When Apple unveiled its new tablet earlier this month, the consensus seemed to be that it would continue to work with all iPad 2 Smart Covers. After all, the new iPad's frontside dimensions are identical to its predecessors.
But apparently that isn't the case. As noted by iLounge, the new iPad uses a slightly different magnet system that causes some newer Smart Covers, and similar third party magnet-driven cases, not to work properly...
With all the hoopla around the new iPad getting a little bit toastier than its predecessor, Dr. Raymond Soneira is in high demand these days. Yesterday, he explained how the demanding Retina display and brightness levels affect the iPad's run time. Today, he's back at it, warning the device keeps charging even when it claims to have been filled.
Is this an iOS software flaw akin to a "bug" in cellular signal levels on the iPhone 4 (later fixed with a software update)? Hard to tell. All we know is it keeps charging for as much as an hour after the battery gauge hits the 100 percent mark. This, too, might explain why some people experience shorter run times with the new iPad versus its predecessor...
The interest surrounding the iPad overheating meme isn't vaning. Quite the contrary, folks are eager to get to the bottom of this thing. As we hold our breath for today's definite findings of "a battery of tests" conducted by Consumer Reports, a display expert sheds more light on how an improved LED backlighting system on the iPad's Retina display contributes to Heatgate and, specifically, the tablet's run time.
You've already seen heat maps which prove that the new A5X chip with its jumbo-sized quad-core GPU is the biggest heater in the new iPad. That said, its souped up LED backlighting is actually the No. 1 factor leading up to a faster battery drain and is partly to blame for the gizmo's five-degree Celsius temperature increase...
Now that the rumors for the third-generation iPad are over, rumors regarding Apple's next iPhone are kicking in full swing. Reporting on a rumor that's been floating around for quite awhile, Maeil Business Newspaper (via Reuters) says that Apple's next iPhone will feature a 4.6-inch display.
The upgraded screen size has been rumored to be featured in the iPhone for quite awhile. Many Android devices include a larger 4-inch screen, including Samsung's popular Galaxy S II. The 4.6-inch display would be Retina quality and manufactured by Samsung and LG...
Image courtesy of GSM Arena
There's an awful lot of hoopla around the new iPad overheating. People are getting spooked by heat maps and that screenshot of standard iOS prompt saying "the iPad needs to cool down" average users rarely see. It goes without saying that the press immediately jumped on the opportunity to exploit the story in order to keep those eyeballs glued to the screen.
And with Consumer Reports now throwing its credibility behind Heatgate, it's easy to walk away under the impression that the new iPad comes with a major hardware flaw. Now, If you ever held a PS Vita, you can attest it runs a lot hotter than the iPad.
Still, it's hard to escape the notion the story is gaining traction because it's about the world's most powerful technology corporation that just released the third iteration of its category-defining gizmo everyone wants (it's selling like hotcakes). Yes, the new iPad is a bit toastier than its predecessor - full five degrees Celsius to be precise.
How exactly is this a big deal, you ask. Here's why the new iPad gets hotter, why it doesn't matter and how it's being blown out of proportion...
In addition to the new iPad getting a bit warm when playing graphics-intensive games, it would appear that an unknown portion of early adopters are also having issues with Wi-Fi reception. A growing thread on Apple's support forum is filled with reports describing a range of difficulties with the iPad's wireless networking capabilities.
According to a bunch of disgruntled users, the new iPad has trouble maintaining a reliable wireless connection in places with strong signal. It also exhibits flaky connection that constantly drops or has no reception at all. Apple has not yet responded to these complaints at the time of this writing...
That entry-level data plan you signed up for to go along your brand spanking new iPad? It's obsolete, thanks to the device's 4G LTE networking that allows for speeds easily exceeding your home broadband connection. As a result, folks planning on enjoying 4G speeds on the go may likely blow past through their monthly allowance in a couple days. Your mileage may wary, of course, depending on your mobile usage habits.
Here in the U.S., entry-level data plans for iPad begin at $15 or $30 a month, depending on your carrier. AT&T's entry-level 250MB plan will set you back $14.99 a month, with 2GB/5GB plans costing $30/$50 a month. Rival Verizon Wireless is offering 2GB/5GB/10GB tiers priced at $30/$50/$80 a month.
But even five gigabytes a month is conceivable insufficient when you stream high-definition movies and television shows to your device over 4G LTE networks, upload big photos to your social networks or edit and upload full HD movies to YouTube, etc. The Wall Street Journal has the full story (subscription required)...
While guys over at iFixIt have done their trademark awesome job peeking under the new iPad's hood, one aspect of its bowels hasn't been scrutinized yet: the Apple-designed A5X chip labeled "S5L8945X" and fabbed on Samsung's 45-nanometer process. Enter silicon analysis firm Chipworks which just released a high-resolution photo depicting so-called "floorplans" of the A5X package.
Their analysis corroborates speculation on the A5X architecture and offers a fascinating insight into the innards of the A5X package. As you can see in the above shot, a large portion of the A5X's die is dedicated to the four graphic cores, found to be comparable to Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip in terms of speed.
Apple does not publicly specify the type of GPU/CPU used, but it's been widely rumored that the A5X packs in Imagination Technologies' PowerVR SGX543MP4 technology versus a dual core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU found inside the A5 chip from iPad 2 (both pieces of silicon run dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore CPU). Read on for the nitty-gritty details depicted in the polysilicon die photos...
The new iPad. Two generations from the somewhat enigmatic, yet overwhelmingly successful debut, Apple’s latest tablet is firing on all cylinders.
No longer is there a question as to whether such a device has a place in people’s day to day lives, it’s now a question of how many such devices are necessary to have for one household.
Indeed, the iPad is about as mainstream as mainstream gets, only a few years removed from many pundits, including myself, questioning its viability.
The truth is that maybe only a handful of people knew how insanely successful Apple’s tablet would be, but now everyone but the most blinded of opposers is a believer. Even if you don’t own an Apple device, you’re compelled to give credit where credit is due...
Graphic novel fans who haven't yet picked up a new iPad might have just found a good reason to do so. Comixology, the world's largest digital comics platform, just upgraded its iPad app to support the tablet's high resolution Retina display.
The company specializes in graphic novels and comic books, and offers both as digital downloads through its iOS app. Its library includes popular works from both DC and Marvel, as well as a number of other publishers...
An influential United States consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports is investigating online reports describing overheating issues experienced by some owners of the new iPad, which went on sale last Friday to sell three million units during the launch weekend. The consumer watchdog also runs a monthly magazine since 1936 that features exhaustive product reviews widely accepted as credible.
A preliminary report states that the tablet hits 116 degrees Fahrenheit, or a whopping 46 degrees Celzius, while running graphics-heavy games such as Infinity Blade II. According to Reuters, Consumer Reports will publish its full findings this coming Thursday "after finishing a battery of tests", per their spokesperson.
It's interesting to note that Consumer Reports last Saturday published a quick review of the new iPad on its blog, proclaiming Apple's device "the best tablet yet"...
It's no secret that Apple's new tablet has been an overwhelming success thus far. The company announced yesterday that it sold more than three million iPads during its opening weekend — a new record for tablet sales.
But perhaps even more impressive is the amount of iPads that are still available. Retailers still have tons of the tablets on hand, and Apple is looking to launch the new iPad in 24 more countries this Friday...