The iPad Pro/iPad Plus is a rumour; a legend. And perhaps even a genuine Apple product in development right now. It's one of the most speculated-about and hyped-up fantasy Apple products of the past few years - right up there with the Apple Watch - but unlike Apple's new wearable we don't know for sure if it even exists. Still, as we shall see, there is growing evidence to suggest that an iPad Pro (or an iPad Plus, or something similar) will launch, and launch soon.
We hoped the iPad Pro might get a mention at the iPad Air 2 launch event, but no such luck; Apple fans were again disappointed when the iPad Pro didn't get a mention at the Apple Watch launch event (although we had predicted this!). It looks like we'll have to wait until early to mid-2015 to see Apple's big-screen iPad Pro.
Main sections in this article:
Introduction: What is the iPad Pro?
iPad Pro launch date rumours
iPad Pro specification rumours
iPad Pro new features rumours
iPad Pro leaked images
What is the iPad Pro/iPad Plus, and what's all the fuss about?
The iPad Pro is a giant iPad: an iPad Air with a bigger screen (perhaps 12.9 inches from corner to corner, compared to the iPad Air's 9.7 inches, although a new screen size of 12.2 inches has recently become rumoured). If the more extreme tales are to be believed, it will also feature a hybrid tablet/laptop body, although that strikes us as unlikely.
In this article we collect all the rumours about when the new iPad Pro will launch (that's assuming it's called iPad Pro - we also discuss possible alternative names such as iPad Plus). Read on to find out how big the larger-screen iPad will be, what other features this top-of-the-range iPad might offer, and whether there will ever be a touchscreen MacBook/iPad hybrid. We'll be adding iPad Pro leaked photos as and when they emerge; expect far more to appear as the launch date approaches.
See also: iPad Air 2 review | iPad Air 1 review | iPad mini 3 review | All iPad reviews
Plus: Are the rumours about an iPad Pro actually based on sightings of a new Retina display for the MacBook Air? Read our 11in Retina MacBook Air rumour roundup.
Finally, find out what other new Apple products are likely to appear this year: Apple rumours and predictions for 2015. And we have the latest rumours about the Apple iCar here.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus launch date rumours: When will the big-screen iPad Pro come out?
There are mixed reports on when the iPad Pro (or iPad Plus) is likely to launch. It's possible that we'll have to wait until the second half of 2015 - Bloomberg is quoting anonymous sources who say that the start of production has been delayed from this quarter to September 2015, as a result of display panel supply problems - although we hope to hear official confirmation of the iPad Pro before then.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus launch date: Will the iPad Pro launch at the Apple Watch event on 9 March?
UPDATE, 10 March: As we predicted (sorry to blow our own trumpets) the iPad Pro didn't get a mention at the Apple Watch launch event.
There's a chance (although we'd call it a long shot) that the iPad Pro/iPad Plus will be announced at the Apple Watch launch event on 9 March. We consider the various products that could get a mention at the event in a separate article - How to watch the Apple Watch event, and what to expect - but we can offer a brief spoiler here about a certain big-screened tablet.
Timing-wise, it fits. And in terms of a big media splash, it fits: Apple has already announced the Apple Watch, remember, which means that Monday's event risks turning into a ho-hum reiteration of the features followed by pricing and launch dates. Slipping in the iPad Pro as a 'One more thing...' would turn a functional event into a blockbuster.
But we still think it's unlikely. Mainly because this event is going to be all about Apple entering a new business sector (wearables) and targeting a new audience/media demographic (fashion). A lot of the people covering the event, and most of the journalists and celebrities in pride of place, are going to be fashion people. They want to know about the new look. And while the iPad Pro wouldn't be as big of a turn-off for American Vogue as, I don't know, a new version of Mac OS X Server, it's not a fashion product - in fact, there's a good chance it will be a business-targeted device, the result of Apple and IBM's collaborative assault on the enterprise.
So I'm not sure the iPad Pro is going to piggyback on the Apple Watch's debut. In some ways it would make sense, but it would take some phenomenal stage management from Apple to make those two things work as part of the same event and in front of that crowd. I think it's coming, and soon, but not quite yet.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus launch date: Other clues and predictions
What clues are there to help us predict the iPad Pro's launch date? One recent prediction came from respected Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, who has made predictions about an iPad Pro launch in the spring of 2015, specifying elsewhere in his report that the iPad Pro will appear in the second quarter (Q2) of 2015.
(More intriguingly, Ming-Chi Kuo also reckons that Apple will make a stylus accessory to go with the iPad Pro, which we discuss in the New features section of this article.)
Read more about these predictions in our article: A rumoured Apple iPad stylus could point toward business ambitions, bigger tablets.
Fox News quotes analyst Rhoda Alexander from the market research company IHS (who we will be hearing from again later in this section) as saying that the iPad Pro or iPad Plus will come out this year. "It's a go for 2015,” she said, citing supply side sources.
"The release timing is fuzzy," Alexander added. "It may not appear until Q4 with the other iPad updates. We are, however, getting input from both the component and [product] side that this is a real product, and part of Apple's 2015 building plan."
Back in October 2014 The Wall Street Journal theorised that Apple had been planning to start mass production of the iPad Pro in December 2014 (obviously the device itself wouldn't become available in shops until some time later) but had to push back the plan because it was struggling to meet demand for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Nice problem to have, we suppose.
"The top priority for the supply chain is to meet the overwhelming demand for the larger-screen iPhones," said an anonymous source near Apple's manufacturing supply chain. "The output of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus remains unsatisfactory, and it would be challenging for display makers to... ramp up production for a new larger-screen iPad now."
You can read the full article here, but you'll have to subscribe to the WSJ to do so.
Clearly we didn't see the iPad Pro in 2014, but when will it launch? A report by the generally pretty accurate Japanese site Macotakara (which we discuss in further detail in the screen size and specs sections of this article) predicts a Q3 2015 launch for the iPad Pro, which would mean a wait until July at the earliest.
Yet reports in August suggested that Apple would release a larger iPad with a 12.9-inch screen in early 2015 - that's according to Bloomberg. That report claimed that Apple's suppliers were set to start manufacturing the largest ever iPad in the first quarter of this year. We think March 2015 is a reasonable guess, partly because once upon a time Apple ran iPad launch events in that month (for the iPad 2 and iPad 3, at least; and the original iPad launched in April), but at this point it remains just that: a guess.
At any rate, these reports seem to back up Ming-Chi Kuo, a KGI Securities analyst with a highly respected track record when it comes to Apple predictions. Earlier in 2014 he published a report claiming that, on the tablet front, we'll see only a new iPad Air in 2014, with the iPad Pro and an update to the iPad mini following in 2015. Kuo said he believed that Apple would focus on the iWatch and its operating system in 2014 (he was right about that, even if we now know that it's called the Apple Watch), with the iPad Air 2/iPad 6 featuring only incremental upgrades: an A8 processor and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. (On the A8 chip side of things, we hear that Samsung has been shifted off that project after failing to meet demand - see our iPhone 6 rumour article for more details.)
"We believe Apple plans to launch an upgraded iPad Air early this year, and will accelerate development of a 12.9in iPad," Kuo wrote.
"As such, more resources will be allocated to these two products, which will affect the progress of the development of the new iPad mini. All told, we think the chances of the debut of a new iPad mini in 2H14 are slim. In addition, the 12.9in iPad is unlikely to be offered in 2014. For these reasons, we predict the only new iPad product in 2H14 will be the upgraded iPad Air."
In a later note Kuo reiterated his belief that Apple is producing a 12.9in iPad, again noting that he didn't think it would launch in 2014.
Yet previous reports had suggested that Apple was working on two new 12.9in iPads for a 2014 launch. The first - a 2K model - was expected in April, while the rumoured 4K models were forecast for an October 2014 release. Both prediction are now self-evidently wildly inaccurate.
In January 2014, Evercore Partners analyst Patrick Wang predicted that a 12in MacBook/iPad hybrid would launch in the autumn of 2014: another wrong prediction.
Analyst Rhoda Alexander from IHS has said that several larger display panels possibly destined for a bigger iPad are being tested by Apple, but insists that this doesn't mean the bigger iPad launch is imminent. Alexander says: "Some manufacturers over the last six months have received sample quantities of a larger panel. Various sizes are being reported with 12.85 inches being one of the sizes."
However, Alexander says that there hasn't been a big shipment of the panels, and notes: "We have to get a lot further down the line in terms of seeing really strong indicators from Apple that such a product exists, and we're just not at that point."
One factor that may come into play is the movement of rivals. In January 2014 Samsung launched a pair of 12.2in tablets, the Galaxy Note Pro and the Galaxy Tab Pro (note the use of the word 'Pro' - does that make Apple more or less likely to brand its iPad the iPad Pro?), and Apple will be watching their progress with great interest.
In the past it's often been observed that Apple doesn't slavishly follow market trends, and that's certainly true. But it can be a reactive company, as we saw with the iPad mini, which followed the success of several rival mini-tablets, and the phablet form of the iPhone 6 Plus. Apple's habit is to watch a market for some time, establish that it has the potential to be profitable - but hasn't yet been exploited to the full - and then set it alight with a market-changing product.
See also: iPad Air 2 release date rumours | iPad mini 3 release date rumours | iPhone 6 release date rumours | All Apple rumours
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: How will the launch of the iPad Pro affect the other iPads?
This brings us to a perpetual worry facing companies who choose to make their product lines more diverse: will the new products cannibalise - ie steal sales from - the existing ones? Is the iPad Pro too similar to existing iPads for its own good?
As we talk about in the processor chip section, the iPad Pro will need to find ways to differentiate itself from the iPad Air 2 and MacBook Air lines that it sits between. We expected the iPad Pro to be faster than the iPad Airs, but their inclusion of the (exceptionally fast) A8X chip makes that difficult to foresee. It will have to be sold on screen size and greater suitability for business and education, compared to the smaller iPads; and on greater portability and ease of use, compared to the MacBooks.
Oddly enough, one iPad line that could suffer is the one that seems to have least overlap with the iPad Pro: the mini. A report from China's udn.com predicts that, once the iPad Pro hits shops, Apple will stop updating its iPad mini brand, focusing instead on the iPhone 6 Plus phablets.
Boy Genius Report has argued that this strategy is already making its presence felt: that this was why the iPad mini update in October was so underwhelming. (Our iPad mini 3 review makes it clear that we don't think its new features - Touch ID and a new gold finish - are enough to justify an £80 higher price tag than the iPad mini 2.) Is the iPad mini line already on the way out?
We're somewhat sceptical about this, given that the iPad minis are among the most successful and popular that Apple has ever launched, while the iPhone 6 Plus has received a mixed reception. But it is true that Apple is suffering from 'version creep' at the moment, with a once-simple iOS line-up proliferating in an almost Samsung-esque way. At some point it may decide to cut back and focus on what it believes to be the key products.
iPad Pro names: iPad Pro, iPad Plus, iPad Air Plus, or something else?
