The new iPad is here. Apple's new tablet computer has arrived and its ultra-sharp 2048 x 1536 pixel Retina display is enough to set it apart from anyone else. It's almost like looking at a glossy magazine page.
It also has much more powerful guts, with a much faster processor, graphics and more memory. And it's 4G ready.
Retina display
The Retina display looks gorgeous. The screen has a 264 pixels per inch. That's a total 3.1 million pixels in a full color IPS screen. The image color seems a lot better too. They say it has 44 percent more saturation than the IPS technology they were using previously.
Apple claims that it is still a Retina display because, when you held it at a normal distance, you just can't see the pixels. That distance is 15 inches. For the iPhone, which has a smaller screen, it is 10 inches. I can't wait to test this thing with all my comics (I wonder if Marvel will have to upload them all again).
They demonstrated it running a new version of Autodesk Sketchbook Ink, a new painting app that is vector-based and resolution independent. It actually seems like you are painting on a real page.
Here is a great picture comparing the Retina display to the iPad 2. To get a better view, zoom in on the image a couple of times.
The top screen in the picture is the new iPad, and the bottom is the iPad 2. AMAZING!!!
Processor and graphics power
The processor is an Apple-designed A5X, which includes a quad-core graphics module. It's going to need all the graphics muscle if it has to push those 3.1 million pixels.
According to Apple, it's twice as fast as a Tegra 3 and has "four times" the graphics performance.
New camera
The new iPad has a new camera on the back: has a 5-megapixel job with a side-iluminated sensor, a 5-element lens and an infrared filter. It's basically the same configuration as on the iPhone 4S, with three fewer megapixels. Serious specs for a tablet camera—you can expect to see more people carrying around iPads taking pictures of things. And Apple also left the VGA FaceTime camera in the front. Great.
1080p video recording
The rear camera, which Apple calls the iSight Camera (the front-facing one is the facetime camera), is capable of capturing 1080p video at 30 frames per second, which obviously looks razor sharp on the iPad's display. The video, like the iPhone 4S, is also stabilized.
Apple says it has temporal noise reduction, which is a rather clever technique that greatly reduces the noise of video by comparing what pixels actually move and guessing what is noise and what is actual detail.
Dictation
The new iPad's operating system offers a new microphone button, which will allow you to dictate emails, presumably using technology related to Siri. There was no actual mention of Siri assitance.
4G LTE connectivity
Apple says the new 4G LTE connectivity will give you 21Mbps on HSPA+ networks, 42Mbps on DC-HSDPA and 73Mbps on LTE. Of course, these speeds are theoretical. It will run on both AT&T and Verizon networks. According to Phil Schiller, the new model "has the most wireless bands that has ever shipped."
Memory and other guts
Apple is not mentioning actual specifications for the guts of the machine, but it's pretty clear that the memory—not the storage, but RAM used for running the OS and the applications—has increased too, if only to handle the new resolution.
Mike Capps, from Epic Games, says that it has more memory than an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3. Presumably, his comment refers to graphics memory. We will know soon how much this is exactly.
Physical specifications
Surprisingly, they have kept the package practically just the same as the previous version: only 0.03 inches thicker than the iPad 2 at 0.37 inches (9.4 millimeters). The weight is only 1.5 pounds.
Launch date
You will be able to get it on March 16, but the preorder starts today. It will be available in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia on the same day.
The price is $499, $599 and $699 for 16, 32, and 64GB. If you want 4G LTE, you will have to spend $629, $729, and $829.
The name. Did you notice it? The name is not iPad HD. It's just iPad.
Competition
Another thing worth mentioning is how will this compare to other products.
Well, Apple shipped 15.4 million iPads last quarter alone. By contrast, HP shipped 15.1 million PCs worldwide in the same timeframe.
Apps
The new iPad also comes with some great apps.
iPhoto
The only all-new app for iOS devices is iPhoto. The touchscreen version of Apple’s photo app will support Multi-Touch gestures, and allows users to make adjustments to their photos, like enhance the color, exposure, and contrast. Apple has also included some “Apple-designed effect” to give photos some pizzaz. (We’re guessing this will be similar to what you’ll find on Instagram or Camera+.) And users can adjust specific parts of their photos by using their fingertips like “brushes.” The new iPhoto also enables users to upload photos straight to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and iCloud, as well as to “beam” photos directly between iOS devices or Apple TV using AirPlay.
iMovie
Now that the iPad has the same excellent camera as the iPhone 4S, the device is sure to become an home movie-maker’s dream device. The biggest update to the new version of iMovie is the “Hollywood-style” Trailers feature. With the new Theater view mode, users can add one of nine new templates, with names like “Fairy Tale” and “Superhero” to their home-trailers. Trailers also features customizable graphics, and professional-grade soundtracks. User-made trailers can be shared online via YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook, and can be streamed to Apple TV in 1080p (assuming you have the new Apple TV) over AirPlay.
iWork
The new version of iWork is made to take full advantage of the new iPad’s high-resolution Retina display. Upgrades include 3D charts, as well as landscape mode support for iPhone and iPod touch devices.
GarageBand
Finally, Apple has added a new Jam Session feature to GarageBand, which allows up to four people to wirelessly connect their iOS devices to play and record music as a group. According to the press release, Jam Sessions also “automatically synchronizes the tempo, key and chords” of all connected Touch instruments to make the mix go smoothly. In addition, Apple has added Smart Strings, a new Touch instrument that “allows you to play an entire string orchestra with just one finger” (what that means, exactly, we’re not yet sure). And the new Note Editor allows users to fine-tune their recordings. GarageBand songs can be automatically uploaded to iCloud, and ported to Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud.
iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand all cost $4.99; iWork components (Keynote, Pages, Numbers) cost $9.99 each. All available from the iTunes App Store.
