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iPad

The fourth-generation iPad
Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Product family	iPad
Type	Tablet computer
Release date	November 2, 2012 (2012-11-02) Australia Austria Belgium Bulgaria Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Hong Kong Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Japan Korea Liechtenstein Luxembourg Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom United States December 6, 2012 (2012-12-06) Colombia December 7, 2012 (2012-12-07) China Malaysia South Africa December 9, 2012 (2012-12-09) India December 12, 2012 (2012-12-12) United Arab Emirates December 14, 2012 (2012-12-14) Brazil Russia Taiwan December 21, 2012 (2012-12-21) Philippines
Units sold	3 million iPad Minis and fourth-generation iPads were shipped in the first weekend of sale.
Operating system	Original OS: iOS 6.0.1 Current OS: iOS 6.0.1, released November 1, 2012 (2012-11-01)
System on a chip	Apple A6X
CPU	1.4 GHz dual core Apple Swift
Storage	16, 32, or 64 GB flash memory
Display	9.7 inches (250 mm) 2,048 × 1,536 px color IPS LCD display at (264 ppi) with a 4:3 aspect ratio, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Graphics	PowerVR SGX554MP4
Input	Multi-touch screen, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, digital compass
Camera	Front: 1.2 MP, 720p HD Rear: 5.0 MP AF, iSight with Five Element Lens, Hybrid IR filter, video stabilisation, face detection, ƒ/2.4 aperture
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth 4.0 GSM UMTS / HSDPA 850, 1900, 2100 MHz GSM / EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz CDMA CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A 800, 1900 MHz GSM LTE 700, 2100 MHz UMTS / HSDPA/HSPA+ / DC-HSDPA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz GSM / EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz CDMA LTE 700 MHz CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A 800, 1900 MHz UMTS / HSDPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz GSM / EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
Power	Built-in rechargeable Li-Po battery 11,560 mAh 3.7 V 43 W⋅h (150 kJ)
Online services	App Store, iTunes Store, iBookstore, iCloud, Game Center, Photo Booth
Dimensions	9.50 in (241 mm) (height) 7.31 in (186 mm) (width) 0.37 in (9.4 mm) (depth)
Weight	Wi-Fi: 652 g Wi-Fi + Cellular: 662 g
Predecessor	iPad (3rd generation)
Website	www.apple.com/ipad

The fourth-generation iPad (marketed as iPad with Retina display, colloquially referred to as the iPad 4) is a tablet computer produced and marketed by Apple Inc. The fourth-generation iPad features new and upgraded components such as the Apple A6X chip, and the Lightning connector, which was introduced on September 12, 2012. It ships with iOS 6.0, which provides a platform for audio-visual media, including electronic books, periodicals, films, music, computer games, presentations and web content.

It was announced at a media conference on October 23, 2012 as the fourth-generation of the iPad line, succeeding the third generation iPad, and was first released on November 2, 2012 in thirty-five countries. The device was released throughout December in ten other countries including China, India and Brazil. The third generation was discontinued following the fourth's announcement.

The device is available with either a black or white front glass panel and can be purchased with various connectivity and storage options. Storage size options include 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB, the available connectivity options are Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + Cellular with LTE capabilities.

The fourth-generation iPad received primarily positive reviews and was praised for its hardware improvements as well as the retina display, which was also featured in the device's predecessor. Furthermore benchmarks reveal that the fourth-generation iPad is able to perform CPU reliant tasks twice as fast as its predecessor. During the first weekend of sales, an aggregated amount of three million fourth-generation iPads and iPad minis were sold.

History

Rumors regarding the next generation iPad emerged shortly after the release of the third generation iPad, at that point some speculated that the next iPad released would be of a smaller size. Further speculations emerged in July 2012 when DigiTimes with the help of unspecified sources claimed that Apple made small revisions to the then upcoming iPad and scheduled its release for late 2012. Substantial evidence, which includes photographic images of the dock connector and front camera emerged shortly before the announcement event. On October 16, 2012, Apple announced a media event scheduled for October 23 at the California Theatre in San Jose, California. The company did not predisclose the subject of the event, but it was widely expected to be regarding the iPad Mini.

