Apple iPad II due in April 2011

[tlgerdes]

Numerous reports hitting media saying that Foxconn will start mass producing the Apple iPad II in Feb 2011 for an April 2011 launch.

http://www.crn.com.au/News/241017,next-gen-ipad-will-ship-within-100-days.aspx

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20101206PD224.html

No specs given.

Could be a ruse by Android manufacturers to slow Christmas sales of iPads "your shiny new toy will be obsolete in 4 months":P

[dannat]

i think i'll still get a gen1 now the printers sdk has been released -597 is a bargain for such a device i reckon

[Octane]

That's not surprising. Will probably be released around the same time as the iPhone 5. w00t!

H

[TrevorW]

Role in suckers

truly there must have been some shortcomings with the orginal to have a replacement so soon

I'll be waiting for other tablets to hit the market before even considering buying one

and I mean the price is too high considering what else you could get PC or laptop wise for the same amount

[Omaroo]

You have always and still miss the point Trevor. 7.5 million people who were in the market disagree with you.

[TrevorW]

No I just refuse to be suckered in by all the hype that's all, I don't think I've missed the point (ie: it's not meant ot be a PC or tablet PC as such) I however do believe in value for money and I don't consider the Ipad value for money.

Also I don't think they have sold as well as anticipated based on personal observations such as the lack of communters in Perth that I've seen with one on the train each day, seen more Ebook readers than Ipads and the Ipads users I have seen maybe two since so far both had difficulty reading the screen on the train during daylight hours

But I suppose it's hard to convince die hard Apple supporters otherwise, just my opinion thats all

[Omaroo]

Yes, it's just your opinion, I know. :thumbsup: Bad Apple! - making things that work well and are popular. Tisch,tisch. "Can't see the value" is merely an uninformed opinion.

I get that you don't like them, and I guess that I don't really care. I am, however, becoming a little tired of the same people insinuating that Apple iPad and iPhone users are somehow mindless "suckers", and have been taken in and are at fault for it. Snore...! We use these devices because we probably find them better for what we do than anything else out there. They're not for everyone, and they're not being touted as such. There will be a number who think that they're nothing more than fashionable, but so be it - leave them alone. It's their issue.

In business and pleasure, I find the iPad in particular a brilliant asset. I'm sorry for that. Not. Last time I looked on Android Market there was one astro app. A whole app! Yay. Apple store? Hundreds. Go figure.

If you actually used one for a while...but hey... you wouldn't, huh. Come to Sydney and sit on a train into the city - they're everywhere. I use mine to read ebooks quite successfully on the train when I take one - so maybe your sun is brighter in Perth?

Tick..tick...tick...

[marki]

Apple smapple :P;):D


Mark

[Omaroo]

Wotchiiiiiit!...... :lol:

[marki]

LOL, haven't tried one yet so really can't make any factual comments about them :thumbsup:.


Mark

[Tandum]

Too big for my pockets :)

[TrevorW]

It just seems a bit strange that

a) they are releasing a newer version so soon, is this a case of trying to get one up on the competiiton soon too enter the market

b) the newer version will come in two screen sizes and have improved screen resolution etc possibly a carbon fibre body

c) the hardware complexity of an Ipad does not surpass that of a laptop or PC yet price wise it's up there

No doubt the Ipad does admirably what it is meant to do.

I'v been an IPod touch owner for nearly 2 years (after trying many other brands beforehand) and I like the touch feature provided so I have had some experience with Apple gear but

a) I find the screen to small for any signifcant game of movie playing
b) I use it for music only which it does admirably although I've had issues with the shuffle feature, the touch screen on occassions and the earphones supplied are useless IMO

I also like the look and feel of Mac computers and screens although pricey in comparison with other PC's

No I don't consider all Apple user's as suckers , likewise I don't consider all Microsoft users as suckers although they've been doing a good job of getting money out of us for years

[OICURMT]

Real reason is that Apple feel under pressure. They've had a comfortable lead for a while, but Micro$oft, Google & RIM are closing in...

Next year we'll have new devices from all four... the iPhone5 and iPad II are required steps in Apples plan to maintain their current level. They can not increase market share, as the only way to go from the top is down...


M$ Offering: http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/antivirus/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=2288005 43 (http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/antivirus/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=2288005 43)

RIM Offering: http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19714 (http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19714)

Google Offering: http://www.googletablet.net/ (http://www.googletablet.net/)

OIC!

