The new iPad's battery performs within the normal parameters of an iOS-based device, thank you very much. At least that's the story Apple is telling in the face of criticism of the way the company's latest tablet deals with battery charging.
Apple told All Things D on Tuesday that there's been some "confusion" about the way the new iPad charges up its battery when users plug it into a wall socket.
When the tablet reaches a nearly 100 percent charged state, the new iPad displays the battery as being fully charged, Apple's Michael Tchao told the tech site. When that happens, the battery actually continues to charge all the way to 100 percent—but if it remains plugged in, it decharges a little, then charges back up fully, then back down again, and so on until the user unplugs the tablet.Laptop batteryies tipe:TOSHIBA SATELLITE L45-S7XXX SERIES battery , fpcbp80 battery.
Tchao billed that process as a boon to new iPad owners.
"That circuitry is designed so you can keep your device plugged in as long as you would like," he told All Things D said. "It's a great feature that's always been in iOS."
Apparently, Apple has been doing the same thing to manage the battery charging of several iOS-based devices, including iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads, for several product generations. It just hadn't gone noticed by many folks until a DisplayMate analyst grokked that his new iPad wasn't fully charged even though the display indicated that it was, according to All Things D.
So basically, plugged-in iOS devices cycle between a completely charged state and a slightly decharged state, but Apple doesn't reflect this in the battery status on its devices because it could "distract or confuse users," according to Tchao.
DisplayMate's Ray Soneira may have noticed the discrepancy between his new iPad's actual battery charge and what the display was telling him it was, because the device takes a lot longer to power up its much bigger battery(such as ACER as07b61 battery) when plugged in than its predecessor, the iPad 2.
As PCMag lead mobile analyst Sascha Segan noted last week, "the new iPad appears to charge very slowly," even though it's actually charging just as fast as the iPad 2—naturally, because it uses the same power adapter. But as Segan points out:
The iPad's 42.5 watt-hour battery is unusually large for a tablet. It's more like a laptop battery. Both the 11-inch MacBook Air and Asus's Zenbook UX21 have 35 watt-hour batteries. The previous iPad and the Asus Transformer Prime, the two major competing tablets, both have 25 watt-hour batteries.
But the new iPad comes with the same power adapter as the previous model, putting out 10 watts of power. That's much less than the standard MacBook Air power adapter, which puts out 45 watts to charge a smaller battery.
The result is that the new iPad appears to charge very slowly. It's charging just as fast as the previous iPad (it uses the same power adapter), but it's filling a bucket almost twice as big with the same trickle of water.
What that could mean is that the amount of battery charge that a plugged in, fully charged new iPad decharges itself by per its design would be quite a bit more noticeable to users than with earlier iPads (and iPhones and iPod Touches), because the amount of time it takes to cycle back to a fully charged state is just that much longer.
Of course, Apple has been taking some flak related to the new iPad's battery life that extends beyond just the way the third-generation tablet charges up. As Segan also noted last week, the new iPad's promised battery life of ten hours (actually ten hours, 54 minutes in PCMag testing) is possible—if you cut the screen brightness to 50 percent. At full brightness, the new iPad's glorious and pixel-loaded Retina display burns through the tablet's extra-large battery twice as fast.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
New iPad screen is eye-opening upgrade
Beware the new iPad, not because it's an inferior product, but because it's a superior one. Using one is like living the life of a millionaire for a day, then getting dumped back in your regular life. Your eyes are now opened to how miserable your existence is.
The big culprit here is its stunner screen. It has four times the resolution of the previous models. That's a big, big jump, which makes text and high-resolution images look amazingly sharp and clear. High-definition movies look amazingly detailed.
At first, I wasn't that excited about the prospect of a high-resolution screen. For the past year and a half, I've read scores of books and more newspaper articles than I can count on the original iPad and the iPad 2. I've never felt that the screen wasn't sharp enough.
But after only a few hours with the third version, which went on sale last week and is known only as "the new iPad," it's like my eyes got really, really picky. Suddenly, I saw how clumsy and blurry text looked on the older models and how straight lines sawtoothed their way across the screen.
Color reproduction is also improved greatly over the previous models. I've never been unhappy with the way the iPad 2 displayed colors, but you can tell at a glance that the colors are more vibrant and nuanced on the new screen. On the old iPad, the Facebook icon looks blue; on the new one, you can see that it's more of a purple tone. Useful? Maybe not. But once you've used it, you won't want to go back to a less-colorful screen.
The new iPad's "Retina" screen, with its resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels, is far better than the competition can muster, and I have no doubt it will set a new standard for portable devices. In fact, I wonder why we haven't had screens this good before. Why don't we have laptops like that? How about desktop monitors? We deserve better!
Now, the improved screen does come with a significant drawback: It draws a lot more power.
One reason is that the graphics chip now has four times as many pixels to handle. When a chip has more work to do, it draws more power.
Another reason: Smaller pixels let through less light, so even though there are more of them, the image-forming layer is darker than on a standard screen, sort of the way a denser mesh screen blocks more light. To counter this effect, Apple boosted the number of light-emitting diodes that shine through the screen from 36 to 84, according to research firm IHS iSuppli, which took a unit apart. More LEDs mean the screen's brightness ends up being the same, at the cost of higher power consumption.
Still, Apple has managed to keep Apple battery life nearly the same. The company rates it at 10 hours of use, the same as the iPad 2, and my testing indicates that the figure holds up. But it did so by making the battery a lot bigger. That means the new iPad is heavier and thicker than the iPad 2. In each case, the increase is less than 10 percent -- noticeable, but hardly a deal breaker.
