WSJ: Ipad 2 in production and features Facetime, faster cpu

[SAWYER]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/08/wsj-ipad-2-in-production-features-facetime-camera-faster-proc/


This shall be another hit out of the park and regardless of how awesome these android tablets are, they will continue to battle for 2nd place until the pricing gets out of crazyland.

 

[QueBert]

to be fair there aren't any released Android tablets that are awesome, the Moto one might be good but the price looks like it will kill it.

WebOs Tablet > iPad 2 > Playbook > Android Tablet for my level of interest

 

[SAWYER]

I think the Tab is awesome

 

[Binky]

This shall be another hit out of the park and regardless of how awesome these android tablets are, they will continue to battle for 2nd place until the pricing gets out of crazyland.

That totally doesn't sound like an extremist fanboy statement.

Given that Android tablets haven't even really hit the market in a Google-approved form, I don't think anybody really knows what might happen. Apple does have a gigantic lead though, which translates into huge economies of scale.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

IMo this doesn't change anything. The original iPad is very dated compared to the Playbook and Xoom so these upgrades seem kind of obvious.

So far the Playbook still looks like the tablet to get.

 

[zerocool84]

IMo this doesn't change anything. The original iPad is very dated compared to the Playbook and Xoom so these upgrades seem kind of obvious.

So far the Playbook still looks like the tablet to get.

Yea but the Zoom is going to be priced ridiculously and need a contract. Playbook is still a while away. iPad won't need a contract and isn't priced out of the reach of everyone.

 

[SAWYER]

That totally doesn't sound like an extremist fanboy statement.

Given that Android tablets haven't even really hit the market in a Google-approved form, I don't think anybody really knows what might happen. Apple does have a gigantic lead though, which translates into huge economies of scale.

Well I don't care how is sounds, it's the truth imo. And I am no fanboy, I love android and would love to have a Xoom but the price is BS

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

What do you think the exact specs would be?

1GHz A5 (dual core)?
1GB RAM?
same cameras as iPod Touch?
What GPU?

 

[Pliablemoose]

My predictions:

1.) Same cameras as the iPod Touch
2.) No way in hell will Apple allow an SD card slot, they left it off the 11" Macbook Air too
3.) Dual core CPU
4.) 4-6 versions again, one with the Verizon Qualcomm world phone chip, so even the Verizon capable iPads will have a sim card slot, and work on ATT/Verizon, and the WiFi variant.
5.) Same resolution, but they'll bond the lcd directly to the glass just like they did with the iPhone 4, so it looks a bit cooler.
6.) Same pricing structure or maybe a $25-$50 cut across the board just to piss off the rest of the manufacturers. Manufacturing costs are going up in China, so I'm not real sure about the MSRP.

Motorola is in trouble, the iPhone is going to eat up their sales on Verizon, their other devices are going to have to come down in price, so they're going to have a problem with profit margins, they had a great ride with Android, but since everyone can make a phone/tablet with Android, they have some stiff competition. HTC and Huwai et al are going to make it a very competitive landscape for Android phones here and overseas...

We're also going to see one or two of the manufacturers break rank and come up with a WiFi Android tablet that's not carrier branded. How sad is it that a flipping bookstore has the best deal in a WiFi Android tablet so far? I think B&N should just go for it and retail Android tablets and be disruptive as hell, they could modify their color nook with better speakers and a microphone, use a decent launcher/skin, jack the price up $100 and own the 7" tablet market...

 

[MrX8503]

Carriers are just too damn greedy so they're trying to tie down tablets with a contract. Unfortunately, Motorola and other Android Tablet makers are at the mercy of these carriers.

Luckily for Apple, being the draconian company they are, says who's boss and does what they want. I don't see an Android tablet being successful unless there's a wifi version that is price competitive with the iPad wifi version.

If I had to pick a tablet with the greatest capabilities, I would pick the Playbook, its browsing is currently unmatched. Again...unfortunately no one knows its battery life, cost, and release date. These things are kind of important.

At the end of the day, iPad2 is still gonna lay waste to the tablet scene....

 

[zerocool84]

Carriers are just too damn greedy so they're trying to tie down tablets with a contract. Unfortunately, Motorola and other Android Tablet makers are at the mercy of these carriers.

Luckily for Apple, being the draconian company they are, says who's boss and does what they want. I don't see an Android tablet being successful unless there's a wifi version that is price competitive with the iPad wifi version.

If I had to pick a tablet with the greatest capabilities, I would pick the Playbook, its browsing is currently unmatched. Again...unfortunately no one knows its battery life, cost, and release date. These things are kind of important.

At the end of the day, iPad2 is still gonna lay waste to the tablet scene....

I think the only HTC could probably pull off an Android tablet without needing a carrier's help. Motorola relies too much on Verizon which is just as commie as Apple which is the reason Apple didn't go with them in the first place.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I think the only HTC could probably pull off an Android tablet without needing a carrier's help. Motorola relies too much on Verizon which is just as commie as Apple which is the reason Apple didn't go with them in the first place.