At the conference event, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced a new version of iBooks and new generations of the MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and the iMac before unveiling the fourth-generation iPad and the iPad Mini. During the unveiling, Apple stated that the fourth-generation iPad will be available to pre-order online in a selected number of countries from October 26. On November 2, Apple released the Wi-Fi model of device in thirty-five countries, across Europe, East Asia and North America. The cellular model was released in-store a few weeks after the initial release of the device. The release of the fourth-generation iPad led to the discontinuation of its predecessor, the unexpected announcement and release caused discontentment amongst 3rd generation iPad users. In response, Apple extended its 14 day return policy to 30 days, additionally as ITProPortal noted, since the price of both models is identical, consumers that purchased the third generation iPad within this time frame are effectively allowed to exchange their discontinued device for the fourth-generation model.

Features

Software

The fourth-generation iPad is shipped with iOS 6.0. It can act as a hotspot with some carriers, sharing its Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, and also access the Apple App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS. The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with Xcode and the iOS SDK and were published through Apple. From the App Store, GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, and the iWork apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) are available.

The iPad comes with several pre-installed applications, including Siri, Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts. Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes, although iOS 5 and later can be managed and backed up without a computer. Although the tablet is not designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype. The device has dictation, using the same voice recognition technology as the iPhone 4S. The user speaks and the iPad types what they say on the screen provided that the iPad is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network due to the feature's reliance on Apple servers to translate the speech.

The fourth-generation device has an optional iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore. Several major book publishers including Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have committed to publishing books for the device. Despite being a direct competitor to both the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook, both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble offer e-reader apps for the iPad.

Hardware

There are four buttons and one switch on the fourth-generation iPad, including a home button near the display that returns the user to the home screen, and three plastic switches on the sides: wake/sleep and volume up/down, plus a software-controlled switch whose function varies with software updates. Externally the fourth-generation iPad is identical to its predecessor apart from the differences between dock connectors used and change of manufacturers that produce the display. In addition, the WiFi only version weighs 652 grams while the cellular model weighs 662 grams, each are 2 grams heavier than their respective predecessor. The display responds to other sensors: an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness and a 3-axis accelerometer to sense orientation and switch between portrait and landscape modes. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch's built-in applications, which work in three orientations (portrait, landscape-left and landscape-right), the iPad's built-in applications support screen rotation in all four orientations, including upside-down. Consequently, the device has no intrinsic "native" orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes.

The tablet is manufactured either with or without the capability to communicate over a cellular network; all models can connect to a wireless LAN. The fourth-generation iPad optionally has 16, 32, or 64 GB of internal flash memory, with no expansion option. Apple sells a "camera connection kit" with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos.

The device has an Apple A6X SoC which comprises a Apple Swift dual-core CPU running at 1.4 GHz, a quad-core PowerVR SGX554MP4 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. It also features a 5-megapixel, rear-facing camera capable of 1080p video recording; and a 720p HD front-facing videophone camera designed for FaceTime. The device features a 9.7" display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 (QXGA) resulting in 3.1 million pixels, this gives the display a pixel density of 264 ppi. The total number of pixels used in the display of the fourth-generation iPad is four times higher than that of the iPad 2 – providing even scaling from the prior model.

The audio playback of the fourth-generation iPad has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Without third-party software it can play the following audio formats: HE-AAC, AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible formats (2, 3, 4, AEA, AAX, and AAX+), ALAC, AIFF, and WAV. A preliminary tear-down of the third generation iPad by IHS iSuppli showed the likely costs for a 16 GB cellular model at US$358.30, 32 GB at US$375.10, and 64 GB at US$408.70.

