As you’ve no doubt heard by now, Apple announced the iPad 3 – or as they’re calling it, the “new iPad” – on Wednesday. The summary is that it has a retina display, 4G support, and some more graphics horsepower (which it would need in order to pump all those pixels).
Now, like a lot of geeks, I was paying attention to things as it was announced. I was on the live blogs, doin’ my thing. And I was checking out comments on the usual parade of blog posts about it.
And… the reactions were mixed. Many were positive. Others… not.
And that is hilarious and downright stupid if you ask me.
Here’s a comment (which I’ll post anonymously):
Expected it would be revolutionary. Too far below the rumors. Only screen resolution. Looks like just some parts in the same case: screen, processor, modem, camera. What else? Isn’t dictation is a third party app? I have been waiting quite long coz I wanted to replace my iPad 1. Will wait for Galaxy.
Or how about this one:
First Apple royally screwed us with the iphone 4s, and now they come up with the new ipad! Where’s the innovation gone? I bet a few years down the line, the iphones and ipads will look and function similar to the current gen models. Where is the 3D display? Or the OLED screen? Or the satellite radio integration? Give us consumers a reason to slap down hard earned dollars to upgrade from our old ipads to the’new ipad’ or I will stick to my old ipad 2. Epic fail on Apple’s part.
Are you KIDDING me?!
You want it to wipe your butt for you, too?
Oh, and I love the people who say “Android is already doing that.”. Hmmm…. great, all 3 people who own one can enjoy that. In the meantime, millions of iPad 3′s will be sold.
Geeks love to complain, it seems. And they forget just how AMAZING this technology is. It wasn’t that long ago that a mobile computer would have given you chiropractic problems to carry it around.
And, let’s not forget…
Any claims that Apple failed to surprise fall flat. Failed to suprise against what? Only against the mountain of false speculation and rumors that these very bloggers fabricated – because they’re so sorely lacking for content that they have to make up Apple rumors on a daily basis. Of COURSE most of those rumors will be BS. Because they have no idea what they’re talking about. They just make crap up.
Here’s the truth of the matter:
- Apple plays these people like fiddles. They LOVE all this speculation and rumor. These bloggers are creating Apple’s hype for them.
- The new iPad blows away every other tablet on the market.
- The iPad represents about 73% of the tablet market share. Android can’t compete, it is splintered, and the only people who care are people who are unwilling to spend much money.
- 4G support and a super high-res screen is a very worthy upgrade for a single year of the iPad.
No matter what Apple does, it will have haters.
But, they’re just nerd side seaters. In the meantime, Apple is building products that people want to buy. Period. They didn’t become the world’s most valuable company for no reason.
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Personally, I’m a fan of the iPad. For a long time I said I wouldn’t get an iPad because it did nothing for me. I then gave in and bought an iPad 2 and love it. I didn’t read any of the rumors related to the “new iPad” and have refrained from reading most “opinion based articles” that are covering the new iPad. I respect you David, so I’d rather hear what you’d have to say because you’re a realist compared to most of these lunatics on the internet. However, for me, the “new iPad” doesn’t offer anything new to me that I feel worth the upgrade. I do prefer upgrades to encourage me to spend the money rather than debate whether it’s significant or not. Apple has been known for making small upgrades to their products and capitalizing on it. I can’t blame them, because which company wouldn’t do this if they knew there was a significant amount of profit coming to them. The one thing I do believe, and while I love Apple and what they do, I think they can make the iPad a random color as oppose to white or black and consumers will flock to it. This isn’t a knock on Apple, but they know they have their consumers where they want them just like you mentioned when it comes to people creating rumors about their products.
Yeah. Honestly, if I had an iPad 2, I wouldn’t upgrade either. But, if somebody has an iPad 1, this upgrade is a no-brainer.
But, then again, somebody who upgrades their devices annually is a bit of an overzealous fan-boy anyway.
I completely agree that this upgrade is a no brainer for someone with the first iPad. If I was that person, I definitely would recommend upgrading, but yea, if you have an iPad 2, there’s just not enough there at the moment.
It’s funny because those that see it necessary to upgrade their devices annually definitely are overzealous and could use some counseling
and you wouldn’t be a fan boy for bumming the crap out of every apple product that exists
your comments about apple vs android show just how out of touch you are. yes you have done well in the past but now might be time to give it up. i notice you don’t post here much anyway.
the fact that android app downloads (per month) are likely to overtake ios’ in the next few months (in the US) rubbishes your talk of how wonderful and glorious the app store is. in the uk, germany and russia, android app downloads are already higher per month.
android has the possibility to offer so much more which the apple restriction doesn’t allow. i’m first to admit apple products are a very slick experience, but i don’t think they’re worth the price and with the ongoing improvements to android it won’t be long before apple will have to pull something major to stay in the game, i.e. a new product rather than continual updates.
“android has the possibility to offer so much more which the apple restriction doesn’t allow”.
If by “more” you mean “viruses”, oh then yes, you’re totally correct.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111119/business/711199941/
yes, and windows has been open to attack for years too. does that mean i’m always fighting viruses? not at all. common sense is all that is required.
