New iPad Unveiled

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Oct 17, 2014

Finally the cat is out of the bag. Apple (AAPL, Financial) has taken off the wrap from the new iPad, a much-awaited launch after the last iPad played the spoil sport. iPad is the same innovation from Apple that did hand holding with us and introduced us to a new gadget the tablet way back in 2010. It introduced us to a gadget which we had sought for, a gadget much more than a touchscreen phone in 2010 and quite close to the popular laptop but much less in dimensions and weight of that heavy laptop.

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With the advent of iPad and other tablets we started giving that heavy laptop bag amiss and just swanked away the iPad and drove off to work. But then due to its size limitation and increasing workload the tablet started taking the backseat. Human by nature we started tanking up our expectations from the iPad and Apple started launching upgraded versions, but none of them till date did take care of all our expectations. In our last article titled: "What To Expect From The Upcoming IPad"Â we had created a precise wishlist in our own way after analyzing market buzz about expectations from the new iPad. It has finally been unveiled and so let us take a look at what it has to offer.

The new iPad in the world

Apple has revealed the latest version of the iPad, called the iPad Air 2. And this time it's even thinner than its predecessors.

iPad Air 2 sports the perfect zero figure being just 6.1 millimeters thick, or 0.24 inch. That's 18% thinner than the first iPad Air, which was 7.5mm. Weight is 15 ounces. Hence it would be as light as its name "Air." The best part of the launch was the way Apple portrayed its thin feature. People who can recollect the launch of the last iPad Air whose thickness or thinness as you might put it was compared to that of a pencil, this time sported a video shaving off the sides of the pencil with a LASER beam signifying that the new iPad just got slimmer than before.

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The iPad Air 2 sports a 9.7-inch large screen display which is right now in the range of the largest screen a standalone tablet flaunts. Apple claimed that the new iPad has the lowest reflectivity index than any other tablet in the market, reducing glare by up to 56% which means more comfort for your eyes while using it for long hours on the go.

It's powered by a new processor, the A8X, a 64-bit chip based on the A8 processor also found in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Apple states that the CPU is 40% faster than its previous version, with graphics that are 2.5 times faster. The iPad Air 2 also includes an M8 motion coprocessor, gathering elevation info from a barometer, the feature which can also be found in the new iPhones.

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Apple has done a great work on the camera and made it light years ahead of its predecessors. It's now an 8-megapixel iSight camera with f/2.4 aperture, able to capture 1080p full HD video –Â the same specs as the camera on the iPhone 6. It includes both burst and time-lapse modes.

The front-facing FaceTime camera is upgraded, too, with an f/2.2 aperture that lets in 81% more light. It has improved face detection, the ability to capture HDR videos and a burst selfie mode.

On the lines of the recent iPhones, the iPad Air 2 features a Touch ID fingerprint scanner built into the home button. That means owners will be able to unlock the device just by touching a thumb or finger to the scanner. This means added security as the fingerprint is a unique feature and cannot be hacked or duplicated unless the hacker cuts off your finger.

It also means the iPad Air 2 would be compatible with Apple Pay, the company's new mobile payments system. However, there is no near-field communication (NFC) radio onboard; meaning Apple Pay on the iPad Air 2 is intended for shopping within apps that support it. So the limitation is you cannot use Apple Pay on your iPad Air 2 for in-store shopping unlike the new iPhones. Battery life is rated at 10 hours, just like previous iPad models. Apple also added support for 802.11ac Wi-Fi networks.

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The new iPad color combo looks fresh with "space" gray, silver and for the first time a jazzy golden-colored body. It sports the same price tag as the previous generations, but with slightly different capacities. A relief on the pockets of the Apple fans. Apple has discontinued the 32GB model, just as it did with the iPhone. Prices start at $499 for 16GB, $599 for 64GB and $699 for 128GB. 4G LTE versions will be available: $629 for 16GB, $729 for 64GB and $829 for 128GB.

Pre-orders booking would commence from October 17. The news of the new iPad hitting the shelves is undisclosed; however, Apple cleverly played their cards about its availability for the consumers by saying that the new iPad would be available toward the end of next week, taking a cue from their last experience of the new iPhones reaching the stores.

iPad Air 2 tally sheet

In our last article titled, "What To Expect From The Upcoming IPad,"’ we had precisely summed up customer expectation into four points that they pegged on the new iPad. Let us see how many of them are answered:

1. The screen size was not the issue but would be more of an added advantage; what was required was multitasking capacity. It is not yet clear whether multitasking would work in actual but the processor and the tech components are almost the same as in the new iPhones; hence it can possibly have the feature of multi-tasking but it would be wise to wait until it is available in-stores for a hands-on experience before buying.

2. The convenience of a keypad which consumers were expecting has been resolved to an extent by making the display larger and hence more window space to work while using the on-screen keypad.

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3. Lighter, Faster and More Battery life with a better camera is one area of expectation which has been really taken care of very well by Apple shop floor. It sports a perfect zero figure and light weight as light as just 15 ounces. A new processor, the A8X, a 64-bit chip based on the A8 processor making it lightning fast with Apple claiming that the CPU is 40% faster than its previous version and giving a better life to its battery. An 8 megapixel iSight camera with HD video recording and a front camera with f/2.2 aperture and face timing and burst selfie mode have actually given what the Apple fans actually wanted from the wonder gadget. A hundred upon hundred on the expectation.

4. A better video and graphic player has been built in with the new processor generating graphic displays that are 2.5 times faster and the M8 motion coprocessor also gives the answer to customer expectations.

Hence the new iPad scores a perfect 3.5 out of 4 on customer expectation.

The following table will also give you the understanding of where the Apple iPad Air 2 stands in comparison to its peer group.

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Final takeaway

With the new iPad, Apple has once again proved that it is hard to earn the place Apple has earned through its ages of experience. It also sends a clear message to its competitors and rivals that no one understands an Apple fan better than Apple Inc. Hence it would be a difficult task to dislodge Apple from its fanfare in the near future unless the competitor casts some black magic on its customers or does something overwhelming to dent Apple clientele. For now, it would be best to wait and watch how the Apple frenzy grips the air once the new iPad hits the shelves.