Apple surprised everyone when it named its fifth-generation full-sized iPad the iPad Air (most of us assumed it would be called iPad 5 or New iPad), but the name made a lot of sense when we saw how thin and light the tablet was. Slicing more than a quarter off the weight of the previous generation, and approaching the iPad minis in terms of thickness, it's a spectacularly portable device.
But the name also ties in with another existing Apple product: the MacBook Air, Apple's thinnest laptop. Which immediately made excitable rumour-mongers start speculating: if Apple is making iPad Airs to match its slim-and-light MacBook Air laptops, wouldn't it make sense to design a line of high-end tablets to match the MacBook Pro? Will we see an iPad Pro in 2015, or even late in 2014?
iPad Pro, then, makes a certain amount of sense as a brand. But the iPhone 6/iPhone 6 Plus launch in September threw doubt over this concept. If the bigger version of the iPhone 6 is called the iPhone 6 Plus, wouldn't it follow that the bigger version of the iPad Air line would be called iPad Air Plus? (Or, more simply, iPad Plus.)
Possibly. Remember first of all that Apple tends to follow different paths with its smartphone and tablet naming, so you can't always apply that kind of logic.
We've heard a rival site refer to the device as the iPad XXL as a placeholder rather than as a sincere prediction of its name, but it's relatively catchy (if decidedly un-Apple).
One last possibility would be a name that riffs on the iPad mini, the iPad Pro's diminutive mirror image. But iPad Max is too 90s, and iPad Maxi sounds... well... a bit like this.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus specification rumours
What specs can we expect from the iPad Pro? What processor will it run? What about its RAM allocation, screen resolution and physical dimensions?
Until we hear official confirmation from Apple, all of this is speculation; but as leaks emerge from Apple's factories and supply chain, our predictions are likely to get closer and closer to the truth. Here's what we're expecting based on current information.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus screen size: How big will the iPad Pro's display be?
It has widely been suggested that the iPad Pro will have a 12.9-inch display (measured diagonally, corner to corner), compared to the 9.7-inch display on the iPad Air and the 7.9-inch display on the iPad mini.
But that might be slightly off. A new (as of 4 November 2014) and reasonably plausible rumour holds that the screen will actually measure 12.2 inches.
The Japanese site Macotakara (you'll need to get your browser of choice to translate the linked page) has come up with this new screen size, along with various other tech specs that we will discuss later in this article. There's no source, as far as we can tell, and the basis for the claims seems to be that Apple will be gunning for Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 tablet (which has a 12-inch screen).
This strikes us as slightly odd thinking, since the Surface Pro is quite obviously a less successful product than any of Apple's iPads: indeed, some people think Microsoft would like to close down its Surface line entirely.
Microsoft doesn't release Surface sales figures, so we can't compare it to the iPads directly, but Apple hasn't had much to fear from Microsoft's tablets so far. Even if iPad sales have flattened lately, they're still doing okay, and it would be strange for Apple to take strategic lessons from a company whose tablet sales are so much worse.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus specs: Dimensions
It's currently believed that the iPad Pro will have a 12.2-inch screen, but how big can we expect the device itself to be?
The iPad Pro is likely to follow the approximate design of the iPad Air 2, although on a larger scale: with a slim bezel on either side of the screen, and larger spaces for the Home button and FaceTime camera above and below the screen.
This would lead us to expect dimensions of 12 inches by 8.7 inches, compared to the 9.4 inches by 6.6 inches of the iPad Air 2.
What about thickness? The French website nowhereelse.fr recently posted a image that it claimed had come from a Foxconn factory, accompanied by some description of the upcoming iPad Pro device from someone who worked there. This factory employee said (somewhat vaguely) that "its thickness would be between 6.9 and 7.5mm".
More on that alleged leak in our iPad Pro leaked images section.
A last word on dimensions goes to the Japanese print magazine Mac Fan, which has published schematics for the iPad Pro. It reckons the iPad Pro will measure 305.31mm x 220.8mm x 7mm. (That compares to the 240mm x 169.5mm x 6.1mm of the Wi-Fi-only iPad Air 2.)
iPad Pro/iPad Plus specs: Stereo speakers
An interesting part of Macotakara's predictions concerns audio. The site predicts that the iPad Pro will have speakers and a microphone at the top of the device as well as on the bottom, enabling it to offer stereo sound.
This is a great idea, as audio has always been a weakness of the iPad line. Particularly for film fans: put an iPad on its side to view a movie and you're immediately getting lopsided sound. (Of course, you can always bolster your iPad's sound with a wireless speaker, but isn't it a shame that the device can't produce strong sound out of the box?)
As with the screen size prediction, we're not entirely sure of the evidential basis of Macotakara's predictions here, beyond what would be nice/what would compete well against the Surface Pro 3. There's a picture of the dual-speaker design, although it's not clear where this has come from...
Update, 5th Jan 2015: More talk of multi-speaker design. A worker in a Foxconn factory claims that the iPad Pro will have not two but four speakers.
More on that alleged leak in our iPad Pro leaked images section.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus specs: Which processor chip will the iPad Pro run?
A rumour shortly before the launch of the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 suggested that Apple was working on a processor chip called the A8X, a high-performance version of the A8 used in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and would install this in the iPad Pro. The site G For Games reckoned this was the word "on the streets of Taiwan", anyway.
Well, this rumour was sort of right: Apple had indeed created the A8X. It just wasn't anything to do with the iPad Pro. The A8X makes its debut in the iPad Air 2 - and this means the iPad Air 2 is gloriously fast. Faster, even, than the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and their A8 processors.
There is some historical precedent for Apple using an X-class version of an iPhone processor when it launches an iPad some months later. The A5 chip debuted in the iPad 2, and reappeared in the iPhone 4s; when Apple released the iPad 3 five months later it came with the A5X, a souped-up version of the A5. Similarly, the iPhone 5 launched with an A6 chip in September 2012, and was followed in October by the iPad 4, which had an A6X.
(If you're wondering what the difference is between a full version update and an X-class update, the latter is an acknowledgement by Apple that it has performed a less fundamental refresh. To get more technical than that, I would refer you to Stephen Darlington, a coder who explained the rationale to me on Twitter: the A6 was followed by the A6X and not the A7 "because they beefed up the GPU on the iPad but left the CPU the same".)
But where does this leave the iPad Pro? One of the selling points we were expecting Apple to focus on with this fantasy product was speed: that the iPad Pro would be faster than any previous Apple tablet, and capable of laptop levels of performance. But the iPad Air 2 is capable of laptop levels of performance. It's hard to see what Apple would gain from making the Pro even faster.
But hold your horses. For one thing, we would need to think about screen resolution. If the iPad Pro has a 4K screen, more processing power would be called for - and we could be looking at an entirely new chip. (We talk about 4K screens in the next section.)
And for a really radical move, some rumourmongers have suggested that Apple could equip the iPad Pro with OS X instead of iOS, opening up a world of new applications. Again, these would provide the engineers with another reason to rethink the choice of processor chip. (The apps on the App Store don't provide much of a test for the A8X, let alone a more powerful alternative, but the range of software for Mac would be a different matter.)
These are all possibilities. But our expectation remains that, assuming it launches by the spring of 2015, the iPad Pro will come with the A8X processor, same as the iPad Air 2 - and it therefore won't be sold on the idea of speed alone.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus specs: 2K and 4K screen resolution options
Talking about screen resolution, the other rumour that's been doing the rounds lately suggests that the iPad Pro will come in two configurations: one with a 2K screen, and the other rocking a gigantic 4K resolution.
What do those terms mean? They refer to the number of pixels along the horizontal: roughly 2,000 on a 2K screen, and roughly 4,000 on a 4K.
It's worth pointing out here that the iPad Air is already a 2K screen, with its resolution of 2,048 x 1,536, and that a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a 2K screen would therefore have a lower pixel density (the same number of pixels, but spread over a wider area) than the Air. In principle that would make the 2K iPad Pro sub-Retina in classification, unless Apple jiggles the definitions and says that users hold big tablets further away from their eyes than normal-sized ones. (I explain the definition of Retina - and the difference between Retina and Retina HD - ina this article: What is a Retina display, what is a Retina HD display and are they worth the money?
But what about the flagship model? Assuming that the iPad Pro has the same 4:3 aspect ratio as previous iPads, a 4K iPad Pro would have a monstrous screen resolution of 4,096 x 3,072. According to the marvellous Pixel Density Calculator, that's a pixel density of 396.9ppi - fractionally lower than the 401ppi on the Retina HD iPhone 6 Plus, and on a larger device that you'd expect to hold further away from the eye. Exciting stuff... if it's true.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus new features rumours
What about the iPad Pro's new features? Again, we must use a degree of guesswork, but there are clues to work with.
For a start, it's thought that the new iPad Pro, like the iPad Air 2, will feature a Touch ID fingerprint scanner, but this is getting to be fairly old news. Even the iPad minis have Touch ID these days.
If the iPad Pro is to be the premium flagship product most of us are imaging, Apple needs to introduce breakthrough new features. The bigger screen would do nicely as one such feature, but there are other new features that may also give people reason to upgrade. We consider some of these below.
The iPad upgrade cycle is more like the PC upgrade cycle than the smartphone upgrade cycle, which means that there has to be a good reason to upgrade a tablet. Apple CEO Tim Cook referred to the iPad's recent drop in year-on-year sales as a "speed bump", in an interview with Re/code. The author states: "Cook isn't stupid: he understands that [the new iPad needs significant new features to tempt upgraders]. If the new iPads in the works were going to offer only incremental change, he'd fall flat on his face with this prediction."
Here are the new features that have been rumoured, and how likely we think they are to appear in the iPad Pro.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus new features: Ultra-hard 'Project Phire' glass to replace standard Gorilla Glass screen
Apple doesn't officially disclose the screen materials it uses for its iPad tablets, but it's widely believed to be Gorilla Glass, the scratch-resistant aluminosilicate glass made by Corning and used on the iPhones. Yet that may be about to change.
For most of last year rumourmongers were predicting that Apple would ditch Corning entirely and use sapphire glass screens instead (it even bought a sapphire glass facility in Arizona, although that failed and will be converted into a data centre). In the end sapphire's use was restricted to Touch ID buttons and rear camera lenses.
Now the buzz surrounds a new screen material known as 'Project Phire': a response by Corning to sapphire glass developments, it's allegedly as scratch-resistant as sapphire glass but as drop-resistant as Gorilla Glass. Perhaps this is more likely to appear in the iPhone 7, iPhone 6s or iPhone 6c than in a new iPad - smartphones being more portable and pocketable, and therefore more likely to be dropped on a pavement or scratched by a bunch of keys than a tablet - but it would make sense for Apple to standardise its designs some way down the line.