“yes, and windows has been open to attack for years too” News flash: 2001 was a long time ago.
http://thesecuritysett.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/windows-7-the-safest-microsoft-operating-system-yet/
“Common sense” doesn’t erase the fact that Android has viruses galore for it and iOS doesn’t. I don’t even own any Apple products and I know that.
using one source.. that’s great. whilst windows 7 might be more secure, and maybe attacks are down, i don’t know, there is no denying that it is still huge. if you fail to believe me then please go and speak to someone who repairs pc’s for a living. so much work is viruses.
i haven’t claimed that android isn’t open to attack, i’ve said i think that the apple products are very slick so i’m not sure why you’re carrying this on. windows is successful despite the amount of hate it receives from people saying it is bad for x reason etc. etc.
i really wouldn’t be surprised to see android improve and reduce the amount of nasties around in it, the same way that you claim windows has. that fact only doesn’t make it a success or a worse product though. i don’t see everyone using unix based systems on their desktops because they are more immune..
“if you fail to believe me then please go and speak to someone who repairs pc’s for a living. so much work is viruses.”
I have over a decade of pro IT experience supporting major corporations (such General Dynamics and Sikorsky Aircraft to just name two) as a tech, do you?
“i don’t see everyone using unix based systems on their desktops”
Incorrect. OS X is a UNIX certified OS and has been since 2007. The same OS used in the entire Mac desktop and notebook line. http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2007/08/mac-os-x-leopard-receives-unix-03-certification.ars
“i really wouldn’t be surprised to see android improve and reduce the amount of nasties around in it”
I would be. Android is Linux-based, and before Android, viruses for Linux basically didn’t exist, and Linux has been around since 1993. Only Google could screw up Linux that bad.
no, but then you can agree with me that viruses are a big issue. i’m talking on a personal use basis, not users working for large corporations.
i realise os x is a unix based system, hence my comment. whilst there is a lot of people using it, a LOT more are using windows..
that sounds more like you having a problem with google and its products. if you don’t like them, or are on the apple payroll, fair enough, i don’t care, it’s of no loss to me
from a quick look at google, given an outsiders view, i’d say they’re quite concerned about security. one doesn’t go and build one of the most secure browsers (and then ‘os’) around without a care for security. they aren’t constantly in the news for poorly protected products either.. more their privacy policies of late.
The most viruses for mobile are on Android, and this is undisputed fact.
Chrome secure? It had the worst password security on launch. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2008/dec/14/browser-password-security
And more than 1/4 of Chrome extensions released are insecure. http://www.ghacks.net/2011/10/12/27-out-of-100-chrome-extensions-insecure/
None of that sounds like “concerned” to me.
i never claimed android didn’t have the most mobile viruses. i’m saying its success is not entirely dependent on this fact, and that improvement will happen. if you really think android is significantly worse/will fold because of it, what can i say?! let it play out and we will see if android devices are no more in a year or so.
launch issues..? sorry, i forgot that all products launched are perfect straight off. as i remember all apple products have been perfect…
i could find plenty of sources claiming vulnerabilities in other browsers and os’. chrome’s record in hackthons is impressive (although defeated at the most recent), it hasn’t been defeated every time like the other major browsers.
consistently offering money to those who can find exploits does sound ‘concerned’ to me. they aren’t doing it just to throw away money are they..if popularity is anything to go by, one could determine it as the best browser if the general tech opinion of ‘ie is crap’ were put on it.
Apple failed to surprise not against false speculation but against their ideology and innovation. It looks to me that their apogee is in the past now. Same old same old… Stupid upgrades to an already good solid base, I have to admit. But the competition, which was copying Apple at the beginning, is catching up and might just overrun them. Especially in the iPhone department where if the iPhone 5 will look the same and have the A5X “upgrade” I expect it to lose its lead to other mobile devices that might be coming out (hint: Samsung Galaxy S3)
And for your “truth of the matter”:
The new iPad *used to blow* away every other tablet on the market.The iPad *used to represent* about 73% of the tablet market share.Because you’re referring to existing data created by the iPad and iPad 2 in previous years. Expect shit to go down with the “new iPad”.
And another correction:
Apple is building products because they want to sell. They don’t give a shit about people’s opinions. Example: they used to allow for option to go for matte screen on some products. Now? Only option is stupid glossy that hurts your eyes (for long periods). Referring to Apple Cinema Display.
People want products that other people buy and think they’re prestigious (because of hype and prices out of their range). That’s how we’re wired, we have the spirit of the herd embedded.
Ahh, why am I wasting my time from work writing this? You won’t understand anyway. You’re an Apple fanboy.
Sincerely,
a disappointed Apple products owner
> “Apple failed to surprise not against false speculation but against their ideology and innovation.”
That makes zero sense. Zero.
> “But the competition, which was copying Apple at the beginning, is catching up and might just overrun them. ”
No, they won’t. At least not for a long time. Because, any tablet that might boast some better spec than the iPad… DOESN’T SELL. A big part of that is because the apps suck. The App Store ecosystem is better than anybody else can provide (so far). Android is too splintered to make a dent, most Android tablet apps suck, and all the other contenders have, like, no apps at all. It is about the apps.
