It's been just a few years since Apple's iPad introduced us in
2010 to the concept of the tablet- the internet-enabled computer that
works like a smartphone but is bigger and better.
Having created the market, the iPad is in a state of continual evolution as it seeks to take advantage of improving technology to stay ahead of rivals like the Amazon Fire and Samsung Galaxy.
So this year Apple released its latest version, the iPad3, into the world, which as you would expect from one of the world's great technology companies, continues to deliver.
Visually very similar to the previous model, the new generation iPad differs physically only at the margins. It is a mere 0.6mm deeper than the iPad2's modest 8.8mm, and weighs in just a little heavier, having piled on 39 grams to add to its predecessor's 613 grams.
Such minor details will probably go unnoticed by most users, but the difference in terms of screen resolution is something that certainly won't.
This is the most noticeable area of
improvement between the two generations. While the previous iPad had
1024x768 pixels to play with, the new iPad has a far higher resolution
2048x1536 pixel retina display, so densely packed together that it's
impossible to pick out individual pixels at normal viewing distance.
The result is greater clarity and definition of image, making for even better graphic-rich gaming and all round every day use.
This improved ability to view images is complemented by an improved ability to capture them, thanks to a new and enhanced rear-facing iSight camera that goes from a mere 0.7 megapixels up to 5-megapixels, with an accompanying facility to shoot 1,080p HD video, compared with the previous 720p.
With Apple's photo-editing software, iPhoto, now available for the iPad, this is even more a 'must have' multi-function tool for personal and business use.
Also available with the 4G version is a Personal Hotspot feature that allows you to share a fast network connection with up to five other devices.
At the heart of the iPad's new armoury lies a serious hardware upgrade - the introduction of a faster 'quad-core' 1GHz Apple A5X processor that Apple says has twice the processing power of its predecessor.
While all these new features will certainly consume extra power, users won't be disadvantaged by finding themselves running out of power any faster, as a more powerful battery compensates to ensure that a useful 10 hours of active life remains the norm.
For connectivity, the new iPad opts for the 'lightning' connector, more durable and 80% smaller than the 30-pin connector used by the iPad 2, and a much neater refinement that better suits the new model's greater sophistication.
One welcome addition over the previous iPad is the arrival of Siri, the iPhone's voice-activated virtual personal assistant, to give even greater usability and functionality.
So though the iPad 2 is still a fantastic piece of technology, the improvements made to the latest version mean that when you need to take a tablet, latest's best.
Having created the market, the iPad is in a state of continual evolution as it seeks to take advantage of improving technology to stay ahead of rivals like the Amazon Fire and Samsung Galaxy.
So this year Apple released its latest version, the iPad3, into the world, which as you would expect from one of the world's great technology companies, continues to deliver.
Visually very similar to the previous model, the new generation iPad differs physically only at the margins. It is a mere 0.6mm deeper than the iPad2's modest 8.8mm, and weighs in just a little heavier, having piled on 39 grams to add to its predecessor's 613 grams.
Such minor details will probably go unnoticed by most users, but the difference in terms of screen resolution is something that certainly won't.
This is the most noticeable area of
improvement between the two generations. While the previous iPad had
1024x768 pixels to play with, the new iPad has a far higher resolution
2048x1536 pixel retina display, so densely packed together that it's
impossible to pick out individual pixels at normal viewing distance.The result is greater clarity and definition of image, making for even better graphic-rich gaming and all round every day use.
This improved ability to view images is complemented by an improved ability to capture them, thanks to a new and enhanced rear-facing iSight camera that goes from a mere 0.7 megapixels up to 5-megapixels, with an accompanying facility to shoot 1,080p HD video, compared with the previous 720p.
With Apple's photo-editing software, iPhoto, now available for the iPad, this is even more a 'must have' multi-function tool for personal and business use.
Also available with the 4G version is a Personal Hotspot feature that allows you to share a fast network connection with up to five other devices.
At the heart of the iPad's new armoury lies a serious hardware upgrade - the introduction of a faster 'quad-core' 1GHz Apple A5X processor that Apple says has twice the processing power of its predecessor.
While all these new features will certainly consume extra power, users won't be disadvantaged by finding themselves running out of power any faster, as a more powerful battery compensates to ensure that a useful 10 hours of active life remains the norm.
For connectivity, the new iPad opts for the 'lightning' connector, more durable and 80% smaller than the 30-pin connector used by the iPad 2, and a much neater refinement that better suits the new model's greater sophistication.
One welcome addition over the previous iPad is the arrival of Siri, the iPhone's voice-activated virtual personal assistant, to give even greater usability and functionality.
So though the iPad 2 is still a fantastic piece of technology, the improvements made to the latest version mean that when you need to take a tablet, latest's best.
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