The bigger battery also takes more time to charge. In my tests, I found it took about 50 percent longer to charge the new iPad than the iPad 2. It took just under seven hours for a full charge instead of four hours and 45 minutes. The new iPad needs to spend more time plugged in, and quick "top-up" charges are less effective.
The higher power consumption of the new tablet probably accounts for customers' observations that the new iPad runs hotter than the old one. It did for me, but it was never hot enough to be uncomfortable.
Another annoying thing is that for some applications, the text looks worse on the new iPad. This has to do with the mechanisms programmers chose in presenting text.
Applications that have been updated for the Retina screen look great, such as The New York Times app. But head over to a PDF-viewing program called GoodReader, which hasn't been updated, and it's another story: Letters are more blurry and smeared. One can only hope that the developers update their applications quickly.
Did I say the new iPad costs the same as the old one? I did, but that's not the whole story. An indirect price increase has snuck in.
For $499, you get an iPad with 16 gigabytes of storage memory. That's the same amount you got in the original iPad for $499. In the two intervening years, the price of memory chips used in the iPad have fallen by about 70 percent, according to IHS iSuppli. So Apple could have given us an additional 8 gigabytes of memory, if it kept spending the same amount on chips. Instead, it's cut the amount of money it puts into memory chips and shifted spending toward the screen and cameras.
That would be fine, except that the Retina screen eats memory space. Many applications that have been upgraded for the display use more memory than before, presumably because their icons and pictures need to be that much more detailed. So those 16 gigabytes won't go as far as they did. After you've loaded your apps, you'll have less space for movies and photos.
Unfortunately, the "app bloat" effect isn't limited to the new iPad. The new, bigger apps will be delivered to older iPads as well, and in some cases iPhones, even though they can't take advantage of the upgrade.
In the past, I've recommended most iPad buyers get the cheapest version, with 16 gigabytes of memory. The 32-gigabyte version might be the better buy this time around. It galls me, though, that this model costs $100 more, for an additional memory chip that costs Apple about $17.
A couple of other upgrades in the new iPad are good to have, but not as revolutionary as the screen.
The processor is faster. Again, I've never actually wished for a faster processor in my iPad, but once you have one, it's welcome. In particular, there's less of a delay when firing up programs.
The camera on the rear is improved, now matching the one on the iPhone 4, with 5 megapixels of resolution. I use the iPad cameras for videoconferencing, not for photography, so this doesn't mean much to me. The lower-resolution camera on the front is unchanged from the iPad 2.
As before, there are step-up models with cellular broadband modems available for an additional $130. In the new iPad, these modems can access AT&T's and Verizon Wireless' faster "4G LTE" networks, which in many cases are faster than wired broadband. They come with added monthly fees, of course.
Another welcome change: You can dim the screen much further than you could on the iPad 2. That's a good thing if you like to use the tablet in bed before going to sleep. Staring at a bright screen in a dark room is hard on the eyes and might make it more difficult to fall sleep afterward.
When I first learned that Apple had boosted the battery capacity of the new iPad by 70 percent, I thought it was a pity that it didn't just dispense with the screen upgrade and extend the battery life to 17 hours. But the screen has won me over.
Once again, Apple has come up with a feature we didn't know we needed, but we actually do.
The big culprit here is its stunner screen. It has four times the resolution of the previous models. That's a big, big jump, which makes text and high-resolution images look amazingly sharp and clear. High-definition movies look amazingly detailed.
At first, I wasn't that excited about the prospect of a high-resolution screen. For the past year and a half, I've read scores of books and more newspaper articles than I can count on the original iPad and the iPad 2. I've never felt that the screen wasn't sharp enough.
But after only a few hours with the third version, which went on sale last week and is known only as "the new iPad," it's like my eyes got really, really picky. Suddenly, I saw how clumsy and blurry text looked on the older models and how straight lines sawtoothed their way across the screen.
Color reproduction is also improved greatly over the previous models. I've never been unhappy with the way the iPad 2 displayed colors, but you can tell at a glance that the colors are more vibrant and nuanced on the new screen. On the old iPad, the Facebook icon looks blue; on the new one, you can see that it's more of a purple tone. Useful? Maybe not. But once you've used it, you won't want to go back to a less-colorful screen.
The new iPad's "Retina" screen, with its resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels, is far better than the competition can muster, and I have no doubt it will set a new standard for portable devices. In fact, I wonder why we haven't had screens this good before. Why don't we have laptops like that? How about desktop monitors? We deserve better!
Now, the improved screen does come with a significant drawback: It draws a lot more power.
One reason is that the graphics chip now has four times as many pixels to handle. When a chip has more work to do, it draws more power.
Another reason: Smaller pixels let through less light, so even though there are more of them, the image-forming layer is darker than on a standard screen, sort of the way a denser mesh screen blocks more light. To counter this effect, Apple boosted the number of light-emitting diodes that shine through the screen from 36 to 84, according to research firm IHS iSuppli, which took a unit apart. More LEDs mean the screen's brightness ends up being the same, at the cost of higher power consumption.
Still, Apple has managed to keep Apple battery life nearly the same. The company rates it at 10 hours of use, the same as the iPad 2, and my testing indicates that the figure holds up. But it did so by making the battery a lot bigger. That means the new iPad is heavier and thicker than the iPad 2. In each case, the increase is less than 10 percent -- noticeable, but hardly a deal breaker.
The bigger battery also takes more time to charge. In my tests, I found it took about 50 percent longer to charge the new iPad than the iPad 2. It took just under seven hours for a full charge instead of four hours and 45 minutes. The new iPad needs to spend more time plugged in, and quick "top-up" charges are less effective.
The higher power consumption of the new tablet probably accounts for customers' observations that the new iPad runs hotter than the old one. It did for me, but it was never hot enough to be uncomfortable.
