iPad 2 coming early next year?

[S2 Ant]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/07/ipad-2-begins-shipping-from-foxconn-in-february/

I know there isnt a great deal of info on their article but was wondering, those that have an iPad at the moment, what improvements would you like to see, or where do you feel its weaknesses are at the moment?

[Poppa Dom]

As an Apple Distinguished Educator I do get the inside track on most new developments - Carl isn't the Applite on here, just the most vocal  Foxconn has the contract for the next ipad - expected to start shipping in next 100 days, so looking at late Q1 in 2011. Details on the specification are still sketchy but it is pretty certain that there will be a FaceTime camera, gyroscope in addition to the device having a thinner form factor, better display and a USB connector. I'm expecting one mid Feb.

Dom

[JPC]

A retina display would be amazing but probably too expensive

[vRS Carl]

Carl isn't the Applite on here, just the most vocal

  I've never professed to be the Applite i just keep my ear to the ground and follow stuff to do with Apple as i like there products and i know a few others on here use them. Others on here labeled me so i just went along with it as i thought it was a pi55take.

A retina display would be amazing but probably too expensive

For them to do a Retina Display on the iPad would require them to increase the resolution 8 fold so i doubt we will see that on the next iPad. Not only would it be too expensive it would need a hell of a processor increase and/or Ram. Plus they would then probably have issues with the battery.

[apollo13]

 

[Norbreck21a]

Love my current 64 gig wifi IPad, but they can certainly make improvements.

Hardware

Cameras. Rear facing for general snapshot use, and a front mounted one that can be properly used with apps like Skype. I'm away in hotels a fair bit on business, and always use Skype on the notebook to call back home, but using the iPad would be soooooo much easier.

Stereo speakers placed either side of the unit to give better separation.

USB socket is a definate must have.

HDMI out for connecting to the tv without having to use a dock connector ( and higher resolution and sound).

SD card slot built in for downloading images from a camera as well as using it to increase the storage capacity, or just transferring files without a PC etc.

3G built in as standard without having to pay another £100 for it.

Dock connectors on bottom and one side so the iPad can be docket and charged in a proper dock in landscape mode as well as portrait.

Software

Better organisation of images and allowing user definable folder names and viewing of EXIF data.

Proper organisation of music videos (like the IPod and iPhone have had for some time now) rather than the stupid way of cataloging them alphabetically rather than under artist name.

Tabbed safari app to make switching between web pages a one touch affair ( and rather than using 3rd party browser apps).

[GTIjames]

Im sure i have heard rumours of a mini ipad coming out too, something like a third smaller and pretty basic spec to compete with the cheaper android tabs

Knowing what apple are like they will probably release the cheaper smaller one and a newer expensive model as mentioned above at the same time then hold the price on the original ipad

[Poppa Dom]

Carl isn't the Applite on here, just the most vocal

Only jesting buddy :)
  I've never professed to be the Applite i just keep my ear to the ground and follow stuff to do with Apple as i like there products and i know a few others on here use them. Others on here labeled me so i just went along with it as i thought it was a pi55take.

A retina display would be amazing but probably too expensive

For them to do a Retina Display on the iPad would require them to increase the resolution 8 fold so i doubt we will see that on the next iPad. Not only would it be too expensive it would need a hell of a processor increase and/or Ram. Plus they would then probably have issues with the battery.

[Ifti]

mini iPad are simply rumours.

The new iPad will have a faster processor and a front facing camera for FaceTime video calling. It may also have some other very slight hardware tweaks, with the possibility of an increase in memory.
Some stated it would have a rear camera, but this was later shot down since it would be unpractical to use an iPad to take photos!

[simonp]

They already have a mini iPad, it's called the iPod Touch. As for features I'd like to see, I think it needs to be more widescreen. The screen is a little 4:3 for my liking and I reckon it needs to be more 16:9. The HDMI ain't gonna happen coz Apple won't be able to flog you the expensive add-ons you currently require to connect any of their gear to a TV!

[Hendo]

Glad I read this I was off to buy a Macbook Air and an ipad this weekend!

I'll now hold off for the new one!

Any mac people on here tell me if my memory stick with all my work files on it will work between a PC and a MAC?  Just the usual files like office files and pics?

Cheers

[Degudodger]

Glad I read this I was off to buy a Macbook Air and an ipad this weekend!

I'll now hold off for the new one!

Any mac people on here tell me if my memory stick with all my work files on it will work between a PC and a MAC?  Just the usual files like office files and pics?

Cheers

I use MS Office at work and a combination of MS Macoffice and Open Office at home on my Mac and don't have any issues.

[Richn83]

SD card slot will unfortunately never happen, you then loose the premium of the higher memory unit!  Also not sure if the processor will get too much quicker as you would then have competition issues with macbook air, although RAM will at least come in line with the iphone 4 if not beyond.  Frankly the biggest improvement I would want is a massive over-haul of the op system the ipad and iphone are different devices with very different purposes and you need more of a paired down OSX rather than a beefed up IOS.  With proper use of central file store accessible to all applications and with the ability to transfer data on and off without the use of itunes, then you would have something worth the money.

[gtipirelli]

Little bit off topic so apologies in advance.

I synced my ipad over the weekend and it loaded up the new software uppdate for the iPad - sorry for the non technical descriptions.

It all went perfectly well except that when I then turned on the iPad afterwards, I had lost all of the notes I had stored in my notes App. Any idea why and where they have all gone ?

Back on topic

A front facing camera and microphone would be nice for phone calls, except for that, pretty happy with everything else it does for us. My only other issue is the wireless connection but I think that is down to my router.

[vRS Carl]

Do you use MobileMe? If so have you set it up to Sync Notes?

If not they *may* have synced into your Email account. But it sounds like you haven't set them up to Sync.

Did you restore from a backup or set up as a new iPad when you updated?