Is Apple Already Planning the iPad 2?
A recent discovery by Mission Repair has sparked rumors that Apple is already planning the second iteration of its iPad tablet.
Tons and tons of sites have made a point of listing all the features missing from the iPad. Among them was a forward facing camera. With no camera present at all, many tech fans wondered what Apple was thinking not including either a forward facing camera or a more traditionally located camera on the back of the device.
It seems that in leaving the camera out, Apple was just being Apple. That is, the company left it out of the first device because they'll likely include the camera in an updated model in the future.
Mission Repair recently received a box of iPad parts and notice that the metal, internal frames had a space that looked suspiciously camera-sized. The lads grabbed a standard webcam from a Unibody MacBook and lo and behold, it fit into the mysterious space in the frame like a hand in a glove.
*Images via Mission:Repair
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Is anyone really surprised by this? Apple has to release a mediocre product, let all of the zealots buy it up at a premium price, then release a slightly improved but still mediocre version of the product a few months later for everyone to buy again. Rinse and repeat.
Ah yes. Typical apple.... Only release decent models of 'x' after 2-3 years of dumbass fanbois buying your product at insane prices.
I hope Apple figures out that there are other tablets that are coming out that are far superior. They can't just rely on the name and the app store to sell it's product.
Leaving room for improvement. I guess they're trying to push annual updates on the iPad too, and this is an easy one. Forward-thinking product line management.
I hope this time customers will be cleaver and just don't BUY this mediocre product.
I hope Apple figures out that there are other tablets that are coming out that are far superior. They can't just rely on the name and the app store to sell it's product.
They probably do realize that, but don't care. They just sit there and laugh as the fanbois snap up their inferior product.
Engineering manager: "Gentlemen, we can either work hard and create a great product, or push some of our budget over to marketing and head home early. What say you?"
Engineers: (room empties instantly)
This is absolutely horrible that they'd do this. It's like microsoft charging for the first Windows_7 service pack, :\.
This is absolutely horrible that they'd do this. It's like microsoft charging for the first Windows_7 service pack, :\.
Microsoft did charge for Vista SP3 -- they call it Windows 7.
Left out the camera??? So just who was Jobs calling lazy yesterday?
WOOW! The soap opera keeps getting better and better. Looks like plnas are in the works for s second season.
The first thing I though when I saw the specs was "WTF! No Webcam?!" Granted it's not something everyone would use, but it's such a ubiquitous component in mobile devices that I didn't understand how they could overlook it!
Turns out they didn't. Just saving it as a way of increasing sales.
Why does this always surprise people? When you make a product you have a list of features you want to include, but they get cut from the shipping device for one reason or another (greed, lack of time, cost, bug discovered so you cut instead of fixing, etc, etc.). Most large hardware and software companies have a plan for version n+1 months (in some cases years) before version n is ready to ship. Often the specs for version n+1 are complete within days of version n shipping. Work can then begin on the next version immediately (thus making efficient use of Dev/engineering staff). Once work starts it is really only a question of which features will be pushed to versions n+2 or n+3.
Why does this always surprise people? When you make a product you have a list of features you want to include, but they get cut from the shipping device for one reason or another (greed, lack of time, cost, bug discovered so you cut instead of fixing, etc, etc.). Most large hardware and software companies have a plan for version n+1 months (in some cases years) before version n is ready to ship. Often the specs for version n+1 are complete within days of version n shipping. Work can then begin on the next version immediately (thus making efficient use of Dev/engineering staff). Once work starts it is really only a question of which features will be pushed to versions n+2 or n+3.
I think why it's surprising nowadays, is because this is supposed to be a forward thinking, revolutionary device (these are not my words).
Look, I like some of Apple's products, and I'm by no means a total hater, but it's beginning to get absurd.
They put a camera/video recorder on their current gen iPod Nano, but the "Game changing" futuristic touchscreen tablet device that runs proprietary software from Apple App Store doesn't have a camera?
Are you kidding me?
The reason it's totally absurd is because these new devices from Apple keep getting more and more expensive at their base price point, but they still gouge the shit out of you with the features.
So instead of it just being a 200 dollar iPhone that you need to spend another 300 dollars on to get video, its a 500 dollar tablet PC, that you'll have to spend another 600 dollars on to get a forward facing camera.
That is purely obscene. Even someone who can afford and loves all things Apple has to agree.
What a load of iDogshit
If I wanted to spend a small fortune on something that only looks pretty and is not functional I would buy a Van Gogh. At least Vincent doesn't wait for you to shell out a king's ransom before releasing "Sunflowers 2.0"
Microsoft did charge for Vista SP3 -- they call it Windows 7.
Along those lines, XP was just a service pack for Windows 2000.
I know it's cool to say, but it's really getting old.
