“Apple updated the iPad on Wednesday with a high-definition screen, faster wireless connection and several other refinements,” Nick Wingfield reports for The New York Times.
“As recent history has shown, though, even those relatively modest changes could be enough for the company to attract waves of new buyers for its tablet computer,” Wingfield reports. “The company said the new iPad would go on sale on March 16 for a starting price of $499, unchanged from the last generation of iPads. The product will have a screen that provides a comparable level of clarity to the iPhone ‘retina display,’ with higher-resolution than conventional high-definition televisions, according to Apple executives.”
Wingfield reports, “And in a sign that Apple intends to more seriously protect its market share in the tablet market, the company said it would continue to sell its second generation iPad, dropping the price to $399 from $499… The new iPad, the third generation of the device, looks virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor, without any of the bold outward design changes often associated with new products from the company. It features a faster processor — an A5X quad-core chip — and a higher resolution screen — 2,048 by 1,536 pixels, more than 3.1 million pixels, or four times more than the current iPad. It will also operate on the fourth-generation cellphone network technology known as LTE. In the United States, the new iPad will work on AT&T’s and Verizon’s networks.”
Full article – Think Before You Click™ – here.
MacDailyNews Take: The New York Times seems hellbent on reducing its credibility to a sub-tabloid level.
What’s next, a report claiming that the sky is chartreuse with pink polka dots? Fscking idiots. How out-of-touch do you have to be to think that you can report obvious lies and make people believe it’s the truth?
“Modest changes?” Puleeze. And they wonder why they’re hemorrhaging readers.
UPDATE March 8, 12:45am: Sometime between the publication of our article and this update, The New York Times article text and headline have been revised while neglecting to note that any revisions had been undertaken. Wonder why. 😉
See related article: Why did The New York Times revise their ‘iPad modest changes’ article and neglect to inform their readers? – March 8, 2012
Related articles:
Apple unveils new iPad featuring Retina display, A5X chip, 5-megapixel iSight camera and ultrafast 4G LTE – March 7, 2012
FLA President: Foxconn factories ‘first-class; way, way above average’ – February 15, 2012
Apple CEO Tim Cook calls New York Times supplier report ‘patently false and offensive’
And how is any of the article not true, exactly??
Do you think the changes between the iPad 2 and the new iPad are “modest?'”
Put in historical context, based on design YES. the upgrades are geeky specs to most. Apple frequently makes radical FORM FACTOR design changes.
And the name? “The New iPad” while still selling the old iPad2.
Somebody didn’t think their naming strategy through and has decided to change mid stream. It is going to be confusing to consumers.
What’s the next one to be called? Now that they are selling two models at different price points, how will that work next time? The NEW NEW iPad? and the old new ipad?
And to be clear, I’m excited about the new specs, but I am a geek. I can see where someone expecting something radically different would refer to it as modest.
I am critical of the name, Steve would have had an explanation or ensured a differentiator I think. Just a small example of the new leadership thinking differently I guess..
Form factor has little to do with changes. It is superficial. I am not a geek and I am very excited to get the amazing new iPad. If your not impressed with the changes, it has nothing to do with the impressive changes.
I clearly stated that I WAS excited for the new specs, and want one.
What a bunch of rabid, touchy, hot heads this site has..
I said I could UNDERSTAND someone THINKING it was a modest upgrade. Apple has set a high bar for themselves, some people expect radical paradigm shifting announcements that they can relate to. (I am not that person)
Since when is the term “Modest” an insult? Clearly there is more than one poster here who could use some modesty. Get a grip…
NY Slimes is the bottom of the barrel. Pure Democrat propaganda. Apple is huge, successful, American success story = NY Slimes trashing them. Pathetic.
I’m happy they smart enough to name iPad as iPad, not iPad 3 or iPad HD. It’s like MBP, will still be MBP even the new one coming. Or MBA, or iPodTouch. If the new one coming, they will name it as it is. A New iPad.
Stop defending the indefensible. You’re only making yourself look silly.
So that would explain the radical design of the iPhone 4S…oh, wait – it wouldn’t. Shame that thing didn’t sell very well. Maybe they should have consulted you on the design. And the name. Definitely the name too.
