Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

subego · 01:10 AM

Apple iPad 2 to have 2048x1536 resolution Retina Display? | BGR | Boy Genius Report

Tentatively excited about this. Is the Apple Ministry of Information getting sloppy?

ajprice · Jan 17, 2011, 02:01 AM

The iBooks bookshelf background has also been doubled up to 1536x800, the iPad uses a 768x400 texture.
Wood Tile@2x.png in iBooks 1.2 Hints at 2x iPad 2 Resolution | Rafeed.me

subego · Jan 17, 2011, 02:09 AM

That's two out of five letters on the Squee! meter.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 17, 2011, 02:25 AM

They'll have to seriously beef up the graphics chip to make that happen.

Which they will.

It was obvious that they'd have to double the resolution (4x the pixels), as any intermediate resolution would lead to developers having to support *another* format specifically for that device or have it look like crap (a la Galaxy Tab), but I didn't think it could happen so soon.

subego · Jan 17, 2011, 02:34 AM

Also seems like it'd be too expensive and battery hungry.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 17, 2011, 03:26 AM

There's enough room in there for a larger battery (to power the graphics). At the same time, that might not be necessary, since they might have improved the power optimization for the rest of the components, despite the better graphics chip.

Price is why I figured it wouldn't happen this revision.

They might just pull an iPod touch and make the hi-res display available only in the 32GB and 64GB models, keeping the 16GB at the old resolution, but dropping the price…

subego · Jan 17, 2011, 04:04 AM

Good point.

Also, now that I think about it, the big drain on the battery (currently) is illuminating the screen, not necessarily pushing pixels. I assume that won't get worse with higher resolution. If anything, it'll be better due to the optimization you're talking about.

P · Jan 17, 2011, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

They might just pull an iPod touch and make the hi-res display available only in the 32GB and 64GB models, keeping the 16GB at the old resolution, but dropping the price…

More likely keeping the 16 GB just as it is and keeping the price, while updating the other two, but we can always hope.

Atheist · Jan 17, 2011, 06:39 AM

I'm excited. I think the iPad's biggest fault right now is the awful display. It's got the lowest pixel density of any handheld electronic device out there. If this turns out to be true I'm definitely trading up to the new version.

The Final Dakar · Jan 17, 2011, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

Price is why I figured it wouldn't happen this revision.

Yeah, I figured it'd be a no-brainer but price was a compelling argument.

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

They might just pull an iPod touch and make the hi-res display available only in the 32GB and 64GB models, keeping the 16GB at the old resolution, but dropping the price…

I've been thinking the same exact thing for the past week. Seeing as I skipped the first I was planning on picking up this revision, but I've been constantly reminding myself "Expect to spend $600, not $500".

ajprice · Jan 18, 2011, 04:53 AM

Carrying on with the possible features of iPad 2...

iPad 2: SD card slot and DisplayPort?

AppleInsider | Exclusive: Chinese supplier floating iPad 2 case with possible SD card and Mini DisplayPort

Both would be nice, especially the SD card slot.

turtle777 · Jan 18, 2011, 07:44 AM

mini DisplayPort ?

I want to believe.

-t

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 08:10 AM

This thing is quickly escalating into way too awesome to be likely.

Eug · Jan 18, 2011, 12:33 PM

SD slot: Maybe. It's a logical evolution for iPhoto functionality.
Updated screen: One can hope, as the current screen is just so-so. It'd doable.
Mini DisplayPort: Very unlikely IMO. Personally I think it's unnecessary in 2011, even if I'd like to have it.

subego · Jan 18, 2011, 12:55 PM

I've also heard the theory that the SD slot is to make the iWork suite more usable, but that seems mighty close to a *gasp* filesystem.

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 12:57 PM

Ok, enough rumors of what it's getting. I want rumors of when they're announcing it.

subego · Jan 18, 2011, 12:59 PM

I'm sticking to April.

That's probably the most legit rumor of all.

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by subego

I'm sticking to April.

Jesus, when do you think they're releasing it, then?

Stogieman · Jan 18, 2011, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by subego

I'm sticking to April.

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Jesus, when do you think they're releasing it, then?

March 22nd

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 01:10 PM

That just brings up more questions!

imitchellg5 · Jan 18, 2011, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

They might just pull an iPod touch and make the hi-res display available only in the 32GB and 64GB models, keeping the 16GB at the old resolution, but dropping the price…

What? All iPod touches have the same screen resolution and always have, at least here in the US. 480x320 from first to third gen and 960x640 now.

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

What? All iPod touches have the same screen resolution and always have, at least here in the US.

He's referring to the concept of putting the previous year's model as the lowest priced version.

imitchellg5 · Jan 18, 2011, 01:21 PM

He's referring to a concept of two different screen resolution iPod touches being sold side by side, which hasn't happened.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 18, 2011, 01:56 PM

Allow me to speak for myself:

No, I'm referring to selling last year's 16GB iPad (with the old resolution) alongside the newer models in 32 and 64 GB, the same way the old 2G iPod touch (at 8 GB; there hasn't been a 16 GB touch since 2009) was sold alongside the larger-capacity 3G iPod touch models.

ajprice · Jan 18, 2011, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

He's referring to the concept of putting the previous year's model as the lowest priced version.

You're right, this did happen.

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

He's referring to a concept of two different screen resolution iPod touches being sold side by side, which hasn't happened.

