Apple iPad 3 launch => Android win? Apple win?

[thermal]

There's a thread about Apple fail/Android win re: the new iPad launch.

Clearer information is starting to roll in...

- Apple's distribution channels indicate that the new iPad has broken the company's preorder records.

- After the launch, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty raised her price target on Apple's stock to $720 a share from $515. Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley boosted his outlook for Apple's shares to $710 each from $665.

iPad 3 reviews:

"I struggled after the event to put the right words together to describe the display and a week later I’m still lost for the proper analogy. The only thing I can think of that comes close is comparing it to the first time you ever saw an HDTV. Remember how startling it was to go from one of those giant standard definition projector TVs to an HDTV? That’s what this is like."

Review: iPad third generation

- "I'm not being hyperbolic or exaggerative when I say it is easily the most beautiful computer display I have ever looked at."

iPad review (2012) | The Verge

- "This display is outrageous. It’s stunning. It’s incredible. There’s something almost otherwordly about how good this screen is. For rendered text or high-resolution images, it just looks like a glowing piece of paper."

Apple iPad review: ‘Retina Display’ technology makes screen look like glowing paper - The Washington Post

Quotes from a previous thread:

Bob Maxey: Apparently, Apple always seems to fail upwards. I want to be a failure like Apple.

A.Nonymous: I would love to be able to rake in $6.6 billion in profits and be considered a failure for doing so. I would be so sad as I drove off in my platinum plated Ferrari to my mansion made entirely of gold and would cry myself to sleep on my bed made of money. A true American tragedy. Times are hard for everyone.

http://androidforums.com/lounge/431265-apple-earnings-fall-short-expectations-apple-trouble.html

 

[Yeahha]

Has it been a failure? No, Apple has broken previous company records for preorders and have reported it being sold out before being released, hardly a fail IMO. Apple Sees Record iPad 3 Pre-Orders

The reviews I have heard are saying it isn't that much of a step up over the iPad 2 but many people are going from the iPad 1 to the the new iPad. I've said it before but Apple could release anything and call it an i[noun] and get crazy money for it simply because the brand...

 

[Gmash]

Obviously not anything resembling a failure.

 

[psychotron]

Cant wait to see that display and play around with my pics in iPhoto!

 

[mikedt]

FYI it's not iPad 3, it's just iPad ("Revolutionary new iPad" to quote Apple).

People standing in-line all night for it. No doubt when it's released in China, there will be street fights, scuffles and arrests, just like when the iPhone 4S was launched here. The kind of thing that just doesn't happen with any Android tablet.

Yeh, I think it's a very successful device launch, certainly not a fail.

 

[EarlyMon]

Hmmmm, must have been some odd format I guess? iTunes can read, write and convert MP3, WAV, AAC, MPEG-4 and AIFF. Those are the most commonly used as they provide quality sound in small files, even at 320. I wouldn't want to use any other files and I am surprised Amazon would sell a different coded file. Most of mine are MPEG with some AAC mixed in. Or do you mean he couldn't get them from iTunes to his iPod? I would be scared if someone high on tech skills couldn't grasp something as simple as plug in your iPod then drag and drop your files into it. 7 year olds can get songs to their iPods haha

Yeah, ha ha, an engineer is dumber than a 7 year old.

The issue he had was getting the download into iTunes, being new at it. Which is exactly what I said. Along with that odd format - MP3.

 

[A.Nonymous]

The reviews I have heard are saying it isn't that much of a step up over the iPad 2 but many people are going from the iPad 1 to the the new iPad. I've said it before but Apple could release anything and call it an i[noun] and get crazy money for it simply because the brand...

That is what totally baffles me. Not only is not much of a step up, but people KNOW it is not much of step up and freely acknowledge that it's not a much of a step up. They say that there is nothing in the new iPad that is compelling then camp out all night in order to buy it. It makes no rational sense at all. Every other company in the world would love to make products that people are totally unimpressed with and then fall over themselves to purchase.

