Here Is How Apple Can Still Offer A Retina Display For the iPad 2

This is purely fun speculation on my part about Apple, iPad 2, and the possibility of Steve Jobs and friends offer a higher resolution display on the iPad 2. And here’s how.

Charge more for it. I am sure the cost will be a lot more than the standard display being used for the iPad. And it probably does not makes business sense to introduce such an expensive display while trying to keep the price of the forthcoming iPad 2 in the same range as the current line of iPads. So, make one model with a retina display or simply higher resolution display.

Seriously, there will be a market for this high-end iPad 2. For there rest of the lower end iPad 2 line, Apple can continue to use the same display as current model. I am sure there will still be improvements – like thickness and a more powerful efficient display.

And there is precedent for this. Keep in mind that the Macbook Pro displays come in two models. On the 15” model, the standard resolution is 1440 x 900 with an option for a higher resolution screen at 1680 x 1050.

The current rumored Retina display for the iPad 2, be it this year or, more likely, next year, is 2048 x 1536. I have to admit, that is insane. I doubt that even if Apple does offer a higher resolution display for the iPad 2 or 3, it will not be at such a high resolution.

And honestly, as a mobile warrior, anything beyond the current display of 1024 x 768 is a win. But don’t get me wrong. The iPad display is awesome but when you hold it up next to the Retina display on the iPhone or iPad touch, you can tell the difference.

So, at the low end, offer the current 16GB iPad with wifi for $399. iPad 2 will be the same through as the current line of iPad ranging from $499 to $699. The differentiator between the iPad and the iPad 2 will be more RAM, new processor, and camera.

The differentiator between the standard display iPad 2 and the high resolution iPad 2 will be the display. Apple can charge $100-$200 more. For a sweetener for charging $200, maybe Apple can offer additional storage up to 128GB.

Will folks be willing to fork out $899 or $999 for this special version of the iPad 2, higher resolution and more storage? Maybe. At this price, we move into the Macbook Air price range.

Having said that, the Mac is still a Mac while the iPad is, well, still an iPad.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Apple Enforces Guideline to Make Sure Contents Are Available For Purchases In-And-Out Of Apps

Apple likes to shake things up.  They've done that with Apple II, the Mac, iMac, iPod, iPhone, and the iPad.  They did it with iTunes and the app store.  And now, they're doing it again by enforcing an app store rule that said content that are available for purchase outside the app must also be made available for in-app purchases.

The most publicized victim of Apple enforcing this is Sony and it's Reader app.  It was rejected by Apple for not allowing in-app purchases of ebooks.

You ask how is this different from what the Kindle and Nook apps already do?  It's not.  And if I know Apple, look for future updates to these two apps and other apps that draw purchased contents into the iOS devices to be rejected wholeheartedly or be resubmitted into the app store with in-app purchases.

This shows Apple's growing confidence in its iOS platform.  Going forward, look for Apple to apply this rule to other media as well.  Music, books, video, and even comic books.

And content providers will need to decide just how badly they want to be on the iOS platform.  By my reckoning, Apple can move anywhere from 150 to 200 million iOS devices a year and no app developer can afford to exclude themselves from such a market or risk being outcasts.  

It's a brilliant business move if you ask me.  I get the feeling that while these companies like Barnes and Noble and Amazon, that do have their own ereading platform, might complain loudly in public, I doubt it'll go beyond that.

However, I believe government regulators, right or wrong (depending on where you stand with this issue), might want to take a crack this new development.  

At issue is not that Apple is enforcing its rule.  In and of itself, it makes sense.  Contents that are available for purchase should be made available for purchase within the app to make it easier for access to contents.  

The issue is that Apple also wants 30% of any in-app purchases.  

We'll see where this goes in the next couple of weeks.  Apple has already informed European newspapers that they can no longer offer subscription to iOS users that are purchased outside of the iOS ecosystem.  

Perhaps we will see Apple come up with a payment system in the coming months that will address this.  

More at ATD.

Motorola Signals New Tablet War With Superbowl Ad

Check out Motorola's Superbowl XOOM commercial.

It's digging at Apple by referring to the 1984 ad.

Awesome! I love competition!!!



It's time for the tablet way to begin. We saw a bit of that when Samsung Tab and other Android tablets took on 25% of the tablet market. Let's be clear. It isn't as if it was stealing from Apple as the iPad sales racked up over 7 million iPads and billions in sales.

The market is wide wide open for newcomers as well as current players, Apple and Microsoft. Yeah, I'm including Microsoft in all this. And it makes sense.

The tablet war will soon be joined by the one-two punch of HP and Web OS as well as RIM and its hopes in Playbook.

There's going to be a lot of trash talking in the coming days. Apple had 95% of a market that no one knows anything about. This is a war that will last years if not decades. I am looking for Google to be a strong player with Apple fighting and biting to retain the top position.

What I see is a dark horse coming along and disrupt things along the way. I don't know who but pay attention folks, it's game on. And this Motorola commercial on Superbowl Sunday is just the start.

More at Android Guys.


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AT&T's "4G" Network Is Nothing To Write Home About

I inherited Mom's 3G iPad last week as she waits for iPad 2 with the better resolution and frontal camera so that she can conduct video chats for work and with friends. I have been using a Wi-Fi only version and more recently, bought an. iSpot for use with it to get the wireless Internet access.

And while ATT prides itself on having the fastest 3G network in the United States, I cannot be sure if that means much. And here is why.

In one day's use and based on past experiences with ATT in the past and with T-Mobile's own network and now Clearwire's WiMax service, I am in a good position to pass a long a few conclusions.