Another annoying thing is that for some applications, the text looks worse on the new iPad. This has to do with the mechanisms programmers chose in presenting text.
Applications that have been updated for the Retina screen look great, such as The New York Times app. But head over to a PDF-viewing program called GoodReader, which hasn't been updated, and it's another story: Letters are more blurry and smeared. One can only hope that the developers update their applications quickly.
Did I say the new iPad costs the same as the old one? I did, but that's not the whole story. An indirect price increase has snuck in.
For $499, you get an iPad with 16 gigabytes of storage memory. That's the same amount you got in the original iPad for $499. In the two intervening years, the price of memory chips used in the iPad have fallen by about 70 percent, according to IHS iSuppli. So Apple could have given us an additional 8 gigabytes of memory, if it kept spending the same amount on chips. Instead, it's cut the amount of money it puts into memory chips and shifted spending toward the screen and cameras.
That would be fine, except that the Retina screen eats memory space. Many applications that have been upgraded for the display use more memory than before, presumably because their icons and pictures need to be that much more detailed. So those 16 gigabytes won't go as far as they did. After you've loaded your apps, you'll have less space for movies and photos.
Unfortunately, the "app bloat" effect isn't limited to the new iPad. The new, bigger apps will be delivered to older iPads as well, and in some cases iPhones, even though they can't take advantage of the upgrade.
In the past, I've recommended most iPad buyers get the cheapest version, with 16 gigabytes of memory. The 32-gigabyte version might be the better buy this time around. It galls me, though, that this model costs $100 more, for an additional memory chip that costs Apple about $17.
A couple of other upgrades in the new iPad are good to have, but not as revolutionary as the screen.
The processor is faster. Again, I've never actually wished for a faster processor in my iPad, but once you have one, it's welcome. In particular, there's less of a delay when firing up programs.
The camera on the rear is improved, now matching the one on the iPhone 4, with 5 megapixels of resolution. I use the iPad cameras for videoconferencing, not for photography, so this doesn't mean much to me. The lower-resolution camera on the front is unchanged from the iPad 2.
As before, there are step-up models with cellular broadband modems available for an additional $130. In the new iPad, these modems can access AT&T's and Verizon Wireless' faster "4G LTE" networks, which in many cases are faster than wired broadband. They come with added monthly fees, of course.
Another welcome change: You can dim the screen much further than you could on the iPad 2. That's a good thing if you like to use the tablet in bed before going to sleep. Staring at a bright screen in a dark room is hard on the eyes and might make it more difficult to fall sleep afterward.
When I first learned that Apple had boosted the battery capacity of the new iPad by 70 percent, I thought it was a pity that it didn't just dispense with the screen upgrade and extend the battery life to 17 hours. But the screen has won me over.
Once again, Apple has come up with a feature we didn't know we needed, but we actually do.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Apple Sells Record 3 Million New IPads
Apple Inc. (AAPL) said it sold more than 3 million iPads during the debut weekend for the latest model of the market-leading tablet computer.
The tally is a record for opening weekend iPad sales, Cupertino, California-based Apple said in a statement. AT&T Inc. (T) said earlier today that it had also set a single-day record for iPad sales when it was made available on March 16.
The iPad, first introduced in 2010, is Apple’s second- biggest source of revenue, behind the iPhone. The new version features a high-definition screen and a faster processor. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has said he thinks purchases of tablet computers such as the iPad will eventually surpass those of personal computers.
Apple sold a record 15.4 million iPads in the fiscal first quarter, which ended Dec. 31. The new device initially went on sale in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, the U.K., U.S. Virgin Islands and Hong Kong. On March 23, it goes on sale in 24 additional countries.
The iPad sales figure is Apple’s second major announcement today. The world’s most valuable company said earlier it will use some of its $97.6 billion in cash and investments to institute a dividend and begin buying back $10 billion worth of shares.
Apple rose 2.7 percent to a record $601.10 at the close in New York. The shares have surged 48 percent this year.
The tally is a record for opening weekend iPad sales, Cupertino, California-based Apple said in a statement. AT&T Inc. (T) said earlier today that it had also set a single-day record for iPad sales when it was made available on March 16.
The iPad, first introduced in 2010, is Apple’s second- biggest source of revenue, behind the iPhone. The new version features a high-definition screen and a faster processor. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has said he thinks purchases of tablet computers such as the iPad will eventually surpass those of personal computers.
Apple sold a record 15.4 million iPads in the fiscal first quarter, which ended Dec. 31. The new device initially went on sale in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland, the U.K., U.S. Virgin Islands and Hong Kong. On March 23, it goes on sale in 24 additional countries.
The iPad sales figure is Apple’s second major announcement today. The world’s most valuable company said earlier it will use some of its $97.6 billion in cash and investments to institute a dividend and begin buying back $10 billion worth of shares.
Apple rose 2.7 percent to a record $601.10 at the close in New York. The shares have surged 48 percent this year.
Apple iPad (2012) Verizon Wireless Review
Apple's original vision for the iPad was to break down the barriers between us and our content, whether it's the Web, photos, movies or games. Like any conclusion to a compelling trilogy, the third-generation iPad aims to complete that vision with a display so stunning that you nearly forget you're using a gadget. Apple also added a new A5X processor with quadruple the graphics muscle to push around all those pixels, along with a sharper 5-MP camera and optional 4G LTE data from AT&T or Verizon. Starting at $499 for 16GB ($629 for 4G), the new iPad is certainly a feast for the eyes, but has Apple done enough with its sequel to keep consumers excited--and the competition envious?
