BackPLAY THINGS: Apple’s next move
Apple's iPad could get a refresh this week. What really can change for the tablet, and the company's Mac line-up? And what to expect
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Evolutionary or revolutionary? That is the biggest conundrum Apple is dealing with, as it looks all set to perhaps unveil the next iteration of its tablets, the iPad and the iPad Mini.
For some time now, the iPad line-up just hasn’t been as exciting as it was initially. Yes, excitement around a product wears out over time, but then again, the iPad really hasn’t been changed much. Each generation brought in evolutionary updates only, and that is perhaps the reason why iPad sales have slowed. In April this year, Apple announced that it had sold 16.4 million iPads in its fiscal second quarter, a number significantly lesser than the expectation of close to 19 million units. Incidentally, 19.5 million iPads were sold in the corresponding period in the previous year.
There is no doubt that the two iPad updates rolled out in 2013 – the iPad Air and the iPad Mini with Retina Display, were the best tablets Apple had ever made. But, the reality was simple - they also not very different from the previous iPad generations. The Air’s biggest improvements were the slimmer profile and the more powerful processor. The smaller tablet, the Mini, got the high-resolution screen as well as a new processor.
Here is what to expect from Apple’s announcement scheduled for Thursday, which will focus on the tablets and the Mac range of laptops and desktops.
iPad: Better front cameras
Not many people use the rear cameras on the tablets, but the front facing snappers are utilized rather well – FaceTime calls and Skype chat sessions. With Apple consistently trying to make the iPads relevant for corporate users, improving front cameras could be its pitch for crystal clear video conferencing.
iPad: The hybrid potential
With the increasing popularity of Windows 8 hybrids (PCs on which the keyboard and the display can be detached), Apple may position its rumored 12.9-inch iPad for those users who want the flexibility between a tablet and a laptop. Basically, a tablet that can be docked into its own keyboard and become a laptop-ish device that isn’t a part of the MacBook lineup. This could instead be the device to fulfill the role Apple has been considering with the much-rumored MacBook Air 12. Just like the iWatch, Apple may allow a sneak peak at this device, but the release will only be next year.
iMac: Retina screens
The MacBooks have been sporting Retina Displays for some time now, but it is time for the iMac desktops to get the spec boost. Apple’s current 27-inch iMac has a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution screen, and the new version could double that. It is unlikely though that there will be more than one iMac Retina version, at least this year.
OS X: Final look at Yosemite
Apple first previewed the next version of OS X back in June this year, and it is now getting close to release, though no date has been mentioned yet.OS X Yosemite features major changes and a bunch of new features, as well as a new interfacethat is more in line with the style of iOS. Some new features bring OS X’s closer to iOS as well - lets you answer phone calls or send and receive text messages on a your Mac and will allow users to pick up a document from where it was left off on the phone or tablet. Expect an announcement on the date of release, the pricing and which machines will be compatible.
MacBook: New Air line-up
The MacBook Air has sported the same design for a few years now, and in the world of laptops, that is an eternity. Without doubt, a new line-up of the Air is on the way, though Apple may not really need to do much with the already up-to-date processors and other specs. If at all there is an all-new product, it’ll be the unveiling of the rumored 12.5-inch MacBook Air.
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