True to form , Apple ’s invitation to its March 2 press consequence does n’t explicitly put forward what ’s going to be cover . But after a fast coup d’oeil at the invitation computer graphic — which features the corner of an iPad behind a peel - back calendar pageboy labeled “ 2”—you do n’t need an inside source in Cupertino to conclude that a novel edition of the iPad is potential on the docket . After all , it ’s been more than a yr since Apple first take in the wraps off its pad of paper — muckle of fourth dimension for the company to come up with something that wow us all over again .
Steve Jobs shows off the iPad at its January 2010 unveiling .
Apple certainly does n’t involve our supporter get along up with ideas for the next iPad — after all , the company has managed to trade around 15 million iPads so far without any outside input . Still , after taking a spirit at the current iPad , it ’s promiscuous to see a few area that could brook to see improvement , sweetening , or even — dare we suggest — new features that could take Apple ’s tab in any number of exciting new direction .
Steve Jobs shows off the iPad at its January 2010 unveiling.
Here are 11 iPad additions that we go for might be on Apple ’s drawing board for next Wednesday ’s big event .
More memory
Apple ’s coming to mobile - bone multitasking get on the iPad last fallwith the iOS 4.2 update . And while Apple claims that Io ’s carrying out is designed to use retentivity more efficiently than rightful multitasking , anyone who uses a hoi polloi of apps knows that once you ’ve launch too many , the iPad can start to creep . Apps are tiresome to shift , game lag , and sometimes memory - intensive programs just cease , displaying a message that they do n’t have enough memory board to head for the hills .
For many of us , then , the iPad ’s most urgent indigence is conversant to any prospicient - prison term computer user — more Aries . While the iPad still leads the tablet pack in terms of usability , popularity , and app selection , many of its rivals are contrive to extend twice as much RAM — or more . For example , the Samsung Galaxy Tab offers 512 MB of RAM , while the Motorola Xoomincludes 1 GB , as will the BlackBerry Playbook when it ships ; that compares to just256 megabyte of memory in the current iPad.—Dan Frakes
Cameras—lots of cameras
A camera is perhaps the no - brainer feature of a new iPad , one of the few capabilities it does n’t already partake in with its small iOS siblings . The reward of a front - face camera is obvious : Apple has slowly spread its FaceTime picture - chat feature throughout its mathematical product line , set forth with the iPhone 4last summer and incite to theiPod touchand the Mac last fall . The iPad would seem to be the next logical forward motion .
you could practice FaceTime on an iPhone , iPod touch , and Mac … why not an iPad ?
But rumors seem divided on a can - facing tv camera , with many pointing out that mass are n’t likely to use their iPad for pic - pickings as they would an iPhone or iPod touch . That ’s only half the story , though — remember , for case , that FaceTime on your iPhone or iPod spot lets you switch cameras , to show your conversation partner what you ’re seeing ( great for demo off the baby ’s first steps or your vacation landscape painting ) . And think of all the iOS apps that let you put the iPhone and iPod speck ’s posterior - facing tv camera to clever young uses , whether it be to scan barcodes , search for place to purchase a leger by snapping its masking , or even deposit a hitch into your history . It would be one more ironware feature article developer would be able to tapdance into when creating cagy fresh software.—Dan Moren
You can use FaceTime on an iPhone, iPod touch, and Mac… why not an iPad?
Camera tethering
speak of cameras and the iPad , many photographers have embrace Apple ’s pill as their go - to gimmick on the route or on location . Apple ’s iPad Camera Connection Kit allows users to offload images and video from their tv camera or store identity card , but for the iPad 2 , we ’d have it off to see the company take it one footprint further and give photographers the power to directly — and wirelessly — tether their cameras during fool ( an choice thejailbreak community of interests has already successfully enable ) .
Currently , photographer who like to control a camera from their iPad can do soak an app — as long as they add a Wi - Fi - enabled estimator to their setup . But that setup is useful only in a studio setting . If Apple were to add such a feature now to the iPad , not only would the tab ’s large screen offer better frame and previewing than through a DSLR ’s viewfinder or small silver screen , but the capableness to control and fire your photographic camera remotely open up up a horde of Modern choice for photographers looking to pip on location.—Serenity Caldwell
An SD-card slot
For those meter direct photographic camera tethering is n’t available — or is only overkill — we’d love to see a built - in SD - calling card one-armed bandit that avert the need to use the well - misplace iPad Camera Connection Kit dongles . Being able to protrude the Mount Rushmore State card out of your photographic camera and drop off it into the border of the iPad would be a welcome betterment over the current options .
Just as convenient — though admittedly much less likely , given Apple ’s desire that all subject go through iTunes — would be the capability to play a motion-picture show , or even transfer documents , directly from an SD add-in , freeing us from the often - onerous tussle of having to have a Mac nearby if we desire to get data onto our iPad.—DF
Increased storage
Who does n’t want to be able to express more of their music program library , have more movies on manus , and install more apps ? Despite the iPad ’s moving-picture show - watching contraption , as well as the immense regalia of storage - hogging apps you’re able to install , the current model maxes out at 64GB — less than half that of the venerable iPod classic , which is essentially circumscribe to music computer memory and playback . We ’ve been immobilise for a 128 GB iPod hint for a few eld now , and we ’ve come to the realization that the iPad need that computer storage even more . Here ’s hoping we wo n’t have to prefer between more motion-picture show and big apps much longer .
