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New iPad parts cost more than its predecessors
Hot on the heels of iFixit's wonderful tear down of the new iPad is a component analysis from the Wall Street Journal. According to their calculations, parts for the new iPad with 4G total US$309. That's about $30 more than the iPad 2 which costs $276.27 and the original iPad 3G which totals $270.86. This extra cost is likely due to the retina display and the 4G LTE chipset, both of which are unique to the new iPad. Which leads us to the question - was Apple wise to up the cost of components and cut its margin in order to give consumers a tablet with a faster wireless internet connection and a gorgeous display?
Under the microscope: a closer look at the new iPad
Sure, you can take us on our word that the new iPad really is that much sharper than its predecessor -- or, you can opt for a more scientific approach, and peek at that Retina display under a microscope. Our own Richard Lai slid his 64GB WiFi iPad under a USB scope, going far beyond the naked eye for a close-up look at those gorgeous high-density subpixels. As you can imagine, it's impossible to distinguish one dot from the next when you're looking at a cool three million pixels packed tightly within a 9.7-inch slab, but that view clears up quite nicely under a 230x microscope. What you'll see is that those tiny red, green and blue dots are now significantly smaller, when compared to the iPad 2. That means text that's easily legible without a pinch, smooth icons and far sharper pictures. There's a dramatic improvement for sure, but is that new display alone enough to justify the upgrade for you? A quick click through the gallery below should help clear things up.Richard Lai contributed to this report.
Apple adds iPad 2 to its recycling program
If you're looking for another outlet to offload an iPad 2, then you should check out Apple's reuse and recycling program. The program now accepts the iPad 2 and will give you an Apple Gift Card if your tablet is still operational. It'll also take broken devices that would normally land in the refuse pile. The program works just like Gazelle and ebay's Instant Sale. You fill out a questionnaire about the condition of the iPad and Apple will give you an estimated price. You then send in the tablet and Apple will send you a gift card after it evaluates the device's condition. Prices for the iPad 2 start at US$205 for a good condition 16 GB WiFi model and go up to $320 for the 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G version. If your device is a bit worn around the edges or doesn't work anymore, Apple will still recycle it for you. You'll may only get a small amount of cash for your broken device, but you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you recycled it properly. [Via Computerworld]
PSA: Apple offering up to $320 if you trade in your iPad 2 in reuse and recycling program
Eyeing the iPad 3, but have yet to take the pre-order plunge? Per The Next Web, your patience is about to be rewarded as Apple's updated its Reuse and Recycling program, which means owners of iPad 2s in "good condition" can sling them back to their maker in exchange for an Apple Store gift card. How much the mothership will subsequently send back naturally varies on what iPad 2 you've got -- ranging anywhere from $205 for the base 16GB WiFi model, all the way to $320 for the most capacious 64GB WiFi + 3G variant. Or you could try your luck with similar programs such as eBay's Instant Sale or the one from Cupertino's tablet rival to the north. And would you look at that, we've even gone ahead and put links to all three just below.
Apple clearing out the old to make way for the new, selling iPad refurbs starting at $299
At this point, we're sure you've heard all about Cupertino's new slate. But, if for any reason the Retina display, iSight camera and A5X chip aren't enough to make you unload the $500+, Apple may have something for you. Quietly hiding in the online store's left corner is the special deals section, where a plethora of "Apple Certified Refurbished" devices await shoppers who don't mind a rejuvenated unit. For $299 you can virtually walk out with a WiFi, 16GB OG iPad, 50 bucks more gets you a second-gen with the same storage capacity and, if premium is your middle name, you could snag a 64GB WiFi / 3G iPad 2 for $679. It's also worth noting that all of them include a one-year warranty. Now, if that's still not budget-friendly enough, we hear there's a $129 tablet willing to take your cash. [Thanks, Eddie]
Dear Aunt TUAW: Should I upgrade to the 3rd Gen iPad?