We’re going to send a tech over to your house to install the red phone with the direct line to Tim Cook. Maybe you can help stem the tide of disastrous decision-making that is destroying Apple.
+++1
I’m not sure how much more you can adjust the physical design of the iPad … its basically a super thin screen with a border so you can hold it … Any smaller and lighter and it will be paper .. I actually like a little weight to it. And many folks add more weight and structure with a case
I see how they had that problem with the iPod. Idiots and people that don’t read will be confused.
And they often don’t [make radical design changes], case in point- the Mac Pro. When you have an awesome design you don’t need to f with it.
Maybe you should look at it thusly-
“Wow look at all the new features at no additional cost over the last generation”.
Agree about the form factor being the cause for ‘modest’ summarising, but disagree about the nomenclature. Think about how Apple have named their computers for years (iMac, MacBook, etc) – they’ve not had a ‘2’ or ‘3’ slapped on them.
What will the next iPad be called? ‘The new iPad’, obviously. Then what will *this*one become next year? ‘iPad (3rd gen)’, obviously.
The naming scheme seems to work just fine with iMac, MacBook Pro, etc.
I think consumers will be just fine with the name.
Sent from my iMAC (27 inch, Mid-2011 if you must know)
Actually, this is EXACTLY the point. The ONLY way to distinguish Macs is by their date. This is stupid. If I’m looking to buy a used MBP on ebay I have to do a lot of work to find the one I want. Had they had unique names, it would make my life a LOT easier. But then I guess Apple doesn’t care about the confusion caused when people go to buy used hardware. Oh well…
The should be more than enough? Why should they care buyers of used products? Thats not their job. That should be resellers duty to properly identify the model before selling. Would you prefer some sort of complicated system like digital cameras with all their random number and letters with the model name? You shouldn’t blame Apple because you choose to buy your products 2nd or 3rd hand.
“Oh gee! I don’t remember if the 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo was the one used in the 2010 MBP or the 2011 one! And I don’t know how to use Wikipedia!
Fuck that, I’ll just buy this Dell XPS 2943G. I’ve had enough of Apple’s confusing names!”
^^^^^ That’s how you sound, in all your retardness ^^^^^
@lukeskymac, please don’t make me laugh while I’m drinking an old-fashioned. Now to clean up the mess…
iPad 2 schools. 16GB only…Get on the cloud.
You can’t be serious…
These are “Modest”?
4x the resolution of the iPad 2 (no one else has anything comparable in a tablet)
((If think this if just a geeky thing, just show someone — anyone — an iPhone 3GS & an iPhone 4 and watch their reaction to the difference in resolution. Also just the ability to play 1080p at native resolution is going to wow a LOT of non geeks.))
2x graphics cores of the iPad 2
((If you think this is just a geeky thing, watch the average user deal with some other graphics on some other tablets and see their frustration with the graphics speed [ or rather lack thereof]))
LTE (> 2x wireless throughput of the iPad 2)
((If you think this is just a geeky thing, watch someone traveling down the road trying [as a passenger, of course] to download Google Maps or such in real time. 3G takes a noticeable time. In areas with 4G this will be very, very noticeably faster for anyone.))
Greater RAM (not Flash RAM)
((It you think this is just a geeky thing, then you have no idea how this plays into overall performance. Not everything on an iPad is graphics constrained. Think businesses that use the “Good for Enterprises” application. There is a very noticeable difference in message decryption speed between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. Business users — not just geeks — should notice a similar improvement going from an iPad 2 to a 2012 iPad.))
Need I go on?
There were significant improvements.
Could there have been more? Yes: 802.11ac; haptic display; front facing camera supporting native resolution and 1080p video; move from USB 2.0 to either USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt; add a top end at 128 GB flashRAM; etc.
However, that does not take away from the fact that there were significant (not modest) improvements.
Don’t read MDN’s selectively-edited excerpt from the NYT, read the actual Wingfield article in its entirety. He mentioned almost all of the technical improvements. He quoted an analyst that recommends this rockets this iPad ahead of anything else that’s been announced, which includes Windows 8 tablets. He didn’t really have anything bad to say about Apple at all.