 

[jonmorris]

I'm still going down to Regent Street tomorrow at 6am to photograph and interview some of the people that get their new iPad at 8am!

If anyone on here is going to be going to the Regent Street (or Covent Garden) store to get one tomorrow, let me know and I'll come speak to you!

I'll be sure to ask WHY people chose to buy the new iPad.. was it the screen, was it the processor or was it the fact it's the new model and you have to be seen with the new model (even though, like the 4S it's not exactly easy to tell the difference!).

 

[Yeahha]

That is what totally baffles me. Not only is not much of a step up, but people KNOW it is not much of step up and freely acknowledge that it's not a much of a step up. They say that there is nothing in the new iPad that is compelling then camp out all night in order to buy it. It makes no rational sense at all. Every other company in the world would love to make products that people are totally unimpressed with and then fall over themselves to purchase.

I like that assessment

The biggest advantage I see it having over competition that isn't the name is it gets its apps from iTunes with just that at this point it is an almost guaranteed success. Part of the reason it is so difficult to change from one OS brand to another is you become financially invested in the OS of your choosing as soon as you buy your first app.

 

[thermal]

That is what totally baffles me. Not only is not much of a step up, but people KNOW it is not much of step up and freely acknowledge that it's not a much of a step up. They say that there is nothing in the new iPad that is compelling then camp out all night in order to buy it. It makes no rational sense at all. Every other company in the world would love to make products that people are totally unimpressed with and then fall over themselves to purchase.

Thing is, it wasn't always like this. Apple were on the edge of bankruptcy not too long ago.

If Apple can turn things around, then it's not impossible for RIM, Nokia, and similar tech companies to turn things around as well.

As for Android, I'm glad they have strong competition. We are living in a golden age of mobile tech where two formidable companies are pushing each other to make better and better products. The consumer wins.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I like that assessment

The biggest advantage I see it having over competition that isn't the name is it gets its apps from iTunes with just that at this point it is an almost guaranteed success. Part of the reason it is so difficult to change from one OS brand to another is you become financially invested in the OS of your choosing as soon as you buy your first app.

Very true. I had an iTouch w/lots of iOS apps. I wanted an iPhone just because I already had all these iTouch apps. ATT lied to me, admitted they lied to me, was proud of the fact that they lied to me and refused to make it right so I left and went to VZW. VZW didn't have the iPhone at the time, but had this Droid Incredible that was an "iPhone killer" and here I am today. But I was basically forced to switch by ATT being evil. If ATT hadn't been evil, I'd probably have an iPhone today just because it killed me to give up all those apps I'd paid for on my iTouch.

 

[IOWA]

Thing is, it wasn't always like this. Apple were on the edge of bankruptcy not too long ago.

If Apple can turn things around, then it's not impossible for RIM, Nokia, and similar tech companies to turn things around as well.

As for Android, I'm glad they have strong competition. We are living in a golden age of mobile tech where two formidable companies are pushing each other to make better and better products. The consumer wins.

The one and *only* Reason Apple even exists today is a bailout from Microsoft about a decade(or so) back to avoid anti-trust lawsuits.

 

[Montgyz81]

Has it been a failure? No, Apple has broken previous company records for preorders and have reported it being sold out before being released, hardly a fail IMO. Apple Sees Record iPad 3 Pre-Orders

The reviews I have heard are saying it isn't that much of a step up over the iPad 2 but many people are going from the iPad 1 to the the new iPad. I've said it before but Apple could release anything and call it an i[noun] and get crazy money for it simply because the brand...

Or like myself, buying a tablet for the first time.

 

[Yeahha]

Or like myself, buying a tablet for the first time.

True and with the iPad being the standard getting the new one when it comes out seems like a very logical step.

 

[eelpout]

That is what totally baffles me. Not only is not much of a step up, but people KNOW it is not much of step up and freely acknowledge that it's not a much of a step up. They say that there is nothing in the new iPad that is compelling then camp out all night in order to buy it. It makes no rational sense at all. Every other company in the world would love to make products that people are totally unimpressed with and then fall over themselves to purchase.