Of course , there ’s potential another benefit of a higher upper limit capacity : Apple has historically bumped capacityacrossa product contrast ’s exemplar while preserve price the same . In other words , even if 32 GB is plenitude of storage for you , a bump in iPad capacities means you ’ll be capable to get that 32 GB for a lower cost than if you buy the current iPad.—DF
Another speaker
When the iPad debuted , we were more than a little surprised by how well its single mono talker perform . It sounded much less tinny than the likewise - lowly speakers in many phones and portable equipment , and it played quite a turn louder than expected . But there are hatful of times the iPad ’s speaker is still not loud or clear enough , postulate headphones or outside speakers if you want to enjoy music , games , or a video .
Considering the iPad ’s lissome visibility , and how tightly its components are pile inside , we surmise Apple could n’t make the iPad ’s speaker much bigger ; and given the tablet ’s compact size , adding a 2nd loudspeaker would n’t importantly meliorate stereo separation . But a 2nd speaker would provide a few detectable benefits . First , the iPad would be able to grow gimcrack audio . secondly , if Apple were to put the 2nd talker on the top of the iPad ( opposite the existing one , rather than along the same border ) , the overall audio experience would be quite a piece honest , particularly when watch moving-picture show in landscape painting orientation — besides append a modicum of two-channel effect , it would avoid the current situation where anyone sit off from the speaker death of the iPad ca n’t always pick up the action . ultimately , an opposite - final stage arrangement would contract the fortune both speakers would be blocked by a stand or hand.—DF
A better picture
The Retina showing debuted on the iPhone 4 . Is it sentence for the feature of speech to make its way to the iPad ?
Anybody who ’s used an iPhone 4 for any amount of time has been spoiled by the equipment ’s gorgeous Retina showing . Whether you buy into the “ human eye is unable to recognise individual pixels ” argument or not , there ’s no disputing that it ’s a beautiful cover . So why not fetch it to the iPad ?
Granted , double the pixels on the iPad ’s tumid - than - an - iPhone video display would be an expensive proposition — and one we do n’t ask in time for the iPad 2 — but we think it will take place finally . high solvent means better character graphics for game ; sharper , more readable text for vane Page and e - books ; and , of track , high - quality image and HD video . Of course , with a nicer screen , you ’ll probably be wanting to load up all your eminent - resolve video — so that increased memory board we bring up above would n’t be a terrible thing to have , either.—DM
The Retina display debuted on the iPhone 4. Is it time for the feature to make its way to the iPad?
Gyroscope
The iPad already sports the accelerometer and ambient - light sensor of its modest cousins , so why not the gyro too ? First introduced in the iPhone 4 , the three - axis gyroscope tolerate iOS plot developer totake advantage of a whole additional control dimension(and you know how much 3D is the rage these days ) . With a gyroscope inwardly , iPad secret plan designer could volunteer apps that allow you to rotate around an axis or detect pitch , roster , and yaw . Plus , it ’s another step toward standardizing the feature available on Apple ’s iOS devices.—DM
Processor improvements
All thing think , the iPad ’s Apple - design 1GHz A4 chip is middling zippy , but users always appreciate a snappy experience , and processors always get faster . Of naturally , unsubdivided improvements to raw clock speed are only half the story : if you just amp up the tycoon , you lose wanted stamp battery life .
In the first iPad , Apple stressed the balance of the A4 — its ability to deliver high performance at low power consumption . That tradition should carry on in the iPad 2 , but with a logical advancement to faster ironware . Add in a more powerful graphics central processor ( especially if we ’re going to see a high - resolving power display ) , and you ’ve get under one’s skin the ingredient for a sensational update.—DM
Less weight
With all these extra lineament , there ’s one office we in reality want to take something away , and that ’s how much the iPad weighs . While toting around an iPad is not exactly like lugging around a dumbbell , the iPad ’s 1.5 - hammering weightiness is edge middling tight to a 2.3 lb . MacBook Air — that ’s a spread that should be widened . ( Ask anyone who possess both a Kindle and an iPad . )
Apple may not be capable to get the iPad down to a single pound this year , but every ounce it shave off is one footfall nigher to making the iPad something the great unwashed do n’t hesitate to bewilder in their grip because of weight . Sometimes , less really is more.—DM
Lower prices
Of course we ’d love to see iPads at lower cost — we’re only human , after all . It ’s tough to see how Apple would knock off a pregnant amount off a price tag that ’s already hundreds of dollars lower than most of its rival , but a $ 100 pearl would surely perk up the ears of many a recalcitrant consumer .
Even if a less - expensive iPad did n’t rollick all the features of its higher - priced compatriots — for example , a Wi - Fi - only model with limited store — it would serve to get more people in the door … where they could be enticed into spending a bit more to get those surplus features they might otherwise have eschewed . If nothing else , at least Apple could keep the original iPad around at a lower cost , as it ’s done in the past with previous - generation iPhones.—DM
David Chartier contributed to this theme .
