timing on this one makes it a good bet.”

I got this one right too. I don’t think there is much too say about this one. But, it is a good sign that the next iPhone will have LTE. Notice how I didn’t call it the iPhone 5?

Messages

“To go along with Apple’s merging of iChat on the Mac with Messages from iOS, Apple will bring video conferencing from the Mac to the iPad.”

Totally wrong! Well, maybe this will be part of iOS 6.

iOS

“Like the original iPad, the next iPad will be released with a bespoke version of iOS that enables features that are unique to the iPad. Unique, at least, until Apple merges them with the rest of iOS later this year.”

It looks like I got this one wrong too. If so, Apple has improved their process for integrating changes specific to a new product into their main line of iOS. This is one that I am glad I got wrong.

It’s a given

“It’ll also have improved cameras front and back with the front facing camera being upgraded to FaceTime HD.”

Wow. I can’t believe I got part of this wrong. Apple put all of their effort into improving the rear camera which can now shoot 1080p video and 5 megapixel photos.

One last thing

“Oh, and they’ll continue selling the iPad 2 of the 16 GB variety starting at $349.”

Partially right. It’s actually $399 so all of the cheap tablets aren’t putting as much pressure on Apple as people think.

Siri

“I’m probably in the minority on this, but I hope that Apple doesn’t include Siri on the next iPad. That’s not because I don’t think it has a place on the iPad – I do. But, Siri is still in beta and appears to be overloaded at times. Including it on new iPads will be even more stress for Siri. Let’s wait until it’s ready before spreading it out to other Apple devices.”

I’m not going to grade myself on my other hopes because they were just that – and sadly weren’t fulfilled. But, I am going to give myself a bonus point for getting this right. Apple left Siri off of the new iPad for now since it is still in beta and they still have some issues to work out. Instead the new iPad will get a voice dictation key on the keyboard like the one the iPhone 4S has.

How did I do? Out of eight predictions, I got three right, and two half right. When you include bonus points for getting one of my hopes right, that is five stars.

Predictions and hopes for the next iPad

Apple has scheduled a show and tell event about the next iPad for tomorrow on March 7, 2012. Here’s what I think Apple will announce at the event followed by some things that probably won’t happen, but would make me very happy if they did.

Predictions

Retina Display

This one seems a bit obvious. MacRumors and iFixit have even published some evidence that the next iPad will have a Retina Display. But, the writing has been on the wall ever since the iPhone 4 was released with its Retina Display. The iPad is going to have its resolution doubled – it is just a matter of when. Right now still feels like a bit of a push to sell a device so densly packed with pixels for about $500. It will be a revolutionary display.

The name

There are some rumors swirling about that Apple will name it the iPad HD. They won’t. In doing so, Apple would be under-playing their hand. The iPad has always been capable of displaying the 1280×720 variation of High Definition and HD video maxes out at 1920×1080. The Retina Display of the next iPad will pump out 2048×1536 pixels. That’s like… ultra definition. I don’t know what Apple will name it, but I do know that on the back of the actually iPad it will simply read “iPad”. It’ll be interesting when (or if) the iPad goes to the “Early 2012” style naming convention that Macs have but is really only mentioned in support documentation.

A new app

Along with an insanely high resolution display comes an app for organizing and editing photos and that means Aperture for the iPad. This puts me against John Gruber and agreeing with most of Gabe Glick’s points in a MacStories piece. The iPad already has many of iPhoto’s features with the new organizing and editing features of iOS 5. Aperture’s time is now on iOS. Advanced editing of photos through touch combined with non-destructive editing and Aperture’s flare for supporting the profesional photographer’s workflow will be a force to be reckoned with.

LTE

The Wall Street Journal published an article stating that the next iPad will have support for the faster LTE cellular networks. Their sources have been very good lately with respect to Apple. That combined with the timing on this one makes it a good bet. It’s all a matter of how much current LTE components affect battery life. If Apple can’t meet or beat the iPad 2’s outstanding battery life, LTE will be tossed out.

Messages

To go along with Apple’s merging of iChat on the Mac with Messages from iOS, Apple will bring video conferencing from the Mac to the iPad. This new feature will most likely require the new iPad or a Mac to be the device hosting the conference since extra processing power will be needed. iPhones and iPod touches will be able to join the conference. And the future versions of those devices will be able to start them as well.

iOS

Like the original iPad, the next iPad will be released with a bespoke version of iOS that enables features that are unique to the iPad. Unique, at least, until Apple merges them with the rest of iOS later this year.

It’s a given

We know, of course, that it’s going to be the fastest iPad Apple has ever made. It’ll have improved central and graphics processors. Apple will speak about how much better this makes playing games, watching movies, and using power-hungry apps. It’ll also have improved cameras front and back with the front facing camera being upgraded to FaceTime HD.

One last thing

Oh, and they’ll continue selling the iPad 2 of the 16 GB variety starting at $349.

Hopes

Shape

I bought both an original iPad and the iPad 2 as soon as each was released. I love the speed of the iPad 2 and being able to use some of the things that require its extra power like iMovie and AirPlay Mirroring. But every time I pick up the original iPad, it feels wonderful in my hands in comparison. I mostly chalk this up to the thick side edges on the original iPad that are similar to those on the iPhone 4 and 4S. The very thin, tapered edges on the iPad 2 just aren’t comfortable. Some of the original iPad’s great feel could also come from the slightly curved back – a feature that also makes it much easier to spin around to share something with people sitting at the same table. I really hope that the shape of the next iPad is more like the original for a better feel while retaining the light weight of the iPad 2.

iPen

“If you see a stylus, they blew it.” I think what Steve Jobs really meant is that if you have to use a stylus, they blew it. But, that doesn’t mean a stylus cannot be optional. Apple could release an iPen that gives pressure sensitivity to the iPad through sensors in the pen itself and a Bluetooth connection to the iPad. It’d be even better if they provided an API that would allow other companies like Wacom or Ten One Design to release their own styluses for the iPad that work with all apps. This would be a boon to artists using apps like Brushes and could also be a tool for advanced editing of photos with Aperture for the iPad.

Siri

I’m probably in the minority on this, but I hope that Apple doesn’t include Siri on the next iPad. That’s not because I don’t think it has a place on the iPad – I do. But, Siri is still in beta and appears to be overloaded at times. Including it on new iPads will be even more stress for Siri. Let’s wait until it’s ready before spreading it out to other Apple devices.