Oh, not necessarily the case, you're not mentioning that display. Most reviewers (see CNET's list for example) can't help but gush for the 4x pixel count crammed into the same space. After that, nothing else matters. Apple oriented buyers only need that "one more thing" to tip them into getting in line for it. In part because they continue to need to feel part of the club and pat themselves on the back for owning the latest major change.

My own opinion is 1) the original display really wasn't that good in the first place (compared to the average Android tablet), so any improvement is quite noticeable and 2) if an Android based device was launched with the same resolution, there wouldn't be so much fuss. It's the Apple fans (and they are in the media too) that drive the noise.

Whatever, I have lots of friends who'll be in line tomorrow and will crow about possessing the latest Jobsian device. It makes them happy and I can't deny them that. In a year they'll be tired of it and need to stick the needle in all over again. Actually, in a couple months it'll all be about the next phone anyway...

 

[Stuntman]

In my personal opinion, I think Apple like's to milk every nickel and dime they can get out of their consumers.

Everyone likes to do that, too. It's just that right now, Apple is doing it better than anyone else.

 

[psychotron]

Yeah, ha ha, an engineer is dumber than a 7 year old.

The issue he had was getting the download into iTunes, being new at it. Which is exactly what I said. Along with that odd format - MP3.

ummmm, you double click an MP3 file and it automatically opens in your iTunes. This guy was an engineer? Wow....

 

[Stuntman]

Hmmmm, must have been some odd format I guess? iTunes can read, write and convert MP3, WAV, AAC, MPEG-4 and AIFF. Those are the most commonly used as they provide quality sound in small files, even at 320. I wouldn't want to use any other files and I am surprised Amazon would sell a different coded file. Most of mine are MPEG with some AAC mixed in. Or do you mean he couldn't get them from iTunes to his iPod? I would be scared if someone high on tech skills couldn't grasp something as simple as plug in your iPod then drag and drop your files into it. 7 year olds can get songs to their iPods haha

Sometimes, when people work in technology today, they don't want to continue doing so when they get home from work. I used to like tinkering with my computer and OS a lot. After I got a job working with computers all day, I just want my computer to work for me when I get home and not have to tinker with it. Just give me an easy button.

People standing in-line all night for it. No doubt when it's released in China, there will be street fights, scuffles and arrests, just like when the iPhone 4S was launched here. The kind of thing that just doesn't happen with any Android tablet.

Yeh, I think it's a very successful device launch, certainly not a fail.

In Hong Kong, they did away with line ups. They posted a sign outside the store to tell people not to line up. They use an online lottery system for orders and customers just get an email with the time they can come down to pick up their iPad.

I'm still going down to Regent Street tomorrow at 6am to photograph and interview some of the people that get their new iPad at 8am!

If anyone on here is going to be going to the Regent Street (or Covent Garden) store to get one tomorrow, let me know and I'll come speak to you!

I'll be sure to ask WHY people chose to buy the new iPad.. was it the screen, was it the processor or was it the fact it's the new model and you have to be seen with the new model (even though, like the 4S it's not exactly easy to tell the difference!).

I look forward to reading your report.

The one and *only* Reason Apple even exists today is a bailout from Microsoft about a decade(or so) back to avoid anti-trust lawsuits.

That is not true. What happened was that Apple was finally able to get a strong patent case against Microsoft after other cases were thrown out. I believe the patent was something related to the QuickTime media player that MS infringed on. The MS engineer actually admitted to using some Apple code. Apple was pretty much on the verge of winning when MS and Apple settled. The announcement made it look like MS was "investing" in Apple to make MS look good.

 

[psychotron]

That is what totally baffles me. Not only is not much of a step up, but people KNOW it is not much of step up and freely acknowledge that it's not a much of a step up. They say that there is nothing in the new iPad that is compelling then camp out all night in order to buy it

Not much of a step up or nothing compelling in the new iPad? Are you serious? You can't be. Just the fact that they dropped a 2048x1536 display with 246ppi that completely blows away not only every other tablet, but any other mobile device period is a HUGE step up and pretty damn compelling IMO. They also upgraded the CPU, GPU, cameras, added 1080p video recording, 4G tech and added the hotspot feature. What more would you like? That takes care of all the important things for me. If I want a USB port or more memory, I will simply use my laptop, I don't need it on my tablet.