Dear Aunt TUAW, I own an iPad 2. It suits my needs just fine. I don't use the camera and the apps I use are not that processor intensive. I'm looking at the 3rd Gen iPad and can't seem to make myself pull the trigger on upgrading. What do you think? Your loving niece, Meg Dear Meg, Auntie is torn as well. She's recommending the new iPad for anyone who doesn't yet own one, and yet for now she's sticking to her beloved iPad 2. As the owner of an iPad 2, the newer release feels more like an indulgence than a necessity to her. With a better chip, improved camera, and that luscious Retina display, the new iPad has a lot going for it. And yet, Auntie really wants that 4G technology on an iPhone (especially a Verizon model with free metered hotspotting), not on a new iPad. Right technology, wrong device. She's probably going to pick up a Wi-Fi model in a few months when refurbs start filling channels or when a contracting job demands testing on a new unit. For now, the problem lies in the fact that the iPad 2 is a really, really good iPad. It does everything that Auntie needs an iPad to do and it does it well. Sure, Auntie would prefer the new screen, camera, memory, and so forth, but at $500 and up, none of those technologies are compelling enough to make her jump onboard yet. Auntie loves the new iPad -- but the iPad 2 continues to be a winner as well. Apple clearly agrees, as the priced-to-move $399 iPad 2 that still maintains a spot on its store. Hugs, Auntie T.
Apple's March 7th event roundup: the new iPad, Apple TV refresh and everything else
Weren't able to keep up with all the news from the unveiling of Apple's new iPad today? Don't worry, we've got you covered! Whether you're looking for more info about its Retina Display and LTE-connectivity, the refreshed Apple TV or related bits, we've listed links to our coverage of everything "new and noteworthy" after the break. Happy perusing! Oh, and be sure to check back to our the archive of our liveblog and pre- and post-event broadcasts for a few extra doses of "amazing."
Engadget's new iPad post-event wrap-up broadcast: live from San Francisco!
Phew! We managed to survive the unveiling of Apple's next iPad, and now we're back outside of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California in order to bring you our live, on-site wrap-up of today's bevy of announcements. It'll be Tim and Darren on the mics once more, and there's a video here that's just waiting for your attention. Can't catch it live? It'll loop ad nauseum once we've wrapped up and headed out for the evening. Which, naturally, translates into "going to find some really, really exceptional coffee." P.S. - Have a look at all of today's iPad action right here, or relive the liveblog here! Update: And we're done! But you can relive the magic after the break.
iPad 2 remains in lineup with $399 price point
For those wondering about the fate of the iPad 2, it will be hanging along with its newer iPad sibling. The 32 GB, 64 GB and 3G models have been dropped, and you can get the iPad 2 16 GB Wi-Fi only for $399. New apps such as the just-announced iPhoto for iPad can be used on it. Apple is targeting this model specifically for the education market, though it can also be great for first-time users.
Apple drops iPad 2 price to $399 for the 16GB WiFi-only model, $529 for the 3G version
Facing soaring demand for budget tablets (and one in particular), Apple has announced it will sell the iPad 2 alongside the new iPad, with last year's model tumbling to a more palatable price of $399 for the WiFi-only model, or $529 for the 3G version. That entry-level price in particular puts it in more direct competition with a slew of mid-range tabs that previously undercut the iPad, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and others. Specifically, though, Tim Cook & Co. hope that lower price will attract not just thrifty consumers, but schools looking to issue iPads in large numbers -- a move that dovetails with the release of iBooks textbooks and the iBooks Author OS X app earlier this year. Though this is the first time the company's offering two iPads at once, this strategy is old hat for Apple, which has long been taking that tack to sell more iPhones. What's notable is that usually the trade-off (aside from year-old specs) has been that users have had to settle for devices with minimal built-in storage, which you naturally can't expand with a memory card, this being an iDevice and all. In this case, though, the iPad 2 will still be offered with 16GB of built-in storage, as opposed to, say, eight gigs. Still, depending on the size of your library, this might be a good time to get acquainted with iCloud, if you haven't already. For more coverage of Apple's iPad event, visit our hub!
Apple next-generation iPad liveblog!
March 7, 2012. Hard to say if it's a day that'll live long in terms of historical significance, but you can bet it'll be an important milestone in the history of Apple's iPad family. The next iPad (iPad 3? iPad HD? iPad 2S?) is due to be unveiled by Tim Cook at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California, and we'll be here live to bring you the goods as they're unwrapped. If you've managed to arrive in this time wrinkle before 03/07/2012, there's still a reliable fabric of reality intact. Just be sure to bookmark this landing page and return at the time listed below, or a few hours early for those interested in seeing Tim and Darren live from the streets of SF. March 7, 2012 10:00 AM PST
Engadget's iPad 3 pre-event broadcast: live from San Francisco!
