The most recent Apple Special Event revealed a new 10.2-inch iPad. As usual, we’re going to explore all the latest features set to benefit your business – but that’s not all…
In this blog, we’ll also be indulging in some more nostalgia and taking a walk through the history of the iPad – from its humble beginnings to how it became one of the mainstays of tablet devices.
The origin
On 27th January 2010, the Apple CEO at the time, Steve Jobs, announced the iPad. It was a day that changed the technology world forever – but, it could have actually been much earlier. Work on the device dates back to 2004, and it was initially going to launch prior to the iPhone.
When the iPad was finally released, it was an immediate success – mainly down to the fact it enlarged the iPhone’s multi-touch interface, essentially combining a tablet and a laptop.
Getting lean
Twelve months on, and the iPad 2 came out. This built upon the device with a faster A5 processor. It also had a front and back camera, enabling FaceTime and video calling – something completely unfamiliar to the world at the time. What’s more, they slimmed it down, making it both lighter and thinner, and therefore more portable. This also made it more useful to students and the education sector, which remain among its chief users today.
Such portability proved popular, leading Apple to launch the iPad mini in 2012, which was only 7.9 inches. Then, in 2013, they decided to redesign the iPad to be almost as light as air. Hence, the iPad Air – which came in at a mind-blowing 7.5 millimetres thick. The device was 22% lighter than the iPad 2 and had smaller bezels, but it also packed a punch with its A7 processor.
Levelling up
The mini was upgraded in 2013, with many similar features to the Air, including a Retina display. This was then revamped once again with the Mac mini 3 in 2014, gaining Touch ID. The fingerprint recognition feature was also introduced to the iPad Air 2, which played host to a triple-core A8X processor and 2 gigabytes of RAM.
In 2015, Apple took things up a notch. Boasting 4 gigabytes of DDR4 RAM, the first Smart Connector port and an optional Smart Keyboard, as well as supporting the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro launched. The device later saw the likes of Retina Flash for front-facing photos, along with True Tone technology to automatically adjust the display’s colour temperature and intensity to our ambient environments.
It’s safe to say that this was when things really changed. Offices no longer needed their desktops; their workers could do everything from the iPad.
We’ve been posting about Apple news and events for years, and the device has only gone from strength to strength. Whether it was when Lightning was switched out for USB Type-C, a LIDAR sensor was added to the Pro, colour options came to the Air, or we welcomed the M1 chip and 5G connectivity, there has always been a lot to love about the Apple iPad.
Today: The new iPad
The success of the iPad has seen it hailed as the device for doing whatever you need to do. Work, design, education, watching TV shows and films, reading eBooks, playing games… the list goes on. As a result, it’s no surprise that it dominates the tablet market – with almost a third of sales attributed to Apple iPads – and it’s no wonder that they’re continuously upgrading it.
So, what can we expect from the fresh iPad revealed in September 2021? Well, it comes with an A13 Bionic chip, which will deliver up to 20% faster performance. It will play host to the iPadOS 15 operating system, as well as a new Home Screen design (with integrated widgets, the App library, a better Safari experience, and much more). In addition, it also features a 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Centre Stage, a 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone, and double the storage of its predecessor.
The future: What’s next?
It’s evident that Apple is going to keep releasing new iPads – and other products – that have been upgraded with a whole host of valuable features. Enthusiasts like us love that they keep innovating like this, but we also know that such high-quality devices come at a cost.
That’s why we offer a leasing solution, enabling you to spread the payment over time and keep focusing on your growth. Even better, we’ll also be there every step of the way to support you with our warranty support. To find out more, get in touch with our friendly team today.