> “Expect shit to go down with the “new iPad”.”
I rather doubt it, but you seem offly willing to contradict me based on mere speculation. I’m actually using facts.
> “Apple is building products because they want to sell. They don’t give a shit about people’s opinions.”
People vote with their wallets. And people keep buying the things. So, whatever, dude.
> “People want products that other people buy and think they’re prestigious (because of hype and prices out of their range). That’s how we’re wired, we have the spirit of the herd embedded.”
True. But, that’s a testament to Apple’s marketing. They’re awesome at it.
The higher resolution screen is an enormous difference..sorry critics. But the more information you can get on a screen, the better.
I was wondering who was going to be the first with the higher definition screen, Apple or Samsung. The higher resolution screen was discussed a few months ago on a number of websites, so this is no surprise. Now we know who got there first. I like Apple quite a bit but do not care much for their closed environment. I’m really looking forward to the Samsung tablet which will be able to show websites that use Flash and allow me to download applications which do not need to be pre-approved by Apple.Yes, sometimes the critics say really stupid things when their ridiculous expectations are not met.
A couple points:
(1) When you actually use iOS, it feels anything BUT closed. Sure, one can run anything they please on Android, but the tradeoff to that is that there are a lot of crumby apps (some with security issues) on Android. And, even then, most Android apps aren’t optimized for tablets, so they literally are just blown up phone apps.
(2) Flash on a mobile device is a horrible idea. When I was on an Android, I found flash to be both crash happy and a major battery draw. Plus, it is insanely rare that I come across a site on iOS that it can’t run.
The way I look at it…. Samsung is likely going to be coming out with some awesome tablets (and I welcome them), but they still have to run Android. And the apps just aren’t there. Not nearly as many of them worth running… and most aren’t optimized for a larger screen.
Even though Steve Jobs has gone,RIP, still don”t think anybody is gonna touch Apple.
Kids these days wouldn’t be seen with anything less it’s the “brand man” as my son always tells me.
Steve
Driveway Cleaning In Kent
Funny how you can (rightly) write this putting down the unnecessary Apple bashers…all the while unnecessarily bashing Android. Pot meet kettle.
Well, it *is* an opinion piece.
Well, it *is* an opinion piece.
The reason I don’t buy Apple products is their how fast new versions come out. I don’t see the point in buying a $300 product when in 6 months it’s going to be obsolete . I use to be a die hard Apple supporter back when they were years ahead of everyone else. now they seam to be just coping everyone else and saying we do it better. like changing wallpapers and multitasking on the iphone/ipad when android was already doing it. When they released it they made it look like it was a really a big deal. When in reality if they didn’t their company would be dead
I think the same thing happens with non-Apple products, though. There are always better things coming out, no matter when you choose to buy.
And, sure, Apple isn’t always first. But, there’s a difference between being first… and being first to make it mainstream and something “normal” people will use.
First, I’d like to point out that the 73% ipad market share that you cite was before the Amazon Fire and the Nook were released, a caveat that the linked article even states would need to be accounted for. It would appear that the number is actually less, maybe 56% according to a quick search I did. Far from conclusive, but far from 73%.
Second, the screen resolution. It is insanely high, but why? Is there any benefit at all, besides getting smoother, crisper images? Screen resolution is not the same as screen real estate, a 9 inch screen can only display so much regardless of how many pixels can be crammed into it.
The new screen actually has 4 times the pixels of the old one, which I would imagine is far more taxing on the hardware, even though upgraded. Personally, I would have preferred if Apple cut back a bit on the resolution and beefed up the actual hardware a bit more than they did.
I don’t own an iPad, so here’s your salt grain.
I know the higher resolution makes a big difference on the iPhone. Better images, yes. But, if the app developer creates the app accordingly, you can get a lot more data on screen.
I’m just not convinced, the only way to use extra pixels to get more data onto a screen is to make it all smaller. Too small and they might make it a bit tricky to read. As far as a ‘lot more’, I have serious doubts. Text doesn’t take a lot of resolution, I’m sure the old ipad could have shrunk the text size so it could display more at once, and yet they didn’t.
I have a 22″ 1080p monitor (sit about 2′ away), and I really wouldn’t want more data at once even if it could display it. Imagining something with even more pixels and reduced to 9.7″, I can’t see how it would be possible to take advantage of it all without having to resort to a magnifying glass.
That is for text, talking about games then I can see some of the appeal, it just looks better.
i completely agreed to you…
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how much did apple pay you to write this
Being from a third world developing country, I rarely touch base with Apple products; they’re just not made accessible to us. Since it seems PCMech is so Apple-centric, I doubt they’ll be much in it of much benefit to me. I’ll give it a pass.
I think that is one of the best things about Apple is that they keep advancing their products! There is no requirement that one must buy a new version each time new version/model comes out. Could you imagine where we would be if they stopped at the Apple II Plus!
As for the negative comments, there will always be some. It is nice when there is some logic and intelligence contained within!
Thanks for the article David.I enjoyed it!