You're in the right place! Apple's iPad 3 launch event will go down at San Francisco's own Yerba Buena Center for the Arts here in just a few hours, but we've got Tim and Darren on-site early to talk shop from just outside the venue. Hit the play button here to join in on the fun -- we'll be chatting about rumors leading up to the unveiling, hopes and dreams for the future, and whether or not the Atari Jaguar has a chance to make a comeback. Just kidding.Psst... after we go offline, you'll be able to watch repeats right here. Also, our liveblog (sans video, of course) will commence at 10:00AM PT, and you can follow along right here.
Samsung files new lawsuit against Apple in S. Korea
On the day of Apple's expected iPad announcement, Samsung has confirmed it filed another lawsuit against Apple claiming the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S infringe on three of its patents. This latest round of litigation was filed in Korea, Samsung's home country. According to the Reuters report, the suit covers three patents involving the user interface, short text messages and how a device displays data. This is one of over 30 lawsuits filed between the two companies.
Engadget will be broadcasting live outside of Apple's iPad event tomorrow!
We did it for WWDC 2011 as well as last year's "Let's Talk iPhone" event, and we'll be doing it again before and after Apple launches its next-generation iPad. Tim and Darren will be live in the streets of San Francisco tomorrow, broadcasting video to the known universe on this very site. We'll be set up just outside of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, with both a pre-event rumor round-up as well as a post-event wrap-up analyzing how the next Apple slate will impact the tablet market at large, your own wallet and the overall molecular makeup of our atmosphere. Keep an eye here on the homepage for our pre-show (we should be live between 6:30AM - 7:30AM PT) as well as our post-show (which should go down between 1:30PM - 2:30PM PT). In between, of course, you can catch our liveblog from the inside at this link right here, given that video streams aren't allowed from the inside. Also, SF -- good weather, alright? Alright.
Apple's next-gen iPad launch event is tomorrow, get your liveblog right here!
Got plans for tomorrow? Of course not -- you canned 'em a week ago. For those still unaware, Apple will be unveiling its next iPad at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco tomorrow, and as always, we'll be there live to bring you the news as it happens. Feel free to get caught up on the latest from the rumormill right here, and bookmark this page for our liveblog. We'll be on the scene early, with Tim and myself livestreaming (just like we did for WWDC and the iPhone 4S launch last year) a pre-event rumor wrap-up as well as a post-event round-up of what all goes down.As for the liveblog? It'll get going at 10:00AM PT tomorrow, and you can find how that translates to your neck of the woods below. See you then, rations in tow! March 7, 2012 10:00 AM PST
Fieldfolio giving TUAW readers $10 off of their awesome cases
Do you have a naked iPad 2? Some people like 'em that way, but if you're realizing that your darlin' needs some clothes, you can't do better than jazzing it up with a Fieldfolio case. Of the many book-type folio cases I've reviewed over the years, the Fieldfolio for iPad 2 (US$69.95) is one of my favorites. As I noted in my October 2011 review, "Fieldfolio has surpassed the DODOcase with a product that is in the same price range and in many ways works better than the book folio case pioneer." Now the Fieldfolio folks want you to get a deal on their sweet cases. Just enter the discount code TUAW when you're getting ready to check out, and Fieldfolio will take US$10 off of your total. That's a great discount on a beautiful folio case. I'm not going to spill the beans just yet, but stay tuned next Thursday, March 8, for a special announcement from TUAW and Fieldfolio. Let's just say that it's a giveaway that you won't want to miss...
