The force of water down Niagra Falls pales in comparison to the sheer number of iPad 2 rumors that have flowed into the Internetz the past few weeks and days. If the rumors are remotely true then we think we have the specs for the new iPad 2. We also have a report that Apple’s share of the tablet market has slipped from 95% to 77%. So, if what follows is truly iPad 2, will it stay on top?
iPad 2 Vs. The Other Tablets Vs. You
A recent report over the weekend by Apple Insider detailed the latest iPad 2 components (rumored) and the fact that there was a 5 million unit supply. In that report we learned that the iPad 2 will have a “better quality” display, faster chips, separate CDMA and GSM versions, iPod touch-like dual cameras, and that vendors will produce up to 5 million units in the first quarter.
“Better Display”
This does not mean Retina Display. The resolution discussion has gone back and forth for weeks but it’s pretty much certain now that the display will remain 1024×768 and will be focused on thickness and anti-reflection, not resolution. The rumor is that the iPad 2 display is 30 – 35% thinner than the current iPad.
With a thinner display it might mean that Apple could bring the images and text closer to the glass screen much like they did with the iPhone and thus giving a more crisp and sharper display without having to raise the resolution. Additionally, the anti-reflection would make it easier to read in sunlight as this has been one of the biggest complaints so far in regards to the display.
But why won’t there be a retina display? Well, it’s said that making a high resolution and bright IPS/FFS panel is not easy and production volume and cost could not meet Apple’s requirements yet. Perhaps we get this with iPad 3.
Better Chips
Even though we won’t be seeing a Retina Display, we will most likely be seeing much higher processing power, graphics, RAM, and faster memory access. The iPad 2 is rumored to use an ARM Cortex-A9 dual core processor running at 1.2Ghz. Additionally, iPad 2 will have a GPU (graphics processing unit) using Imagination’s SGX543 dual core graphics technology which is 200-300% more powerful than iPhone 4.
More RAM and faster access to memory means that the iPad 2 could have 512MB RAM (same as iPhone 4) but running at a higher clock rate of 1,066 MHz while the iPhone 4 runs at 800 MHz.
Cameras
Of course we know that the iPad 2 will have 2 reported cameras. One on the front (front-facing) and one on the back. The front camera is said to be 0.3 mega-pixel, or VGA, and the rear one is 1 mega-pixel, like iPod Touch.
The Competitors
We highlighted some competitors from the most recent CES show in Las Vegas and it appears that the iPad 2 specs (if true) will not be ground-shaking or revolutionary but they will be more like the iPhone 3G to the 3GS.
When you look at the competitors and the fact that there is now a new report out which claims the iPad has slipped to 77% of the total tablet market as the Android rises to 22%, then it makes one wonder a few things:
- Is this really an alarming percentage of change? (i.e., who cares)
- Are people starting to want to explore other tablets and other tablet sizes?
- Will the components in iPad 2 be good enough to keep the iPad in the lead?
There are many more reasons such as the size of the App Store, App developer support, etc. that come into play here but at the end of the day it’s the consumer who decides the market leader. So far the iPad has been in the lead but that is also because it has had no competitors. Now that we are getting a clearer picture of the iPad 2 (or iPad 1.5), will it be enough or will we see the market share slip even further?
Share your thoughts!
iPad 2 Vs. The Other Tablets Vs. You= Innovation is tha answer, iPad2 will last couple of years, thats the rules of engagement, if the new comi,g iOS do not fit in iPad2 then iPad NOVA will appear, the question is should I buy iPad 2 right Now????
Well, I think that’s a perfect question. The funny part of all this is the battery life…will all these tablets that are going to cost nearly $800 have batteries that last longer than 5 hours???
with gaming is less than 5 hours. A big screen has big pixels to display, a pixel needs energy so big pixels needs big energy, but wait ipad has a small battery so small hours. Even if ipad is off then every day will eat at least 2-3% of battery……????
The real question is whether the reports by Samsung and the galaxy tab are to be believed. They reported shipping 20% of the market, but have actually sold much less. Lies.
Ha! That’s great Alan…I love it….Lies. Yeah, it’s the same thing with the Windows 7 phone..sure…a few million have “shipped’ but that does not mean we won’t see half those on craigslist or in the bargain bin….
I have an ipad and like to read your news about it.
But it happens I also have a nexus one, and love also android.
Since you changed the name of the blog to tcgeeks, I thought you would be more balanced among tablets. But I see every day as if having more competition was a pity, instead of something good for tablets market, the user… and your blog
But, seeing your so much pro-ipad posts, why did you change the name of the blog?
Hi Antonio. The main reason I have not yet began covering other tablets is that there are none. The tab comes the closest but there are really no major apps for it or a ton of info…i will definitely be covering more tablets and moving more broad as they roll out and take shape. It’s not a pity at all.
Hi Jeff,
I will agree with that whenever I see this blog dedicating as much time to other tablets as to ipad 2, and with the same amount of enthusiasm.
regards
Antonio
I have full plans to start covering other topics as soon as more tablets emerge and are actually released. Right now, the iPad is the leader but I suspect that will change soon as we get strong alternatives like the new Android tablets.
A great review of 10 tablets in the Denver Post on Sunday, a must read, my first reader was the ipad, my next one will be the ipad2, the other cannot compair
Thanks Jeff!!!!
The idea that iPad share dropped to 77% is pure fiction as revealed by Samsung’s CEO who said they crammed the channel with product but very little was actually SOLD to CUSTOMERS!!!
You can’t have a market percentage based on product in distribution and retailers who are now dropping the price to try and dump a dud product. Every iHater on earth is salivating like rabid dogs at the prospect of Apple loosing anything even the most meaningless fictions are hyped by insane media.
Thanks Bert! I saw that as well after I published the article and I had an odd feeling that the channel was stuffed…we just saw this happen with the Windows 7 phone as well which was stuffed through to the channels and hailed as massive sales….