This Week's Sponsor:

Kolide

Ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps.  It’s Device Trust for Okta.

iPad Retina Display? Maybe With iPad 3…

With the iPad 2 set to come out sometime in April and Apple reportedly about to announce a media event to unveil the new device in February, the Apple rumor mill is in fully-working state. And when it comes to the next-generation iPad, two are the kinds of rumors that blogs and publications are reporting: Retina Display and faster processor. Lately, we have noticed a rapid increase in the presence of “iPad Retina Display” rumors on the Internet.

The iPhone 4’s Retina Display, admittedly, spoiled the fun for many: once you lay your eyes on it and experience the lack of visible pixels, the iPad’s screen almost looks fuzzy and outdated. The current iPad has a 1024x768 resolution, and the rumors surfaced in the past months suggested Apple might implement a “2x”  (or at least higher-res) screen in the next-gen tablet, thuis achieving a 2048x1536 resolution. That would place the iPad at around 260ppi, which would be enough for the human eye to see no pixels at the distance one normally holds the iPad. The problem is, such as high-density 10-inch screen would require a terrific CPU power, RAM and graphic card to make everything run fast and smoothly. Not to mention battery life. Still, several rumors and tech pundits pointed to an “iPad Retina Display” in the past.

According to a report from IDC analyst Tom Mainelli, Apple is indeed working on a 2048x1536 screen, but has told manufacturers to save it for the iPad 3.

I think the Digitimes story probably got the resolution right, but the iPad version wrong,” Mainelli told PCWorld via email. “Our sources say Apple has requested that manufacturers begin work on displays with that resolution for the iPad 3.”

“I don’t believe anybody is ready to produce that resolution in volumes at this point. And Apple is going to require huge volumes for the iPad 2,” he added.

At this point, it seems likely that Apple won’t implement a “Retina Display” on the iPad 2, but we know it will happen at some point. And when the technology is ready, that screen will be a 2048x1536 one. [9to5mac via DigitalArts]

Join

Unlock More with Club MacStories

Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.

In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.

The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.

Choose the Club plan that’s right for you:

  • Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with app collections, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, a Club-only podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
  • Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus exclusive content like Federico’s Automation Academy and John’s Macintosh Desktop Experience, a powerful web app for searching and exploring over 6 years of content and creating custom RSS feeds of Club content, an active Discord community, and a rotating collection of discounts, and more;
  • Club Premier: Everything in from our other plans and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.

Federico is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of MacStories, where he writes about Apple with a focus on apps, developers, iPad, and iOS productivity. He founded MacStories in April 2009 and has been writing about Apple since. Federico is also the co-host of AppStories, a weekly podcast exploring the world of apps, and Unwind, a fun exploration of media and more.

He can also be found on his other podcasts on Relay FM: Connected and Remaster, two shows about Apple and videogames, respectively.

@viticci
@viticci
@viticci@macstories.net
viticci@macstories.net