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New iPad not revolutionary but still likely to be a hit
The newly updated <a href="http://www.tipard.com/">iPad</a> isn't a revolutionary device like the original, but it's still likely to be a hit with consumers. Apple (AAPL) is clearly sticking to its oft-repeated formula: Take a popular device, add some significant but not breakthrough updates and offer it for the same price as before. It's worked before and is likely to work again.
That's not to minimize the changes. The new super-high-resolution screen, the improved rear-facing camera and the new, optional 4G data antenna are all welcome additions and likely to please consumers, particularly those who don't yet have an iPad. But they're probably not enough to compel most iPad owners to upgrade. And by not rolling out a smaller, much cheaper model, Apple missed a chance to really broaden the iPad market.
Here's what I like about the new iPad:
High-resolution screen and faster graphics processor. Developers -- game developers in particular -- will be able to do cool things with the new screen and graphics capabilities. Namco and Epic Games, for example, showed off games in which players fight off numerous enemies at once.
LTE connectivity. Faster data speeds mean not only faster-loading Web pages, but also streaming video that starts nearly instantaneously.
Voice dictation. This new feature can make typing longer email or even documents a lot easier. But it would have been better if Apple's dictation feature, like that on Android devices and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, did instant speech-to-text translations, rather than doing them in sequential batches.
Higher-resolution camera. The new 5-megapixel camera with 1080p video resolution is a great addition. Apple also included the same optics that it built into the iPhone 4S, which should make for sharper and better low-light shots. But the company cheaped out by not including a flash with the camera and by sticking with the same low-quality front-facing camera that was in the iPad 2.
New iPhoto app for iOS. This isn't a built-in feature, but a $5 add-on that brings Apple's popular photo editing program to its mobile devices for the first time. The controls are completely redesigned for the touch interface and allow users to do cool things like change the white balance of a photo with a simple touch.
But here are a few things about the new iPad that disappointed me:
No Siri. The voice assistant feature that Apple introduced with the iPhone 4S won't be included in the new iPad. That's too bad because Siri would have allowed users to access information without having to find the right app.
No iPad mini. Apple is discounting the iPad 2 by $100, but $399 is still a lot to pay for a device. I'd like to see Apple offer a smaller iPad that would be cheaper, easier to hold, one that could compete with smaller tablets like the Kindle Fire.
No built-in handwriting recognition. I'd like the iPad to be able to replace my pen and notebook, but it can't yet. While some apps offer some handwriting recognition, and while you can already use a penlike stylus with the iPad, the device doesn't natively translate handwritten notes into text.
That's not to minimize the changes. The new super-high-resolution screen, the improved rear-facing camera and the new, optional 4G data antenna are all welcome additions and likely to please consumers, particularly those who don't yet have an iPad. But they're probably not enough to compel most iPad owners to upgrade. And by not rolling out a smaller, much cheaper model, Apple missed a chance to really broaden the iPad market.
Here's what I like about the new iPad:
High-resolution screen and faster graphics processor. Developers -- game developers in particular -- will be able to do cool things with the new screen and graphics capabilities. Namco and Epic Games, for example, showed off games in which players fight off numerous enemies at once.
LTE connectivity. Faster data speeds mean not only faster-loading Web pages, but also streaming video that starts nearly instantaneously.
Voice dictation. This new feature can make typing longer email or even documents a lot easier. But it would have been better if Apple's dictation feature, like that on Android devices and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, did instant speech-to-text translations, rather than doing them in sequential batches.
Higher-resolution camera. The new 5-megapixel camera with 1080p video resolution is a great addition. Apple also included the same optics that it built into the iPhone 4S, which should make for sharper and better low-light shots. But the company cheaped out by not including a flash with the camera and by sticking with the same low-quality front-facing camera that was in the iPad 2.
New iPhoto app for iOS. This isn't a built-in feature, but a $5 add-on that brings Apple's popular photo editing program to its mobile devices for the first time. The controls are completely redesigned for the touch interface and allow users to do cool things like change the white balance of a photo with a simple touch.
But here are a few things about the new iPad that disappointed me:
No Siri. The voice assistant feature that Apple introduced with the iPhone 4S won't be included in the new iPad. That's too bad because Siri would have allowed users to access information without having to find the right app.
No iPad mini. Apple is discounting the iPad 2 by $100, but $399 is still a lot to pay for a device. I'd like to see Apple offer a smaller iPad that would be cheaper, easier to hold, one that could compete with smaller tablets like the Kindle Fire.
No built-in handwriting recognition. I'd like the iPad to be able to replace my pen and notebook, but it can't yet. While some apps offer some handwriting recognition, and while you can already use a penlike stylus with the iPad, the device doesn't natively translate handwritten notes into text.
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