The death of Gorilla Glass is predicted every year and it seems to be going strong, so we're not particularly convinced by this theory; and it seems like more of a PR response to the growing hype surrounding sapphire on Corning's part than a concrete plan for near-future products. But you never know.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus new features: Stylus accessory
In mid-January 2015 the respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities predicted that Apple would release a new stylus accessory this spring, to sit alongside the iPad Pro.
The kneejerk response would be to quote Steve Jobs, who famously once said: "If you see a stylus, they blew it." But this wouldn't be the first time that Cook-era Apple has done something that had appeared verboten under Steve Jobs - and done it successfully. Jobs once quipped about the need to supply sandpaper with mini-tablets in order to file down the user's fingertips, but Apple nevertheless designed and launched the iPad mini to great commercial success.
Launching a stylus alongside the iPad Pro (or even bundling one with the device) would be a huge statement of intent. It would define usage: at present one of the selling points of the iPad range is that they can be anything to anyone. But a stylus immediately says creative industries, it says painting applications, it says workplace note-taking.
We're not convinced by this one, and it would be a major turnaround for sure. Watch this space is the phrase, I think.
Read more: Apple iPad stylus could point toward business ambitions, bigger tablets.
By the way, the tireless concept illustrator Martin Hajek has come up with some fantastic ideas for how an Apple stylus could look:
There are lots more to enjoy on Hajek's site (and more of his illustrations in the photos and videos section below).
iPad Pro/iPad Plus new features: Voice calls
One new feature coming to the iPad could be voice calls. With Android tablets are now shipping with voice call capabilities, and a report from IDC suggesting that these tablets with cellphone calling capabilities are gaining traction in Asia, Apple may be considering adding voice calling capabilities to the new iPad.
However, this may be too little, too late, with phablets already cannibalising sales of tablets, due in part to the fact that consumers can make voice calls on them.
Whether people would actually make a voice call on a tablet remains to be seen. While we can't see too many people holding a tablet up to their ear (think of the Dom Joly sketch), it is feasible that they could use headphones and speak that way.
Investors Business Diary quotes IDC analyst Avinash Sundaram, who said in a report: "Tablets that allow voice calls over cell networks have been around for a while now, as the first generation of Samsung Tabs did have that option, albeit only activated through a Bluetooth headset. This segment has seen a surge in terms of both shipments and vendors since the beginning of this year, with shipments reaching close to 50% by share of overall markets in some emerging countries, India and Indonesia being two great examples."
iPad Pro/iPad Plus new features: More RAM and app multitasking
The new iPad Air may get 2GB or RAM, according to a TechNews report (translation here). The new iPad mini will not get the same boost, however.
Cult of Mac suggests that this memory boost in the iPad Air could allow for split-screen multitasking. That site refers to a developer who discovered a "main-screen-canvas-size" option in the iOS 8 beta.
Apparently that option will add multi-tasking to the iOS 8 SpringBoard. And, apparently, users will not only be able to run two apps side by side, they will be able to change the sizes of the apps, according to developer Steve T-S.
It is thought that multitasking isn't yet in the beta because it was too buggy, but we can expect to see it before iOS 8 launches in the autumn.
[Update: iOS 8 has launched to the public, and there remains no sign of split-screen multi-tasking. Whether this will be unlocked for the iPad Pro only remains to be seen.]
iPad Pro/iPad Plus leaked photos, concept images and videos
Before the launch of any significant Apple product, you can expect to see a crescendo of image leaks, most of them emerging from the tough-to-regulate hardware supply chain - assembly lines and factories. (Some will be real, but some will be unconvincing fakes.) And before these appear, budding product designers will try their hand at concept illustrations, creating 3D renders to show how they expect the device to look. (See also: The 10 weirdest Apple concept art designs.)
In other words, you're going to get plenty of chances to see the iPad Pro before it's actually unveiled. This is the part of the article where we post leaked images (giving our verdict on how genuine they look), interesting concept illustrations and video footage as and when it appears.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: Leaked photos of 'iPad Pro cases'
The French site nowhereelse.fr has come up with some more iPad Pro-related leaks: this time two sets of photos that purport to show pre-release designs of protective cases for the iPad Pro. If genuine, these can offer some clues about the design of the iPad Pro itself, as well as giving hints of how soon we can expect the iPad Pro to launch (in other words, if things have got as far as third parties working up accessory designs, there shouldn't be long to go - that is, unless the manufacturers are simply creating cases for for speculative sizes of iPad that may or may not be built).
Take a look for yourself:
This one and the one below was passed to nowhereeelse.fr by a "loyal mole". The photo above shows a size comparison of the iPad Pro case with a case for the iPad Air 2.
In the picture above you can see a cutout next to the rear-facing camera aperture. One site has speculated that this could be for a flash, but it strikes us as more likely to be for the microphone hole, assuming it's in the same location as on the iPad Air 2.
This shot is a little more mysterious, thanks to the sheer number of unexplained gaps and cutouts: particularly the one on the left and the four at the top and bottom. Nowhereelse.fr wonders if these might be to do with the speakers - could this be a sign of quad speakers?
"Note the presence of the four gaps cut on bottom and top of the hull not obstructed," the site says [via Google Translate]. "The four tablet speakers."
It also speculates about the possibility of a second Lightning port, or an opening to access the SIM tray. But it's possible that the case is simply an unfinished prototype.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: Brilliant concept illustrations by Martin Hajek
Martin Hajek, a regular of the Apple illustration scene, has turned his attention to the iPad Pro. As well as some designs for the rumoured Apple stylus that some expect to launch with (or alongside) the iPad Pro - which we've posted in the features section above - Hajek has come up some brilliant new illustrations of the Pro itself:
These first two show the iPad Pro alongside the rumoured 12-inch MacBook Air that we hope to see in the next few months.
And the two images above show the iPad Pro alongside the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, its smaller cousins.
Great stuff as ever by Martin Hajek. There are plenty more where these came from - enjoy the rest of the set on his site.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: Leaked image of iPad Pro prototype shows four speakers
A new leaked image of the iPad Pro (or perhaps we should say an alleged leaked image of the iPad Pro) has emerged, and there's a bombshell to be digested if it's genuine: from the looks of the image (and based on the tale that came with the leak), the iPad Pro is going to feature four speakers.
(If the watermark on the image doesn't make it clear enough, this story was broken by the French-language site nowhereelse.fr.)
The site says the image was leaked by someone who works in a Foxconn factory, and indicates that they have a reliable track record for providing accurate information. They add:
"The author of this photo was unfortunately not able to provide me with the exact dimensions of the hull but still says its thickness would be between 6.9 and 7.5mm, confirming in passing the presence of four integrated speakers on her and senior tranches.
"Remains to be seen if the eavesdropper is responsible for this leak is telling the truth. In the past, this individual is particularly reliable in case shown."
That's been run through Google Translate, by the way.
The image shows the upper-right corner and back of the iPad Pro case, including openings for the volume buttons, power/sleep button and rear-facing camera. There's also clearly openings for a speaker, and given that previous iPads have had their speakers on the bottom of the device this does support the claim that the iPad Pro will feature top and bottom speakers. If each of these are stereo, that would make four in total.
(The iPad Air 2 has twin speaker units at the bottom of its chassis, but they are so close together that the stereo effect is minimal.)
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: Concept video comparing a mocked-up iPad Pro with other Apple devices
If you're wondering what a 12.2-inch iPad Pro would be like to use, take a look at this concept video by a company called Canoopsy. The video compares a mock-up iPad Pro, measuring 12 inches by 8.7 inches and featuring a 12.2-inch screen, with a range of other Apple devices, from the various iPhones currently available to the iPad mini, an iPad Air and a 13-inch MacBook.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: First 'leaked image' of an iPad Pro aluminium dummy
The first 'leaked image' of the iPad Pro - or rather, an image of an aluminium dummy unit that the actual prototype would be based on - has emerged on the Chinese social network Weibo. Here's the 'iPad Pro' in all its glory:
The first point that needs to be made is that this hasn't been verified by official sources, and wouldn't be tough to fake, so it may not be genuine. The second is that clearly this isn't what the iPad Pro would like even if it is genuine; this would only give us an idea of the size of the device and the broadest of design touches: the placement of the camera, the shape of the chassis and so on.
(We know that Apple's design team habitually create dummy models of new products in a range of sizes - usually from foam, as I understand it, although aluminium would work too - so this could easily be one of several sizes Apple is considering.)
Nevertheless, it's one more clue to add to the puzzle. As corroboration arrives in other leaked images, we'll get a better idea of what we're dealing with - and if it even exists.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: Concept illustrations of iPad Pro by Ramotion
That's our only leaked photo so far, but plenty of designers have come up with 'concept illustrations' of the iPad Pro - how they'd make the thing look if they got a job with Jony Ive's team, in other words.
Design agency Ramotion are the latest firm to take a shot at the iPad Pro, releasing stunning concept illustrations to show how they envisage a product that sits halfway between the iPad Air and the MacBook Pro.
Ramotion's iPad Pro is based around a pair of A7 processor chips and a 12.9-inch (4096x3072) screen.
Ingeniously, it conceals the rear-facing camera inside the Apple logo...
...and uses three cameras to offer 3D video calling and eye tracking. There are even four speakers on the corners of the device for surround-sound audio. Would that be practical? We're not sure.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: Concept video of iPad Pro multitasking
One of the most intriguing ideas proposed by Ramotion - albeit one that has been used by rivals such as Samsung on existing larger-screen tablets - is the ability to multitask between two apps side by side.
"In the horizontal orientation you can work directly with two applications as if you put two iPad minis next to each other," the firm says. "Intuitive gestures make your work much more pleasant and efficient!"
All images and animations by Ramotion. They're absolutely stunning - check out the full set here.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus images and videos: Design concept images and video of Mac OS X-based iPad Pro 13
The Italian design company SET Solutions has created a CGI video of a product concept it calls the 'iPad Pro 13'. Unlike all existing iPads, the iPad Pro 13 is based on Apple's Mac OS X desktop operating system rather than iOS, suggesting that its creators envision it being marketed at business users. Part of the time, the user in the video is controlling the iPad Pro with a wireless mouse and keyboard.
We'd stress that this is only a concept render, rather than a real product, but it serves as an interesting exploration of how such a design would work.
The firm says: "Here's our CG iPad Pro (13 inches screen) with Apple OS X as operative system! Now you can take your works wherever you want!
"The new iPad Pro is really powerful, with a bigger Retina display, and with a desktop OS: all your favourite programs in a 13-inch table… cool, right?"