8 GB iPad 2 headed to enterprises? Why this makes no sense
When DigiTimes reports Apple rumors, I usually ignore them. Today's rumor that Apple will produce a cheaper 8 GB iPad 2 aimed at enterprise usage was just too silly to ignore. According to DigiTimes, "In addition to iPad 3, Apple is also expected to unveil an 8GB iPad 2, allowing the tablet PC series to cover different segments and to defend against Windows 8-based tablet PCs, the sources noted." Apple has never been obsessed about market share, and why the company would suddenly want to go for a bargain-priced low-end 8 GB model to compete with an emerging product (Windows 8) or existing cheap tablets (Kindle Fire) is absurd. Sure, the price of the 16 and 32 GB "iPad 3s" will most likely be in the same range as the existing iPad 2s, but both private enterprise and government have been snapping those models up in huge numbers -- even in a stagnant economy. This rumor is also completely at odds with another DigiTimes rumor -- that Apple is planning to come out with a 7.85" iPad that would come with a lower price tag to compete with Amazon's Kindle Fire, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color, and other Android-based tablets. If, as DigiTimes seems to be asserting, Apple is looking for a less expensive iPad to sell to enterprises, why wouldn't they just produce and sell the fictitious mini-iPad? Next, unless most enterprises only have a handful of apps that they wish to run on their iPads, wouldn't more storage be a requirement instead of less? From my years working in industry, I recall that we always aimed high in our hardware requirements, since we could get more years out of hardware purchases by spending a bit more and we always found that our in-house applications needed more storage and RAM than originally planned. DigiTimes also thinks that Apple will forego production of a 64 GB model of the iPad 3. Apparently they haven't been keeping up with power users, who are constantly clamoring for more storage for video and music. There is a slight bit of logic in this assumption, since Apple is making a push towards more storage in the iCloud and that would make onboard storage less of a requirement. Still, there are iPad users for whom iCloud and iTunes Match are not a solution, and who would quickly pony up for an expensive 128 GB model. What do you think about an 8 GB iPad 2 entry-level model? Does it make more sense than a smaller form-factor iPad? (For the record, I think it does...) Your comments are welcomed below. [via ZDNet]
Radio Shack drops iPad 2 prices $20-50, swears it has nothing to do with the iPad 3
There's a lot of signs pointing to the release of a brand new iPad floating around these days: myriad rumors, retina displays, and even Apple event invites. Now, a freshly taken pic from an anonymous tipster has given us a little more grease for the iPad 3 rumor mill. As you can see above, starting today all iPad 2 SKUs at Radio Shack are getting $20-50 lopped off their prices, which sure seems like a good way to clear out stock to make room for a newer, pricier version. And, the good news for Apple fans doesn't stop there, as the Shack will also be discounting the iPhone 4 and 4S by $25 from March 1st - 4th. So, is this more evidence of the iPad 3, or just a retailer trying to move more product? We'll know for sure next week.[Thanks, Anonymous]
Best Buy pulling iPad 2 from display to make way for iPad 3?
Pretty much all signs point to the arrival of a new iPad in the very near future -- in fact, more specific reports have the tablet getting the official unveil next week. With that in mind, it certainly makes sense that a store like Best Buy would be taking the last gen product off its displays. The big box retailer has already reduced iPad 2 prices by a cool $50, apparently to make way for the big number 3, and now we've gotten a note from a blue shirted tipster, saddling the slate (known here as the MCQSULL/A W) with a "Deleted" status. What you're looking at is the entry for the white 32GB model, but we're told other models have been similarly flagged. Granted, we know that this isn't exactly a definitive statement on Best Buy's part by any means, but it's certainly been a harbinger of Apple product launches in the past. [Thanks, anonymous]
Adobe unveils Photoshop Touch for iPad 2 at MWC, slate-style photo editing for $10
Keeping its promise to include iOS users in the Photoshop-enabled slate party, Adobe has announced the arrival of its Photoshop Touch iPad app today at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Sporting a number of core PS features and new tools especially designed for use on tablets, the new release joins the Adobe Touch Apps family with further iOS software expected to drop in the coming months. This mobile version of Photoshop enables users to create layered images from several different photos, make edits, apply pro-style effects, touch up photos and carry out several other essential tasks directly on their Apple slate.A Scribble Selection Tool makes for easy deletion of unwanted objects simply by scribbling on what's a keeper and then on what needs to go. Refine Edge technology offers some help for those tedious soft-edged selections and integration with both Facebook and Google Image Search makes sharing your edits a breeze. The aforementioned upcoming iOS releases include Collage (moodboards), Debut (presenting and reviewing work), Ideas (sketches), Kuler (color exploration) and Proto (web and mobile application prototyping). But for now, you can snag Photoshop Touch for your iOS 5 wielding iPad 2 from the iTunes App Store for $9.99. If you're in search of some more details before taking the leap, hit the gallery of screenshots or the full PR below.
