Analysis of the new Apple iPad
by Anand Lal Shimpi on March 9, 2012 1:37 AM ESTFinal Words
In many ways the new iPad was a known quantity. We knew to expect a faster SoC, a significantly higher resolution display and LTE support - Apple delivered on all fronts. The new iPad, much like another iPhone, is simply a tangibly improved version of its predecessor.
The iPad 2's display quickly became unacceptable from a resolution standpoint. The 3rd generation iPad's Retina Display completely addresses the issue and creates a new benchmark for other players in the tablet and ultraportable notebook space to live up to. It really is great to see Apple pushing display technology so aggressively and at reasonable price points. I do hope it's only a matter of time before we see a similar trend on the Mac side.
The finer details of yesterday's announcement were interesting - a much larger battery and 4x-nm LTE baseband. Arguably the most important information however is what Apple didn't talk about.
Today we have a first-world-problem with tablets, including the iPad - they are spectacular for certain usage models, but frustrating for others. Tablets aren't notebook replacements yet, but they can be more useful than a notebook depending on what you're doing. At the same time, tablets can be considerably worse than a notebook - again, depending on what you're doing. The solution to having the best of both worlds is to switch between or travel with two devices: a tablet and a Mac/PC. Ideally we'd like to see consolidation where you'd only need one.
Windows 8 proposes a solution to this problem: a single OS that, when paired with a convertible tablet (or dockable tablet like the Transformer Pad), can give you a tablet experience or a full blown desktop OS on a single device. Apple hasn't tipped its hand as to what the iOS UI strategy is going forward. I suspect we'll get some update at WWDC this year, but Apple is playing it very quiet at this point. Microsoft's strategy does bode very well for Windows users who also want a tablet, however it does alienate Windows users who want a more robust desktop experience. It's clear to me that Apple is trying to move the iPad closer to the MacBook Air in its product line, but it's unclear to me whether (or when) we'll see convergence there.
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solipsism - Sunday, March 11, 2012 - link
Doesn't the 360 only output 720p?Steelbom - Sunday, March 11, 2012 - link
It varies from 1024x600 to 1080p but the majority are 720p. (I'd imagine the few at 1080p would be less impressive graphically.)Ryan Smith - Monday, March 12, 2012 - link
The 360 has 22.4GB/sec of main memory bandwidth (the eDRAM is even higher). That's 1.4GHz on a 128bit bus. The A5 meanwhile is 800MHz on a 64bit bus, which on paper is 6.4GB/sec.Steelbom - Tuesday, March 13, 2012 - link
Ah right, I see. Thanks.tipoo - Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - link
So 3.5X the bandwidth for far less resolution. I think what we're bound to see is games that advertise native retina resolution, but the textures and whatnot will still be the old resolution. Games like Infinity Blade have separate resolutions for menus, shadows, etc.thebeastie - Saturday, March 10, 2012 - link
I am hoping to see you do some oversized bluray rip mkv benchmarks, I have my avatar 3d bluray mkv and the ipad2 just can't handle it via local or over network, very annoying if I want to watch a movie in the other room via my Sony HMZ-T1 via apple hdmi out connector.I want a tablet that can at least handle this kind of work load, it should be able to as it still fits into content consumption and nothing to do with content creation...
Thanks, been a big anandtech fan for over 10 years!
realbabilu - Sunday, March 11, 2012 - link
Dear beastie, the idevices is supporting playing 1080p, even the iPhone 3GS can done it. How? The QuickTime plugin inside iOS is so powerful that can play that specs. However there is some caveat. You must using mp4 container that has x264 avc and mp4 AAC stereo format or 6ch AAC, rather than Mkv.I assume you have Mkv format of bdripped movie. Check that movie has x264 avc track, and AAC audio. Usually Mkv has ac3 sound track or stereo AAC like he AAC Nero codec has. Form here you can re mux or video copy the Mkv into mp4 container, the process only take 1 minute. Ac3 should be converted, but it takes no longer than 5 minutes.
How to Re mux it? If you are using Mac, try subler, the best ever free Mp4 from Mkv for Mac, includes metadata like pros, and ac3 convert, also multi subtitle, and multi sound track. If you are in the pc, you can copy Remux thru free xmedia recode, and copy the AAC stereo or convert the ac3 to stereo AAC.unfortunately no subtitle muxer approved in ios of including mp4box srtiphone.
If you want to retaining the ac3 you can put the ac3 to sound track 2 as pastry, and put the AAC stereo as soundtrack number 1. The editing multi soundtrack needs subler. Or if you have want to convert not Remux from DVD or blue ray you can use handbrake pc/ Mac that can convert video,multi sound, multi subtitle as subler did but takes hours since it converting instead Remux.
The results 1080p can be opened directly using third party like oplayerhd with QuickTime plugin enabled. Or you can use videos iPad default app. To insert 1080p inside iPad movies library you have to use copytrans manager free that only availableo on pc. Be sure to have iPad manually manage songs enabled on iTunes desktop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRWOUcgdXvw
ueharaf - Saturday, March 10, 2012 - link
how about atrix and atrix 2 in with ubuntu?lapdocks,multimedia docks,etc.
Android and linux has an alternative to windows 8...dont forget it!!
wilmarkj - Sunday, March 11, 2012 - link
This has got to be one of the best summaries i have read online about the whole tablet issue and its future. I am fedup of all those 'pundits' out there who are jumping on the "tablets are going to take over everything" bandwagon. I dont see how tablets in its current state could be used for writing documents, programming, graphics, serious gaming, spreadsheets, doing animations, etc or any 'real work' Its even questionable for casual things like gaming or even browsing the internet or writing an email. Once it involves text i would much prefer a system with a PROPER keyboard. However this has brought many casual users to the computing fray. And i agree with your sentiments with windows 8. I am wondering where we 'serious' users will get our next os from??AnnonymousCoward - Sunday, March 11, 2012 - link
Does The New Ipad still require you to perform the pointless "slide to unlock" and "slide to power down"? Dumbest requirement ever.