Here's the iPad Pro concept video:
Why Apple needs a bigger iPad
Bloomberg suggest that the larger iPad will be popular with the enterprise market. Apple’s partnership with IBM, announced in July, will address this enterprise market which Apple CEO Tim Cook described as “a catalyst for future iPad growth”.
According to IDC, businesses, schools and governments are set to become big customers for tablets, and the larger tablets are expected to “do better” in these markets, IDC’s Jitesh Ubrani told Bloomberg.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: iPad Pro vs Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Apple would deny that it creates products in reaction to launches by its rivals, but the success or failure of an iPad Pro would be influenced by the state of the market. And that has changed with yesterday's (20th May's) unveiling of Microsoft's Surface Pro 3.
Microsoft is aiming its new Surface Pro 3 at people who want the portability of a tablet but want to be able to carry out tasks that require a machine with power that matches that of a laptop - which is exactly the sort of device and customer base most of us envision for the iPad Pro. Apple could face an incumbent market occupier before the iPad Pro even launches, assuming that the Surface Pro 3 can convince buyers to get on board.
The Surface Pro 3 is Microsoft's latest attempt to claim credibility in the tablet market, and by all accounts has the specs and the features to stand up to the iPad line-up. The real struggle could be persuading third-party app developers to work for this platform on top of - or even instead of - iOS and Android. Whether Microsoft can win this battle remains to be seen.
We've compared the Surface Pro 3 with the iPad Air in a separate article: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 vs iPad Air comparison. But will the iPad Pro be a closer rival to Microsoft's new tablet, its specs and features and target market? That might just depend on how well the Pro 3 sells, regardless of Apple's protestations.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: What big-screen tablets will the iPad Pro be competing with?
There are already some bigger Android tablets available, including the Archos 116 with an 11.6in screen and the 12in Toshiba Excite 13, and two 12.2in tablets from Samsung. But tablets that large are not among the most popular devices at the moment. Then again, perhaps Apple's iPad Pro could change all that.
Plus, if speculation proves to be correct, Apple's iPad Pro could be competing with laptop-tablet hybrids, such as Acer's Aspire V5 Touch and Microsoft's Surface Pro, which takes a detachable keyboard approach. We can expect many more laptops to launch with touchscreens in the future, too, as Intel's Ultrabook specification now lists touchscreen as a requirement.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: Is there a market for a more powerful iPad?
There's one big down side to this theory. The main thing the MacBook Pro offers over the MacBook Air is power: it's a faster machine capable of handling more demanding tasks, and compromises on portability - and costs more - to achieve this. Yet while we can imagine an iPad Pro being less portable than the iPad Air (nearly everything is less portable than the iPad Air) it's harder to imagine it being more powerful, or even there being any reason to want such a device.
Because the iPad Air is exceptionally powerful for a mobile device - indeed, in our reviews of the iPad Air we've repeatedly stressed that most users won't see anything like the speed gains promised when using it, for the simple reason that most apps don't need that kind of welly. Even the iPad 3 and 4 can happily run virtually anything on the App Store, and the iPad Air's power is more about insuring yourself against the more demanding apps that will be released in future.
Infinity Blade 3: One of the most graphically demanding games on the App Store, but less high-powered devices than the iPad Air can cope with it. So why would the iPad Pro need to be any more powerful?
Chances of a more powerful iPad Pro: If this is all the iPad Pro offers, it's on to a loser, since the iPad Air is as powerful as an iPad needs to be right now. This is a very long shot, unless tied in with further benefits, and even then it seems unnecessary.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: A bigger-screen iPad
A more realistic option for an iPad Pro would simply be to give it a larger screen.
Many pundits, including our colleague Ted Landau in his article 'Envisioning an iPad Pro', have discussed a screen size of 12.9in, which would create a neat progression of sizes from iPad mini to iPad Pro: 7.9in, 9.7in, 12.9in.
But would anyone want an iPad with a bigger screen? That's debatable, although the amount of interest around the idea online suggests that such a device wouldn't struggle for attention. And there's a huge current market of laptop users who have resisted making the switch to a tablet and could be convinced if there was more screen space available.
On the other hand, the success of the iPad mini points in the other direction, suggesting that if anything, the average user would happily settle for less screen space than the full-sized iPad currently offers, in return for greater portability and a lower price tag.
Chances of a bigger-screen iPad Pro: Moderate. The launch of the iPad mini (and its subsequent success) showed that Apple is less afraid of product fragmentation than it was under Steve Jobs, and while we think a big-screen iPad would appeal to a smaller audience than that, Apple could probably convince more laptop users to make the switch.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: Will Apple make a touchscreen MacBook or MacBook/iPad hybrid?
A third option for the iPad Pro would be for Apple to create a device that's a hybrid of a laptop and a tablet.
Yet Apple CEO Tim Cook has famously dismissed the idea of a MacBook/iPad hybrid. During a financial earnings conference call in April 2012, Cook said that consumers simply won't be interested in buying or using a machine that is a hybrid of a laptop and a tablet.
"I think… anything can be forced to converge," said Cook. "But the problem is that products are about trade-offs, and you begin to make trade-offs to the point where what you have left at the end of the day doesn't please anyone. You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not going to be pleasing to the user."
For this reason, Cook claimed that Apple would never converge the MacBook Air and the iPad, because too many compromises would be necessary and the two types of products are used too differently.
"You wouldn't want to put these things together because you end up compromising in both and not pleasing either user. Some people will prefer to own both, and that's great too. But to make the compromise of convergence, we're not going to that party," Cook added.
But what if, in the two years since Cook dismissed the idea, Apple has come up with a way to avoid tradeoffs and create something that's as powerful as a MacBook but as portable and touch-based as an iPad?
Cook's comments sparked speculation at the time from some industry analysts who believed that Cook thinks the hybrid market could be very strong, and that he might have reason to want to tear down a market that has a lot of potential.
"I think it was kind of a funny slam," said Charles King, an analyst with Pund-IT. "For the chief executive of a company that has pursued some pretty unconventional design points along the way and done pretty well, I'd think he'd be more open to this hybrid idea. The issue is if a successful tablet/laptop hybrid ever did come out, it would constitute a fairly significant challenge to Apple."
During the financial results conference call for the first quarter of 2014, Cook promised that Apple is continuing to innovate behind the scenes, and that we should expect to see the launch of an Apple product that enters new territory for the company. Most suspect Cook is talking about an iTV or iWatch, but perhaps Apple is working on a tablet/laptop hybrid after all.
ReadWrite's Dave Smith highlights that, while Apple executives have dismissed the idea of OS X becoming more like iOS, they haven't written off the idea of an iPad running a OS X.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: The benefits of a tablet/laptop hybrid
Laptop/tablet hybrids started to garner some attention and excitement during 2012's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, with chip maker Intel and Lenovo unveiling hybrid ultrabooks that can be flipped around to look and act like a tablet.
They're looking to hook users on a hybrid experience, combining the flexible ease-of-use of a touchscreen tablet with a full-keyboarded laptop.
"Apple has succeeded at keeping those types of functionality away from one another," said King. "The idea of a hybrid is a very different kind of world view. Whenever I see an executive jump all over something… it's because it's what they feat the most or see as the biggest threat. [Cook's] comments reflect the size of the threat that he sees."
Jack Gold, an analyst with J. Gold Associates, sees potential in the hybrid market - something that has to be sending up warning flags at Apple, which has found so much success by eating up most of the lucrative tablet market.
"So of course, the Apple CEO would like to set the impression that a convertible is not a threat to the market," Gold added.
New touchscreen PCs are a threat to the iPad, analyst
However, not everyone thought Cook was simply trying to throw cold water on hybrids.
Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy, said Cook has a lot of experience in picking hot coming trends and he simply may not appreciate the value-add of a hybrid. "Cook has passionate opinions about what consumers would want and not want and their track record speaks for itself," he said. "I don't believe he is overtly poisoning the well on hybrids, but that could be an unintended consequence.
"According to Tim Cook, if Apple doesn't sell it, consumers don't want it," Moorhead said.
He thinks the hybrids could have a bright future, one that diminishes the iPad.
"Hybrids will take business away from the iPad," he said. "Many consumers who would have purchased an iPad will instead buy a hybrid. They desire the sexiness of the tablet and the common sense of the small notebook, all in the same package."
So Apple won't be making a touchscreen MacBook?
Actually, we're not so sure. In April 2013, Apple CEO Tim Cook defended the company's iconic Mac line after it saw a second consecutive decline in sales during the quarter. "I don't think this [personal computer] market is dead or a bad market by any means," he said. "I think it has a lot of life to it. We are going to continue to innovate in it."
"We're going to continue making the best personal computers," Cook continued. "We've got some more great stuff planned, so this is an area we're continuing to invest in."
Plus, despite Cook's comments that a MacBook and iPad hybrid product would be like combining a fridge and a toaster, Apple has filed a patent for such device.
Top 10 hybrid gadgets to rival the toaster-fridge
The patent describes a device that has a touchscreen display that can be removed from the keyboard and trackpad-equipped base, and can also be rotated when attached to the base.
Additionally, power could be wirelessly transferred from the base component to the detached display.
A second patent filed by Apple in February 2013 suggests that Apple may use the in-cell touch display technology found in the iPhone for a future MacBook, too.
Let's not forget that Apple actually did make a touchscreen laptop 17 years ago. It was the eMate 300, a translucent clamshell portable which ran Apple's Newton PDA operating system. Ok, so it's far from the touchscreen MacBook we'd expect to see from Apple, but it's interesting nonetheless.
So, whether the new iPad Pro is a combination of a MacBook and iPad or simply a bigger, more powerful iPad, rumours about the device flooded in as 2014 arrived. Read on for iPad Pro release date rumours, as well as speculation about possible features of the new iPad.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus features
Barclays Capital analyst Ben A. Reitzes said in October 2013 that Apple's move to a 64-bit architecture with the iPhone 5s, iPad mini and iPad Air could hint that Apple is working to develop iOS for a bigger, more powerful iPad. But what features will this bigger iPad have?
Analyst Patrick Wang believes that the iPad Pro will be powered by an A8 processor. Although, as we mentioned above, there's reason to question whether the iPad Pro would need a more advanced processor than the iPad Air?
Ted Landau floats the idea that the iPad Pro could have greater connectivity than the Air, with Thunderbolt and USB connections enabling business users and former laptop users to add on portable scans and similar accessories.
And of course, as with all rumoured iOS devices, we have to mention the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. It was a surprise when this wasn't added to the iPad Air, having appeared in the iPhone 5s, and would be both a logical addition and a nice differentiator from the Air. A few Apple fans might be persuade to upgrade for that alone.
Big-screen iPad rumours: What size of display will the iPad Pro/iPad Plus have?
As mentioned earlier, the general consensus seems to be that a big-screen iPad Pro would probably have a 12.9in display.
