Apple Launches Third Generation iPad with Retina Display, LTE.

Other than the high res screen, it is quite a meh launch.

But who cares, it will be the best selling iPad, regardless...

 

The key upgrades are just the retina display and the quad-core GPU. I'm quite disappointed that they are still going to release a 16 GB version. Seriously, for a high-resolution display like that, the minimum should be 32 GB.

For those who are used to 32 GB on the older iPads will need to upgrade to the 64 GB "new" iPad to keep pace with the larger file sizes associated with the much higher resolution. So despite Apple retaining the same price points, you are being forced to upgrade one step up.

I guess Apple also wants to spread out the improvements. Next year's iPad will probably have a quad-core CPU, 32 GB to 128 GB of storage, plus NFC and Siri.

 

I'm not sure if older iPad users or developers are too keen on the quad core GPU, especially if the game developers are going to optimise 3 different game quality on 3 different iPad versions. It is also a sort of fragmentation that Android is facing, indirectly.

 

In the end, we are all forced to upgrade

 

It's not really fragmentation because those games will still run on even the first generation iPad, unless the developer decides to make it only for the new iPad (only high-resolution).

Many developers choose to support at least two iPad generations. I think that's reasonable. Games that are designed for the new iPad should run okay on iPad 2 but will likely run too slow on the original iPad. Ultimately, those games will encourage the older iPad owners to upgrade.

 

BTW, I'm not sure why they went with LTE instead of 3G... Not many places in the world support LTE.

Anyway, who's buying one?

 

Whats wrong with "4G LTE" =p

 

Exactly what I was trying to say. Android versions are also usually backward compatible, but it is not recommended since it is best to optimise it for a single device when the hardware specs are different.

They are simply trying to make iPad 3 a strong gaming device.

 

Nothing wrong really.. just a tad too soon IMHO. It's like a feature bloat for most users. It would be better if they added it in the next iPad.

 

True, but I think Android devices are, by nature, a lot more fragmented - too many models with different hardware specs. That makes it much tougher to deal with than Apple's iDevices.

 

Yeah, exactly.

Even though Android has so many different models and OS version, do you really hear much complain about compatibility issue?

And the Google Play (formerly Android Market, stupid name change) is smart enough to filter the country, OS version so it is less likely to encounter issue.

The biggest problem the developer have to face is sacrifices. Image quality or more sale? Usually its the latter.

 

I agree that most normal users just don't care. My youngest brother KNOWS there's a major iOS upgrade for his iPhone but he just refuses to upgrade. Says it's too much of a hassle. LOL!

 

BTT. I know I'm NOT getting one. No point since the iPad 2 works just fine... for now at least. LOL! iOS 6 would probably be when I'm jump again as it would likely make the iPad 2 slowwwww. Like iOS 5 did on the iPad 1.

Personally, I think Retina display is too far ahead in time for many of us outside countries where network speed is super fast. I mean, graphic heavy apps would be in the regions of gigs! And even Apple has recently bumped up the data download limit of the AppStore from 20MB to 50MB. Generally this limit is where most App developers would aim to hit, just a little below so users can download it anywhere they want, not just at WiFi hotspots. So that means, a majority of apps would soon be at about 50MB. Maybe they won't be filled with bloat and sloppy programming. But still, 50MB download with Maxsux and Shitcom 3G network on KL? Whoo!

 

Hmm...I'm not sure about iPad's choice of resolution, but the 1920x1080 makes perfect sense on an Android device since you can directly copy 1080p movies and play without doing any conversion. Perfect for in-flight entertainment.

I won't bother with streaming contents even if connected via Wifi, the poor quality is usually visible even on lower res screen IMO. If I have Retina Display, I would definitely *ahem* copy 1080p videos preferably.