Rivals vying to turn the tables on iPad

CLAIRE ROGERS

Apple could unveil the iPad 3 in the next few weeks and begin shipping it in March. Kiwis will probably have to wait longer for it to hit stores here, however.

True to form, Apple has kept the details of its newest tablet tightly under wraps and, in the absence of any official information, speculation has filled in the gaps.

If the rumours are to be believed the iPad 3 will:

Have super-sharp screen resolution: The screen resolution is expected to be similar to that of the iPhone 4 and 4S' retina displays – which have a very high pixel density (four times the number of pixels as standard displays) to provide crisper text and images.

Pack a lot more grunt: The iPad2 has a dual-core processor but iPad 3 is expected to up the ante with a quad-core chip. This means it will have four microprocessors instead of two to carry out computing tasks, which equals faster performance for power hungry applications such as games, and increased ability to run multiple applications at once.

Have Apple's Siri voice recognition technology – Siri, Apple's "personal assistant" application, which can understand and respond to spoken questions and commands, has been one of the major drawcards for the iPhone 4S and fans are expecting to see it in the iPad 3.

Have faster internet: Telcos around the world are moving to 4G LTE networks (they're still a few years off in New Zealand, however). The next generation in mobile network technology allows for speedier mobile broadband. 4G LTE tablets have already made their way to market so Apple has some catching up to do.

Act like a contactless card: Near Field Communications technology lets devices transmit information wirelessly with each other over short distances. If the iPad 3 comes with NFC, it could be used to make contactless payments, store digital tickets or swap data with another NFC-enabled device such as a smartphone.

Take better snaps: The iPad's cameras have so far been surprisingly poor – the iPad 2 has a rear-facing camera with resolution equivalent to 0.9 megapixels. Although it's unlikely you'll be going around taking all your pics with the iPad, it'd still be nice to have a higher-resolution camera for when you do get snapping (after all, the iPhone 4S has a 8MP camera).

Other features the iPad 3 may have: more storage, an SD card slot to expand memory, iOS 5.1 – the next version of Apple's mobile operating system, gesture controls – which is probably unlikely, and a Thunderbolt port for faster file transfer.

ASUS

Earlier this month Asus unveiled its wi-fi-only TF700T tablet – which is an upgrade of its popular Transformer Prime tablet, which runs on Android operating system software. The TF700T has a 10-inch true HD touchscreen – the highest screen resolution on a 10-inch tablet yet, and a higher resolution front-facing camera.

Like the Transformer Prime (which can be pre-ordered in NZ online through Mobicity), the TF700T has a quad-core processor, Gorilla Glass, which means it's scratch resistant and extra durable, and the keyboard dock that turns it into a laptop. It will appear in the US by mid-year and will cost US$600 or US$700 depending on whether its 32GB or 64GB.

Asus also this month took the wraps off its Eee Pad Memo 370T – a 7-inch, wi-fi-only tablet with a quad-core processor and Android's Ice Cream Sandwich – the latest version of the Android software. The MeMo 370T is due out in the United States between April and June, and will cost just US$250.

ACER

Not to be outdone, Acer has also announced a HD tablet with a quad-core processor, the Iconia Tab A700. The tablet also comes packed with Android Ice Cream Sandwich, which has a typeface optimised for high-resolution screens, improved camera software and enhanced gesture support.

Acer's Iconia Tab A200 is not as highly specced but it's still got a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a 2MP front-facing camera, a dual-core processor. The 8 gigabyte model is available through Noel Leeming for $449. It comes with Android Honeycomb but can be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich from next month. It doesn't have a rear-facing camera and is wi-fi only.

TOSHIBA

The wi-fi-only Toshiba Excite X10 (also known as the Toshiba AT200) is the thinnest and lightest 10.1-inch tablet to be announced yet. It's 7.62 millimetres thick and weighs 535 grams, and will come with a dual-core processor, Gorilla Glass display, a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and 2MP front-facing camera. It will probably be loaded with Android Honeycomb, but be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich after its release. Noel Leeming is taking orders for the AT200 on its site, at $799 for the 16GB model.

OTHERS

Samsung has released a 4G LTE version of its Galaxy Tab 7.7, which has a super AMOLED 7.7-inch display for sharp images and vibrant colours (the 16GB, 3G version in available through Mobicity for $949), and is tipped to announce a new tablet with a 11.6-inch display next month. Nokia is also expected to begin selling a tablet mid-year that runs on Microsoft's yet-to-be-released Windows 8 operating software.

Sources: PC World, Ars Technica, WiseGeek, PC Mag, Mobicity, iPad 3 News Blog, Android, TechRadar, The Guardian, Acer, Asus, Apple, Toshiba, Ubergizmo.

- © Fairfax NZ News