Reports since as far back as July 2013 have pointed to a screen size around the 13in mark. The Wall Street Journal cited "officials at Apple's suppliers" in its report that claimed Apple was testing screens measuring almost 13 inches diagonally.
Then, in November 2013, reports that Apple was working on a bigger iPad resurfaced, again suggesting a 12.9in screen is coming to Apple's tablet soon. The Korea Times cited sources from a "first-tier" Apple supplier in a report claiming that a 12.9in Retina display was being made in factories in Korea.
There has been talk of an 11.4in model, too, though we've only seen one report that suggests this so it seems less likely.
In October, trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is planning to launch a 12in laptop that will be as portable as the 11in MacBook Air but as productive as the 13in MacBook Pro, and will "redefine laptop computing". Perhaps Kuo was referring to the iPad Pro.
What resolution will the iPad Pro/iPad Plus have?
Another display-related iPad Pro question is the resolution. As mentioned above, there's talk of two separate iPad Pro models. The first has been described as 2K, which would mean a resolution similar to that of the iPad Air and iPad mini 2, which have 2,048 by 1,536 pixel screens.
The second is described as 4K, which would mean there are around 4,000 pixels along the longest side of the display (4K Ultra HD TVs normally have 3840 x 2160 resolutions).
According to a report in November from The Korea Times, sources say that Apple's iPad Pro will boast an "ultra high-definition" picture quality, which could also suggest a 4K display.
In January 2014, research firm DisplaySearch suggested that Apple is testing a 12.9in display with a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels, which means a pixel density of 265ppi. Apple's iPad Air has a 264ppi display, and when it comes to competing 12in tablets, Samsung's new devices have 247ppi displays.
How much will the iPad Pro/iPad Plus cost?
We've not heard much speculation about the cost of the bigger iPad, but Ben A. Reitzes thinks it could start at around $650 (£450).
In general Apple tries to release new iOS devices at close to (and quite often exactly the same as) their predecessors' prices. If Apple follows that policy with the iPad 6 we would expect it to match the iPad Air's pricing: starting at £399, and topping out at £739 for the 3G-equipped, 128GB model. But in the case of a bigger-screen iPad Pro, a higher price is more likely, to take account for the additional manufacturing challenges, more powerful battery and so on.
The difference between the starting iPad Air and starting iPad mini Retina is £80, and those two tablets are separated by 2.2in of diagonal screen size and little else. It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a 12in-or-so iPad Pro to cost about £80 more than the equivalent iPad Air - and thus start at £479.
Other iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours
According to DigiTimes, Apple has turned to Taiwan-based Quanta Computer to manufacture the bigger iPad. However the report suggests that Quanta expects to "encounter several challenges" when it comes to building the bigger iPad, which could cause limited supply of the tablet upon launch.
It's believed Apple has been growing increasingly interested in launching a bigger iPad because the company expects tablets to eventually replace PCs.
iPad Pro/iPad Plus rumours: conclusion
We're still not convinced that a bigger iPad is on its way, but you can never say never. After all, Steve Jobs once said that a smaller iPad would be dead on arrival, but then Apple launched the iPad mini and it flew off the shelves.
But do we really need a bigger iPad? We're not so sure. What are your thoughts on the possibility of an iPad Pro? Let us know in the comments section below or on Twitter.



































Comments
SandraS said: Comments,SandraS,My husband would buy a larger screen iPad in a heartbeat and I would buy a touch screen Macbook in a heartbeat. I hate playing the waiting game :(
David Kempton said: Comments,David Kempton,One thing Apple should be considering as well - it's original user base is greying, and larger screens equal more room to zoom and still see a decent amount of text. (I have all three sizes and use them daily, I WILL get the larger one as soon as it is released.) And they all do different tasks -PDA, backup bank and sheet music display. And eventually, two-page music display, I hope.....
clintenhobbs said: Comments,clintenhobbs,as Ralph answered I didnt know that a stay at home mom able to make $4838 in four weeks on the computer . try this out -> know more by just clicking here <-
JAppleSeed said: Comments,JAppleSeed,Besides run actual programs you mean? Sure, eventually the Adobe suite may run as individual apps, but until then, a large format tablet running full mac OS programs is going to make a splash, no matter what.
Macworld UK said: Comments,Macworld UK,I think chocolate bars are getting smaller.
naql99 said: Comments,naql99,This. I bought a Wacom Cintiq Companion Hybrid and would have much preferred an iOS Apple alternative. Be even better if it ran OSX.
Lynn said: Comments,Lynn,Can they just make a 2 foot IPad? Why is everything getting bigger anyways? It's annoying.
Annoyd said: Comments,Annoyd,The adds and page performance are so bad I cannot stand to keep reading. I am going elsewhere to get my information. You drove me away.
d4martin said: Comments,d4martin,I'd think that Apple would want to create a tablet/laptop hybrid with spec to beat the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 which have Intel i5 and i7 processors.
Macworld UK said: Comments,Macworld UK,We don't delete any comments unless they are spam or they have offensive language (those get filtered out automatically).
dookerj said: Comments,dookerj,Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the Logic remote for the iPad (kinda wish I still had one, or that they'd make a version for the iPhone now that it's larger). There are certainly interface upsides to the touchscreen. Perhaps the holy grail, as many have suggested from time to time, will be a touch-screen Apple desktop/laptop device (but only when they can do it right and there is no suffering in quality of display). Anyway, point was, right now the ecosystem works better than any of the competitors' ecosystems by orders of magnitude, and while merging some iOS functionality (e.g. iCloud) into OSX has been great, other stuff has felt really tacked on (Launchpad). Merging it all completely would be like going the route of Windows 8 I think (and I even thought that was a good design, but they had to backpedal and add the Start button back because users didn't get it!)
Bob Petrick said: Comments,Bob Petrick,i dont know why you keeping my comments deleted.
mJamesc said: Comments,mJamesc,It won't be a professional device until they add a bluetooth mouse option. Until they do that iPad sales will continue to plummet, appealing mostly to kiddies who play games.
mJamesc said: Comments,mJamesc,That's right the iPad is already a popular gaming device. The Pro (Pro meaning professional) should focus on the iPad as a business device and a bluetooth mouse is a must option. A bluetooth mouse added to the current bluetooth keyboard and now the Pro version is suitable for professionals. Leave the regular iPad Air to the kiddies who play games.
Sean russell said: Comments,Sean russell,We need a iPad pro very much....12inch would be fantastic....Think about all the partis… Illustrators… Comic book creators the art world in general is a giant baddest community that has an impact on the entire world…I am one of those people and it would be a wonderful idea to have this product put out now. Because iPad will be back in the lead again… Trust me :-)
Emily Dicson said: Comments,Emily Dicson,I got many product of Microsoft, But all are free trail versions. After some time I install windows 8.1 at my personal Notebook but after 30 days trail, Its desktop become black and create an error massage to make genuine your windows. Then I purchased Microsoft license from ODosta Store at very cheap rates, Which is working well.Now I want to suggest you to purchase your own or business license at this site.
Macworld UK said: Comments,Macworld UK,iRoningboard.
Adam Elteto said: Comments,Adam Elteto,"Comfortably read pdf files (for instance, using Mac Preview) in a size quite close of Letter or A4 paper."Yep, at this point, I stick to older, slower, B&W e-ink devices for viewing PDF technical manuals and papers involving mainly text and line art diagrams. It is just nice and convenient to open a document, leave the device turned on for hours without worrying about battery power, automatic screen dimming, screen savers, lock screens... I can just pick the device up the next morning and it will still show the same page the same way.For color documents, Samsung already has larger tablets with pretty impressive displays. I think it is only natural that Apple produce comparably-sized devices and provide iOS users access to the Apple ecosystem they are used to.The question of course, will be whether Apple wants to cut into its own revenues by offering a larger screen on a tablet, in the process lessening the appeal of buying a tablet AND a MacBook. After all, the concept of a full desktop version of an OS on a touch-screen mobile device already exists for the Windows platform. Time for apple to play catch-up, just like they did with the "tweener" tablet size (iPad Mini).
Dan the man said: Comments,Dan the man,I'm a 64 year old couch potato with less than perfect eye sight. I have original iPad and its barely chugging along. I have been waiting for this for two years. I'm ready for it, ASAP please.
JD said: Comments,JD,27" iPad should be called iBoard.
mJamesc said: Comments,mJamesc,We have BYOD at work. Company runs Citrix. I want the iPad Pro to be the only device I carry. When I get to work I want to be able to plug in my monitor, a bluetooth keyboard and a bluetooth mouse because with Citrix I then can use my entire Windows environment productively. Without a mouse the iPad is just a toy to read news and play games hence why sales are plummeting. Schools are now going with the Chromebook instead of the iPad. Why? Because it has a mouse option. If Apple does not add a bluetooth mouse option in a few years the iPad sales will go the way of the iPod - dead - a useless piece of hardware. Remember, the bluetooth mouse would be an option, your finger would still work - it satisfies both worlds and makes the soon-to-be-extinct iPad (as evidenced by the plummeting sales) a big seller again. Why does Apple allow a keyboard to connect wirelessly and not a mouse? Why? Because they are stupid. I went to a few Apple stores lately and hung out. No one, and I mean no one, was buying an iPad. Stick a fork in it, it's done. The iPad has one foot in the grave and the back-fill machine is ready to bury it. Because people have choices for tablets that work with a mouse and can get real work done. Without a mouse Apple may as well order the flowers and plan the funeral for the iPad. Remember, you read it here first.
Geoff Steeper said: Comments,Geoff Steeper,Microsoft came out top in the PC battle of of the early 80's on the basis of software domination and business techniques. Apple have continued as a hybrid organisation having control of both hardware and software. Today hardware and software development need to go hand in hand in particular when it comes to cost and portability. The failure of Windows 8 should not nfluence of the direction that Apple choose to go. As a user I would love to see an iPad evolve into the PC of the 21st century, a device with iPad based screen with an OSX based keyboard designed to go hand in hand and work in conjunction with the Apple TV .
Maximillion82 said: Comments,Maximillion82,The reason that I am holding off getting the iPad Air 2 is the hope that the Pro will arrive next year. I like the iPad but I am intrigued by the dual app multitasking. The time to care about internal specs is very over, if it runs smooth for about 2-3 years I am happy. I rather see longer battery life over higher specs. Specs belonged to the desktop era, but today's hardware is so fast that software has to catchup to use its full potential anyways. My experience is that when the system gets slow it isn't because of weak hardware specs, but because of bad programming, for example stuck in a loop, or memory leaks, or forgetting to release memory.I am hoping that rumors about a hybrid iOS and OSX are wrong, mobile desktop hybrids are a catastrophe, Windows 8 is the living proof for that.