Wingfield, however, did commit the sin that MDN can’t forget: it reported that some people had hoped for more aggressive design changes. Expressing disappointment about any Apple product is verboten on MDN, and MDN reserves the right to attack without mercy if you dare to question its Apple religion.
In short, MDN just continues to whine about the NYT because it can’t generate its own news and it needs the ad clicks. Quite pathetic, actually.
Sorry, I can’t agree with that at all. MDN rounds up news, it doesn’t generate it. MDN doesn’t need to sensationalize stories, Apple stories are ipso facto sensational. Pundits that try to steal a match on Apple design are fair game for ridicule. And MDN followers, many of whom are longtime persecution victims, have a human right to see their tormentors in the dock and shake their fists in righteous triumph. I don’t regard any of that as whining, pathetic, religious, or pathological in any way. Anyone who pretends that the fairness doctrine applies here, or that enough is enough, doesn’t understand that some of us, having lived through a mercy-free era dominated by Windows shills, apologists, and storm troopers, see nothing but glory in throwing it all back in their faces.
A small overreaction to a mild story is understandable given the brutal backstory.
Jane–well said, and absolutely right. Thanks for your post.
The Retina Display is “geeky specs”? What have you been smoking?
The next ipad will be called the 4th generation ipad. They had to stop with the numbers.What were going to have in 5 years ipad7? Just like the ipod they are classified as 1st generation 5th generation ect…
Not in The Least, just getting battery life to remain the same with the Retina Display and new A5X is an amazing feat.
Don’t forget LTE.
Perhaps not modest but not speaking as a fanboy, I do believe that it was not revolutionary. Good enough for me to have just ordered one (16 GB Wi Fi) but not anything like the first or even second. And I have owned both of them too. I couldn’t live without my iPad. I bought a new 27″ iMac last month and rarely use it. It is great when I do use it but I’m so dependent on the iPad that I almost forget that it’s only inches away on my desk. But it does have a bitchin huge screen that makes my old 22″ monitor seem so tiny. Now I wonder if we will see a 7″ or 8″ iPad?
Revolutions don’t happen quite as frequently as upgrades
Agreed, my point was that Apple has had some many “revolutions” in recent years, the press and casual consumers EXPECT (RIght or wrong) that to be the case with every announcement, hence the term “Modest”. But everyone here was up in arms in some visceral rage, hell bent on fighting the “conspiracy”.
A little perspective folks, in the grand scheme of things not that big a deal. Take your blood pressure medicine already!
So, HD vs SD, not revolutionary as well?
Hmmm dryers, like this.
“Today the newest steamship of the White line managed to contact a smallish ice mass on its way to New York. It suffered some small damage and so will be a little late getting to New York. ”
2009….Note that some of the china has already arrived. LOL
Of course, I am referring to the Titanic.
Of course, Cap’n Obvious.
The moon landing was a ‘modest’ trip and wasn’t even to a different planet. It won’t be long before every country is doing it and for a lot less money.
The truth is not the issue. The characterization of the changes as “modest” is the issue. Even the fact that the form factor didn’t change is spun as a negative, just like the whole iPhone 5 fiasco.
I for one am glad the shape didn’t change. That means it will still fit in my bag.
The quadrupled pixel count alone is anything but modest.
it’s not that it’s ‘not true’ but giving everything a negative slant like describing the new stuff as ‘modest’. …
— 4 times more pixels than iPad 2
— (according to apple) 4x faster than Tegra 3 in graphics
— same battery life (so many had stated flatly it’s impossible to increase power so much and maintain battery)
etc.
that’s NOT ‘modest’.
Also statements that’s trying to give things a negative slant like “without any of the bold outward design changes often associated with new products from the company”
really? always dramatic changes? the iPhone 4S looks pretty much the same as the previous models, the box of the Mac Pro hasn’t been changed in donkey years even with processor etc upgrades, the imac looks the same etc.
the new iPad is stunning and the NYT guy is trying it’s damnest to spin it as something ‘not enough’ just like all the people saying the original iPad was ‘just a big iPhone’.
Well, for starters, this statement is clearly inaccurate.
The new iPad has four times *as many* pixels as the current iPad 2. If it had four times *more* pixels then it would have five times *as many* pixels. This is sloppy writing for a newspaper and is, unfortunately all too common in all forms of media.
Another example: When one team has 40 points and their opponent just scored to reach 38 points, they have not “pulled within two points.”
Let’s see. I believe 4 is 4 times as many as 1, 8 is four times as many as 2 and 3,145,728 is 4 times as many as 786,432.
You seem to be a little mathematically challenged.
No, he’s right, for what it’s worth.
Saying “4 times *more*” is additive, while saying “has 4 times as many” is comparative.
Mathematically, the former implies 4x x, while the latter implies 4x. They are not the same.
It *is* sloppy writing.
@Do Math Lately?
You were hoisted by your own petard. KingMel rightly pointed out that the NYT report said “4 times more” when they should’ve said “4 times as many”.
It’s not true because the author is just parroting a CNET article that said the exact same thing. Too much Microsoft money in the water. The sharks are circling. Balmer is trying to create an edge.
All the shit that fits in print. The New York Times is fast proving it.
Modest?!!!
Wingfield came from WSJ – maybe he hates Apple because he was jealous of the special access Mossberg had. Or maybe he is just not the fan that I am.
I would call the changes modest as well.
Why’s that? Because it didn’t have a fold-out keyboard, a stylus, SD card slot…
Just like the iP4s, because the OUTWARD APPEARANCE hasn’t changed, idiots think nothing much has changed..
Modest unless you want to compare it to an Android device.
Mr. Wingnut just doesn’t like those Apple toys that pretend to be computers. I’ll pass on visiting the web tripe^h^h^h site…
“Apple’s FAILED new iPad.” Always say “Failed” or “Disappointing.”
You know, right as everybody kills apple’s servers trying to BUY one.
Intentionally slanted. Obvious negative take on advanced features. Who cares what ny times prints anyway?
I had posted on there that NY Times is like a pouting girl that feels like it’s been left out of the party and, of course, they’re not approving it. Funny.
The part where they claim that the changes are modest, I suppose. The changes are far, far from modest. I never imagined they can actually produce a screen with such resolution without a major loss in performance and battery power. That is an incredible feat on its own.
P…………r,
I don’t think anyone here expects glowing praise from other news sources. But an even description is appreciated. Its just that we see so much of the negative so often that we get tired of it.
PS, I am hoping that these new units have the hepatic display and are just not activating it for now. Have to get the software right first. Now that would be really neat.
en
A Liver Display?
+1 Took the words outta my mouth.
The new HD display and LTE (if you want it) are worth the price of admission alone. The iOS device eco-system is two fold… hardware and software. Apple today introduced an awesome hardware platform that has needed updates – better screen, better screen, and a snappy processor. This summer when Apple introduces the new iPhone… isn’t that when they will typically introduce the new iOS… which will then be available around Sept. or Oct? I think people were wanting a new iOS now. Not the way it works. Tim said it himself, lots more to come in 2012. We are not even 3-months in.
There seems to be a disagreement concerning the definition of “modest”.
The retina display has 4 time the number of pixels, and NYT calls this “modest”.
AS in
You used to make $50,000 a year, now you make $200,000. This is a “modest” increase in your salary.
It used to take 6 hours to fly from NYC to LA. It now take 1.5 hours. This is a “modest” decrease in time.
Idiots. ( in a modest way ) 😛
If only Nick had written “apparently modest” instead of “relatively modest”, he would have shown himself to be a skillful writer slyly alluding to the perceived but flawed wisdom of pundits, instead of a know-it-all, I-told-you-so jackass.
I think Dave Pogue should deliver a devastating clothesline to Nick in one of the Times building’s hallways.
Then do the “heavyweight belt” motion while standing over his unconscious body.
Readers of The New York Times do not base their technology purchasing decisions on writers’ choice of words. They already know that Apple makes outstanding, desirable, market-leading, high-end devices. They may be swayed by opinions like Tom Friedman’s on globalization, or vote based on editorial recommendations, but they do not need anyone’s advice about personal articles they see and use daily. FUD no longer works, and Apple’s cash hoard, larger then Croesus’ treasuries, proves that.
Thomas Friedman the Imperial messenger, look it up.
The Times hasn’t been credible for at least three decades, so this is hardly a surprise.
Exactly right. The Old Gray Lady is now the Old Gray Rag.