Design
Apple New iPad ComparisonClick to EnlargeThe difference is noticeable but almost negligible. Weighing 1.44 pounds and measuring 0.37 inches thick, the new iPad has the same 9.5 x 7.31 footprint, but is slightly thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 (1.34 pounds, 0.34 inches), mostly owing to the larger capacity battery inside. While we're surprised Apple took a slight step backward in this department, we didn't mind the additional heft when playing games or surfing the Web.
Overall, the iPad's aluminum-and-glass design is just as attractive as before.We still love the super-sturdy feel and smooth, tapered edges. And just like its predecessor, the new iPad is available in black and white. It's more of a personal preference, but the white version has a more modern vibe to us.
Retina Display
It's not easy to make an HDTV look bad. But that's exactly what the third-generation iPad does, thanks to its breakthrough Retina display.
New Apple iPad DisplayClick to EnlargeApple managed to pack four times the number of pixels (2048 x 1536) into the same 9.7-inch screen. From a couple of feet away, you can barely tell the difference between the iPad 2 and new iPad, but up close, the result is nothing short of breathtaking. Icons literally seem to float above the screen, and text is so sharp you can't see any pixelation when you zoom all the way in. Upcoming Android tablets promise only 1920 x 1200 pixels.
When we viewed the same HD trailer of "The Avengers" side by side on the iPad 2 and new iPad, we could make out more detail in Iron Man's suit. Plus, the red-and-gold popped more. That's not a coincidence, because the new tablet's screen offers 44 percent better color saturation. You'll also enjoy the Retina display when watching full HD (1080p) videos from iTunes, something only the new iPad can do. We downloaded "Young Adult" and could easily make out every crevice and pore in Charlize Theron's face.
However, at an average 386 lux, the new iPad was slightly dimmer than the iPad 2, whose display averaged 412 lux. Still, that's above the category average of 348 lux.
New Apple iPadClick to EnlargeApple has rewritten several of its own apps to take advantage of the Retina display and has rolled out new ones, such as iPhoto. Third-party developers are also updating their own wares. A great example is "Infinity Blade II." The leaves in a lush jungle scene looked smoother and more natural than on the iPad 2, and shadows looked less jagged.
The iPad 2's display was already best-in-class when it came to viewing angles and overall clarity, but the new iPad ups the ante for the industry.
Audio
New Apple iPad SpeakersClick to EnlargeLike its predecessor, the new iPad features a single speaker on the back toward the bottom left side. It got quite loud when we played The Shins' "Simple Song," but sounded harsh at maximum volume. The audio was more balanced and pleasant when we kept the sound at 75 percent volume or less. Dialogue in movies was loud and clear, and sound effects in games had plenty of punch.
iOS 5.1 and Software
The new iPad's software should look and feel very familiar, because iOS 5.1 doesn't bring many new features to the table. The iPad still uses the classic grid of icons for its interface, and you can easily access notifications by swiping down from the top of the screen. So what's new? One welcome addition is the ability to delete photos you've uploaded to Photo Stream via iCloud, answering one of the chief complaints of iOS 5.0 users.
iOS 5.1 also includes a redesigned camera app, which puts the shutter button in a more natural location--on the right side of the screen as opposed to on the bottom. The face detection has also improved, detecting multiple mugs at once. Other highlights include the addition of Genius Playlists and Genius Mixes in iTunes Match and battery life bug fixes.
There are some features missing we'd like to see added in future updates, chief among them being Facebook sharing. While you can share photos via Facebook in the iPhoto app, you can't use the leading social network to share things like Web pages (though Twitter still works). We also wish you could add attachments to outgoing emails right from within the Mail app. Lastly, while iOS is as intuitive as ever, it lacks the personalized feel of the Windows 8, which can display the latest social updates of your friends right on the home screen.
Keyboard and Voice Dictation
Third-generation Apple iPad KeyboardClick to EnlargeThe new iPad continues to impress when it comes to text input. Both keyboards--the standard and split layouts--offer great accuracy and speed. Typing is even better when you add a Smart Cover to the mix, which elevates the tablet so you can enter text just as you would with a laptop. We just wish that Apple included a dedicated number row above the letters.
While some may be disappointed to learn that the new iPad doesn't have Siri on board, you can take advantage of the new Voice Dictation feature to enter a large amount of text just by pressing the microphone icon to the left of the spacebar. In our testing, the new iPad accurately captured most of our words and didn't take long to process our dictations. There were two to three errors per paragraph, which is easy enough to fix.
Performance
Measuring the performance of the new iPad is difficult, because it's not really about benchmark results. It's about maintaining Apple's smooth and fluid user experience despite the much higher-resolution screen. And in this regard, Apple has passed with flying colors. Whether swiping between pages of apps, switching between apps, or exporting clips we made in iMovie, the new iPad was always responsive.
The more intensive the task, the more you'll notice a delta in performance between the new iPad and iPad 2. For example, when loading the graphics-heavy "Infinity Blade II," the new iPad took 20 seconds, compared to 27 seconds for its predecessor. On the other hand, both tablets loaded Web pages at about the same pace in Safari.
In the GLB 2.1.2 benchmark app, which measures graphics performance, the new iPad and iPad 2 were neck and neck in some tests. For instance, in the Egypt test, the third-gen iPad scored 60 frames per second to the iPad 2's 59 fps. By comparison, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime running Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip achieved 53 fps on the same test.
In the more demanding Fill Test, the new iPad notched 1.9 billion texels per second, versus 999.1 million texels/second for the older model. That's about twice as fast. The Tegra 3-powered Transformer Prime only mustered 404.6 million.
When we ran the SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark test, which measures browser performance, the new iPad also beat the Tegra 3 Transformer, with a score of 1810 to 2216 milliseconds. Oddly, when we later compared the iPad 2 against the new iPad, the former came out on top (1,699.3 vs 1833.2).
