Official iPad design surfaces with single front-facing camera

“On September 24, 2010, China’s Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of new Apple Industrial Designs wins,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple.

“In this report we cover two things,” Purcher reports. “The first is Apple’s iPad Camera Connector and the second is a new iPad design which clearly illustrates that at least one future iPad model will sport a new FaceTime – face side camera.”

Purcher reports, “The design surprisingly confirms that there might not be a back side camera as most had anticipated.”

More info in the full article, including patent application illustrations, here.

88 Comments

  1. Great! But I have the IPad 64gb 3G now. Plus the new IPhone 4. So I’ll pass on it. No new retina display for it the new model. So my old IPad will do..

    I’ll just use my facetime on the
    IPhone. Buy if you get the retina display on the iPad. I’ll upgrade!

  2. Great! But I have the IPad 64gb 3G now. Plus the new IPhone 4. So I’ll pass on it. No new retina display for it the new model. So my old IPad will do..

    I’ll just use my facetime on the
    IPhone. Buy if you get the retina display on the iPad. I’ll upgrade!

  3. With apps like “camera A” and “camera B” you don’t really need a camera for ipad.

    After iOS 4.2 maybe we can use our itouch for a FT cam! After all apple has shown one set up that way in past patent applications.

    FT being an open standard means some app dev should be right on it.

  4. With apps like “camera A” and “camera B” you don’t really need a camera for ipad.

    After iOS 4.2 maybe we can use our itouch for a FT cam! After all apple has shown one set up that way in past patent applications.

    FT being an open standard means some app dev should be right on it.

  5. Why have a backside camera?

    Because there’s apps for that:

    Bar Code scanning
    Adding photos to an inventory database
    Adding photos to a sketching program
    Scanning and OCR-ing documents
    Amazing Virtual Reality views

  6. Why have a backside camera?

    Because there’s apps for that:

    Bar Code scanning
    Adding photos to an inventory database
    Adding photos to a sketching program
    Scanning and OCR-ing documents
    Amazing Virtual Reality views

  7. @Birzzarro

    Actually, I don’t turn on my iPad at all. I just spend the whole time checking myself out in it, such is my wonderfulnessness.

    When is that ‘iLove’ app coming out?

    Or possibly ‘iSolipsism’ for the philosophically ‘minded’.

  8. @Birzzarro

    Actually, I don’t turn on my iPad at all. I just spend the whole time checking myself out in it, such is my wonderfulnessness.

    When is that ‘iLove’ app coming out?

    Or possibly ‘iSolipsism’ for the philosophically ‘minded’.

  9. This behavior from Apple is starting to get rather stale. I.e. Ship a product with glaring feature omissions, wait a few months and ship “2.0” with a couple of those features added, have a press conference, act like you just invented indoor plumbing or something, and watch us nerds and fanboys line up, to the lovingly appreciative sounds of the Mossberg & Pogue duet.

    Bite me Steve.

  10. This behavior from Apple is starting to get rather stale. I.e. Ship a product with glaring feature omissions, wait a few months and ship “2.0” with a couple of those features added, have a press conference, act like you just invented indoor plumbing or something, and watch us nerds and fanboys line up, to the lovingly appreciative sounds of the Mossberg & Pogue duet.

    Bite me Steve.

  11. @ TheloniousMac & the Apple disgruntled

    There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between illumination and enlightenment, between science and magic, and it lies between the pit of man’s feature set fears and the summit of Steve Jobs knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we lovingly call The Apple Zone.

    Deal.

  12. @ TheloniousMac & the Apple disgruntled

    There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between illumination and enlightenment, between science and magic, and it lies between the pit of man’s feature set fears and the summit of Steve Jobs knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we lovingly call The Apple Zone.

    Deal.

  13. There aren’t really people bemoaning that there 1st generation iPad doesn’t have a camera, are there? All of us knew that a camera would be coming. We just didn’t know when. So, if someone bought an early iPad, there should be no complaints that Apple® now adds a camera, or anything else. Lots of people, including me, had no intention of getting the 1st generation. We all knew the camera, and other things, would be coming. We chose to wait. To me, a camera is minimum equipment. I know there will be more later. I’ll upgrade then. But I am not inclined to get a 1st generation.

    For 1st generationers, there is a good ap (likely more than one) that lets you use your iPhone to take a picture on the iPad, “Camera for iPad” if I remember correctly. Works fine over bluetooth.

  14. There aren’t really people bemoaning that there 1st generation iPad doesn’t have a camera, are there? All of us knew that a camera would be coming. We just didn’t know when. So, if someone bought an early iPad, there should be no complaints that Apple® now adds a camera, or anything else. Lots of people, including me, had no intention of getting the 1st generation. We all knew the camera, and other things, would be coming. We chose to wait. To me, a camera is minimum equipment. I know there will be more later. I’ll upgrade then. But I am not inclined to get a 1st generation.

    For 1st generationers, there is a good ap (likely more than one) that lets you use your iPhone to take a picture on the iPad, “Camera for iPad” if I remember correctly. Works fine over bluetooth.

  15. The iPad is fine just as it is. Better than fine, actually.
    Like most iPad users, I dont really care about facetime – thats a kids thing.

    the iPad is my new reader – already I have saved over $200 in books from Amazon. In a year the ipad will pay for itself.

    Now Netflix in Canada, on my iPad.

    3G on my iPad.

    Camera? Who cares?

  16. The iPad is fine just as it is. Better than fine, actually.
    Like most iPad users, I dont really care about facetime – thats a kids thing.

    the iPad is my new reader – already I have saved over $200 in books from Amazon. In a year the ipad will pay for itself.

    Now Netflix in Canada, on my iPad.

    3G on my iPad.

    Camera? Who cares?

  17. Don’t care about a camera? As Simple already mentioned, it is not just for Facetime. Cameras are used to scan checks to deposit in bank accounts. They are used to scan documents to email to people. And for other things.

    But video conferences will become more common now. Those who are comfortable that they have advanced as far as they are willing in technology will say they don’t “need” it. Maybe not. But you will get left behind. Again.

  18. Don’t care about a camera? As Simple already mentioned, it is not just for Facetime. Cameras are used to scan checks to deposit in bank accounts. They are used to scan documents to email to people. And for other things.

    But video conferences will become more common now. Those who are comfortable that they have advanced as far as they are willing in technology will say they don’t “need” it. Maybe not. But you will get left behind. Again.

  19. There should be two cameras. Frontside is video conference only. Backside is for multiple other operations, i.e.: monitoring your surroundings while your engrossed in the book on you iPad, or while you’re facetiming. Not good to give up video conferencing. But the other uses are critical for business and other uses. It needs both cameras.

  20. There should be two cameras. Frontside is video conference only. Backside is for multiple other operations, i.e.: monitoring your surroundings while your engrossed in the book on you iPad, or while you’re facetiming. Not good to give up video conferencing. But the other uses are critical for business and other uses. It needs both cameras.

  21. (Otherwise known as the disgruntled PCTroll)

    Following your impeccable (Ha!) logic, Human Beings should be born fully formed, six feet tall, weighing approximately 200 lbs. No growth patterns for you, no no no. No babies, no learning, no expansion of consciousness or abilities.

    Completely and finally developed OR NOTHING AT ALL! Behold theloniousMac and his greatness fully sprung from Zeus’s head, like Athena!

    We grovel at your feet, oh exalted one!

  22. (Otherwise known as the disgruntled PCTroll)

    Following your impeccable (Ha!) logic, Human Beings should be born fully formed, six feet tall, weighing approximately 200 lbs. No growth patterns for you, no no no. No babies, no learning, no expansion of consciousness or abilities.

    Completely and finally developed OR NOTHING AT ALL! Behold theloniousMac and his greatness fully sprung from Zeus’s head, like Athena!

    We grovel at your feet, oh exalted one!

  23. Ha comparing the growth pattern of a human being to the magical ipad, man fanboys are delusional. I like Apple products I own both a Mac and ipod touch but common apple fanboys your lord and savor Steve Jobs is a master at releasing a magical product with key missing components that could of been easily added but he does not. The Apple ipad could have easily had a camera the first time around but Steve Jobs wanted to make more money off of soulless yuppies so now in a couple of months he will come down the mountain and bring you a magical ipad wait for it, with a camera!! More power to him I don’t blame him, I blame the idiots that brought a first gen ipad and then complain about it when the 2nd Gen comes out. Steve Jobs loves making money of idiots like first Gen ipad buyers. Me personally I don’t buy and apple product until the 2nd or 3rd Generation that way I actually get value for my money. My point is stop complaining Steve Jobs is in the business of making money and screwing idiots over.

