Now that the cat’s out of the bag and Apple has confirmed the next-gen iPad announcement for March 7th, it’s time to deconstruct the invite itself for possible clues about the next iPad!
1. First up is the wording: “We have something you really have to see.” Combine that with the fact that the display looks amazing – much sharper than an iPad 2 display photographed at that distance – and you have a solid hint that the next iPad will indeed have a Retina display, as previously rumored.
2. Next up is the lack of a home button in the image. The spacing of the icons on the dock suggests that the iPad pictured is in portrait mode (and Gizmodo confirms that this is the case), yet there is no home button to be seen. This could easily be explained away in a number of ways (the iPad may have been photographed upside-down, or at an unusual angle), but Apple’s specific inclusion of “and touch” in the announcement phrasing may suggest a touch-sensitive bezel instead of a home button. There’s no real way to be sure, however – just a possibility.
3. Third, the inclusion of Keynote, Calendar, and Maps icons all present in the dock may just refer to the date of the event, that it is a keynote, and that people will need to find their way to the event in San Francisco. It could also mean that Apple is planning updates of some sort to their Keynote and Maps apps, although the calendar icon probably just notes the date.
4. “And touch.” wording could also suggest that Apple may bring an improved oleophobic display (Gorilla Glass 2?) or haptic feedback to the next generation iPad.
Did you spot any other interesting bits? Let us know!
That black bit under the alumnium casing is new…
That is obviously the new iShadow
I’ve always wanted a dock connector on the side so you can dock it horizontally. And being that it is pictured sideways, maybe that’s a possibility.
It’s not pictured “sideways” it’s in portrait mode. And 2 dock connectors would be useless and ugly. Apple would never do that
The fact that there are only three icons, and only three pages of apps, might just mean that this is actually an iPad 3, not a 2S.
Obviously the iPad 3 will include a higher-res display, but the reference to touch either indicates a haptic display or more likely, an improved oleophobic display. Also, the image has no home button, which could be a clue, or simply a picture of the iPad 3 in landscape orientation.
If they are getting rid of a mechanical touch button, I think, with the addition of 5 finger multitasking gestures, then they will get rid of a home button all together.
Irrespective of whether the iPad is placed in portrait or landscape mode there seems to be a sensor of some sort (rectangular outline; width the size of the two letters “en” of the word “calendar”) in the black border just below the digit “7”. If the iPad is inverted then the front facing camera has been updated. If the iPad is in landscape mode, a new sensor has been added.
I think the rectangular outline that you are talking about is part of the reflection from the hand.
Reflection of the index finger is slanted. This outline is straight and parallel along the lines of the iPad.
You are seeing the reflection of the 7 since the icons have a reflection when in the dock.
Reflection of the “7” is on the letter “e”. I am referring the the grey rectangle which is visible in black border area. Part of it is covered by the slanting shade of the index finger.
You are seeing things that simply aren’t there. The only images in the black bezel are the reflections of fingers.
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