Our only real gripe is heat. We wouldn't say it's cause for alarm, but we definitely noticed the bottom left side of the new iPad warming up during use, especially when the 4G radio was active. After streaming a YouTube video for 15 minutes, that spot reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit. By comparison, the ASUS Transformer Prime only reached 85 degrees at its hottest spot on the back after performing the same test.
Apps
Third-generation Apple iPad iPhotoClick to EnlargeWith more than 200,000 apps available just for the iPad, it's easy to see why Apple has such a big lead in the tablet race. And the company is throwing its own weight around with a revamped iLife suite that includes a new iPhoto app. With the app, you can easily enhance your images using touch gestures and make other tweaks with a multitude of brushes. For instance, to brighten a photo we merely pressed and held on the screen and then dragged up. When we were done, we could create Journals and share them via iCloud with friends and family.
New Apple iPad Retina Display GamingClick to EnlargeSo what about third-party apps optimized for the Retina display? Developers are working fast and furious to update their software, as well as deliver new apps. We particularly enjoyed playing "Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy," an engaging air combat game with gorgeous special effects. The reflections in the plane and realistic water were jaw-dropping. Other highlights among the 40-plus Retina-optimized apps thus far include Flipboard for your news fix, SketchBook Pro for iPad (drawing with your finger has never been more fun), Twitter and StockTouch for keeping tabs on the markets.
The only trade-off for the additional eye candy these apps provide is that their file sizes can be quite large. While news and social apps tend to use less than 30 MB, high-quality games such as "Sky Gamblers" takes 360 MB, while "Infinity Blade 2" eats up 791 MB. In other words, you may want to consider paying more for a higher-capacity iPad.
4G Data
Apple iPad (2012) Verizon WirelessClick to EnlargeFor $129 more than the Wi-Fi-only model, you can pick up a third-gen iPad with LTE capability, enabling blazing downloads and uploads over AT&T's and Verizon Wireless' networks. The monthly cost varies based on the amount of data you plan on using, but we suspect most users will settle in at $30 per month. That yields 2GB on Verizon and 3GB on AT&T, but Verizon sweetens the deal by throwing in mobile hotspot capability for free.
We tested the Verizon version in New York City, where we saw an average download speed of 9 Mbps and average uploads of 10 Mbps.
By comparison, the Motorola Xyboard averaged an amazing 26.7 Mbps down and 7.5 Mbps up, with download speeds going as high as 32.2 Mbps, though it was in a different location. Nevertheless, websites loaded quickly. The New York Times took 5.6 seconds, CNN took 9.5 seconds, ESPN took 4.1 seconds and Laptopmag.com took 6.8 seconds.
While having 4G on board is certainly welcome for the Web and other apps, from email to YouTube, there are two annoying restrictions. First, you can't make FaceTime calls over 4G--it's Wi-Fi only. Second, Apple caps iTunes downloads over 4G at 50 MB, when many applications are well over 100 MB. While downloading large files can chip away at your monthly allotment in a hurry, we wish users could decide how to use their bucket of data.
Cameras
Third-generation Apple iPad CameraClick to EnlargeThe new iPad's camera upgrade from 3 megapixels to 5 MP is so important to Apple that it saw fit to give the shooter a new name: iSight. Sure enough, shots we took looked dramatically better, even though we continue to question the utility of capturing photos with such a large device. A picture of a Golden Retriever taken indoors looked downright fuzzy on the iPad 2, compared to a much brighter and sharper photo on the new iPad. Edges were smoother, and we could make out folds in couch pillows that were lost on the older tablet.
The third-gen iPad can also shoot 1080p video, complete with automatic video stabilization. Footage we shot outside in a courtyard looked smooth and detailed, from the brick face on the outside of a house to a group of rocks underneath a tree. Plus, unlike many mobile devices we've tested, the iPad didn't have any trouble transitioning from a bright blue sky back to the ground.
AirPlay
New Apple iPad AirPlay AppClick to EnlargeOne of our favorite features of the iPad gets better with the third-generation model. With AirPlay, you can now stream 1080p video from the tablet to the new Apple TV ($99). With a push of a button ,we told the iPad to start streaming a video we just created in the new iMovie to our TV. Although we had to wait several seconds for the video to start playing, the quality was impressive. You can also stream movies or TV shows you've purchased to your Apple TV.
Mirroring capability, where you're supposed to be able to stream anything on your iPad's screen to your Apple TV, is still limited to 720p. And at least over our home network, trying to play the Riptide GP game had way too much lag and pixelation to be enjoyable.
Battery Life
Apple really beefed up the battery in the new iPad(more about replacement Apple lapotp batteries), increasing the size of the pack from 25 watt hours to 42.5 watt hours. The battery is rated for 10 hours of runtime when surfing the Web over Wi-Fi and 9 hours using cellular data. In our own anecdotal use, which included a mix of Web surfing, playing games, editing photos and using multiple other apps, the iPad lived up to Apple's claims.
When we ran the LAPTOP Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over 4G LTE on 40 percent brightness, the new iPad was down to 58 percent juice left after 4 hours and 34 minutes. If we extrapolate that you're looking at 10 hours and 4 minutes of runtime. We will update this review with our final battery test results over 4G and Wi-Fi.
Configurations
As mentioned, the new iPad starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi only 16GB model; a 32GB version costs $599, and the 64GB version is $699. The 4G versions start at $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.