 

[Bnice]

Not much of a step up or nothing compelling in the new iPad? Are you serious? You can't be. Just the fact that they dropped a 2048x1536 display with 246ppi that completely blows away not only every other tablet, but any other mobile device period is a HUGE step up and pretty damn compelling IMO. They also upgraded the CPU, GPU, cameras, added 1080p video recording, 4G tech and added the hotspot feature. What more would you like? That takes care of all the important things for me. If I want a USB port or more memory, I will simply use my laptop, I don't need it on my tablet.

Apple had no choice. The TP 700 had a resolution of 1920+ 1200 plus some of what you mentioned is old news for Android owners.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Sometimes, when people work in technology today, they don't want to continue doing so when they get home from work. I used to like tinkering with my computer and OS a lot. After I got a job working with computers all day, I just want my computer to work for me when I get home and not have to tinker with it. Just give me an easy button.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way. I got pissed beyond belief when a HDD died in my compute recently. Not because I don't have the skills/abilities to replace it, but because I really, really didn't want to. I hate messing with my own computer.

Not much of a step up or nothing compelling in the new iPad? Are you serious? You can't be. Just the fact that they dropped a 2048x1536 display with 246ppi that completely blows away not only every other tablet, but any other mobile device period is a HUGE step up and pretty damn compelling IMO. They also upgraded the CPU, GPU, cameras, added 1080p video recording, 4G tech and added the hotspot feature. What more would you like? That takes care of all the important things for me. If I want a USB port or more memory, I will simply use my laptop, I don't need it on my tablet.

The display is the only thing that's compelling about it. That's it. The updated CPU and GPU are the same things any OEM does with a refresh. Same with the cameras and 4G technology is not new in a tablet either. Most of the iPads I encounter in the wild are wifi only so I'd be hard pressed to say that 4G is compelling. Especially when you factor in how many places DON'T have 4G coverage at all.

So we're back to the screen. Is a nicer screen a "compelling" reason to go out and spend $500+ given that iPad 2 and iPad 1 still work and are still supported? Most people and most commentators say no. Then those same people go out and line up and buy the damn thing. Like I said, Apple has a good thing going on and it's something that every OEM in the world would love to have.

 

[EarlyMon]

ummmm, you double click an MP3 file and it automatically opens in your iTunes. This guy was an engineer? Wow....

My post was a tribute to the Apple methods of easy and how compelling that was. Specific example of a positive turnaround for Apple, and I thought, no margin of error of the guy being called an iSheep.

Yet despite my support of the Apple being good enough for some, I seem to have missed the target.

We agree on one thing, I guess. Wow. Seriously wow!

 

[dan330]

wow

 

[psychotron]

Apple had no choice. The TP 700 had a resolution of 1920+ 1200 plus some of what you mentioned is old news for Android owners.

Thats nice and all, but the real question is what is the ppi on that display? Nowhere near 246 I bet. Even if they do match or exceed the resolution before the next iPad, its unlikely they get close to the amount of pixels and thats what really makes the iPad's display stand out, more so then the resolution.

 

[psychotron]

So we're back to the screen. Is a nicer screen a "compelling" reason to go out and spend $500+ given that iPad 2 and iPad 1 still work and are still supported? Most people and most commentators say no. Then those same people go out and line up and buy the damn thing. Like I said, Apple has a good thing going on and it's something that every OEM in the world would love to have.

Depends what you use it for. I do photo and video work for a living, you bet your behind I want that display to show my work off to clients at a meeting. I also know designers, models, makeup artists, graphic artists and all kinds of people in that industry who use iPads for work and will gladly pay for the new display and more powerful GPU. Then you have all the gamers...I think plenty of people will have a use for the new features and the sales numbers will reflect that.