Today, WiMax is excellent if you can get it. It is wicked fast. I consistently get about 4.5 Mbps. When T-Mobile turned on their HPSA+ network last year, I went from about 1MBps on the Android G1 to about 3 Mbps. And my understanding is that things have vastly improved by quite a bit. We could be looking at speeds up to 20 Mbps by the end of 2011.

These two current scores are in contrast with an average of 2 Mbps that I am getting on the 3G iPad. There was about three bars.

However, all the speed on the world means nothing if you can't good signals. And while I might be able to see a couple of bars, I can't say that I am happy with the 3G speed from AT&T. On the iPad, I am still unable to get anything close to the WiFi signal through the iSpot or the G1 acting as a MiFI versus just the 3G on Ma Bell.

I still don't understand why that is the case. This is something that I'll probably need to get Dave the Mobile Warrior to chime in on this.

And this is a huge deal going forward. Presumably, the next iPad may have native wireless access to Verizon's CDMA network along side AT&T. Unless it is able to somehow shorten the latency time or flip a switch to boost signal, it will not matter if users cannot access AT&T's HSPA+ speed running 14-21 Mbps while the slower CDMA networking running 1-2 Mbps is accessible by users on the same area.

Trust me, Verizon will be going after potential iPhone switchers from AT&T. A side-by-side comparison of signal strength could be just what Verizon is eagerly waiting for.


-- Post From My iPad

My First Podcast Via iPod Touch That You Won't Hear

As I prep to go out into the great Sunday morning to do some mobile work at Starbucks, I decided to talk to my iPod touch as I walked out the door. With the Apple headset with the mic and the iPod touch, I started chatting away. My first attempt at a podcast.

Earlier in the week, I brought up the possibility of using the Voice Memo app on the iPod touch to podcast on the go. So, how did it go?

Well, it was a grand success. I got clear voice signal and I was definitely not going for the clarity of an indoor professional recording environment. I got the background noise that I wanted with the more natural conversational tone.

But you're not going to hear it ever. The reason isn't the sound quality, rather it is the content quality. I was woefully unprepared. I chatted away on subjects of the President's State of the Union address to the nation to how I hope the recording works out the way I hoped.

In all, it was a successful ramble. Nothing more.

The reason for doing this is because it is an ongoing attempt of this blog to maximize mobile use of mobile Apple gears for productivity. And so far, I don't know of a podcast that utilizes the iOS to create podcasts.

I am encouraged and, hopefully, with more preparation and practice, I will be able to add a new dimension to my blogs.



-- Post From My iPad

Apple To Ship 300 Million iOS Devices A Year? Let Do The Math

According to a report out of Korea Times, Apple and Samsung has signed a deal for the Korean tech giant to quadruple its chip shipments to Apple in the coming years.

The article specifically mentioned AP, application processors, which is just a fancy way of call the CPU inside the iOS mobile devices.

So, quadruple? Yeah looks like. Though it is possible that this is a misinterpretation and that it actually meant that Apple and Samsung signed a four year deal for Samsung Sung to supply Apple with APs.

Let's suppose that this article is correct with its facts and we really have no reason to believe that it's not, Apple will soon ship up to 4X the number of iOS devices! If we loosely take the number of iOS devices shipped in 2010 (which I estimates to be 80 million devices) and multiply it by four times, we are talking about 300 million devices a year.

Furthermore, the post suggested that Apple's business will take up 50% of Samsung's chip making capability, an increase of 20,000 sheets from 5,000 out of a capacity of 40,000 sheets.

I really hate to doubt these numbers but we cannot dispute the $3.9 billion in investments that Apple put forth for future parts for the iOS devices. Securing screens and APs seems like a prudent thing for Apple to do with the $60+ billions in cash. Maybe this was to help finance fabs for the AP and factories to crank out screens.

According to Apple, it could have sold more iPhones over the Christmas quarter had they been able to sell enough of it. Also keep in mind that Apple will start selling a CDMA version of the iPhone in a few days. And after that, these CDMA iPhones may well make their way to China, Japan, India, and Korea.

So would the other members of the iOS family. Many Apple may be gearing up for a major iOS assault on the mobile and tablet market unlike any on the previous years.


More at Korea Times,

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Verizon iPhone Might Be In Short Supply, So Move Fast

Can you believe it has been almost three weeks since Apple and Verizon Wireless (VZW) announced the availability of the iPhone on America's largest (maybe second largest - VZW is disputing reports in the media that AT&T is now number one) wireless carrier and on its CDMA network.

And we are less than a week from current VZW customers getting first crack at ordering it. And the week after that, it'll be the general public's turn.

And while I am trying to stay strong and wait a bit longer, I wonder if Apple and VZW are underestimating the demands.

So far, all the folks I have spoken to are very excited about the iPhone on VZW and seemed ready to pull the trigger on it. And all surveys back in late 2010 as well as recent blog polls suggests an iPhone rout in the mobile market.

Not convinced? Let's take both Ma Bell and VZW's earrings this week. Both reported less new subscribers than Wall Street estimated. The conventional wisdom for this is that many mobile warriors held back purchases or upgrades, despite being the Holidays, and waited on faith, because we didn't know if the iPhone really was coming to VZW, that they can get the iPhone on VZW.

So the pended up demands is there. While we don't know just how much, I think we can safely say that there are going to be long lines again.

This time, however, the lines will all be outside the Apple stores and VZW stores. AT&T guys can just take it easy. At least, until June.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch