“Apple plans to release several new products this year, according to the company’s CEO, Tim Cook,” Sam Mattera writes for The Motley Fool. “Not just next-generation Macs, iPhones, and iPads, but completely new products in totally new categories.”
“Based on reports from Apple’s supply chain, and the company’s own product nomenclature, one of those products could be a larger iPad,” Mattera writes. “This rumored “iPad Pro” (which many sell-side analysts have said is forthcoming) allegedly would’ve sported a 12.9-inch screen.”
“But according to DigiTimes, the iPad Pro isn’t coming,” Mattera writes. “The Motley Fool’s own Evan Niu was at CES when Samsung unveiled the Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 back in January, and he got a chance to test out the device. Unfortunately for Samsung, Evan found it too big and unwieldy and ultimately concluded that no matter the manufacturer — Apple or Samsung — larger tablets were unlikely to succeed. If DigiTimes is correct, Apple executives have come to a similar conclusion.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related article:
Apple has shelved 13-inch ‘iPad Pro,’ sources say – March 14, 2014
iPad Pro does not equal a new product category.
True and Apple doesn’t need a third OS – say iOSPro — rather if they do this product (which in the light of poor sales with Microsoft Surface – Apple shouldn’t) yet if the do, a FULL OSX running on iPad Pro, would better suit users needs.
Truth is that a 13″ iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard and iWork could easily replace most desktop computers in most companies. Maybe Apple is afraid of cannibalizing Macs too soon?
I challenge you to create and work on complex spreadsheets & documents on a 13″ screen 8 hours a day, five days a week, every month.
That doesn’t take into account the fact that Numbers doesn’t even come close to replacing Excel in the vast majority of companies, be it capability or document compatibility.
Certainly not the iOS version of Numbers
The OSX Numbers doesn’t come close to Excel.
We used to do that all of the time, every day, every month, for years. It was called “normal” back then. In addition, those 13″ displays were low resolution CRTs and many suffered from interlace flicker and burn-in. But we did it because that was what we had to work with. You must be a pampered youngster…you would be amazed at what you can live with if you don’t have a choice.
The bigger, sharper, higher resolution LCD displays that are currently available are immensely better than those old 1970s/1980s CRTs. But it is *not* impossible to do spreadsheets, presentations, CAD, etc. on a crappy 13″ CRT display, much less a modern, high-resolution backlit LCD display of similar size.
I agree with the operative words, “it is *not* impossible”. But not impossible does not equal desirable or a good idea. I definitely have a productivity hit when I leave my desk with my two monitors and travel with my 13″ Air.
So I don’t see any company with an ounce of sense replacing their computers with 19″ or 24″ monitors with an iPad.
CRT’s were never designed to hold 12 inches from your face, nor are 60″ LCD TV’s.
When I started, I had a monthly presentation with complex spreadsheets feeding graphics, Jazz, for a DOE contractor and I did it all with a 9″ B&W screen (i.e., MacPlus). It was such an improvement over a 35mm slide show, you wouldn’t believe. Of course, that was a few years ago.
I agree with Numbers vs Excel, but I routinely use a MacBook Air 11″ for spreadsheets, coding, and other work. While I also have a MBP 15″ and prefer to use that at home, when traveling, I’m totally fine with an 11″ screen.
Did you ever hear of Open Office or Libre Office? They do virtually anything Microsoft Office does at the most reasonable price of FREE!
We get Excel templates from printers that we put specs into that generate templates for books. The macros in there can not be utilized by Open Office’s version of Excel. However I fully agree with you that Open Office fine for about 80% of the users I set up computers and do tech support for. I automatically install it in everyone’s Mac and none of them have ever asked me for MS Office. Only place I don’t install it is at my primary office.
Guess you never used an original Mac, huh? 9″ B&W screen, 512 x 342 pixels.
When ah wuz young, we had horses and buggies, and WE pulled the horses on the way to school.
…and uphill… both ways!
640 x 480
Nope, the original 9-inch Macs were 512×342.
I am sorry to hear that you have such a boring low level job that you have to work on spreadsheets non-stop. Maybe you could go back to school and learn something else.
Apple has never been afraid of cannibalizing its own products.
There’s a saying in business, “You either cannibalize your own products, or your competitors will.” STRATEGICALLY cannibalizing their own products is precisely what a good company will do.