Right but the problem is that it'll have a SIM card slot and then what? HTC hasn't released tri or quad band UMTS devices yet, and will likely need the carriers to help push out products in the US. That's always how it's been. Even if there's 850/1900 support, what about T-Mo? What about the CDMA carriers?

One device by HTC satisfies almost all of Asia and Europe. Then they need the carriers to slowly reel in the products in the Americas.

 

[Pliablemoose]

HTC doesn't have any distribution channels except through the carriers, just like the other manufacturers...

Apple had the online store, and a significant retail presence before it released the iPad.

I really think anything that's disruptive as far as pricing will come through the PC manufacturers because of this... Unfortunately, none of them have the experience, except maybe HP/Dell to pull it off, and they're a bit consumer unfriendly IMHO...

 

[TheStu]

My predictions:

1.) Same cameras as the iPod Touch
2.) No way in hell will Apple allow an SD card slot, they left it off the 11" Macbook Air too
3.) Dual core CPU
4.) 4-6 versions again, one with the Verizon Qualcomm world phone chip, so even the Verizon capable iPads will have a sim card slot, and work on ATT/Verizon, and the WiFi variant.
5.) Same resolution, but they'll bond the lcd directly to the glass just like they did with the iPhone 4, so it looks a bit cooler.
6.) Same pricing structure or maybe a $25-$50 cut across the board just to piss off the rest of the manufacturers. Manufacturing costs are going up in China, so I'm not real sure about the MSRP.

1: Maybe, and I am not sold on the back camera. Though I suppose for FaceTime calls, it can be useful for showing someone what you are talking about.
2: They left it off the 11" MBA since there wasn't room for it, same reason why the mDP, USB and MagSafe aren't all on the same side (it would make it easier for Cinema Displays) since they couldn't do it on both the MBA13 and MBA11 (that's my theory anyway). A better example would be them not putting it on the Mac Mini.
3: Almost certainly
4: I wouldn't be too sure about them using the VZ Qualcomm chip, the ATT GSM chip supports 4 or 5 bands, the VZ one only 2. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a dual CDMA/GSM chip in there, just maybe not that one.
5: I think that is a safe bet, they did it on the iPod Touch 4th Gen
6: I agree. Apple loves their profit margins, but a little price cut will net them a huge amount of press. And it is in line with history
7: I am betting on 1GB RAM, and if they can squeeze it in, more capacity.
8: It will almost certainly be thinner and lighter. Though if they can hold steady on battery life with a dual core it would be amazing. They set the bar at 10 hours, and to back away from that could be bad.

We're also going to see one or two of the manufacturers break rank and come up with a WiFi Android tablet that's not carrier branded. How sad is it that a flipping bookstore has the best deal in a WiFi Android tablet so far? I think B&N should just go for it and retail Android tablets and be disruptive as hell, they could modify their color nook with better speakers and a microphone, use a decent launcher/skin, jack the price up $100 and own the 7" tablet market...

I am very interested in checking out a rooted Nook.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I think the only HTC could probably pull off an Android tablet without needing a carrier's help. Motorola relies too much on Verizon which is just as commie as Apple which is the reason Apple didn't go with them in the first place.

Asus looks like they should be able to pull it off. They showed off a very nice lineup of honeycomb tables at CES and as a pc manufacturer I don’t see them partnering with a carrier.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I am very interested in checking out a rooted Nook.

I have the feeling that since Foxconn and Apple are so tight, that they (Foxconn) ran the color nook by Apple before they agreed to produce it for B&N.

 

[Bateluer]

Whats with the interest in RIM's Playback? Every preview of it has been very lackluster, battery issues, almost no apps, etc.

The Android tablets are going to be the ones to look at. Not necessarily the Xoom, but there's going to be Android tablets from every manufacture out there. Lots of competition. Hopefully, some will be smart and make WiFi only versions.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Whats with the interest in RIM's Playback? Every preview of it has been very lackluster, battery issues, almost no apps, etc.

The Android tablets are going to be the ones to look at. Not necessarily the Xoom, but there's going to be Android tablets from every manufacture out there. Lots of competition. Hopefully, some will be smart and make WiFi only versions.

Don't ask me, I've been running away from the thing for months...

I'd post all the issues I suspect they'll have, but I just got tired of arguing with DBZ and deeko who both think it's the best thing since the second coming of Christ...

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Whats with the interest in RIM's Playback? Every preview of it has been very lackluster, battery issues, almost no apps, etc.

The Android tablets are going to be the ones to look at. Not necessarily the Xoom, but there's going to be Android tablets from every manufacture out there. Lots of competition. Hopefully, some will be smart and make WiFi only versions.

Incredible performance, desktop like browsing experience, POSIX compliant, good screen & pixel density, attractive interface, compact size, Flash.

I don't see how it could be seen as lackluster. I'm a major fan of Android but so far I have been more impressed by the Playbook than anything I have seen running honeycomb.

