WARNING IT IS A LONG POST: Detailing thoughts and speculations on the future of the iPad and other mobile Apple Products. When we look at trends from recent times concerning Apple, every year they prefer to replace the older models of their products as soon as possible (Obviously). With each iteration having significant improvements over the previous models, leaving little time for brand loyalty and product longevity. In essence penalizing early adopters. iPhone: Original - June 29, 2007 CPU Samsung 32 bit RISC ARM 1176JZ(F)-S v1.0 Underclocked 620 to 412 Mhz GPU PowerVR MBX Lite 3D Storage Capacity: 4 Gb, 8 Gb, & 16 Gb Memory 128 Mb eDRAM Power 3.7 V 1400 mAh Camera 2.0 Megapixel 3G - July 11, 2008 CPU Samsung 32 bit RISC ARM 1176JZ(F)-S v1.0 Underclocked 620 to 412 Mhz GPU PowerVR MBX Lite 3D Storage Capacity: 8 Gb & 16 Gb Memory 128 Mb eDRAM Power 3.7 V 1150 mAh Camera 2.0 Megapixel 3GS - June 28, 2009 CPU Samsung Samsung S5PC100 ARM Cortex-A8 Underclocked 833 too 600 Mhz GPU PowerVR SGX Storage Capacity: 16 Gb & 32 Gb Memory 256 Mb eDRAM Power 3.7 V 1219 mAh Camera 3.0 Megapixel with Video, Geotagging, Automatic Focus, White Balance, and Exposure iPhone HD - AT&T Version Summer Speculated, Verizon Version September release Rumored With the iPhone we have concurrent updates every year (With the technology packed inside receiving great improvements in each iteration), almost exactly on the dot. The power systems are upgraded and more efficient in each iteration, Storage Capacity is volumetrically improved. The 3GS version iPhone receives advancements across the board. Most notably in the CPU, GPU, and Memory departments. Concerning the iPhone HD (iPhone 4th Generation), aside from the biggest rumor being that this iteration will potentially be released on both AT&T and Verizon cell phone carriers. It is rumored to have an increase in screen resolution (960×640), utilizing the same chipset as the iPad (1 GHz Apple A4), and potentially featuring a second front facing camera and support third-party multitasking. Now on too the Touch... Touch: 1st Gen - September 13, 2007 CPU ARM11 Underclocked 620 to 400 then 412 Mhz GPU PowerVR MBX Lite Storage Capacity: 8 Gb, 16 Gb, & 32 Gb Memory 128 Mb DRAM 2nd Gen - September 9, 2008 CPU ARM11 Underclocked 620 to 533 Mhz with internal ARM7 core for Jazelle acceleration GPU PowerVR MBX Lite Storage Capacity: 8 Gb, 16 Gb, & 32 Gb Memory 128 Mb DRAM 3rd Gen - September 9, 2009 CPU ARM Cortex-A8 Underclocked 833 to 600 Mhz GPU PowerVR SGX Storage Capacity: 32 Gb & 64 Gb (The Supposed 3rd Gen 8 Gb is just a redress of the 2nd Gen model) Memory 256 Mb DRAM With the Touch we once again see improvements in the succeeding models obviously. However whats interesting to note is that in each generation the CPU has been upgraded or modified for more efficiency. To the point that the 1st gen model received a 12 point boost in Mhz. Another is that unlike the iPhone, Touch users have to pay for significant OS improvements. Apple quoted as saying this is because of accounting rules, pretty much PR bullshit to walk over the issue of preferential treatment of the iPhone users. In regards to the power system we see improvement in each iteration. From 1st Gen to 2nd Gen we saw a rated increase in audio battery life from 22 to 36 hours, and a 1 hour increase in video. Though in realistic tests those numbers are being achieved if you have your touch optimized for extended use (Brightness lowered, Wi-Fi Off, Audio playback with screen off, etc..). However in the 3rd Gen, you see a rated decrease in audio battery life (36 hours to 30 hours, Video remains the same at 6 hours). Most notably due to the fact of the more powerful hardware incorporated in that generation. In regards to the next gen iteration of the touch, not much is known. But a lot is speculated. Will this iteration finally have the camera that companies believed was going to be introduced in the 3rd Generation? Will it share the rumored iPhone HD processor? Will its screen resolution be upgraded as well? Only time will ultimately tell, aside from the usual if you want the new OS your probably going to have to pay for it. And finally moving onto the iPad... iPad: 1st Gen Wi-Fi - April 3rd, 2010 / Wi-Fi + 3G - April 2010 CPU 1 GHz Apple A4 GPU Rumored to be PowerVR SGX Stoarge Capacity: 16 Gb, 32 Gb, & 64 Gb Display 1024 X 768 Practically simultaneously two primary models are being released within the same month. You have your basic Wi-Fi model that is in essence a bigger more powerful Touch. Then you have the Wi-Fi + 3G model that is a cross between a Tablet/iPhone/Touch, allowing the user to enter into a no contract agreement with AT&T for a wireless Data plan. Priced respectively at $15 for 250 Mb/Month or $30 for