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New iPad could have Touch ID, Apple Pay and larger screen

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Apple Inc. is always on the cusp of the latest and greatest innovation or at least an upgrade from the latest and greatest, that many people chomp at the bit just to purchase. Well, the Apple iPad is one of those great innovations. Rumor has it that Apple will soon be launching its new iPad version. And this rumor also says, apparently through the hidden codes embedded in the new iOS software, that these new iPads will have some special features. These rumors were leaked from sources outside of the Asia technology market.

These special features include: Touch ID, Apple Pay and a large viewing screen. These things are all good news for iPad lovers. This next generation of iPads will be formally announced this month. The iPad market does not have as large a turnover rate as Apple iPhone. Basically, people don’t purchase a new iPad as soon a there is an upgrade, like they do with their cell phones. Because of this, Apple has seen quite a drop in sales for the iPad for the first quarter of this year. With these new iPad features, Apple is sure to earn more sales by enticing potential buyers. The potential buyers that Apple is honing in on are businesses. This past summer, Apple agreed to a deal with IBM to sell iPhones and iPads pre-loaded with apps. This will be a win-win situation for both Apple and IBM.

Apple Pay, Possible NFC Payments?

Many iPad fans are already excited about the Touch ID, or fingerprint scanner, that will enable users to pay for any item with the touch of a button and without typing in their credit card number via Apple Pay.

The first time Apple introduced Touch ID to the world was through its iPhone 5s, and no other Apple device had it. Apple’s new iPhones also have this fingerprint scan features. No iPad, however, has ever had this feature. The new iPad will be more user friendly and invite new potential buyers with features like the fingerprint scan.  It is however, still a rumor that the new iPads will have NFC functionality, because in order to do this the user will have to enable Wi-Fi.

Larger Screens

Having a larger screen is another suspected bonus feature. The larger screen will provide the perfect viewing for the multi-tasking screen that will be in the new iPads. This multitasking screen will allow users to have more than one app or game open at one time. This double screen feature is not anything new to the world of technology. It has always been a feature of Microsoft products like their tablets. This is sure to be seen as a benefit for iPad users. Also, the large screen will still be streamlined, thin and esthetically pleasing as reported on TechNews. It will look a lot like its predecessor the iPad air. As well, an added keyboard feature may come with these new iPads, but it is not confirmed as yet.

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Thinner iPad (Source: technews.tw)
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Side by side comparison (Source: technews.tw)
More Storage

Finally, we saved the best for last. One of the best new features in the new iPad will be its larger storage capacity and a faster processor. Users will be able to store more information, more pictures, more games and apps. The new Apple iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus, both have a larger capacity and faster processor, so the new iPad will follow suit with these latest versions of the iPhone. This new larger capacity and storage will also be great for storing lots of music and videos.

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iPad Air 2 may feature 2GB of RAM

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According to a report out of Taiwan, the next generation iPad, commonly referred to as the iPad Air 2 (most probably will be known by Apple name as simply the iPad Air), will feature 2GB of RAM. That is double the amount of RAM found in the current generation iPad Air. The current generation iPad mini with Retina Display also features 1GB of RAM.

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According to the rumor, the second generation iPad Mini with Retina Display will still be stuck at 1GB of RAM.

Memory Does Not Matter to Apple

As many Apple enthusiasts know, Apple rarely plays the specs game. Instead they focus on keeping the cost of the device low so that they can keep their profit margins high. 

That means that instead of getting away with shoddy software design, Apple has to constantly reconfigure and optimize their operating systems for the amount of RAM that they are putting in the device. This is why it is often said that Apple’s devices run better despite their failure to compete on specs. 

RAM is a big deal however, even for Apple. Apple has, since the iPad’s launch in 2010, placed a lot of capital in the device as being a great gaming machine. Indeed it clearly beats Android when it comes to depth, quality, and quantity of game titles. By increasing the RAM in the next generation iPad Air, Apple will allow developers to do much more when it comes to graphics and processing. That means better and bigger games. 