Verdict
Apple could be accused of delivering more of the same with the new iPad. More pixels, more speed, better camera. And that's exactly why it's our favorite tablet. This sequel builds on everything we loved about the iPad 2. Is it worth the upgrade? For owners of the original iPad, definitely. iPad 2 owners will need to weigh the benefits of the Retina display and additional graphics oomph versus the expense. Just keep in mind that you'll likely want to get a higher capacity than 16GB if you plan on downloading a lot of games or 1080p video.
New Apple iPad Final ReviewClick to EnlargeAs for whether 4G is worth the extra $130 up front and monthly data fees, we'd say a qualified "Yes." The LTE speeds turbo-charge everything from the Web to streaming YouTube and looking up directions. But we wish Apple would up the limit for downloading files larger than 50MB in iTunes and enable FaceTime calls over 4G.
While the OS itself hasn't evolved much--that will come later this year--in almost every other way the new iPad is the ideal post-PC device.
Design
Apple New iPad ComparisonClick to EnlargeThe difference is noticeable but almost negligible. Weighing 1.44 pounds and measuring 0.37 inches thick, the new iPad has the same 9.5 x 7.31 footprint, but is slightly thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 (1.34 pounds, 0.34 inches), mostly owing to the larger capacity battery inside. While we're surprised Apple took a slight step backward in this department, we didn't mind the additional heft when playing games or surfing the Web.
Overall, the iPad's aluminum-and-glass design is just as attractive as before.We still love the super-sturdy feel and smooth, tapered edges. And just like its predecessor, the new iPad is available in black and white. It's more of a personal preference, but the white version has a more modern vibe to us.
Retina Display
It's not easy to make an HDTV look bad. But that's exactly what the third-generation iPad does, thanks to its breakthrough Retina display.
New Apple iPad DisplayClick to EnlargeApple managed to pack four times the number of pixels (2048 x 1536) into the same 9.7-inch screen. From a couple of feet away, you can barely tell the difference between the iPad 2 and new iPad, but up close, the result is nothing short of breathtaking. Icons literally seem to float above the screen, and text is so sharp you can't see any pixelation when you zoom all the way in. Upcoming Android tablets promise only 1920 x 1200 pixels.
When we viewed the same HD trailer of "The Avengers" side by side on the iPad 2 and new iPad, we could make out more detail in Iron Man's suit. Plus, the red-and-gold popped more. That's not a coincidence, because the new tablet's screen offers 44 percent better color saturation. You'll also enjoy the Retina display when watching full HD (1080p) videos from iTunes, something only the new iPad can do. We downloaded "Young Adult" and could easily make out every crevice and pore in Charlize Theron's face.
However, at an average 386 lux, the new iPad was slightly dimmer than the iPad 2, whose display averaged 412 lux. Still, that's above the category average of 348 lux.
New Apple iPadClick to EnlargeApple has rewritten several of its own apps to take advantage of the Retina display and has rolled out new ones, such as iPhoto. Third-party developers are also updating their own wares. A great example is "Infinity Blade II." The leaves in a lush jungle scene looked smoother and more natural than on the iPad 2, and shadows looked less jagged.
The iPad 2's display was already best-in-class when it came to viewing angles and overall clarity, but the new iPad ups the ante for the industry.
Audio
New Apple iPad SpeakersClick to EnlargeLike its predecessor, the new iPad features a single speaker on the back toward the bottom left side. It got quite loud when we played The Shins' "Simple Song," but sounded harsh at maximum volume. The audio was more balanced and pleasant when we kept the sound at 75 percent volume or less. Dialogue in movies was loud and clear, and sound effects in games had plenty of punch.
iOS 5.1 and Software
The new iPad's software should look and feel very familiar, because iOS 5.1 doesn't bring many new features to the table. The iPad still uses the classic grid of icons for its interface, and you can easily access notifications by swiping down from the top of the screen. So what's new? One welcome addition is the ability to delete photos you've uploaded to Photo Stream via iCloud, answering one of the chief complaints of iOS 5.0 users.
iOS 5.1 also includes a redesigned camera app, which puts the shutter button in a more natural location--on the right side of the screen as opposed to on the bottom. The face detection has also improved, detecting multiple mugs at once. Other highlights include the addition of Genius Playlists and Genius Mixes in iTunes Match and battery life bug fixes.
There are some features missing we'd like to see added in future updates, chief among them being Facebook sharing. While you can share photos via Facebook in the iPhoto app, you can't use the leading social network to share things like Web pages (though Twitter still works). We also wish you could add attachments to outgoing emails right from within the Mail app. Lastly, while iOS is as intuitive as ever, it lacks the personalized feel of the Windows 8, which can display the latest social updates of your friends right on the home screen.
Keyboard and Voice Dictation
Third-generation Apple iPad KeyboardClick to EnlargeThe new iPad continues to impress when it comes to text input. Both keyboards--the standard and split layouts--offer great accuracy and speed. Typing is even better when you add a Smart Cover to the mix, which elevates the tablet so you can enter text just as you would with a laptop. We just wish that Apple included a dedicated number row above the letters.
While some may be disappointed to learn that the new iPad doesn't have Siri on board, you can take advantage of the new Voice Dictation feature to enter a large amount of text just by pressing the microphone icon to the left of the spacebar. In our testing, the new iPad accurately captured most of our words and didn't take long to process our dictations. There were two to three errors per paragraph, which is easy enough to fix.
Performance
Measuring the performance of the new iPad is difficult, because it's not really about benchmark results. It's about maintaining Apple's smooth and fluid user experience despite the much higher-resolution screen. And in this regard, Apple has passed with flying colors. Whether swiping between pages of apps, switching between apps, or exporting clips we made in iMovie, the new iPad was always responsive.
The more intensive the task, the more you'll notice a delta in performance between the new iPad and iPad 2. For example, when loading the graphics-heavy "Infinity Blade II," the new iPad took 20 seconds, compared to 27 seconds for its predecessor. On the other hand, both tablets loaded Web pages at about the same pace in Safari.