What is modest for Apple is not modest for other manufacturers. Apple turns out whole systems, not just an upgraded processor. NYT may be looking at just speeds and feeds. But when you look at iOS 5.1 plus the iCloud changes, the app introductions, etc., this is not really a modest product announcement. And Tim didn’t let it be called iPad 3 or whatever, which is Apple-ese for “we know it’s not an entirely new category of product.” And he finished with “2012: There’s a lot to look forward to” — more Apple-ese for the real iPad 3 is yet to come.
well, the NYT’s term “relatively modest” begs the question, relative to what? does the NYT ever say?
all the iPad’s technical upgrades are literally “significant” at least if they are either groundbreaking (the display) or newly best of class (4G battery life), etc.
and the new iPhoto app is cetainly “remarkable” to say the least. of course, the NYT could weasel out and say, that’s not iPad only.
but bottom line, the NYT guy is just a shitty writer.
What every meh-firster needs to realize is—what would be the general reception for a product with these specs if it had been made by Samsung or any other company besides Apple? You know there would be rave reviews and tears of joy that somebody had finally kneecapped Apple.
It really doesn’t matter what negative words the critics have to say about the iPad. Modest improvements or not, they are definite improvements over the older iPad. We know the iPad is still the finest tablet on the market and consumers also know that. Apple will continue to sell tens of millions of iPads and the NYT can’t stop that and are fools to even try.
Apple Turnover. MMmmmmm.
What’s funny when reading the blogs and posts on these articles are the haters and naysayers who seem to think they can prevent people from buying one. Some guy is shouting that $35 tablets from India are coming, etc. It’s hilarious.
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any news organization.
Its website is the most popular American online newspaper website, receiving more than 30 million unique visitors per month.
The NYT is also a socialist rag, read by lefties and is in business to promote socialism.
Hey…I’m a leftie and I’d never read the NYT. It’s in the business to support a plutocracy and it isn’t even close to being a socialist rag. For socialist views, I read The Daily Worker and The Christian Science Monitor.
What isn’t a liberal, leftist, commie, socialist plot Jean?
It seams to be all you talk about, is the tin foil on your head too tight?
Kids on your lawn again?
So fscking what! Yellow journalism is still yellow journalism, you idiot!!
Or are you one of those who believes in the mantra that if it’s in the NYT it must be true? Critical thinking is obviously not one of your strong points.
=:~)
Be careful not to respond to NYT “hit pieces” with some of our own. We don’t know how much editorial freedom this one tech writer enjoys. I’d be interested in David Pogue’s take- he seems to have his own agenda lately, pleasing everybody. He’s long been one of my favorite writers, though…
I think too many people see changes as “immodest” unless hardware and appearance is mostly involved. if the iPad increased an eighth of an inch in size, that would be the headline.
ACCESSORY MARKET LOVES APPLE, as does SPARE PARTS
Apple has legions of happy accessory makers who love the fact that iPhones and iPads don’t change radically, in shape, location of buttons, and the connector port.
They often don’t have to re-design their widget, and I bet they appreciate that. Some of those widgets are kinda spendy, and I’d be disgruntled if I only got a year or two out of something.
And you can get about any part for an iPad and many times replace it yourself. This is one benefit of stable design.
Every time a new product maintains the same form factor, the pool of accessory customers just gets bigger, avoiding the dreaded fragmentation for one more iteration.
Think of the myriad form factors of Android handsets and tablets. The accessory market can’t really hit a home run in that scenario.
I personally feel it’s stupid to generate business by constant tweaking of this and that, like adding fins to a car and changing its name, as our auto industry did. If they had added fins to this new iPad the NY Times would have been wowed.
In sum, to me, if a gadget gets radical new features and abilities, the design might be changed. But if it is radical improvement of the same basic functions, then the form factor can be left alone, especially if it ain’t broke.
It’s not such an offensive article, really. The iPad didn’t require any drastic design changes or new functionality, and so has no discernible differences from a distance – hence the apparent misuse of the word ‘modest’. Go easy on the NYT, MDN!
-And by the way, I think the new iPad looks utterly incredible!
It’s just one report from the Times. David Pogue’s reporting is substantially better. I was more than disappointed in the inadequate real time blog coverage from the Times, though.