You're right, this didn't happen.

iPod touch 2nd generation 8GB ran alongside the 3rd generation 32 and 64GB models until September 2010 when the 4th generation Retina Display model was released. Sometimes Wrongipedia can be your friend iPod Touch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

Allow me to speak for myself:

I'm really not comfortable with this.

I'm believe you'd agree with me.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 18, 2011, 01:59 PM

I can live with that: you're the guY that got what I was saying.

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 02:00 PM

I fail to see how I didn't get what you were saying.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 18, 2011, 02:57 PM

Oh yeah? Yo Mamma, that's what!

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 03:00 PM

With the new iPad 2 retina display when I read that it will feel like you are actually in the room, serving me.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 18, 2011, 03:06 PM

My intellellect will slap you retinoidal like a wet leather glove.

-Q- · Jan 18, 2011, 08:38 PM

Can we please keep it civil in here? Just respectfully agree to agree and we can go back to a pleasant conversation.

The Final Dakar · Jan 18, 2011, 11:11 PM

Worry not, that was all in good humor.

Also, you are, oh, five hours late.

l008com · Jan 18, 2011, 11:53 PM

I would much rather see apple FINALLY start to embrace/encourage true in-app vector graphics. Then it doesn't matter how many pixels are in the screen, all that matters is maintaining the same aspect ratio, and your apps will keep on rocking.

An old iPhone app, not yet optimized for iphone 4's high res, is going to look awfully bad on an ipad 2 when pixel-quadroupled. The more I think about it, the more I don't get why we're still using raster graphics.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 19, 2011, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Worry not, that was all in good humor.

I take offense at that.

"Good?"

Hah!

subego · 04:45 AM

Daring Fireball: Cold Water on the iPad 2 Retina Display Hype

Originally Posted by John Gruber

Rumors are rampant that the upcoming iPad 2 will feature a higher-resolution retina display. Long story short: No, it won’t.

ajprice · Jan 19, 2011, 05:37 AM

Apple's invested in a 'very strategic' $3.9b component supply agreement, but what is it? -- Engadget

A note from the Q1 2011 financial stuff about Apple making a 'very strategic' component supply agreement for $3.9bn with three suppliers. They didn't say what the components were.

Retina display manufacturing?
More flash memory?
Mac hardware supplies?
Every copy of Windows 7 to burn them all on a fire?

Spheric Harlot · Jan 19, 2011, 05:46 AM

Just a note, because it hasn't been mentioned here:

Even a double-resolution-density iPad wouldn't be "retina display", because it would be around 270 dpi. It would be stupid-hi-res, but IIRC the limit of no longer being able to distinguish individual pixels is around 300 dpi.

It might well be that the investment they mention is into super-hi-res display supplies. That might make the cost of such a display feasible in the higher-end models.

The point about then having about the resolution of a cinema display is a good one, though.

ajprice · Jan 19, 2011, 05:53 AM

There's an argument over whether a doubled resolution iPad is Retina Display.

Some say Retina is 300dpi so the new iPad screen wouldn't be it. Some say it depends on the distance from your eyes, so you hold a tablet further away than a phone, and the new iPad would be a Retina Display standard.

Spheric Harlot · Jan 19, 2011, 05:54 AM

Either way, someone will be whining.

-Q- · Jan 19, 2011, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Worry not, that was all in good humor.

Also, you are, oh, five hours late.

I did realize that, hence my "agree to agree" rather than "agree to disagree" since you were both sharing the same insights.

Sigh, someday I'll get good at this subtle internet humor thing.

Eug · Jan 19, 2011, 07:35 AM

270 ppi would be more than sufficient (esp. for 2011) for an iPad 2.

I'd be quite disappointed if it doesn't get it, but somehow I think Gruber could be right on this one. We complain about the iPad's screen quality here, but I haven't heard a lot of complaints about it from the average person. I've heard more comments about Flash, SD, and USB actually.

turtle777 · Jan 19, 2011, 07:42 AM

It's funny that the iPad screen was brilliant until the iPhone 4 came out.
Then suddenly it was teh worstest.

-t

The Final Dakar · Jan 19, 2011, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

We complain about the iPad's screen quality here, but I haven't heard a lot of complaints about it from the average person.

I don't remember any complaints about the iPhone display, either.

P · Jan 19, 2011, 08:46 AM

I don't think that the iPad screen will be updated beyond the iPhone 4 trick of moving the display closer to the glass. Since the reading distance is so much greater, there isn't really a strong need for it the current usage. I do think that the resolution will increase in the future, however - most likely to doubling. Any res over 200dpi can probably be considered OK, and anything over 400 dpi overkill.

subego · Jan 19, 2011, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by ajprice

There's an argument over whether a doubled resolution iPad is Retina Display.

Something tells me Apple can apply its made-up marketing phrases to whatever it wants.

subego · Jan 19, 2011, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

I'd be quite disappointed if it doesn't get it, but somehow I think Gruber could be right on this one.

My gut feeling is that not only is Gruber right, he's being intentionally used by Apple as damage control.

Gruber might also be trying to get in a pissing match with Engadget, but I think that's a risky ploy with this sort of thing unless you know the outcome beforehand.

The Final Dakar · Jan 19, 2011, 11:46 AM

That does seem to be his role.

subego · Jan 19, 2011, 12:18 PM

I was going to ask if you meant "damage control" or "pissing matches".

Of course, the answer is "both".

The Final Dakar · Jan 19, 2011, 12:23 PM

You hadn't added the second sentence when I replied, so the former.