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1. Bring Siri to the iPad 3
There’s really no question that adding Siri to the iPad 3 would be welcome. The virtual personal assistant makes it easy to send out text messages or write up emails and it generally keeps iPhone 4S owners up-to-date with all the tasks they need to perform. Siri will be coming to all future Apple devices, including the iPad 3.
2. Different Screen Sizes
Although Apple has historically stuck with the 9.7-inch form factor in its iPad, it would be nice to see the company try out something new, like a 7- or 10.1-inch display. Giving customers choices isn’t a bad thing. And it’s about time Apple realizes that.
3. Full 3D Support
Looking around the Consumer Electronics Show, it quickly became clear that 3D support is an integral component in many devices. Considering Apple’s iPad is becoming a go-to gaming and entertainment platform for many customers, the company should deliver 3D to make the iPad 3 as appealing as possible.
4. End the Glare Issues
If Amazon’s Kindle has taught us anything, it’s that glare-less screens are ideal when reading content outdoors. Apple has so far done little to cut down on glare problems. In the iPad 3, it would be nice to see the company find a way to eliminate much of the glare.
5. Wireless Charging, Anyone?
How annoying is it to connect the iPad 2 or any mobile device to a charging cord? The time has come for Apple to launch the iPad 3 with wireless charging. Such charging methods are starting to become popular, but so far, few major companies have adopted it. Apple should be the first.
6. Longer Battery Life
Considering tablets are portable devices, it would only make sense that consumers and enterprise users would want to have as long a battery life as possible. In the iPad 3, Apple should deliver that. Long battery life is everything in the mobile space.
7. Gorilla Glass 2
At the Consumer Electronics Show recently, Corning unveiled Gorilla Glass 2, a major step up over the current displays found in touch-screen devices. The offering includes better sensitivity, brighter images and a thinner design to help device makers create even smaller products. Take advantage of that in the iPad 3, Apple.
8. Retina Display
Following the screen topic, wouldn’t it be nice if Apple offered up a Retina Display in the iPad 3? Apple’s Retina Display offers ideal screen resolution for the naked eye, but is only available in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. For more than one year now, consumers have been hoping for the Retina Display to come to the iPad. Let’s hope that happens in 2012.
9. Vibration Effect
As noted, gaming has become a key component in Apple’s iPad. But elsewhere around the gaming space, vibration effects are huge. Perhaps Apple should meld those two things and offer vibration effects in the iPad 3. It would enhance overall gaming on the iPad 3 and help application developers do more with their programs.
10. Near-Field Communication
Looking ahead, it’s hard to argue that near-field communication and mobile-payment applications will be a big deal. Google currently supports it with its Wallet service. And now, all attention is focused on Apple to follow its lead. Let’s hope it does just that with the launch of a mobile-payment solution in the iPad 3.
The time has come once again to think seriously about Apple’s iPad. Only this time, the focus isn’t on the iPad 2 but on Apple’s iPad 3. That tablet, which is rumored to be launching in March or April, could very well be a groundbreaking option for consumers and enterprise users alike. The excitement and speculation has been building for months already. That excitement becomes all the more impressive when one considers that the device’s details have yet to be announced. In fact, Apple hasn’t even acknowledged that that it will launch an upgraded tablet model this year. For now, in official channels, Apple’s focus is solely on the iPad 2. But those who have been following Apple over the years know better. Apple will release a new tablet this year and there’s a solid chance the slate will come with a host of features to appeal to customers. But just what features should be built into this new tablet? This eWEEK slide show has some suggestions for what we’d like to see in Apple’s iPad 3: