• Release of the Refreshed iPads Viewed as Most Important Update Since Their Introduction

    by
    Akshay Masand
    Published on 2013-10-22 03:35 AM
    1 Comment Comments


    As you all already know, Apple is widely expected to introduce a redesigned fifth-gen iPad that is said to be thinner and lighter. In the eyes of one Wall Street analyst, tomorrow’s update will be one of the most important updates to the full-size iPad since the release of its first model in 2010. Brian White of Cantor Fitzgerald recently said in a note to his investors that he believes Apple’s anticipated update to the 9.7-inch iPad could be the highlight of tomorrow’s media event. White has been told the new iPad will be about 15% thinner and as much as 30% lighter than the current fourth-gen iPad while on his trips to Taiwan and China.

    The width of the new iPad is also expected to be reduced by as much as 10% as leaked parts have suggested Apple will reduce the bezels on the side of the display when using the iPad in portrait mode. The changes are said to make the design of the full-size iPad similar to that of the iPad mini.

    The iPad launch will be particularly important for Apple since the company’s tablet sales were down 27% year-over-year in the third quarter of fiscal 2013. This marks the first time in the history of the iPad that Apple saw a year-over-year decline. White expects that iPad sales were also off by roughly 21% during the just-concluded September quarter. He has projected that the iPad will return to positive territory in the current holiday quarter, driven by the launch of a new fifth-gen iPad and second-gen iPad mini. White had the following to say regarding the matter:

    Apple has a massive installed base of iPads, and we believe this will drive the biggest upgrade ever for the iPad franchise. In our view, this October launch will prove beneficial for Apple this holiday season.
    As far as the iPad mini goes, White expects a “modest” upgrade for the second-gen model. Although recent rumors point towards the device touting a high-res Retina display, he’s not entirely convinced, revealing that sources on his recent trip to Asia were “less conclusive” on the new iPad mini. White wrote the following regarding the matter:

    For example, some of our contacts believe that Apple will unveil a new iPad mini this week but may wait to launch an iPad mini with Retina display until (the first quarter of calendar 2014), If Apple unveils an iPad mini with Retina display this week, we would view this as an incremental surprise.
    We’ll have more concrete information tomorrow as Apple is scheduled to hold a media event at 10:00 am Pacific, 1:00 pm Eastern at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California.

    Source: Cantor Fitzgerald via AppleInsider
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Release of the Refreshed iPads Viewed as Most Important Update Since Their Introduction started by Akshay Masand View original post
    1. Categories:
    2. iOS,
    3. Apple,
    4. iPad
    Comments 1 Comment
    1. GrandMstrBud's Avatar
      GrandMstrBud - 2013-10-22, 04:30 AM
      Could we finally see an AWS 4G tablet?

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