<Late Edit: Forgot to mention... girl in my office just got a new phone. HTC Desire HD [Android based]... runs circles around the iPhone and a bigger screen as well... I still think Apple has the edge, but I'd be worried if I had Apple shares... For the record, I'm a BlackBerry Fan>

[Octane]

Nothing comes close to the Apple user interface experience.

Android schmandroid.

Trevor: releasing a new item each year is not a new decision. It's been going on for years. Same with the iPod's, iPhone's, iMac's, MacBook's, MacBook Pro's, etc.

H

[OICURMT]

As for the Apple Experience... The HTC GUI feel is identical to the iPhone ( I compared it to another co-workers iPhone4 )... It's my understanding that HTC plan to include the "Cube" as an interface soon.


http://gigapple.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/admob_mobile_os_0610.png?w=550&h=314

[Steffen]

Umm, they're releasing a new model exactly one year after the original one (just like with all iPhones so far). In this industry I don't consider a yearly model cycle a weakness or sign of insecurity. Do you?

Cheers
Steffen.

[Steffen]

Plenty of new tablets have been announced for next year - exactly like a year ago. None of them have materialised, with one exception: the Samsung Galaxy Tab. You can buy one for $840 if you consider it better than the iPad.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Omaroo]

I don't see that as a problem or admission of anything other than... well.. this is what they do - release a new model every year. Good on them! That's how dynamic Apple are - it's why they now lead. Development is good for the consumer - I certainly don't consider it a sign of weakness. Strong sales fund development - simple. Get one up on the competition... well..yes - that's what business is all about. Maybe Apple should back off for a while and let those that didn't have the great idea first catch up....? :lol:



All good improvements - except the jury is out on 7". I had a 7" Android tablet device for a week and found it utterly useless. Its aspect ratio was wrong for reading books and in landscape mode there wasn't enough depth to make web browsing pleasurable. I gave it to my younger brothers son. What a clunky thing it was. No really useful software yet either.



How do you know that Trevor? Were you on the engineering team? The development costs and complexity involved in delivering such a device must be, well, enormous. A statement like that simply indicates a lack of understanding. Laptops have been around for ages - new ones are all just slight improvements on the last - nothing new for decades. A successful tablet design....well.. there's never been one until now. As with all new technology - it's expensive to begin with - and it IS still new technology.



a) Hence the iPad. Real estate changes everything.

b) IMO get earphones you like - we're all different. I don't like them either which is why I use headphones. I don't think that the standard issue are any worse in terms of quality than what otherwise comes with your typical smart phone. Some may fit your 'earoles better than others.



That's why! There's a "complete" design element to Apple which beige PCs lack...and it's not just in their shape that they differ. Their engineering build standard is second to none. OS-to-hardware support is second to none. You say that you like the look and feel - well, given that it implies a better quality and construction philosophy - isn't that worth a little extra? I think so. The reason that Apple may seem "closed" to some is that the hardware, OS and application software are all designed to work together, seamlessly, under very strict rules and guidelines - all intended to add stability to the experience. If that's not what you're after in a business environment then maybe go buy a PC and open yourself to the hoards. Not for me I'm afraid - or for many others. There's a reason they're slightly pricier than an equivalent-power PC - there's a tad more effort involved in providing what I've just mentioned, and it costs. If none of it is important to you then I guess that you have a wider choice of platforms to choose from. We're not talking..well.. apples and apples.



No-one is forcing you to buy as far as I know...

[TrevorW]

Thanks Chris for your detailed response suffice it to say that there have been many articles published on the net and elsewhere that will support some of my statements as they will support your's, so we will beg to differ on this one.

Releasing new models every year IMO is just another marketing ploy to get more money out of those who must have the latest, greatest toy.!!!

[joe_smith]

Ishare trevor's Iview ;)

I see that the apple fanatics are just as fanatic as us Linux people. we also hate when people say anything about our choice, even when its a valid point. Apple makes money from people with deep pockets and who must have the latest I-gizmo. Its good business sense that the "new model" will need to be replaced a year later anyway. but luckily apple have a cult following who belong to the apple congregation ;) I will always give my money to the open source movement before any commercial company, Oh wait a minute, my choice is free and runs on anything even the "older" I-gizmos

Long Live Open source (even apple uses it so it must be good)

ps don't take this post to serious its all tongue in cheek :) well except the bit about Linux, I am a member of the open source congregation you know lol

[OICURMT]

This is a very true statement. Humanities materialistic attitudes are the primary target for marketers... same Ego-Centric mentality that sustains the business of plastic surgery...


