While most Apple fans would not want to hear it, there is a lot of trouble brewing for the iPad3. As if the amount of speculation and gossip circulating isn’t enough, most analysts believe that the tablet will only taste the shelves on a store next year.
Rumors are entertaining, but there are realities that the iPad 3 is going to face when it finally hits consumer market. There are challenges that the iPad 3 has to endure.
Whether Apple likes it or not, Android is here to stay, although it was not as fast as Google hoped it would make its presence known in the tablet arena. And while people are considering trying Android-based tech, more consumers are finding reasons not to touch an iPad. Good thing for Apple, the negative effect is not that large to handle. But if the iPad 3 is delayed longer, then this might tilt the scale in favor of Android.
Another thing we cannot deny is that the alternative to the iPad is not bad. Despite all the courtroom antics and legal battles, the Galaxy Tab is one fine piece of hardware. It is a very great alternative to the iPad 2, and could even take the iPad 3 down. Compared to Apple’s tablet PC, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab offers 4G connectivity, an advanced OS designed for Honeycomb and a whopping 10.1 inch display. Since the iPad 3 may not be that different, this will definitely be a turn off for many would-be buyers.
Besides the OS and the apple logo, how different will the iPad 3 be from other tablet PCs? With a big display, dual cameras, dual or quad core processors and a slim and flat surface, what else is there? This didn’t matter much before. But will it be the same now that Android is popular? This has to matter, especially now that there are many competitors juicing up their line of tablet PCs.
Unlike clothes, do people really need a new iPad every year? Apple’s business strategy relies on people buying the same thing, albeit shinier and a little upgraded. This was done with the iPod and the iPhone. But whether the magic would work on tablet PCs is a different story. However, Apple hopes to do exactly that.
Competing rumors between two mobile devices is certainly not good for a company. The iPhone 5 has had numerous predictions when it would be released. The release of this could hurt the sales of the iPad 3. Especially now when the economy’s done, consumers may only choose one tech to spend their money on.
As if it weren’t obvious, people want a bigger display. Apple seems to have not received the memo. It still plans to include its standard 9.7 inch display. This would come with a 7 inch version for the mobile warrior. It is not rocket science to discover that a bigger display is appealing to customers. The iPad 3 could easily be overshadowed by devices featuring 10.1-inch screens. If Apple doesn’t listen to the waves, the sales of the iPad 3 could potentially suffer.
There is some rumors that Apple will bring 4G to the iPad 3. But it has remained a rumor. Apple has reasons why now is not the time to incorporate such connectivity with their tablet PC. Apple has to realize that the future of mobile computing relies heavily on 4G. How much forward-thinking do you need to consider this?
Another one of these challenges is the price factor. Many competitors and consumers have discovered that lowering prices is not one of Apple’s favorite strategies. After HP’s $99 Touch Pad incredible sales output, competitors now are thinking of following suit. Offering tablet PCs at less than Apple’s will surely tip the scales in their favor. After all, how different can these tablets be?
The largest trouble is that of patent disputes. Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Google are all parties to this worldwide legal battle. How things would turn out will definitely affect the tablet PC arena. Will this help Apple? We don’t know. But it could pose some trouble for the launch of the iPad 3.
As if this wasn’t enough, the Google-Motorola combination of resources can easily create big problems for Apple and the iPad 3. With Motorola, Google now has the power to influence that hardware scene in the arena of tablet computing. The iPad 3 has some serious competition to expect from Google and Motorola.
