TORONTO- Apple is already the world’s most valuable company. Now, with the aniticipated unveiling of the iPad3 on March 7th and surpassing $500 billion in opening trading on Wednesday, the company is climbing to levels few companies have.
What can we expect to see from the technology giant? Global TV’s technology expert, Steve Makris, shares his iPad3 preview thoughts with Globalnews.ca.
Global News: What can you tell us about the speculation surrounding the iPad3? Some reports say that retina imagining, magnetic communication and 3D multiplayer holograms are just some of the new features that we might see on March 7th. Plausible?
Steve Makris: Yes to all the above, but Apple is also cautionary to introduce technology most consumers enjoy and 3D is not one of them. A faster 4G data connection is also rumoured.
GN: What do you think might actually be some of the new features?
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SM: Unlike the revolutionary iPad in 2010, the iPad3 will likely be evolutionary and must be compatible with the millions of current iPads running tens of millions of applications. I would also like to see a real cellular phone ability, or a way to use your iPhone through your iPad, nearby or in your pocket. I think Siri might be cool to have on an iPad3.
GN: Will it be cheaper than now? Ideas about approximate cost?
SM: iPad sales have declined lately, and Android tabs have gone up considerably. Apple has always had a comfortable profit margin on its devices, but might have a cheaper than current iPad2 price to keep momentum going with future customers, not just upgrade fans.
GN: Screen quality and display size?
SM: I think the 10-inch screen size is ideal for a personal portable laptop-like experience and effectively larger that iPhones. But a sharper Retina-like screen would work well in a smaller eight-inch size allowing app developers to keep the current resolution of their iPad games.
GN: Recommendations as to why to buy an iPad3 and not an iPad2?
SM: Even an iPad1 will fit the needs of folks who just want apps, browsing, email and media entertainment and is upgradable to new iOS features. iPad2 has a web can and faster speeds. Consumers will now have choices of features and speeds between iPads as they now do between iPhones.
GN: Is there any disrupting technology in the near future that might affect consumers’ buying decisions today?
SM: Microsoft’s year-end Windows 8 operating system whose public beta was released today, will basically run in different devices from computers, touch tablets and more, with the same look and feel with any “Windows” device you use. This cross-device feature is Microsoft’s big bet to keep current Windows PC users in the Microsoft family with “Windows” computers, tablets, phones and media players, much like Apple does today. But Apple has a huge head start because they got it right the first time.
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