So Apple is hanging on to the good old iPad 2 while replacing the third-gen "new" iPad with an even newer "iPad with Retina display". This is the first time we've seen the firm send a product that's barely even seven months old straight to the scrapheap.
A "new new iPad", or iPad 4, was always on the cards. And when it was officially unveiled at the Apple press conference earlier this week, we knew it was a little early, but we expected to see a nice price cut on the third-gen iPad to make up for things. But the third-gen iPad has been completely ditched from Apple's updated range, which now comprises the iPad Mini, the iPad 2 and the iPad 4. Although it only launched in March 2012, Apple has already sent the "new iPad" to the scrapheap.
So what's new in the iPad 4? First of all, Apple's Lightning connector has appeared—as seen in the iPhone and iPad Mini—replacing the usual 30-pin connector. Similarly, the A5X processor has been replaced with the A6X, which promises to be twice as powerful as the chip used in the third-gen iPad. And that's all.
The rest of the specs have been lifted straight out of the March 2012 model, with 1 GB of RAM, a 9.7" Retina display with 2048 x 1536 pixels, a casing that's 9.4 mm thick and Wi-Fi b/g/n plus Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.
But here's the thing—although not much has changed since the iPad 3, when compared with 2011's iPad 2, the iPad 4 is built 100% from a new generation of components.
Apple's presentation is sure to have disappointed iPad 3 owners—especially those who bought the tablet in recent weeks. The message is as brutal as it is clear: this product has been discontinued and no longer exists. Apple now considers your iPad obsolete, unlike the iPad 2, it seems, which is still on sale as Apple's lower-cost 9.7" tablet.
And it's been a bitter pill to swallow for iPad 3 owners. Twitter and Facebook have been rife with users venting their frustration and incomprehension with a move that many see as a lack of respect. Could users' relationship with this sacred product be starting to turn sour?
However, there is a slight glimmer of hope for those who bought an iPad 3 recently, as some Apple Stores in the US are allowing people who bought an iPad 3 within the last 30 days to swap it for an iPad 4. Cnet UK is reporting that some UK Apple Stores may be doing this too, although it's at the discretion of each individual store.
Apple has already admitted that a large proportion of the 17 million iPad tablets sold between April and June 2012 were iPad 2 models. The arrival of the iPad Mini (pictured above) could have further eroded iPad 3 sales. So, ultimately, Apple needed to act quickly to break what could have become a downward spiral for its flagship product and its sales revenues.
While the iPad 4 may look similar to the iPad 2 from the outside, on the inside it brings real change—the tech specs have been completely revamped. The new Lightning connector physically and symbolically places it in a new generation of Apple products, leaving behind the 30-pin connector seen in the iPad 2 and the iPad 3. This more genuinely new model should therefore put some sparkle back into Apple's high-end tablets, even if the iPad 4 starts at a pricier £400.
In any case, the move shows that Apple seems to be paying more attention to tech specs rather than relying on the image of its product. Not so very long ago, the firm was more keen on playing the untouchable market leader.
But now we've got the iPad 4, everyone's obviously wondering whether Apple will still out a new iPad as usual in the spring ...
> Tablet Reviews
Apple iPad with Retina Display (4th Gen, 2012)
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A "new new iPad", or iPad 4, was always on the cards. And when it was officially unveiled at the Apple press conference earlier this week, we knew it was a little early, but we expected to see a nice price cut on the third-gen iPad to make up for things. But the third-gen iPad has been completely ditched from Apple's updated range, which now comprises the iPad Mini, the iPad 2 and the iPad 4. Although it only launched in March 2012, Apple has already sent the "new iPad" to the scrapheap.
So what's new in the iPad 4? First of all, Apple's Lightning connector has appeared—as seen in the iPhone and iPad Mini—replacing the usual 30-pin connector. Similarly, the A5X processor has been replaced with the A6X, which promises to be twice as powerful as the chip used in the third-gen iPad. And that's all.
The rest of the specs have been lifted straight out of the March 2012 model, with 1 GB of RAM, a 9.7" Retina display with 2048 x 1536 pixels, a casing that's 9.4 mm thick and Wi-Fi b/g/n plus Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.
But here's the thing—although not much has changed since the iPad 3, when compared with 2011's iPad 2, the iPad 4 is built 100% from a new generation of components.
The "new iPad" is dead, long live the "new iPad with Retina display".
Apple's presentation is sure to have disappointed iPad 3 owners—especially those who bought the tablet in recent weeks. The message is as brutal as it is clear: this product has been discontinued and no longer exists. Apple now considers your iPad obsolete, unlike the iPad 2, it seems, which is still on sale as Apple's lower-cost 9.7" tablet.
And it's been a bitter pill to swallow for iPad 3 owners. Twitter and Facebook have been rife with users venting their frustration and incomprehension with a move that many see as a lack of respect. Could users' relationship with this sacred product be starting to turn sour?
However, there is a slight glimmer of hope for those who bought an iPad 3 recently, as some Apple Stores in the US are allowing people who bought an iPad 3 within the last 30 days to swap it for an iPad 4. Cnet UK is reporting that some UK Apple Stores may be doing this too, although it's at the discretion of each individual store.
Why Now?
From Apple's perspective, why was now the time to out an iPad 4? From a strictly business point of view, releasing an iPad 4 just a few months after the iPad 3 was no doubt a pretty wise move. Proportionally, the iPad 3 hasn't sold as well as other Apple tablets. On the one hand, this is because there wasn't enough technical progress between the iPad 2 and the iPad 3 to win over users, while the iPad 2 was a pretty big leap forward from the original iPad. On the other hand, the iPad 2 has been making waves in the market with its £329 price tag, eating into sales of Android tablets and the pricier iPad 3.Apple has already admitted that a large proportion of the 17 million iPad tablets sold between April and June 2012 were iPad 2 models. The arrival of the iPad Mini (pictured above) could have further eroded iPad 3 sales. So, ultimately, Apple needed to act quickly to break what could have become a downward spiral for its flagship product and its sales revenues.
While the iPad 4 may look similar to the iPad 2 from the outside, on the inside it brings real change—the tech specs have been completely revamped. The new Lightning connector physically and symbolically places it in a new generation of Apple products, leaving behind the 30-pin connector seen in the iPad 2 and the iPad 3. This more genuinely new model should therefore put some sparkle back into Apple's high-end tablets, even if the iPad 4 starts at a pricier £400.
In any case, the move shows that Apple seems to be paying more attention to tech specs rather than relying on the image of its product. Not so very long ago, the firm was more keen on playing the untouchable market leader.
But now we've got the iPad 4, everyone's obviously wondering whether Apple will still out a new iPad as usual in the spring ...
> Tablet Reviews
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