There’s also a saying along the same thought, change before you have to.
Oh, yeah I recall designing large format, 4-color, 64page, Admissions catalogs on a tiny black in white screen on a Mac SE! Computer dimensions were: 13.6 H x 9.6 W x 10.9 D, and weighed 19.5 pounds and I did carry it home on weekends. It can be done, but would I want to do it again? Hell NO! I’ll take a 27″ iMac for work any day, screw portability.
If I’m not working and am at home on the sofa I like my current iPad or my 15″ Pro just fine. I have designed on the 15″ MBP when I’ve had to, it’s doable but not preferable to a 20something”
20 somethings are a lot of fun any usually low maintenance.
Yeah after I posted that I saw I should have written 20+ inches not 20somethings”. Meant the monitor not humans! 🙂
Apple has never publicly acknowledged intent of, or said a word about, the totally speculated iPad Pro.
Or the iPhone 6. Or the iPad mini. Or………..
An iPad Pro would have been nice but I am not upset upon hearing that it probably will not be released. This product launch was questionable at best. However, if the 5.5 or 5.7 inch iPhone, or whatever the iName may be, was rumored to be cancelled I would simply be devastated. The 4.7 inch is a good start, but I want bigger!
Can you imagine what would happen if all the rumors that were rumored, were cancelled?
Buy an iPad mini.
And how does an iPad Mini hook up with my cellular service??? When I can activate an iPad Mini with my cellular number and under my current cellular/data plan and use it like I use my phone, then and only then is an iPad mini a viable alternative.
Unless this “iPad Pro” could replace, or at least do as much as, a Wacom tablet, it would be almost useless.
I don’t think that size alone would bring anything good if not with lots of “special” extra features added.
The iPad Pro’s purpose was to fake out Samsung so they’d rush a big tablet to market which they have now done. Next up the iPhone Oval.
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro Proves Bigger Isn’t Always Better
http://mashable.com/2014/03/13/samsung-galaxy-note-pro-review/
Mission Accomplished
Just like Tim Cook outpsyched Samsung in delivering a smartphone first.
Well played, well played.
iPad Pro is also a strange name: the Cars v Trucks analogy that defines the Mobile Computing era implies that professionals will still use … Traditional Computers. No need for a Pro tablet.
My guess is there never was an iPad Pro. The larger display is for a new type if retina class MacBook that will ultimately replace the 13 inch and 11 inch Air.
Motley Fool AND Digitimes?! Add in something from Forbes and you’ll have the trifecta of Apple jack-assery.
Don’t forget the New York Times to tell us how many underage children died working on it.
Time to require registration for commenting.
I’m so sorry you have to live with such a bad case of Tourette’s Syndrome. You have my sympathy.
Unfortunately, I have to inform you there is no cure, as such. But a lot can be done to control symptoms. Consult your medical professional to find out what will be best for you.
Motley Fools are the trolls of the investment community! Tehy’d tell you green was blue, and steal your wallet while you thought about it!
An iPad Pro would dominate and supplant the laptop market! The tech problems can be overcome, if idiots like Ive weren’t trying to make it paper thin! The computer revolution was created by engineers, not designers!
The computer revolution was created by people from all walks of life. From artists to Medical Doctors, from musicians to Engineers.
Engineers and designers may run things now but in the beginning, if you needed a program or a more powerful processor, you did it yourself.
I see a use for a larger iPad screen, which is for viewing movies, browsing the net, viewing picture and video collections, and for the kitchen, to refer to recipes at an increased distance from the screen. Pilots, for example, could view more map on the screen. Bearing in mind that the weight of the 9″ dropped from 1.4 pounds to 1 pound, a weight of around 1.6 pounds would hardly matter.
I own and use 3 iPads. Who cares.
But what I must say is the iPad mini fits best due to the extreme portability and need for daily use. Only wish it had true telephone capabilities like iPhone. I don’t like carrying the size of iPad Air around with me all day – weight has nothing to do with it. Size does. Minimal work (corrections) are very possible on such small screens – no need for a 12 or 9.8 inch.
As for Apple creating a Pro level iPad, something that merges iOS with OSX – All I can say is – let’s see. A third OS is not a good idea at the moment.
iOS5 was much more simple to use than iOS7 is. Sweeping down from the top with no indication that any information or controls are there is, just not intuitive Apple. But we learn to forgive.