For those who have that "Keep up with the Jones" attitude... good luck in life, there's more to it than showing off.

OIC!

[rally]

Trevor,

"Releasing new models every year IMO is just another marketing ploy to get more money out of those who must have the latest, greatest toy.!!!"

Well of course it is !

I think every one on the planet knows this !
Every manufacturer of just about every type of product in the world is releasing new models every year or as soon as they can manage in an attempt to stay competitive with or leapfrog other manufacturers to grow or maintain market share, and as the technology develops the innovations continue to grow.

It's the public who demand this - people want the "best" item - they dont particularly want last year's technology, last years fashion colours and designs or the car without some new fangled feature.
They want this years technology with this years connectivity and compatibility and the ability to make use of the latest innovations, software, file and audiovisual formats, interfaces, reduction in size, extra speed, shape, fad, colour . . .

But this drives innovation and it drives technology and its evolution - without it - there wouldnt be anything like it and the tablets we would be talking about would still be inscribed clay and this discussion would be across a table not across the internet !

The iPad is clearly not for everyone - otherwise we would all own one. Nobody is saying that.
But its impossible to deny that those millions of people that use and like the iPad do in fact like and use the iPad ! - for whatever reason that it appeals to them - that may or may not appeal to you.

But from my own experience its a device without equal in so many vastly different areas.
I am not going to spell it out.
If you ever get the opportunity to use one for a month with your whole family you may begin to understand how good it is and how it appeals and gets used by different ages and different sorts of people in such different ways.
Video, audio, photos, books, applications, tools, calculators, demonstrations, sharing, email browsing . . .

Rally

[iceman]

Well said!

Anyone who's ever developed any type of product, whether it's software or anything else, has a 'wish list' of features a mile long.
Implementing new features has to be weighed against market and competitive pressures to get the product out.

The first version of the iPhone didn't allow you to send an SMS to more than one person! Of course that's terrible, but they wanted to get it out into the market, and they added those other features later.

Then you iterate.. develop new versions, technology changes and allows you to do more than you could before, so you get a new list of features you want to develop.

Apple are great at product development, user interfaces, marketing, and creating that emotional relationship between the user and the product.

[TrevorW]

I am not going to spell it out.
If you ever get the opportunity to use one for a month with your whole family you may begin to understand how good it is and how it appeals and gets used by different ages and different sorts of people in such different ways.
Video, audio, photos, books, applications, tools, calculators, demonstrations, sharing, email browsing . . .

Rally[/QUOTE]

Ain't going to happen maybe if they had a try before you buy it would be a good way to see whether a person could become an Ipad convert.

My final word on this is, it's actually not been a year, the actual release date may be a year since the original release but I'd say the IPad 2 was already in the works at the time of the original release.

[iceman]

I have no doubt on this at all.
Of course it was in the works. They have smart product managers. They probably already have the ipad 4 and 5 planned.

[joe_smith]

I think its the sales and marketing people more then the product managers :P

[joe_smith]

sadly, this drives our egotistical love of the material world driven by greed. with all that money a few key players receive, with all that innovation all that technology and its evolution, why do over a 1500 children die from hunger related causes. That's one child every five seconds that's not advancing mankind its advancing greed based on peoples ignorance of the real world we live in.

this is just my view on the way mankind in the our part of the civilised world is going. Our kids are beiging raised on a ton of marketing hype that materialism is more important than human ethics.

[Octane]

Do you walk into a car showroom, or, a gallery selling fine art, and talk about starving children there, too?

H

[OzRob]

LOL...I suspect that is the problem with discussions such as this. The flip-side is that it also creates animosity in those who feel differently about the product.

[troypiggo]

I resisted getting an iPhone for ages. Couldn't see the value in getting the early versions. More I noticed people using them and I took a bit of interest in what they could do, I started looking into one myself. Now I have one, I don't think I'll have anything else.

Don't plan on getting an iPad. Yet :)

Regarding how soon they're releasing a new version - Canon (and I assume Nikon) release a new DSLR camera in each series every 18 months or so, and they've been around much longer than the iPad.

[tlgerdes]

There is nothing wrong with developing version 2 before version 1 is released. I work for a software company and that is normal.

At the moment we have dev teams working on the 2011 releases and the next release after that of most of our products, that are not going to ship until 2012. We are also planning and experimenting with what is delivered in 2013 and beyond, so why any diff for a hardware company.

[Omaroo]

How interesting it is....

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/12/15/ipad-still-dominating-corporate-tablet-usage-as-competitors-arrive/