In the GLB 2.1.2 benchmark app, which measures graphics performance, the new iPad and iPad 2 were neck and neck in some tests. For instance, in the Egypt test, the third-gen iPad scored 60 frames per second to the iPad 2's 59 fps. By comparison, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime running Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip achieved 53 fps on the same test.
In the more demanding Fill Test, the new iPad notched 1.9 billion texels per second, versus 999.1 million texels/second for the older model. That's about twice as fast. The Tegra 3-powered Transformer Prime only mustered 404.6 million.
When we ran the SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark test, which measures browser performance, the new iPad also beat the Tegra 3 Transformer, with a score of 1810 to 2216 milliseconds. Oddly, when we later compared the iPad 2 against the new iPad, the former came out on top (1,699.3 vs 1833.2).
Our only real gripe is heat. We wouldn't say it's cause for alarm, but we definitely noticed the bottom left side of the new iPad warming up during use, especially when the 4G radio was active. After streaming a YouTube video for 15 minutes, that spot reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit. By comparison, the ASUS Transformer Prime only reached 85 degrees at its hottest spot on the back after performing the same test.
Apps
Third-generation Apple iPad iPhotoClick to EnlargeWith more than 200,000 apps available just for the iPad, it's easy to see why Apple has such a big lead in the tablet race. And the company is throwing its own weight around with a revamped iLife suite that includes a new iPhoto app. With the app, you can easily enhance your images using touch gestures and make other tweaks with a multitude of brushes. For instance, to brighten a photo we merely pressed and held on the screen and then dragged up. When we were done, we could create Journals and share them via iCloud with friends and family.
New Apple iPad Retina Display GamingClick to EnlargeSo what about third-party apps optimized for the Retina display? Developers are working fast and furious to update their software, as well as deliver new apps. We particularly enjoyed playing "Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy," an engaging air combat game with gorgeous special effects. The reflections in the plane and realistic water were jaw-dropping. Other highlights among the 40-plus Retina-optimized apps thus far include Flipboard for your news fix, SketchBook Pro for iPad (drawing with your finger has never been more fun), Twitter and StockTouch for keeping tabs on the markets.
The only trade-off for the additional eye candy these apps provide is that their file sizes can be quite large. While news and social apps tend to use less than 30 MB, high-quality games such as "Sky Gamblers" takes 360 MB, while "Infinity Blade 2" eats up 791 MB. In other words, you may want to consider paying more for a higher-capacity iPad.
4G Data
Apple iPad (2012) Verizon WirelessClick to EnlargeFor $129 more than the Wi-Fi-only model, you can pick up a third-gen iPad with LTE capability, enabling blazing downloads and uploads over AT&T's and Verizon Wireless' networks. The monthly cost varies based on the amount of data you plan on using, but we suspect most users will settle in at $30 per month. That yields 2GB on Verizon and 3GB on AT&T, but Verizon sweetens the deal by throwing in mobile hotspot capability for free.
We tested the Verizon version in New York City, where we saw an average download speed of 9 Mbps and average uploads of 10 Mbps.
By comparison, the Motorola Xyboard averaged an amazing 26.7 Mbps down and 7.5 Mbps up, with download speeds going as high as 32.2 Mbps, though it was in a different location. Nevertheless, websites loaded quickly. The New York Times took 5.6 seconds, CNN took 9.5 seconds, ESPN took 4.1 seconds and Laptopmag.com took 6.8 seconds.
While having 4G on board is certainly welcome for the Web and other apps, from email to YouTube, there are two annoying restrictions. First, you can't make FaceTime calls over 4G--it's Wi-Fi only. Second, Apple caps iTunes downloads over 4G at 50 MB, when many applications are well over 100 MB. While downloading large files can chip away at your monthly allotment in a hurry, we wish users could decide how to use their bucket of data.
Cameras
Third-generation Apple iPad CameraClick to EnlargeThe new iPad's camera upgrade from 3 megapixels to 5 MP is so important to Apple that it saw fit to give the shooter a new name: iSight. Sure enough, shots we took looked dramatically better, even though we continue to question the utility of capturing photos with such a large device. A picture of a Golden Retriever taken indoors looked downright fuzzy on the iPad 2, compared to a much brighter and sharper photo on the new iPad. Edges were smoother, and we could make out folds in couch pillows that were lost on the older tablet.
The third-gen iPad can also shoot 1080p video, complete with automatic video stabilization. Footage we shot outside in a courtyard looked smooth and detailed, from the brick face on the outside of a house to a group of rocks underneath a tree. Plus, unlike many mobile devices we've tested, the iPad didn't have any trouble transitioning from a bright blue sky back to the ground.
AirPlay
New Apple iPad AirPlay AppClick to EnlargeOne of our favorite features of the iPad gets better with the third-generation model. With AirPlay, you can now stream 1080p video from the tablet to the new Apple TV ($99). With a push of a button ,we told the iPad to start streaming a video we just created in the new iMovie to our TV. Although we had to wait several seconds for the video to start playing, the quality was impressive. You can also stream movies or TV shows you've purchased to your Apple TV.
Mirroring capability, where you're supposed to be able to stream anything on your iPad's screen to your Apple TV, is still limited to 720p. And at least over our home network, trying to play the Riptide GP game had way too much lag and pixelation to be enjoyable.
Battery Life
Apple really beefed up the battery in the new iPad(more about replacement Apple lapotp batteries), increasing the size of the pack from 25 watt hours to 42.5 watt hours. The battery is rated for 10 hours of runtime when surfing the Web over Wi-Fi and 9 hours using cellular data. In our own anecdotal use, which included a mix of Web surfing, playing games, editing photos and using multiple other apps, the iPad lived up to Apple's claims.
