The New iPad: More Features, Same Name

So now that the hubbub has died down in these post-unveiling hours, let's take stock of this new future bestseller from the Apple barn. The geeks at Cupertino certainly do have a way of introducing  evolutionary changes to the point at which they can milk the upgrade cycle no more, before announcing the next big revolutionary device. With the 'new' iPad (no, it doesn't have a fancy moniker,) I believe this is the launch of an evolutionary device. Compared to its predecessor, it has all the mandatory bigger-faster-better specifications--faster processing, a higher-resolution display, a better camera and a few other features that were deemed keynote-worthy. Let's take a closer look at some of the highlights from yesterday's unveiling.

Apple clearly remains a shareholder's darling--62 million devices sold in the previous quarter alone, with over 76% of their revenue delivered by 'non-PC' devices (read tablets, iPhones and iPods.) And with the new iPad, there seems to be every indication this situation will proliferate. Let's peer into some of the new features in this device.

A tablet is primarily one, large, handheld screen, which makes the quality of its display the single most important consumer experience. Called the 'Retina Display', the new iPad manages to pack in more pixels in its 9.7-inch screen--2,048x1,536 to be exact. That's over 3.1 million pixels. Which is more than your HD television. So one could just imagine the resulting sharpness, given that all this resolution gets shoehorned into a tablet-sized form factor. Photographs, videos and text will certainly appear more gloriously than ever. Then there's the new A5X processor--a dual-core CPU with a quad-core graphics processor. This little powerhouse was shown to deliver misty-smooth high-resolution gaming, Full HD video capture and smooth photo editing, and will undoubtedly open several vistas for intriguing new tablet applications.

The camera is also refreshed--basically similar to the one used in the iPhone 4S. At 5 megapixels and with considerably more advanced optics compared to its predecessor, this one can do 1080p video recording. An interesting addition is the video image stabilization feature--certainly something that will come in handy during prolonged bouts of usage where a 1.46 pound device will certainly appear heavy!

Not so relevant to Indian users, this iPad now gets 4G LTE wireless network capabilities that enable speeds of up to 73Mpbs--something we might not experience for a fair bit of time, but awe-inspiring nonetheless. However, the two best announcements would have to be its characteristically robust battery life (10 hours with normal use and 9 hours while on 4G,) and pricings that match the current generation of iPads (the non-4G devices are $599 and $699 for the 32GB and 64GB pieces respectively. If you want 4G it's $629, $729 and $829 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants.) It is Apple's almost unfailing ability to pack in more features and functionality at similar price bands that has always left me most impressed--and they do so time and again. Here's a wrap-up of the device in their official trailer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQieoqCLWDo[/youtube]

There's still no word as to when these devices will be available here in India, but I reckon not more than a month or two from now. As regards the inevitable question--should I buy it? The short answer would be: sure, if you're already sold on wanting to 'own an iPad' and need bona fide boasting rights. All things considered, if you're an existing iPad owner you might not benefit significantly from upgrading. But if you're a fist-time buyer, look out for blowout stock-clearance deals on current-generation iPads over the next few weeks! As for a comparison between the upcoming flock of next-gen Android tablets? Well that's certainly something for another post. Stay tuned!

The thoughts and opinions shared here are of the author.