Unlimited. Yes the real questions and speculation lies in the coming months ahead (damn things just released), however also in a general analysis in the practices of the Apple corporation up to this date! The iPhone is a cell phone primarily, and the Touch is a mp3 and video player respectfully. The iPad however is unique in that it is a Tablet PC device relying primarily on Wi-Fi capabilities. But we can see a trend already in penalizing the early adopter... The Wi-Fi + 3G models! Now yes for some people they just want a tablet , and will be happily content with just Wi-Fi access (Historically laptops use wired or Wi-Fi connections). But businesses are evolving, and people are starting to demand internet connectivity on the go. Looking at the trends of this company who is to say that in the next iteration Apple just up and discontinues the basic Wi-Fi model. The reasoning for that being, Apple is in more of a position to dominate the market and recover costs if they only sell the models utilizing agreements with carriers for Data plans (If the iPhone HD goes to Both Verizon and AT&T, the next iteration of the iPad will have a Data plan supported by Verizon!) . But we have to ask ourselves can Apple continue the trend of yearly improvements on a device that is technically considered a laptop computer? Meaning that people are less likely to upgrade yearly. Also will the 2nd Generation follow the basic trends of the iPhone and Touch? Gaining more efficiency in the power systems, and slight increases in CPU and a greater increase in Storage Capacity. Will 2nd Gen iPad's have standard 64 Gb & 128 Gb hard drives? Or will we see something radically different? With the next iPad being like the iPhone 3GS, significant improvements all around. What about the fact that the reason Flash was not allowed was because of the deficiencies of the current CPU and GPU? In essence because the systems are not optimized for flash, reducing your battery from 10 hours without flash to about 1 hours with flash. Or does that mean that the supposed 10 hour battery life promise was a lie? Will its next iteration have general improvements? Or will it be significant improvements? Will it get a camera? Will it be getting flash? Or will it be reliant again on HTML5? Will users have to pay for OS upgrades? Or will it be split like the Touch and iPhone? etc... etc... etc... Again in the end, time will be the ultimate judge. But with confidence and analysis we can say that next year around April the next iteration will be hitting the market. And most likely IMO it will be solely the Wi-Fi + 3G options reliant on both AT&T and Verizon for Data plans continuing the then standard of no contract agreements. And you will most likely see the models ranging from 32 Gb's to 128 Gb's Hard Drives. With improvements in battery, memory, and slight CPU efficiency boost. As well as sporting the oft requested Camera. *OP Note: I would prefer a mature intelligent discussion! Please no "oh my god, wall o text" comments!
As far as the yearly updates issue is concerned, I've long felt Apple need not play into the hardware game year in year out with other mobile product manufacturers. Part of the cachet of the iPhone (and, later, iPod touch) is the software. I've long felt that the move to Cortex A8 and SGX came too soon, a thought that others lambasted (mostly devs who went on about just specing up) but still others understood (those understanding market conditions, and how the larger devs most capable of taking advantage of the new CPU/GPU weren't really going to because of the base models being so numerous). The support on the software side isn't there in great numbers for the 3Gs based devices in the product line up. I'd have rather seen Apple focus primarily on OS and other software updates, every year release an incremental redesign, and every 3-4 years a true upgrade/next gen successor. This would allow them to gradually phase out the older models, lower production costs and therefore increase profit on said models over a longer period of time, and give developers a good heads up on true next gen successor models. Basically, Apple would adopt a strategy more akin to home game console manufacturers than mobile phone manufacturers. As for iPad, I just don't know what Apple intends with it, tbqh. I don't think they really know either. This is a case where the consumer market will dictate what the device is rather than the device having a "set" identity from the get-go. Also, as an aside, I wouldn't state that Flash not being enabled is a mark of the "deficiency" inherent in the hardware, but rather a mark of the deficiency inherent in Flash itself, a resource hogging bit of software that is not truly "cut out" for an increasingly mobile market world.