Veraxus said: Comments,Veraxus,A mouse is a useless feature on a tablet. Heck, I don't even use them on my desktops any more unless I'm gaming (which isn't exactly a professional activity). Instead, there needs to be a first-party, WACOM-quality, fine-tipped, pressure-sensitive stylus. That would be the defining characteristic that would push iPad into Pro territory.Well, that and split-screen multitasking.
Geoff Steeper said: Comments,Geoff Steeper,In 1983 we had key boards that were computers that needed a monitor to function. We now have 'monitors' that are computers that need a keyboard to improve functionality. A large screen ipad should retain its identity as a stand alone device and a keyboard add on could well contain added 'chips' and features ie USB ports to enhance the capability of the iPad. A true hybrid combining the best of OS x with the best of IOS.
sgarbatello said: Comments,sgarbatello,a serious redesign of iPad's UI is needed to define it "Pro". they can even craft a 27" iPad, but if it continues to look like a giant iPhone with two fingers of space between one row and the other, and with the very same app interaction, it's only a Pro-clame (pun intended).
mJamesc said: Comments,mJamesc,The iPad pro will not be professional at all if they do not add a Bluetooth mouse option. If they think businesses will use the pro as a productivity device without a mouse, they are kidding themselves. Microsoft office still dominates the workplace. It is now available for the iPad but without a mouse you cannot be productive and companies will not buy it. The device will be a complete flop and iPad sales will continue to plummet. Remember I said Bluetooth mouse option. Repeat after me, option.
Macworld UK said: Comments,Macworld UK,It would certainly make sense for Apple to focus on gaming with the pro version of the tablet, the iPad is already incredibly popular as a gaming device
Prophet101 said: Comments,Prophet101,Apple should make a gaming tablet so we can play games like fallout3, as we already have bioshock, San Andreas, mc5 and more top games but to make one that is specifically for gaming, yes yes , I would get ASAP even pay for my own if they not want to market it, just private sale to me maybe,
InconvenientWalrus said: Comments,InconvenientWalrus,Ah, my bad then
charminxtra said: Comments,charminxtra,I was making fun of Rui Nelson Carlson, a former common poster who I previously got in an argument about over this exact same thing.
InconvenientWalrus said: Comments,InconvenientWalrus,Uh, they most definitely are not the same operating system, for one they run on completely different architectures (Mac OSX on x86 and iOS on ARM). Unless the rumored iPad pro has an x86 chip in it, there would need to be a major rewrite and redesign of Mac OSX. Plus, Imagine clicking on tiny little icons meant for the mouse with your finger. That would be huge pain to say the least.
steve said: Comments,steve,I think that Apple should and will come out with a hybrid tablet/ laptop combo. At 12.9 inches it's the right size. The tech is right for it to go down now and the size would be perfect to carry about a 12.9 inch beast that can be either a laptop or an iPad or both, depending upon ones needs. It would also allow those of us who own pretty much every product to have something new to buy from Apple (other than the Apple Watch) to add to our list of things. I'd be definitely looking forward to having one of these instead of an Air. I never take my Mac Book Pro out with me anywhere. I always just take the iPad and iPhone. But a convertible laptop/iPad combo, that I would take everywhere.
Geoff Steeper said: Comments,Geoff Steeper,The next version of the iPad should be capable of running SWIFT and creating its own Apps.
edwardjames said: Comments,edwardjames,Oh dear,Catch your newest ipad air 2 please.Custom made cases for Ipad air 2 /mini 3 and other phones, http://www.casecoco.com/?023 Dont miss this.
SeanW said: Comments,SeanW,You lost me at the part of the article where you compare the alleged "iPad Pro" which is still vaporware with the SP3 from Microsoft which runs Windows 8.1 pro. Here is your comment:"The real struggle could be persuading third-party app developers to work for this platform on top of - or even instead of - iOS and Android. Whether Microsoft can win this battle remains to be seen."Why would that matter? There are millions of developers making even larger numbers and variety of applications for Windows every day of the week. Real applications that are robust and powerful. Not a host of mostly junk "apps" that you can buy for a couple of dollars -- even though there has never been a shortage of lightweight free, cheap, or even sophisticated applications for Windows.The SP3 does not have a crippled OS like all other windows and non windows tablets. It has a full strength pro version of Windows that runs any application that will run on a Windows desktop computer.When I discovered the SP3 (which is a digital work of art if you've used one) was running a pro version of Windows I didn't have to think about it. I instantly knew that all the applications I already use would be just an installation away from being up and running.I've either learned and/or been certified on many different OS's. (Early ones like the first apple PC's and the first IBM PC had no certification path for IT professionals.) I even learned CPM using one of those old luggable pc's with a 6" screen. I never liked the tiny screens on the early Mac's nor did I like the pre-OSX OS's. When Tiger was released it was, for me, the first serious OS from Apple and I welcomed it like an old friend. Using parallels I had the best of both worlds. I could run XP in parallels with Tiger and XP ran better in that configuration than it did on most Windows compatible hardware. That was short lived when Parallels support began being outsourced to an Eastern European location. That was a disaster. A beautiful piece of software that ran XP as flawlessly as possible. Tiger was definitely a better OS than XP hands down.I also mastered the Novell network OS, published best selling study guides for engineers, and many of Novell's more vertical products. Used and supported every version of Windows except Vista which I avoided much like so many users avoided A couple of the MAC OSX disasters.Also certified on IBM's AS400, System36, OS2, and then Warp OS, then Citrix, Several flavors of Unix beginning with SCO Unix, I owned the G1 (google's original android OS), Also numerous other proprietary OS's like the one that came with the Amiga. I owned the original version of the Amiga along with it's badly crippled OS. That was the dumbest digital purchase ever even though it looked like a great idea at the time.What is my point? I don't want to learn any more OS's than I have to. They are time consuming to learn and every one of them has bugs to work around or wait for fixes. I just want to produce results. The best way I know of to do that is find the applications that do the work the way you best want it to be done and spread that experience (and efficiency) as widely as possible across your everyday personal and business tasks. Do that and you'll be way more productive than spending the rest of your life figuring out lame underpowered OS's that only run on tiny bits of hardware like a phone or a tablet too crippled to run netflix.Anyway the point is most easily made by asking one question:"What OS has the most applications and the widest variety of applications already made for it?""Or what OS has more programming languages that will run on it? Compilers? Open source programs? Freeware? Trialware?Right it's Windows.The only thing I don't like about the Windows 8.1 is the lame looking collection of rectangles with no 3D icons, or really anything but a lively color scheme of rectangles a three year old could have invented. It's not really unattractive but it's really really retro looking. You could make that same screen with it's colored rectangles in a DOS application. Well all but the fonts.However ugly it may be the simple Windows screen with it's colored squares has a hidden benefit. Speed. No graphic memory is used to display all the lovely nuances of 3D icons. They just don't add enough to the equation for me to want an iPad.There is no question that the iPad has the sexiest icons and the best looking desktop. The thing is it would be so easy to make a really beautiful and sexy console screen for Windows 8.1 I'm kind of shocked that it has not been done.
dookerj said: Comments,dookerj,Mac Laptops and OS X will hopefully never merge with iOS. The synchronization features and simplifying down to Laptop and Phablet are a great move; the iPad is less useful now with the iPad Mini/iPhone6+.The real issue is that the vast majority of people don't need all of these products and don't use them the right way. The Macbook Pro and OS X will stay the same because they are the ideal device for software development, computer science, engineering, etc, due to the FreeBSD OS underneath. The increasingly well done cloud connectivity with iOS on the mobile devices is good. iOS on a Macbook would kill the Macbook; it would make it completely irrelevant. For average, mostly computer illiterate users, they only things they do are use the web, check email, perhaps store photos, and use an app or two. That can all be done on an iOS device more easily.Where they have tried to merge iOS-like features into OS X, namely Launchpad, it's a feature that has never worked well, still doesn't work well, and nobody uses it. Most people who have used MacBooks for any period of time still make an Application folder shortcut in the Dock, and the Dock is how the Laptops are used. The Dock would not work on an iOS device. The plug-in station is a novel idea, but then it cannibalizes the dock system they already have, which brings them greater profits–MacBooks connected to Thunderbolt Cinema Displays. Don't fix what isn't broken.99% of people in the US, EU, and Asia, don't even really need smartphones; the majority of activity is calling, browsing, and texting (and video for some, though it eats through bandwidth). All of that could be done on much simpler phones.Apple was better when it was focused more on the people who used it for what it was intended (integration and productivity in the tech sector), before the iPhone (and not the other devices) became an overly popular phone; now you have old geasers walking around with LTE iPhones and all they do is make phone calls and check the weather; what a waste of rare earth minerals and quality construction (and money).
Mike Sanders said: Comments,Mike Sanders,"while the iPhone 6 Plus has received a mixed reception." What planet are you from have you tried to buy an iPhone 6 or 6+ they are the hottest items around.
charminxtra said: Comments,charminxtra,You should talk to Rui Nelson Carlson. According to him osx and ios are the same operating system.
Bruce Curtis said: Comments,Bruce Curtis,OSX is not a touch-based operating system. It would need a major overhaul.
Jason said: Comments,Jason,12 minutes of non-statements followed by "Yeah" from the other sibling.
Mac Guy3135 said: Comments,Mac Guy3135,Why not just get rid of compromises by making bothMake an iPad that works as a tablet on its own with the normal ipad specs Then make a macbook keyboard part with a powerful prosesseer larger storage and more ram in then when you plug the iPad in it will act as a screen and work like a macbook
Just want to comment on this.. said: Comments,Just want to comment on this..,Grown-ups usually have a stronger vocabulary so they don't have to resort to derogatory terms.
Jeff said: Comments,Jeff,As a photographer, I'd love to see a bigger ipad. I enjoy showing my pics, and to a lesser extent editing them, on my tablet. I also write. It's hard for me to imagine writing a book on a tablet. I'd definitely buy one.
PamelaDee said: Comments,PamelaDee,This is how you can make a decent income every month... Try it for yourself! After been without work for 6 months, i started freelancing over this website and now i couldn't be happier. After 6 months on my new job my monthly income is around 12k a month...> -> LEARN MORE! <-
Nico Isaias Rivera said: Comments,Nico Isaias Rivera,Exactly.
Vincentmrl said: Comments,Vincentmrl,the problem is that you could get any graphic tablet pen if it had a digitizer, these pressure sensitive bluetooth pens are expensive. Think about it, someone who owns a graphic tablet could also use the pen on their iPad
christopherjacques said: Comments,christopherjacques,I just picked up the Wacom Bamboo Fineliner and it's pressure sensitive, and has a very fine hard plastic tip! Art apps haven't been optimized yet, but it's great in the Bamboo Paper app so far, I'm keeping it, and I'm very happy now!