When we ran the LAPTOP Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over 4G LTE on 40 percent brightness, the new iPad was down to 58 percent juice left after 4 hours and 34 minutes. If we extrapolate that you're looking at 10 hours and 4 minutes of runtime. We will update this review with our final battery test results over 4G and Wi-Fi.
Configurations
As mentioned, the new iPad starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi only 16GB model; a 32GB version costs $599, and the 64GB version is $699. The 4G versions start at $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.
Verdict
Apple could be accused of delivering more of the same with the new iPad. More pixels, more speed, better camera. And that's exactly why it's our favorite tablet. This sequel builds on everything we loved about the iPad 2. Is it worth the upgrade? For owners of the original iPad, definitely. iPad 2 owners will need to weigh the benefits of the Retina display and additional graphics oomph versus the expense. Just keep in mind that you'll likely want to get a higher capacity than 16GB if you plan on downloading a lot of games or 1080p video.
New Apple iPad Final ReviewClick to EnlargeAs for whether 4G is worth the extra $130 up front and monthly data fees, we'd say a qualified "Yes." The LTE speeds turbo-charge everything from the Web to streaming YouTube and looking up directions. But we wish Apple would up the limit for downloading files larger than 50MB in iTunes and enable FaceTime calls over 4G.
While the OS itself hasn't evolved much--that will come later this year--in almost every other way the new iPad is the ideal post-PC device.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Smart Connect Technology -Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 ultrabook is the first system we've seen to showcase Intel's Smart Connect technology. But what exactly is Smart Connect? We break down the seven most important things you need to know about this new Intel technology.
What is it? Intel Smart Connect Technology is a feature of select (Intel estimates 25 to 30 percent of) ultrabooks, such as the Dell XPS 13. The chipmaker anticipates it showing up in other laptops and desktops as well—any Intel system that can be set to sleep or standby mode instead of being switched off when idle.
What does it do? Smart Connect periodically wakes the system from sleep or standby (not from hibernation) and updates applications that get their data from the Internet, fetching, for example, Microsoft Outlook or Windows Live Mail messages or Facebook status updates. When you return to and reawaken the PC, the fresh data is waiting for you—so you can not only pick up where you left off, but pick up up to the minute.
Has anything like this been available before? Not really. HP business laptops have offered QuickLook, a fast-loading alternative to booting Windows that offers a snapshot of Outlook information as of the last time the program was used, but that's for checking existing e-mails and appointments instead of receiving new ones.
How does it connect to the cloud? Smart Connect Technology checks to see if a trusted (i.e., previously accessed) Wi-Fi or wired network is available. If not—say, if you and your ultrabook are in transit between office and home—the system skips the scheduled update. When you walk through the door at home, Smart Connect recognizes your home WLAN and resumes operation.
How often does Smart Connect poll for data? The software interface lets you specify an interval from 5 to 60 minutes between updates, plus overnight hours (such as from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) during which the system checks less frequently (every two hours).
Doesn't it kill the laptop battery? While it draws more power than uninterrupted sleep, Intel says the impact is minimal, thanks in part to automatic overrides of the abovementioned intervals: As the battery runs down, updates occur less frequently, stopping when the battery level reaches 15 percent. Ditto if the system temperature is rising (if the laptop is in an unventilated bag or briefcase, for example,replacement Dell 05Y4YV battery).
Can Smart Connect be added to an existing laptop? Sure, especially one with an AMD processor and Atheros Wi-Fi card … no, no, it's strictly an Intel OEM offering, requiring not only a software layer but specific BIOS support and an Intel Core processor and wireless hardware.
What is it? Intel Smart Connect Technology is a feature of select (Intel estimates 25 to 30 percent of) ultrabooks, such as the Dell XPS 13. The chipmaker anticipates it showing up in other laptops and desktops as well—any Intel system that can be set to sleep or standby mode instead of being switched off when idle.
What does it do? Smart Connect periodically wakes the system from sleep or standby (not from hibernation) and updates applications that get their data from the Internet, fetching, for example, Microsoft Outlook or Windows Live Mail messages or Facebook status updates. When you return to and reawaken the PC, the fresh data is waiting for you—so you can not only pick up where you left off, but pick up up to the minute.
Has anything like this been available before? Not really. HP business laptops have offered QuickLook, a fast-loading alternative to booting Windows that offers a snapshot of Outlook information as of the last time the program was used, but that's for checking existing e-mails and appointments instead of receiving new ones.
How does it connect to the cloud? Smart Connect Technology checks to see if a trusted (i.e., previously accessed) Wi-Fi or wired network is available. If not—say, if you and your ultrabook are in transit between office and home—the system skips the scheduled update. When you walk through the door at home, Smart Connect recognizes your home WLAN and resumes operation.
How often does Smart Connect poll for data? The software interface lets you specify an interval from 5 to 60 minutes between updates, plus overnight hours (such as from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) during which the system checks less frequently (every two hours).
Doesn't it kill the laptop battery? While it draws more power than uninterrupted sleep, Intel says the impact is minimal, thanks in part to automatic overrides of the abovementioned intervals: As the battery runs down, updates occur less frequently, stopping when the battery level reaches 15 percent. Ditto if the system temperature is rising (if the laptop is in an unventilated bag or briefcase, for example,replacement Dell 05Y4YV battery).
Can Smart Connect be added to an existing laptop? Sure, especially one with an AMD processor and Atheros Wi-Fi card … no, no, it's strictly an Intel OEM offering, requiring not only a software layer but specific BIOS support and an Intel Core processor and wireless hardware.
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