I've come to the conslusion that it doesn't matter what any Apple prodcut is called anymore. The products sell themselves and the fan boys & girls will buy them anyway.
Sam, you made a good analysis of Ipod 2, Presently I can,t wait to see what the next release of Apple will look like. I think this is a good marketing strategy for "Ipad 3".
Yes SAM, the much awaited apple IPad launched very recently. First up all thanks for the effort you had taken for a comparative study. I think after hearing the specs on release day, most of the techies are little bit worried because this is only an improved version of original IPad, but not a major release. From production point of view, this improvement will bring in more sales and turn over for them. Apple clearly has the lead in this segment and has the benefit of a second release, while competitors are trying to launch their first version.
But from user or tech point of view, it’s totally disappointing because expected more advanced features and applications. The Only major advantage is, it has one more camera (secondary), which enables for video call.
Hope Apple may NOT disappoint users at least for the next release.
I have to agree with Dennis, that after hearing the specs on release day, this is an improvement over the original Ipad but not a major release. I can't see millions of people that have forked over close to $500 for their Ipad to ditch them for the Ipad2. Yes this improvement will bring in more sales from people that were sitting on the fence deciding which tablet is best. Apple does clearly have the current lead and does have the benefit of having a second release while many are trying to launch their first version.
I am Sam's colleague and the MPU guy at Semico. I wanted to chime in on the processor and OS issue. The first thought when you hear Windows for Tablets is that Intel Atom will be exclusive to this. Speaking with Intel they make it clear that Atom is OS agnostic. Intel is working with Microsoft but other companies for Android, Meego, etc.
That being said, I think we can expect to see Windows tablets require 1 GB of DRAM for the local memory. The Intel reference design for Atom based tablets and netbooks are essentially the same. I don't think Apple states what the DRAM is for iPad2. Motorola XOOM with NVidia Tegra 2 has 1GB DDR2, running Android 3.0 Honeycomb. So DRAM is not an issue as far as a comparison. Also, DRAM is not the largest percentage of the BOM.
The NAND is a significant portion of the BOM cost. NAND prices have been relatively steady. OEMs target price points. That is why Apple iPad2 offers the same amount of Flash at the same price points as iPad. BTW Motorola XOOM offers only one denisty - 32GB of NAND. Which ever platform gains market share the NAND issue is the same for all.
Well, you know this isn't a major upgrade when one of the big new feature bullet points includes, "faster Javascript."
It's clearly thinner. The camera change is nice. It's supposedly faster. But this isn't the type of revision that will cause millions of existing iPad owners to immediately order the new one and place their existing iPad on eBay.
Yet despite the increased competition Apple faces in the tablet market now, I'm sure the iPad2 will do well. Also, obviously Apple has the clear advantage of being on their 2nd release of a tablet when everyone else is still rolling out their first.
And yes, it's good to be a NAND Flash manufacturer right about now.
Thanks for the article. Let me first salute Steve jobs passion and commitment to his work. Its incredible. Inspite of his health issues he made it a point to release iPAD2 himself. No wonder under his guiadance APPLE achieved so much.
Do you think the Windows/Intel tablets will contribute more to NAND FLASH memory demand compared to iPAD/ANDROID tablets since the memory requirement is more for Windows/Intel tablets ?
NAND flash has certainly helped the computer manufacturers to actually produce the much smaller sized and yet powerful tablets for the future. I think the innovation has just begun and ipad2 and xoom competetion will certainly result in a tablet with a great features for the consumers soon.
Sam, thanks for deep details about new characteristics/features iPad2 is bringing now. After checking them, it seems vendors are improving several aspects but key factor remain battery. "green tablet" with solar recharge directly from original manufacturing is a futuristic vision?
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Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
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