Vincentmrl said: Comments,Vincentmrl,They just need to add a digitizer and the WHAT PEN DO I BUY, WHAT PROGRAM, CRAPPY RUBBER PENS hassle will also go away because any graphic tablet pen will work. It would be a great move since I myself draw on an iPad 2 and feel the lack of pressure sensivity (even though the iPad has some sort of sensivity SINCE you can press the notes harder in GarageBand to make them sound louder)
Diane B said: Comments,Diane B,I agree with Cynthia,my old eyes are firmly fixed on the bigger screen and the usb will result in my old lap top being dumped.There's a lot of us oldies glued to our iPads but don't need quite as much portability. Ease of use,reliability and comfort and clarity are high on our list.
lin2log said: Comments,lin2log,Oh boo-hoo... and here I was thinking I was dealing with grown-ups.And we can now see the actual quality of this "article", can't we.
Tied said: Comments,Tied,Punk pwned.
christopherjacques said: Comments,christopherjacques,I can see a larger screen being popular just for the purpose of showing things to other people. For the same reason an iPad is better than an iPhone for showing pics.I would rather Apple finally make a REAL tablet that has a REAL stylus and can be used for artwork. I have two iPads, and neither are good for sketching, even with the myriad of "workaround" styli that are trying to get around the fat fingertip requirement.I checked out a Surface Pro 3, and was very sad at how well it worked with REAL art programs that are available on the Mac and Windows, but not the iPad.I, I, I. It must be true.
Dragonfly said: Comments,Dragonfly,Before Apple go off developing more and more different sized touch devices, I think Apple need to go back to the drawing board with touch interfaces. I find them incredibly annoying to use.I don't like the way that, while I'm delicately trying to select text (no bigger than 2 or 3 mm on the screen), with my 10mm finger, "Copy" "Cut" and "Paste" buttons appear right where the action is, so I end up hitting one of those and deleting the bit that I was trying to copy. I then don't like the way I have to shake the device vigorously to undo this. It all seems very clunky to me, and I start to look a bit of a 'nut job' on the train.If I zoom into a web page and start scrolling it left or right, sometimes I go back to the previous screen, or when dragging the page up, I sometimes pull up the Control Panel window from the lower part of the screen ! (can't these gestures be done with 2 fingers ?). Also don't like that when I slide the control panel back down, I sometimes accidentally activate bluetooth.I don't like the way rearranging app icons on the screen is handled, everything jumbles up when you try to strategically move something, or they automatically try to form a folder. For me, touch interfaces are still in their infancy and Apple mustn't stop innovating and improving, because they are far from having a satisfactory end result IMHO.
Coatsey said: Comments,Coatsey,In my humble opinion this is a deliberate fake by Apple, it's too big and won't sell at this size. What will is bigger than d iPad but not this big with both iOS & OSX, or OSX with an iOS touch functionality. What MIcrosoft keep getting wrong is that the OS and the applications are simply not touch friendly enough. We spend more of our time consuming and doing light work, emails, simple text input so Apple's excellent design where I can write this on an iPad using the screen keyboard whilst the page always sit well on the screen. I've tried this on windows 8.1 and it simply does not flow like iOS and is so awkward. I think the sales support my views as do the profits... So is the new language just released for iOS also going to be the port for OSX? Imagine this being used to combine iOS and OSX together. Perhaps that last comment is a stretch too far but hey I love tech, both MS and Apple so rock-on chaps... :-). PS. I'd buy the hybrid in a flash and I have also just bought a Surface Pro 3 and I am fearful it won't be usable like an iPad without the keyboard, I.e, will the onscreen keyboard and the apps work smoothly and aligned and work together on the page... MS, your answer in my opinion is is this view, but I would wouldn't I.
Coatsey said: Comments,Coatsey,I'd buy a hybrid immediately, like the Italian design above. In my humble opinion this is a deliberate fake by Apple, it's too big and won't sell at this size. What will is bigger and iPad but not this big with both iOS & OSX, or OSX with an iOS touch functionality. What MIcrosoft keep getting wrong is that the OS and the applications are simply not touch friendly enough. We spend more of our time consuming and doing light work, emails, simple text input so Apple's excellent design where I can write this on an iPad using the screen keyboard whilst the page always sit well on the screen. I've tried this on windows 8.1 and it simply does not flow like iOS and is so awkward. I think the sales support my views as do the profits... So is the new language just released for iOS also going to be the port for OSX? Imagine this being used to combine iOS and OSX together. Perhaps that last comment is a stretch too far but hey I love tech, both MS and Apple so rock-on chaps... :-). PS. I'd buy the hybrid in a flash and I have also just bought a Surface Pro 3 and I am fearful it won't be usable like an iPad without the keyboard, I.e, will the onscreen keyboard and the apps work smoothly and aligned and work together on the page... MS, your answer in my opinion is is this view, but I would wouldn't I.
Deserteagle911 said: Comments,Deserteagle911,And I think that is the genius thinking behind the iPad: an understanding that an all-in-one device like a PC would not survive the new web-based mobile lifestyle that Jobs foresaw. He understood that much of the power and features that the average PC consumer was getting for that price would go mostly unused. So he fragmented the market and introduced a new category for that type of user- to much success.I love my iPad. I love my iPhone, and I love my MacBook Pro as well as my Mac Pro. They all serve a purpose, and yes they sometimes overlap, but it's hard imagining life without any one of these devices in my arsenal. I even still use my Beatles edition iPod! It's perfect for the treadmill and when that doesn't suffice, I have my Apple TV connected to the plasma in front of the exercise equipment.Knowing Apple's current CEO, I can imagine him thinking of another way to surprise and delight consumers. He believes in magic; the kind that comes from listening to us and meeting us at least halfway if not all the way.Let's look at the idea of an iPad Pro shall we?What are we really asking for? A tablet that can run preexisting apps that currently run on OSX. That's the short answer. But the need changes depending on who you ask. How do you answer so many different requests and needs with a single upgraded product? The answer may be an older product long forgotten called the iBook. it originally targeted education, casual consumers and recent converts from windows computers. Today, we as iPad users are looking for more powerful applications for this incredible mobile device. I propose we think outside the box a bit and perhaps revisit the iBook as a reinvented tool that is aimed at education and enterprise in a mobile device. Powerful and light, with an industrial design that rivals the hybrid market, yet marketed not as an iPad but rather as an entirely new device that breaks all the rules yet does not scream "Macbook Air".This device could have a base station, an "OS station" if you will. When the touchscreen is magnetically attached to the base, it switches to an OSX device with all the power you expect from one of Apple's superb notebooks. When separated from the base it switches to an iOS device and runs powerful sister apps that you buy as part of a suite for a discount at the app store. It is possible now, to have a family of smaller, lighter apps by a developer that work hand in hand from one master app on the iOS platform starting with iOS 8. This means an answer to Creative Cloud by Adobe, an answer to the Office Suite by Microsoft as well as others. A pair of A8 chips in the touchscreen portion, and a pair of quad core chips in the base would be more than enough for this new generation of advanced apps.As an iBook being reinvented, Apple can have the best of both worlds. It can pack a mighty answer to the incessant taunts by Samsung, while leaving its iPad line unscathed and enjoyable by its current masses (myself included). Schools would pick this device up in a hurry, seeing it as the "upgrade of the decade" for their computer labs. Students could take the touchscreen portion home after school while leaving the bases in class. The touchscreens would charge fully during the day while attached to their bases during school hours which is an average of 7 hours total- more than enough time to get a full charge for homework and interactive group assignments off campus. Pack a pressure sensitive stylus with this device and you now have a mobile digital art studio for students as well. Each device is paired with a student using Apple's ingeniously devised fingerprint sensor so theft is discouraged.In the business environment a new iBook would be seen as a welcome piece of enterprise gear. Designers, musicians, digital artisits and individuals that work in production would likely enjoy the power of an OSX base station and the lightweight portability of the detachable touchscreen at their disposal. As a creative artist I can assure you that a larger touchscreen surface would be delightful if Apple were to introduce a native pressure sensitive stylus that supports palm rejection as well.My apologies for such a long post, I just felt that this needed a bit more attention as I am eager to hear of any ideas anyone else has to offer!
Chaslau said: Comments,Chaslau,I have been waiting for years, (since the original iPad) for Apple to finally come out with a "full sized" iPad. In the mean time, I am struggling with Things like Acers and Toshibas running Windows. I love to have an IOS or OSX based tablet.... My ultimate sketch pad!I am ready Apple, bring it on!CKL
Valentyn said: Comments,Valentyn,I think all apple has to do is update the Ipad Air a little, A8 processor slightly better resolution etc. but I don't think the screen should be too much bigger, it's a portable device after all
Radion1 said: Comments,Radion1,Ummm , point of sale device ? Working with finger scan payment processing ? And new beacon technology. That's why.
Joe_HTH said: Comments,Joe_HTH,"We've not heard much speculation about the cost of the bigger iPad, but Ben A. Reitzes thinks it could start at around $650 (£450)."LOL! Ben A Reitzes, whoever he is, is living in fantasy land. The 16GB iPad starts at $500, and a Pro device can't have 16GB and be taken seriously. It will have to have at least 64GB. Well, the 64GB iPad is $700. So the theory that a large iPad with a higher resolution screen and more features starting at $640 is ludicrous, especially for Apple hardware.Secondly, if the iPad Pro is simply a bigger iPad Air, it will get ridiculed. There's no point and no innovation in a bigger iPad Air. Although I have no doubt Apple fans would buy it. They buy anything Apple makes, regardless of it's pointless, poor, or not.
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,Criticism is fine, but let's keep things reasonably clean, shall we?
dudetski said: Comments,dudetski,This is what happens when you have the wanna be techies "predict" new iPods or tablets. Computing us not about the presentation device or layer (iPad tablet) you've missed the point entirely. its about taking raw data, transforming that into information, then taking that and forming it to knowledge.the kind of computing assumed here should be relegated to the "genius" bar discussion forums.cause that's what you all sounds like here... a bunch of "geniuses"
jkogler said: Comments,jkogler,Thanks, I'd wish that somehow they could reach Apple's engineers. Anyway, what I envision for a near future model of computing that would change the desktop computing is the idea of surface computing. Maybe it is too early for adopting the full concept in the 1st iPad PRO, but it could be a test tube for future improvements in this direction. The principle behind surface computing is that you can make any available surface to serve as a display and data entry by means of projection and gesture recognition. The actual processing power could be elsewhere. The function of a tablet under this view is to serve as a moving surface carrying the display, in contrast with the projected display that is on a fixed surface (wall, table, etc.). So, the tablet will survive thanks this ergonomic portability. Besides, with the tablet the data entry is captured by direct touch on the surface, instead of gesture, and this provides more resolution for precision tasks. Another alternative to the surface projection is also the portable eye display, like Google Glass. This device can also be made inter operational with tablets in many incredible ways. Future will show them inexorably, but I hope to find Apple making it with their tradition on quality, performance and beauty.