Of course they're working on an iPad 2. I'm a hater, I admit it, but this is a no brainer. Tech companies survive (and thrive) on early adopters, and they will always be releasing new devices.
rofl since when has apple ever got it right?
Since when has apple given all that they can in their first gen products?
Ipod took what 4 generations?
Iphone 3 generations?
God knows how many times it took for a mac, mac laptop
This is apple, they have their hard core fans and the dumb general consumers who will simply buy by "omg its white and it looks apple"...
Google ftw, now off to read on their tablet os
If google wanted, im sure they could catch up with apple in a year or two with handsets and tablets...
This is absolutely horrible that they'd do this. It's like microsoft charging for the first Windows_7 service pack, :\.
Isn't Windows 7 sort of like a Vista service pack?
who cares... apple sucks and, by proxy, so will the ipad (every generation of it).
Win 7 is not vista service pack...vista was new backend to XP Win 7 is what vista was supposed to be but never was...
Win 7 still rules Vista still sucks balls
Comparing Windows software updates to the absence of a run-of-the-mill webcam is not valid. Microsoft isn't taking basic features away and then re-adding them. Whether you love Windows or hate it, each incremental update represents a step forward.
Win 7 is not vista service pack...vista was new backend to XP Win 7 is what vista was supposed to be but never was...Win 7 still rules Vista still sucks balls
But that's my point. MS is charging people again for something they should have delivered first time around.
Leaving room for improvement. I guess they're trying to push annual updates on the iPad too, and this is an easy one. Forward-thinking product line management.
Surprised you got voted down for this comment - as I think you're dead on. It is planned obsolescence to keep new product updates selling, something that several other posters commented on (and got up votes).
Almost all companies are the same - its about how do you maximize selling units. Take movies. First put the movie out in the theater, then put it exclusively on premium movie cable channels, then release the DVD, then release the extended DVD, then release the extended edition with new behind-the-scenes features pack, then release the unrated version, then release the directors cut DVD, then release the Collectors edition DVD, then release the... oh, I think you get the point.
I hope Apple figures out that there are other tablets that are coming out that are far superior. They can't just rely on the name and the app store to sell it's product.
I said it before and I'll say it again - I don't think it matters. For just about every product, there has been something in existence that could be considered its rival. However, Apple's image of simplicity and usability (and "coolness") dominates the consumer minds "Cause we all wanna be big silhouettes, dancing with iTunes with white cords in..." (Yeah, I just ripped off Nickleback... pretty lame, eh?)
Sad thing is people really lock themselves into Apples control. How many times have we heard about the arbitrary nature of their apps approval process. You get what Apple feels fits their image - and if it doesn't fit their image despite being useful, then you'd have to go to something like Windows or Linux to doom yourself to being teased as a fat stuffed-shirt corporate geek. You'd no longer be hip, cool, and young... you'd be... OMG - Middle AGED!!!!
Sorry, got off track. Point is people don't buy Apple iPods because they are the best device on the market. They will not buy the iPad because it is a great device that holds all the features that a $2000-$3000 slate PC running windows 7 does (or the ModBook) or because of its new an innovating design. They'll buy it to be another silhouette dancing with white cords, to feel young and cool - because that's what the TV ads tells them they will be.
This is what's known in engineering as a "provision". Marketing and cost accounting are still finalizing whether or not a feature will make it in to the final product, but you need to design your part *now*. So, you design your parts so that it can accommodate it.
Perhaps the camera was left out to keep the price under $500, or that using the hand-held camera for video-conferencing makes the other people seasick.
Yes, this also gives apple the option to slide in a camera at some point. However, the entire bezel would likely be redesigned for a second-gen iPad 2. Of course there will be an iPad 2.
I don't get the hate about Apple improving today's designs in the future. Isn't Intel going to come out with a new CPU next year, ATI a new video card, and Microsoft a new OS?
I hope Apple figures out that there are other tablets that are coming out that are far superior. They can't just rely on the name and the app store to sell it's product.
LOL.. even the name sucks: 'iPad'. Seriously WTF!?
Isn't Windows 7 sort of like a Vista service pack?
One could say the same for Snow Leopard (or any other non xx.0 version of Mac OS.
I know it's cool to say, but it's really getting old.
Not as fast as the "Can it play Crysis" comments
Not as fast as the "Can it play Crysis" comments
Well, it can't even play "Vector TD2" at Candystand so Crysis is a bit of a moot point...
Left out the camera??? So just who was Jobs calling lazy yesterday?
What Jobs and Apple are doing have nothing to do with laziness; au contraire is just plain sneaky and devious behavior toward their own customers.
What Jobs and Apple are doing have nothing to do with laziness; au contraire is just plain sneaky and devious behavior toward their own customers.
That kind of makes it worse, putting in extra effort to be crappy to customers....
The iPad is Apple's vengeance to the press and geeks who wanted it:
http://cyberpeste.blogspot.com/201 [...] -jobs.html