  24. Ha comparing the growth pattern of a human being to the magical ipad, man fanboys are delusional. I like Apple products I own both a Mac and ipod touch but common apple fanboys your lord and savor Steve Jobs is a master at releasing a magical product with key missing components that could of been easily added but he does not. The Apple ipad could have easily had a camera the first time around but Steve Jobs wanted to make more money off of soulless yuppies so now in a couple of months he will come down the mountain and bring you a magical ipad wait for it, with a camera!! More power to him I don’t blame him, I blame the idiots that brought a first gen ipad and then complain about it when the 2nd Gen comes out. Steve Jobs loves making money of idiots like first Gen ipad buyers. Me personally I don’t buy and apple product until the 2nd or 3rd Generation that way I actually get value for my money. My point is stop complaining Steve Jobs is in the business of making money and screwing idiots over.

  25. at least with a camera one could make video calls on skype using the iPad. i haven’t elected to get an iPad for this reason alone. my iPhone can use skpe as a phone and my MacBookPro can make video calls from anyWiFi location.

  26. at least with a camera one could make video calls on skype using the iPad. i haven’t elected to get an iPad for this reason alone. my iPhone can use skpe as a phone and my MacBookPro can make video calls from anyWiFi location.

  27. To: Sarasota
    I have been using a Motorola Bluetooth headset with my iPad for sometime and it works great. The headset also works with my iphone. I wish Skype would update their code so the headset could also work with their app (I Live in hope).

    I have not tried a Bluetooth camera but I do know their apps that allow you to use your iPhone as a camera for your iPad.

    Bottom line – I would hate seeing a new iPad until next year March Announcement, April Delivery at it’s one year anniversary). It is selling like hotcake, all products that claim to compete are just failing and helping convenience everyone why iPad is the magical device.

  28. To: Sarasota
    I have been using a Motorola Bluetooth headset with my iPad for sometime and it works great. The headset also works with my iphone. I wish Skype would update their code so the headset could also work with their app (I Live in hope).

    I have not tried a Bluetooth camera but I do know their apps that allow you to use your iPhone as a camera for your iPad.

    Bottom line – I would hate seeing a new iPad until next year March Announcement, April Delivery at it’s one year anniversary). It is selling like hotcake, all products that claim to compete are just failing and helping convenience everyone why iPad is the magical device.

  29. @theloniousMac
    Geez…who pissed in your soup? Apple raced to get it out to corner marketshare….as others are clearly trying to follow suit.

    Remember, people who bought the iPad V1…knew this. The ones that wanted the Cam will wait and the others, like me, went ahead anyway because the cam is just not that important.

    Am I a fanboy? Maybe but I bought it with eyes wide open so don’t speak for me. In fact, don’t speak at all.

  30. @theloniousMac
    Geez…who pissed in your soup? Apple raced to get it out to corner marketshare….as others are clearly trying to follow suit.

    Remember, people who bought the iPad V1…knew this. The ones that wanted the Cam will wait and the others, like me, went ahead anyway because the cam is just not that important.

    Am I a fanboy? Maybe but I bought it with eyes wide open so don’t speak for me. In fact, don’t speak at all.

  31. Like the first 2007 iPhone I get to use this new iPad device for a whole year before Version 2 comes out with more bells and whistles. I have plenty of family members who’ll gladly take this one off my hands when I buy another new one. I wouldn’t have missed that new iPhone in 2007 and now this new 2010 iPad for all the ARM chips in China. Early adopting is it’s own delightful reward. (And an iPad camera don’t mean Jack to me right now.)

  32. Like the first 2007 iPhone I get to use this new iPad device for a whole year before Version 2 comes out with more bells and whistles. I have plenty of family members who’ll gladly take this one off my hands when I buy another new one. I wouldn’t have missed that new iPhone in 2007 and now this new 2010 iPad for all the ARM chips in China. Early adopting is it’s own delightful reward. (And an iPad camera don’t mean Jack to me right now.)

  33. /sarcasm on
    The iPad will never be a viable product.
    Just wait ’till Android tablets get going. Apple will go bankrupt and be sorry they ever entered the market.
    Who wants to read a book on a tablet?
    /sarcasm off

  34. /sarcasm on
    The iPad will never be a viable product.
    Just wait ’till Android tablets get going. Apple will go bankrupt and be sorry they ever entered the market.
    Who wants to read a book on a tablet?
    /sarcasm off

  35. Anonymous coward ‘Peter Pansy’ sez: “My point is stop complaining Steve Jobs is in the business of making money and screwing idiots over.”

    Troll much?

    I’m willing to bet this is the same old dumbass who hangs around here trolling under a variety of names.

    CONCLUSION: Anonymous = troll.

  36. Anonymous coward ‘Peter Pansy’ sez: “My point is stop complaining Steve Jobs is in the business of making money and screwing idiots over.”

    Troll much?

    I’m willing to bet this is the same old dumbass who hangs around here trolling under a variety of names.

    CONCLUSION: Anonymous = troll.

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