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,Great list of features there, well thought out. I particularly like the idea of 4 - using it as an extension of the Mac. An extra screen/input device maybe.
jkogler said: Comments,jkogler,My expectations about an iPad "PRO" are of having a device that can help also in professional activities. I mean:1. Comfortably read pdf files (for instance, using Mac Preview) in a size quite close of Letter or A4 paper.2. Have a pen or stylus (made by Apple - not 3rd party) that would enable to comfortably mark the text, make annotations, draw, scribble, etc.3. Functionally free from keyboard (the screen kbd would be an option) - the stylus would be the main form of text entry (by means of handwriting recognition or simply using some kind of single stroke shorthand handwriting recognition like the old Palm PDA Graffiti).4. It would not be necessary to have the same applications that run in a MacBook or a iMac. But it would be fantastic if the iPad PRO could be used as an extension of the iMac or the MacBook. For instance, applications that use painting, drawing, visual programming or similar running in the Mac could use the iPad PRO as a data entry and display device.5. And, if you have more than one iPad PRO, maybe you could think to make them naturally interoperable, as if one could be the extension of the other.6. And you would be able also to make the iPad PRO interoperable with the iPhone.All these point to a kind of computing embedded in the environment, extending outside of a single device. This is my understanding of the PRO character. I see that all these points are very feasible and desirable.
RSultan said: Comments,RSultan,Your innuendo has nothing to do with this post and BTW I am not an Indian, go back to your village, lady.
Stacy said: Comments,Stacy,Lol the Indian doesn't know what he wants
Justin said: Comments,Justin,STFU
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,Zoom's not too bad surely? You just use three fingers to zoom in and then move around the screen. How would you prefer iOS 8 to handle it? To be honest I can't remember how this worked in iOS 6.Still, interesting (and good news for Apple) to hear that there's a ready made market for a larger-screen iPad. Thanks for your comments.
Geddy said: Comments,Geddy,Karen, that does not work. Zoom is a huge hassle and with every aid turned on I still have a lot of trouble with iOS 7.iOS 6 was fine until Sir Ive got his grubby kits on it.!.!Hopefully iOS 8 will rectify some of the problems. I hope so, I'm not about to go moving to the magnificently awful world of 'android'.
RSultan said: Comments,RSultan,I have narrowed my search for a productive tablet list to three: Surface Pro 2, Samsung Note Pro 12 and iPad Pro (if it is launched). I won't be buying SNP as it offers only 64 GB space and it runs Android (mobile OS). Therefore currently SP2 is the only perfect tablet that I can see but as I see the rumors of an imminent iPad Pro buzzing therefore I am willing to wait. As for OS X and iOS, I agree with you on that. I only seek OS X for work though there are also rumors that Apple may blend both OS X and iOS on an iPad Pro whatever it is I only want it replace my laptop!
gavin said: Comments,gavin,would get 2 NOW
kcwookie said: Comments,kcwookie,The iPad currently has that with Dropbox, Drive and a sundry of other apps. I like the current system in place. I open numbers and find the file. I might like the ability to create some folders, but I don't want to have to worry about moving files around, I want the app to find them. I want to simplify my workflow, not make it harder.
kcwookie said: Comments,kcwookie,OS X is fifteen years old. I like iOS because it is better suited for the way I work. I won't spend money for a tablet running a desktop OS regardless of whose it is. There is very little that iOS won't do that OS X will do. Those gaps get smaller every month.
RSultan said: Comments,RSultan,Because iOS is a mobile operating system, OS X will be productive and a replacement for my laptop.
kcwookie said: Comments,kcwookie,Why do you want OS X? It's not a touch based OS.
Tim W said: Comments,Tim W,I would like to see an iPad that has pressure sensitive technology built into the screen that gives it Wacom Cintiq type capabilities. Whilst this might sound a rather niche wish list item, the surface pro 2 has this wacom digitiser layer and is gaining very favourable reviews from professional artists as a very capable and powerful mobile device, even in comparison to Wacom's own much pricier tablet pc. Both these devices run pro art apps such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Manga Studio... Just google 'surface pro artist' and you won't have to look too hard. I have tried to draw on my much loved iPad in various art apps and even bought the wacom ipad stylus to use with Procreate and Sketchbook Pro... the results were less than impressive and I found using my finger gave more control due to the rather large rubber tip typical of most iPad stylus models available. It is however possible to use a proper wacom pen with The Surface Pro2 which has the benefit of a thin tip so you don't feel as though you are using a crayon and also 128 levels of pressure sensitivity... I dismissed the Surface tablet completely until I found this out but now it is something I'm seriously considering buying.
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,Nobody knows, because it's not a confirmed product - just a rumour... Personally I think that's unlikely because of the modifications Apple would need to make to OS X's interface (in iOS Apple has a ready-made touchscreen OS that works beautifully on a tablet - why shoehorn a desktop OS onto a tablet?), but you never know.
RSultan said: Comments,RSultan,Do you have any idea if iPad Pro will come with OS X?
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,The rumours suggest it might not launch until next year, 2015... But we think it will be worth the wait.
disqus_rAUUNylzWF said: Comments,disqus_rAUUNylzWF,I have been looking for a replacement for my Dell laptop and the only top-notch product available currently is Surface Pro 2. After coming across reports about a potential iPad Pro, I have postponed my plans of buying a Surface Pro 2. Though I will only buy if it is a REAL replacement for my laptop and it runs OS X most importantly with a storage space of 256 GB at least otherwise I will go for Surface Pro.
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,What features do you want to see in the new iPad? We're curious about what people actually want.
Peter Praker said: Comments,Peter Praker,So - the same thing with no new features. When I say new - where are features such as the Wacom art tools that Microsoft put into the pro? Apple will only put out minimal upgraded features. So what - it's bigger or it's what already exists. The items that NEED to be added to make them cutting edge are still completely missing - as is the CEO of that company.
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,I love your optimism! Perhaps you're right. But...My understanding of these images is that they're meant to be in the factories where Apple products are made, rather than in situations where they're being used - so I don't think that's a nurse or other medical person, I think that's someone in controlled conditions working on components. I think she's holding up a MacBook screen on its own, hence no keyboard to block the light. But of course I may be wrong!And the rack picture: I think the angle is so extreme - and there's so much foreshortening - that we can't actually tell if the screens are in portrait or landscape orientation. I think they could easily be standard laptop screens in their usual landscape.Finally I would be amazed if a company as historically secretive as Apple would let us see clear shots of a totally new product on its website before announcing anything.But as I said, I could easily be wrong, and in fact I would love to be. Thanks for your thoughts, Ben!
Ben Stevens said: Comments,Ben Stevens,And if you look at the bezel edge of the doctor's screen you'll see it gets thicker in the middle, neither macbook or macbook airs do this. there are the same thickness across the top
Ben Stevens said: Comments,Ben Stevens,Look closer. I think you're wrong lolIn he picture with the screens on the racking there is a FaceTime camera in the top of each screen, which are in portrait mode. The camera wouldn't be in that location on a macbook screen.In the picture with the nurse holding a large screen, I would agree it could be a macbook air screen, but there is light shining on her top, and if there was a keyboard behind it there wouldn't be.I am 100% confident these are both images of a larger iPad.
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,We've seen the one you mean, Ben, but we think that's simply part of a MacBook. Nice spot though!
Ben Stevens said: Comments,Ben Stevens,Check out the apple website for images of the 'concept' larger iPad. It's right there on the supplier responsibility page!
macworlduk said: Comments,macworlduk,It's an article analysing the rumours, not one stating that they're right! On balance we're not convinced that Apple will launch a larger iPad in the next generation, but our thoughts may well change as evidence comes in.
Michael said: Comments,Michael,Great way to conclude an article about the iPad Pro by stating that you dont think it exists.
applestalk said: Comments,applestalk,I've requested a larger iPad in past years when apple asked what I thought about the iPad. I would definitely buy one and use it to do actual work rather than just playing :)
may said: Comments,may,I am looking to replace my laptop with a touchscreen laptop but I don't like the Microsoft/PC laptops. I am waiting for Apple to come out with a touchscreen Macbook Pro or hybrid before I buy.
Karen Haslam said: Comments,Karen Haslam,So you are looking for a Pro iPad at the current iPad Air size. I think that in the future the iPad will be a lot more powerful, just like PCs and Macs have evolved tablets and smartphones will evolve. The thing that is slowing it down is the development of the technology, and probably the situation with patents, where companies are rowing over who owns what patent and stifling the possibilities that could be reached if people could invent without being sued!
lol said: Comments,lol,So again just bigger. I personally love the current ipad air size it's big enough and it's light. I just would love for the ipad pro to have samsung note 10.1 features. I would buy the ipad pro in a heart beat even if it's 1k if it had those features. I really don't care about bigger screen and finger print feature etc. Apple renovate the tablet I don't want just a larger version of an iPod touch I want a completely different and amazing tablet.
David Price said: Comments,David Price,I'm not sure I agree that iPads must by definition be 'simple devices for basic tasks' - for me the natural progression is for tablets to gradually approach and overlap with the natural territory of laptops. iPads are already powerful enough to handle video editing, music composition, 3D gaming etc.
Barracuda said: Comments,Barracuda,I don't know if the naming allows it to be called ipad since iPads are simple devices for basic tasks. The design will be different and display size, when people think something will be as large as.... It never is in the end, so probably between 11.1-12.5" inches. A bigger tablet is the only thing that's left, the hardware is here, OSX 11 is almost here, MacBooks with normal screens are a dying breed, everything has aligned for 2014.
Karen Haslam said: Comments,Karen Haslam,When Steve Jobs said we were entering a Post-PC age, I think that the idea was that many people who were using PCs primarily for email and surfing would find that they could do that on a tablet or smartphone. Obviously there are some things that you need a powerful PC for, but for most people a device that can do a bit of email, surfing, and word processing will suffice... Eventually these devices will be capable to replacing the laptop for these people. Maybe... Or maybe not...
Matthew Locke said: Comments,Matthew Locke,I have to disagree with why would an ipad need a faster chip. He says for a mobile device its fast enough. I love my ipad its great but compare for example music sequencing etc on a desktop laptop with ipad virtual machines etc all a full blown version of photoshop and the list goes on. I think they predicted the post pc age but many people still use pcs precisely because the current lineup of ipads havnt got the power under the hood or the storage of there older and bulkier forebairs yet!
Shawn said: Comments,Shawn,Now that I look more into the pic I think your right. Wishful thinking though. Can't wait until it comes out though. It will be monumentous.