What are the odds they'll update the iPad in September?

[blackNBUK]

Ahh but it was not a case of waiting till January, it was beholden to Macworld's schedule. Back then Apple needed it's fans when they released products. They didn't have Engadget's or Gizmodo's frantically typing up every product release minute by minute, or buzzing retail stores all over the world ready to showcase new products the moment they're unveiled. They weren't that big.

But they are now, huge in fact, hence they left Macworld in 2009. Because their retail stores were drawing numbers larger than Macworld. They also didn't want to be held to Macworld's schedule to release products, they wanted to do it on their own turf.

I'd argue that Apple have got the holiday season sorted out with the annual September refresh of the iPods. That provides customers with plenty to buy. However if you look at late winter/early spring there is definitely a gap in Apple's release schedule. A yearly refresh of the iPad could fill that gap nicely and keep the money flowing in for more of the year.

I'm also not convinced that the iPad will be a good video chat device. To get a reasonably flattering picture you'd have to hold the iPad directly out in front of you and at the moment it's simply too heavy for most people to do that for long. In comparison an iPod Touch with FaceTime would be much easier to handle whilst else being much cheaper than an iPhone; my guess is that this would be a really good seller.

 

[VespR]

Uh -- back then is 2010. The introduction of the iPad. Let's not forget that you were arguing how Apple loves the holidays. They have never demonstrated that love by making product introductions outside their normal cycles, MacWorld or no MacWorld. Apple has been "huge" for years and could freely introduce new product whenever they pleased.

Feel free to keep up your "paradigm shift" agenda but rest assured that it's not going to lead to a new iPad this fall.

Yeah but that wasn't a Macworld event. That was just Apple getting up on stage demoing a product they wanted to introduce in April. January obviously felt like a good fit for them.

My point was from the year 2000 they released products in January because of Macworld (or at other dates Macworld hosted conferences). Macworld runs its on schedule according to IDG nothing to do with Apple whatsoever. But Apple wanted to be there to get the biggest exposure from their products as possible. Now they don't need Macworld to capitalise on that audience. Case in point the new Mini release, just an a web announcement and so press material to the gadget blogs on day of release. Why? Because their fanbase has grown exponentially since those days.

Otherwise they could have just joined the Macworld conference in February to unveil the iPad.

But hey I don't know any more or less about Apple than all of you so this is just my hunch. I've been wrong many times before

 

[VespR]

Sorry, VespR, I didn't mean any offense, it's just that I have read lots of threads on when iPad 2 will be released, and it seems rather elementary to me, but that's just me and I didn't mean to come off harsh.

But to your additional points, Steve's "one more thing" was about iPhone 4 not iOS 4. Facetime might be a main feature of iPhone 4 but that isn't to say it's the main feature of iOS 4, can we agree? They are pretty far from one in the same, and even though iOS4 shipped with the new phone, it was released for 3G/GS and later gen iPods a few days earlier on the 21st, so it is on way more devices at this point than there are iP4s in existence.

And those folks that want to have a Facetime chat with the grandparents Christmas morning would love a shiny new iPhone, wouldn't they? And Steve and the Gang would love to sell another iP4 to granny so she can talk to the grandkids, right? It's only iPhone to iPhone at this point, so if I want to video chat on my phone with a loved one around the world, we both need the device, so make it a double! That'll pad Apple's bank account a fair bit, now won't it?

And regarding the release date, whether it's now, 2 months from now, 3 months from now, what's the difference? I still feel that it's entirely way to soon from a business standpoint. And regarding the holiday season, half of Apple's refreshes happen outside of the holiday shopping window from my memory, and with business booming, they hardly need an excuse to sell more magical products. Just my two cents, and again, I mean no offense.

You're right, it was iPhone 4. And I agree, it probably is way too soon, certainly unheard of from Apple to release consecutive products within a 12 month period with differentiating hardware.

I just think Apple really wants to push FaceTime to the masses.

The iPod Touch will probably get it come September (again how do they sovle the dialling dilemma?). Someone else also wrote the iPad doesn't even feel like the right product for that feature, fair point. It will probably be a chore holding that thing at face level due to weight - by the way I own an iPad, shipped from the states to the UK in April.

But these sound like great problems for Apple to have so it'll be interesting moving forward. At least we're on a much better side than the Android suckers.

On that note no need to beat a dead horse, fun debate. Let's see if we revisit this thread before Christmas

 

[Bentron]

I really don't get why people seem to want to be able to use FaceTime on an iPad. Say it had an integrated camera at the top, the way the ipad is meant to be held (on one's lap) the camera would look up people's noses, or have some other unflattering angle. To get the right angle you'd have to hold it up, and even though the iPad isn't overly heavy, it would still make your arms ache after a short time. For the iPad it is pointless and unnecessary.

 

[MikeTemple]

From a business point of view, I travel a lot and have video conferences a lot. It would be great if I could manage to do that on the iPad and not have to bring my laptop.

OTOH I have to use several different video conferencing standards, none of which are Facetime, so that would be a big nut to crack.

 

[Built]

Whether September, January or March, I'm in. Waiting expectantly for iPad 2. The 400 bucks (so far) in Best Buy Reward Zone points, and gift cards, are burning a hole in my poclet...but I'll wait...

Definitely hoping for an internal camera (plus Facetime, etc.) and a USB port (though I know that the USB might be a long-shot.)

 

[Starfires]

It's a computer, not a phone

I'd say that the very fact that it is getting iOS4 in November points towards at least a minor update. The simplest thing to add would be the webcam. More complex would be about twice the resolution, bringing it to 'retina' levels of clarity, without needing quite the density that a phone needs (you won't be holding it as close is the key here).

I know a lot of early adopters will be peeved, but that's life with computers, they are often refreshed or updated when it becomes financially feasible. It's true that there is no competition as such, but to get the kind of market penetration Apple would like, more usability is needed and 'Facetime' could we be the 'killer app'. I remember being stunned at the omission of a webcam, though relieved when it appeared in iPhone 4, as Apple are tacitly admitting that it is the future of communication.

People have been saying since it was released that 6 months would be the optimal time for an update. As newer technologies emerge into the realm of the affordable- dual Cortex A9, larger flash memory chips, 4G data, etc, expect Apple to add them, making the iPad their most progressive machine yet.

We'll have to wait and see, but Apple statements do indeed seem to point towards a fall update. I personally expect higher screen resolution, more ram, camera and a 128GB option, but not more connectivity that might cramp the style, however slightly (SD, etc) and make the higher priced versions less attractive. It might even be thinner and lighter, though that might come in the Spring.

 

[Nausicaa]

I'd say that the very fact that it is getting iOS4 in November points towards at least a minor update. The simplest thing to add would be the webcam. More complex would be about twice the resolution, bringing it to 'retina' levels of clarity, without needing quite the density that a phone needs (you won't be holding it as close is the key here).

No way this will happen. The display resolution required for a 'retina' display at the same ppi as the iPhone 4 would not only be expensive, but a huge battery drain. You're looking at a screen with the resolution of an iMac monitor.