Apple has long been at the forefront of consumer-conscious innovation. That is, Apple makes products that buyers feel are technologically advanced. This is most evident on the iPad 3 and its retina display, which was recently introduced with the iPod touch and phone. The screen contains 326 pixels per square inch, which translates to a contrast ratio of 800:1. There is some dispute as to whether this is the most pixels a human eye can handle (hence the name retina display) but with its LED backing sensitive to ambient light; it’s pretty good. Because the screen adjusts to its surroundings, iPad 3 will reduce eye strain. That’s a boon for IT support professionals who sometimes have to work on these things all day. Such a sharp screen can be a game changer. If nothing else, it proves that Apple has an impressive manufacturing network.
To date, Samsung manufactures all 2048X1536 screens. LG and Sharp are also on deck to pick up any slack. Even though Sharp was rumored to have failed Apple’s inspection process, they are said to be very excited to put their eighth-generation manufacturing production facility on the ground. Everyone will have to be burning the midnight oil. Analysts estimate that Apple will ship more than 18.7 million units for the fourth quarter. What does all this mean for you and your business?
Well, if you want an iPad 3 you’ll have to spend between $499 and $829. That’s a pretty high price for more pixels than your eye can see. The problems may not stop there. Apps will have to double in size to keep up with the screen. That could cause a lot of problems since Apple doesn’t allow downloading apps larger than 20 megabytes over 3G. It will still work over Wi-Fi and 4G, so it will be at your expense, but not AT&T’s. Larger apps will mean more throttling issues for data users. It is becoming increasingly clear that data usage and bandwidth demand are outpacing our current infrastructure.
Overall, the iPad 3 will have the best display on the retail market. It is quite a technological feat. However, Beta had a better display than VHS. Price remains a powerful limiting factor when deciding to make a purchase. It will be interesting if Apple’s brand loyalty can top this. Judging by these photos, probably.