iPad 3 Launch, Our Predictions!

As the launch of the third edition of the iPad draws ever so closer, the rumor mills are running wild speculating on the features of the latest iPad.

So here is our take on what we think the iPad 3 will be equipped with.

Annkur:

Display

In 2010, when Steve Jobs announced the iPhone 4, he remarked that the iPhone has 78% of the pixels that an iPad has. And the iPhone is just a 3.5-inch screen compared to 9.7-inch on the iPad. Two years down, that needs to change. There is little doubt after the teaser from Apple. “We have something you really have to see” and we shall see just that! A Retina display that quadruples the pixels. The current iPad sports a resolution of 1024×768, it shall go up to 2048×1536. You may raise some doubt on the ‘Retina’ title being given to iPad 3 though. At 1024×768 it is 132 ppi (pixel per inch), it would go up to 264 with the increased resolution, still less than the 326 ppi on the iPhone. Perhaps the justification would be that the iPad is meant to be held a bit further away from your eyes than the iPhone, but we would wait for the Apple keynote to reveal that.

Camera

The camera on the iPad 2 was a disappointment. One of the reasons I didn’t recommend iPad 1 owners to upgrade to the iPad 2 was the negligible camera upgrade. Apple should ideally bump the same to 5MP rear and a HD cam in the front for FaceTime.

Design

The part on my iPhone 4 that fails the most is the home button. iOS devices need to get rid of that extra button and guess 2012 is the time for that to happen. The Apple teaser again speaks about ‘touch’ and what better than a complete gesture control instead of the home button? iPad 2 got some new gestures with iOS 5 but the usage IMO is still very low for those gestures. Time for Apple to force those gestures upon the user!

Processor

I care little about the kind of processor being used, so be it a dual-core or quad-core, it would be significantly faster than the predecessor and the same would give us a hint of what the iPhone 6th gen would be capable of. It’s about time. LTE on iPad / iPhone should be a 2012 event.

Tassavur:

Display

Everyone seems to be convinced that the latest installment of the iPad will carry a retina display. What do we think?

Well, you can say that the doubling of the resolution might end up making a lot of apps incompatible with the new iPad just as it has happened with Google when they launched Honeycomb or now with ICS. But you might be surprised to know that with Apple it’s not the same. Here is the why about it.

And I feel that with the same display resolution being used in the iPad 1&2, it’s about time Apple bumped it a notch higher.

Camera

With the iPad 2 sporting a 0.7 MP camera, we clearly know that Apple doesn’t fancy shutterbugs clicking away with a device of this large form factor. Hence I wouldn’t bet on Apple going beyond a 5MP shooter on the back and a 1.3 / 2 MP in the front, both HD capable.

Processor

Given the conservative approach that Apple has always had with their hardware and the fact that they have always preferred to optimize performance rather than crave for underperforming numbers. Hence I do not see Apple going for a quad core processor, but yes definitely a new and improved processor is on the cards. This seems more logical and reasonable when you consider that there are a load of new features that it needs to support.

Software

I’m certain here that Apple is launching the iOS 5.1 with the new iPad. Though, the question is, “Will they talk about and demo the iOS 6?” It is something very likely, and should be launched with the iPhone 5.

Design

Well there is a lot spoken about no Home button on the iPad 3 with some gesture control replacing the same. And the new tablet being a full touch controlled device. Well I feel that it’s not coming to this iPad so soon, maybe in the next iPhone. For now, I expect the home button to be right there in the bottom center. Also you can expect the iPad 3 to be slimmer than the iPad 2.

Aditya:

Display

When the iPhone 4 was launched it had left everyone in absolute awe with the retina display and it is about time the iPad saw some of that love coming its way. It is expected that the size of the device would presumably remain the same but the resolution is expected to be 1536 X 2048. The said display is expected to be four times the current display of the iPad. What is the upside to it? Watching videos and more importantly gaming on such a device would be an experience in itself.

Design

PatentlyApple.com had published an article in mid-February covering a patent application by Apple. According to the article and the patent analysis by the website, the application covers at length a gesture based control for their devices. The gesture based design or better known as smart bezel will relinquish the need for a ‘home button.’ The patent further encompasses details of how the device with such a technology will enable an end user to control the volume by gestures or swipe of your finger control. Moving on the patent has described a whole range of things that will be made possible by the patent. We are expecting that this iPad if introduced without the home button will showcase to the world purely a touch-screen device.

Camera

The camera on the current iPad is a little disappointing especially for still images. But, it is still worthwhile for short, fun and quirky videos. But it is a long way for the iPad to be anything of a replacement at-least in the camera department. Then again in my personal opinion, considering the usage that the device does have in the real world scenario even the slightest improvement in its performance would be a super win.

Processor

As a company Apple has never boasted a heavy duty configuration but has delivered where others have failed – performance. Earlier prediction, rather hopes speculate that the newer iPad would boast a Quad-Core processor. But leaked images and reports have suggested that it would indeed be a dual-core processor that will be packed in the machine.

Monis:

Display

By simply looking at the image that came with invite from Apple, it seems obvious that next generation iPad would showcase a high resolution display. However, it is not confirmed whether it would have the same extended version of what we see in the iPhone 4S or something constituting only increased pixels. Needless to say, it was even expected last year, but never turned up into reality. It seems that this particular feature is imminent in iPad 3/iPad HD or whatever the next generation iPad would be called. Also, it might help Apple to drive sales of its most popular tablet in the world.

Camera

Since the launch of iPad 2, Apple introduced dual cameras into the tablet. Perhaps, many people felt it to be the most needed feature. But the quality of cameras, both rear and the front was considered below the level of expectations. The quality of the photos and the video looks great if captured in the daylight. On the flipside, when you take a snap shot or make a video in the night, the impression changes by a mile. For that purpose, iPhone has always been a decent device. So I expect Apple to integrate cameras which are as good as an iPhone, that is, 5 or 8 megapixel for rear and may be, a few megapixels on the front for FaceTime HD.

Design

Honestly, this is still a mystery. However, if i simply follow the ongoing rumors, the iPad 3/iPad HD could be 1mm thicker from the edges. The reason being is to engulf the Retina display which requires an altogether different way to set up the connections. On the other hand, the image with invite suggests that the iPad would have no home button. Interestingly, that image might have been captured in the upside down position, but that amount of space between the icons is not possible in that orientation. This topic is still in debate and hopefully, things would become more clear tomorrow. Precisely, the iPad 3 could have the same design as that of iPad 2.

Processor

We have seen evidences of quad core processor in iOS 5.1 Beta. And many other sources confirmed about the possibility. Also, a chip called ‘A5X’ surfaced lately which was assumed to be the integrated chip in the iPad prototype. If not quad core, I expect iPad 3 to have a processor that would be faster than the iPad 2. According to the usual trend, the quad core chip in the iPad 3 should be called ‘A6’. But with Apple, you never know what should be expected. May be, the nomenclature of the upcoming tablet from Apple could depend on the this chip. What say?

Name?

“What’s in a name?” That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. 😉

BTW, do let us know your thoughts on the specifications of the latest edition of the iPad.