In iOS 8, Apple has created a newly designed software stack called Metal, which will eliminate the processing time between request and execution. In layman’s terms, it allows the game to get closer to the CPU and GPU, which means games will operate faster. By adding extra RAM to the iPad Air 2, Apple gives developers even more power to play with. 

As is always the case, Apple has to take certain things into account before they can increase specs like RAM. For example, more RAM means a bigger impact on both battery life and heat output.

Another reason why more RAM makes sense for Apple, is that rumors point towards a new multitasking function that will allow users to run apps side by side. Additional RAM will make that process smoother and more enjoyable for users.

iPad Air 2 Rumors

As Apple get’s closer to the anticipated release of their next generation iPads, several rumors have leaked out. Including the inclusion of Touch ID, a slight redesign, and a anti-glare screen. It is rumored that Apple will announce the new iPad Air 2 in October (based on previous year’s iPad launches).

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Apple fans rejoice over iPad Mini display and new iPad Air

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Apple’s latest announcement event revealed many new developments, but none more prominent than the changes to the iPad and iPad Mini. Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the tech giant has come out with a revamped, renamed full-size tablet as well as an upgraded miniature version.

The latest-generation iPad, now called the iPad Air, is thinner and lighter than ever. At a mere 7.5 mm thick it’s 20% more svelte than the previous model. For those who recall how compact the first iPad seemed, just a few years ago, the iPad Air makes it seem like a cinder block in comparison.

Apple iPad Air
Apple iPad Air – Thinner and Lighter

Other features that make it the iPad Air awesome on the outside include its brilliant 9.7-inch retina display and choice of colors – consumers can choose whether they want a silver and white model or a space grey and black one.

But it’s not just pretty to look at. The iPad Air is also, of course, faster and more powerful than the last iPad. Taking a cue from the stunning iPhone 5s, it features the incredible A7 chip and M7 co-processor with 64-bit architecture. Whether you commonly use your iPad to watch Netflix, play the new CSR Classics or edit iWork documents, this makes it the ultimate, portable media centre, gaming console and on-the-go work machine.

Other updates for the latest iPad include a 5 MP iSight camera, which can shoot 1080P quality video, and MIMO technology, which includes multiple antennae in the iPad Air for improved Wi-Fi reception.

At $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi-only model, $629 for a 16GB Wi-Fi and cellular edition or $799 for the brand new 128GB one, the new iPad Air isn’t cheap. However, the updates increase its computing power and make it a realistic alternative to a laptop for ultra-portable computing.

Apple has overhauled the handy little iPad Mini, too. Though not as powerful as the iPad Air, or even the new iPhone 5s, it has been upgraded to feature a 64-bit A5 processor. Consequently, it’s four times faster than its predecessor. It also has eight times the graphics capabilities.

Apple iPad Mini with Retina Display
Apple iPad Mini now with Retina Display

With a 7.9-inch retina display, 5 MP, 1080P iSight camera and 10 hours of battery life, the iPad Mini is no slouch. In fact, it may become the common option for the average consumer who’s after a tablet to play games and check Facebook on but doesn’t require something as powerful and expensive as the iPad Air.

At $329 for a 16GB Wi-Fi-only model or $529 for one that also includes cellular, the iPad Mini is easier on the wallet than the iPad Air. With its upgraded technology and lower price point, it’s likely to become a hot seller this holiday season. Whether you have a technology fanatic in the family, or even just someone who’d appreciate an e-reader that can do more than just store and display books, the iPad Mini is a popular choice.

While the iPad updates that did come out of Apple’s latest event were certainly buzz-worthy, there were a few rumored announcements that never got made. Among them was the noticeable lack of a gold iPad to coordinate with the gold iPhone 5s. More importantly, however, there was no upgrade to fingerprint-sensing Touch ID on the iPads just like the new iPhone 5s. Furthermore, many tech experts expected Apple to come out with smart covers that contain keyboards, similar to the Surface tablet, but those were skipped over as well.

Perhaps Touch ID and other updates that were missed this time will be included in the next iteration of the iPad. Regardless, the iPad Air and new iPad Mini are sure to have people lining up outside Apple stores worldwide very soon.