Also I'm pretty sure the battery issues were just a bunch of fanboys spreading FUD.

 

[MrX8503]

Whats with the interest in RIM's Playback? Every preview of it has been very lackluster, battery issues, almost no apps, etc.

The Android tablets are going to be the ones to look at. Not necessarily the Xoom, but there's going to be Android tablets from every manufacture out there. Lots of competition. Hopefully, some will be smart and make WiFi only versions.

The multitasking is quick, but most importantly its browsing experience is "desktop" like. As in you can visit almost any website and it'll display natively. Hulu even works on it.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Whats with the interest in RIM's Playback? Every preview of it has been very lackluster, battery issues, almost no apps, etc.

Blind hate will consume you. Open yourself up to something other than just Android.

"Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering."

 

[Bateluer]

Incredible performance, desktop like browsing experience, POSIX compliant, good screen & pixel density, attractive interface, compact size, Flash.

I don't see how it could be seen as lackluster. I'm a major fan of Android but so far I have been more impressed by the Playbook than anything I have seen running honeycomb.

Also I'm pretty sure the battery issues were just a bunch of fanboys spreading FUD.

Playbook is a dual core 1Ghz Cortex A9 core, is it not? Same as the Xoom and several other Tegra based tablets. Screen resolution is 1024x600 at 7in, same as the Galaxy Tab. Playbook has 1GB of RAM, same as the Moto Xoom and probably several other tablets. Desktop browsing experience? Turn the Android browser's Agent to 'Desktop', even Hulu. Done.

I'm not sure about the battery issue myself, its not on the market yet, so hard to say. Its specs are only comparable to other tablets, except with an untested, untried OS from a company thats been losing market share for the last few quarters.

I just don't see why the Playbook should be purchased over the army of Android tablets coming.

Blind hate will consume you. Open yourself up to something other than just Android.

"Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering."

I don't hate the Playbook, I just don't see what the allure is. At best, its on par with the competition.

 

[Deeko]

Don't ask me, I've been running away from the thing for months...

I'd post all the issues I suspect they'll have, but I just got tired of arguing with DBZ and deeko who both think it's the best thing since the second coming of Christ...

Wow - you truly are nothing but an immature little child, aren't you? Either that or your post was merely meant to incite a negative response...but I believe there's a term for that practice as well....

Anyway, all I've done regarding the Playbook is shoot down the unjustified criticism that has come out of no facts, just little fanboy imaginations. For example - when the Anti RIM Brigade tried to loudly proclaim that the Playbook "didn't exist" and that the first demos were fake...only to have a live demo surface shortly thereafter.

I've said the same thing for awhile now - I like the Playbook better than the current tablet offerings, I prefer the 7" form factor, but I don't really think any of them justify their price tags. If I end up with a Playbook, it will be because I get it for free.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Playbook is a dual core 1Ghz Cortex A9 core, is it not? Same as the Xoom and several other Tegra based tablets. Screen resolution is 1024x600 at 7in, same as the Galaxy Tab. Playbook has 1GB of RAM, same as the Moto Xoom and probably several other tablets. Desktop browsing experience? Turn the Android browser's Agent to 'Desktop', even Hulu. Done.

I'm not sure about the battery issue myself, its not on the market yet, so hard to say. Its specs are only comparable to other tablets, except with an untested, untried OS from a company thats been losing market share for the last few quarters.

I just don't see why the Playbook should be purchased over the army of Android tablets coming.



I don't hate the Playbook, I just don't see what the allure is. At best, its on par with the competition.

PlayBook is OMAP4 based. Not any other tablets using this SoC yet, and performance, especially in OpenGL, appears astounding.

Comparing standard Android browsing to the PlayBook is a stretch, and the fact that you have to change the browser Agent, something a regular user will not want to or know how to do, isn't a great solution to sites that need it. Changing it for each site that needs a different type is a pain.

As for the OS being an "untested, untried OS" I would suggest you take a good long look at what the OS actually is. QNX runs in the latest BMWs, Audis for 3D navigation, in car mutimedia and system control, and high end Cisco routers. It's an OS that is revered for its stability and power. It scales up to 32 cores, currently, is fully POSIX compliant and has a true non-stop kernel with memory protection per process. Any process can fail, even drivers and the OS will not collapse, it will simply restart them. Can you imagine something as powerful as this in your hands? To dismiss it because it's logo isn't a little green robot just means you're missing out.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Incredible performance, desktop like browsing experience, POSIX compliant, good screen & pixel density, attractive interface, compact size, Flash.

I don't see how it could be seen as lackluster. I'm a major fan of Android but so far I have been more impressed by the Playbook than anything I have seen running honeycomb.

Also I'm pretty sure the battery issues were just a bunch of fanboys spreading FUD.

LOL, screw it, I know I promised to lay off RIM on the Playbook, but the fact is, that QNX hasn't been used in a stand alone device prior to the Playbook except for once, in a military application, and it's classified. the suspicion is that it (battery life) was pretty damn poor.