Potential Future Updates to iPad?

[GWestphal]

It seems to me that the display on the iPad will be pretty static for the next 2-4 years, seeing as 2048x1536 is bigger than most 24" monitors. I can't see that increasing appreciably anytime soon.

I can't see them changing to resistive touch screens, but perhaps some sort of hybrid capacitive/resistive touch screen so you can use a stylus for graphic artists.

That leaves us with the gooey innards for the potential future updates.

1.Faster/More Flash Memory
2. Expandable Memory
3.Faster/More Connectivity (Wifi ac, usb3.0, Thunderbolt, 5G, more bands or something of that nature)
4. Faster CPU/GPU
5. More Battery Life
6. Better Cameras

Is all that too much to hope for in the next gen iPad? Seems like is lacks the sexiness of new HD display.

I think #2 would be a game changer for a lot of people. The ability to have content on SD cards would mean you can carry around full collections of movies, shows etc. It would also require a little bit of an overhaul to the OS to have a proper file browser, but that doesn't seem that daunting.

My choice in order would be #2, #1,#4,#3, #6,#5

 

[MaxFusion16]

1. yes
2. hell no
3. sure
4. definitely
5. maybe
6. yea, why not

#2 ain't happening, no one would buy the 32gb and 64gb models when you can just add cheap memory with a SD card, so why would apple cannibalize their own products?

apple doesn't want you to carry your pirated moves and tv shows, the future is in the cloud, you are supposed to stream everything.

 

[master7045]

Here's my take on what Apple will do w/ their "next iPad" device.
1. Yes
2. not going to happen for reason MaxFusion listed (hello, itunes)
3. Not going to happen in the next upgrade. Maybe the 2014 version if there is some new wifi standard.
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes (I'd like to see a front facing, HD camera for FaceTime, Skype, etc). No need to change the rear facing camera

 

[GWestphal]

Well why not simplify production and just make one size 32GB and let people add more space if they need it via SD expansion. Or even charge more for an expandable model. I think adding expandable memory would bring a lot of new customers that have been staying away in favor of android tablets.

 

[TheStu]

Well why not simplify production and just make one size 32GB and let people add more space if they need it via SD expansion. Or even charge more for an expandable model. I think adding expandable memory would bring a lot of new customers that have been staying away in favor of android tablets.

For the same reason why they never made a laptop that cost less than $999. The customers that would buy them aren't the customer that Apple wants. Apple doesn't want the customer that only buys based on cost, they want the customer that buys because it is Apple, and Apple is want they want, what they need.

Besides, they can barely keep up with the demand as it is, and are making more money and more profit than any one else on the planet (outside of gas companies). Why should they alter from their path at all? You say they would get more customers. How many would they get, and would it really be worth further SKU fragmentation?

They have the following right now:

iPad 2 16GB White
iPad 2 16GB Black
iPad 2 16GB White 3G AT&T
iPad 2 16GB Black 3G AT&T
iPad 2 16GB White 3G Verizon
iPad 2 16GB Black 3G Verizon
iPad 3 16GB White
iPad 3 32GB White
iPad 3 64GB White
iPad 3 16GB Black
iPad 3 32GB Black
iPad 3 64GB Black
iPad 3 16GB White 4G AT&T
iPad 3 32GB White 4G AT&T
iPad 3 64GB White 4G AT&T
iPad 3 16GB White 4G Verizon
iPad 3 32GB White 4G Verizon
iPad 3 64GB White 4G Verizon
iPad 3 16GB Black 4G AT&T
iPad 3 32GB Black 4G AT&T
iPad 3 64GB Black 4G AT&T
iPad 3 16GB Black 4G Verizon
iPad 3 32GB Black 4G Verizon
iPad 3 64GB Black 4G Verizon

That is 24 SKUs covering price points between $399 and $829. How many more SKUs and price points would you like? That and even though it is 24 SKUs it is a fairly straightforward decision tree, color, capacity, carrier. Look at Samsung for example, they have every possible size covered from 10" on down. How well are their tablets doing? Not very well according to their CEO. I would argue that a big part of their problem is that consumers are faced with too many choices. You get into an overload state and you just shutdown and walk out of the store, no purchase made.

 

[GWestphal]

Personally I think this would be the best solution: (4 SKUs, 2 Price points, say $449,$ 549)

iPad 4 32GB White+SD
iPad 4 32GB Black+SD
iPad 4 32GB White 4G AT&T/Verizon+SD
iPad 4 32GB Black 4G AT&T/Verizon+SD


but if you wanted to maintain several price points then: (8 SKUS, 4 price points $349, $449, $549, $649)


iPad 4 32GB White
iPad 4 32GB Black
iPad 4 32GB White+SD
iPad 4 32GB Black+SD
iPad 4 32GB White 4G AT&T/Verizon
iPad 4 32GB Black 4G AT&T/Verizon
iPad 4 32GB White 4G AT&T/Verizon+SD
iPad 4 32GB Black 4G AT&T/Verizon+SD

They have asimple OS SKU structure, 1 version. I think doing the same with their hardware would be good too. Choose Color, Data, have CDMA/GSM/LTE chip so you don't have to choose a provider and can switch at will. Easy and simple just like Apple normally does things.
Sell the older models at $249 and $299 price points and they'd rake in so much cash.

 

[GWestphal]

My main problem is that the cloud is not feasible in the USA when a 3GB data plan runs you $30/month. You could stream maybe one HD movie. Until cellular data caps and prices drop, streaming is dead in the water and expandable media is the only solution.

 

[vailr]

An IPad with an SD memory slot is about as likely to happen as Steve Jobs getting a new liver.
Somebody might try and run Windows 8 ARM Edition on it, if an SD slot were available.

 

[KeithP]

While the screen resolution is unlikely to change the quality/type of screen certainly can.

-KeithP

 

[SKORPI0]

3D of course. Hopefully a built-in GPS.

 

[blurredvision]

Now that it has that screen, the only thing it needs now is a better OS designed for it. iOS in its current state is getting a little long in the tooth. If I could get the iPad hardware with W8 and the selection of iOS apps, I'd get one in a heartbeat.