This iPad uses an internal rechargeable lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery that can hold a charge of 11,560 mAh. The batteries are made in Taiwan by Simplo Technology (60%) and Dynapack International Technology. The iPad is designed to be charged with a high current of 2 amps using the included 12 W USB power adapter and Lightning connector. While it can be charged by an older USB port from a computer, these are limited to 500 milliamps (0.5 amps). As a result, if the iPad is in use while powered by a computer, it may charge very slowly, or not at all. High-power USB ports found in newer computers and accessories provide full charging capabilities. Apple claims that the battery can provide up to 10 hours of video, audio playback, or web surfing on Wi-Fi, 9 hours of web surfing over a cellular connection, or one month on standby. Like any rechargeable battery, the iPad's battery loses capacity over time. However, the iPad's battery is not user-replaceable. In a program similar to iPod and iPhone battery-replacement programs, Apple promised to replace an iPad that does not hold an electrical charge with a refurbished unit for a fee. During the battery replacement process, user data is not preserved/transferred and repaired or refurbished units comes with a new case. The warranty on the refurbished unit may vary between jurisdictions.

Accessories

The Smart Cover, introduced with the iPad 2, is a screen protector that magnetically attaches to the face of the iPad. The cover has three folds which allow it to convert into a stand, which is also held together by magnets. The Smart Cover can also assume other positions by folding it. Smart Covers have a microfiber bottom that cleans the front of the iPad, and wakes up the unit when the cover is removed. It comes in five colors of both polyurethane and the more expensive leather.

Apple offers several other accessories, most of which are adapters for the proprietary Lightning connector, the only port besides the headphone jack. A dock holds the iPad upright at an angle, and has a dock connector and audio line-out port. The iPad can use Bluetooth keyboards that also work with Macs and PCs. The iPad can be charged by a standalone power adapter ("wall charger") compatible with iPods and iPhones, and a 12 Watt charger is included.

Reception

The fourth-generation iPad received primarily favorable reviews from critics and commentators. The review of the fourth-generation iPad conducted by Graeth Beavis of TechRadar commented that its high resolution Retina Display is clear, crisp and bright and also commented that the screen of the iPad lacks the "punch" seen in Super AMOLED screens. Beavis commented that it is a simple design and has a easy to use layout. Other aspects such as the design of the iPad and updated SoC were noted and praised in the review. Beavis commented that the iPad can still moderately heat up under medium usage, however not to the extent seen in the 3rd generation iPad. Tim Stevens of Engadget commented that Retina Display is the best screen available on tablets. Stevens drew conclusions on benchmarking and testing that the fourth-generation iPad is the fastest Apple mobile device available In a repair-ability review conducted by iFixit, it gave 2 out of 10 for the fourth generation iPad with 10 being the easiest to repair, due to the use of adhesive to attach components, however its reviewers opined that several components such as the screen and battery were easy to remove.

SlashGear conducted benchmarks and it concluded that the SoC of the fourth-generation iPad is able to perform CPU reliant tasks more than twice as fast as that of the 3rd generation iPad. AnandTech conducted a series of benchmark tests on the graphics performance of the fourth-generation iPad. It reports that the iPad fourth generation scored the highest compared to other consumer mobile devices it tested, including the Samsung Galaxy S III, Nexus 10 and 3rd generation iPad. Battery longevity tests conducted by AnandTech reports that the battery of the fourth-generation iPad is able to last longer than its predecessor except the iPad 2.

In the iPad Mini and fourth-generation iPad's first weekend of sales, Apple reported that along with the iPad Mini, it sold an aggregated amount of 3 million units. TechRadar noted that the first weekend sales figures for the fourth-generation iPad is lower than corresponding figures for the third generation iPad, which alone sold 3 million units in the aforementioned period. Subsequent reports and analysis such as that from David Hsieh, a technology analyst suggest that the iPad mini is selling better than the fourth-generation iPad. Despite the noted slump in sales, Apple stocks in direct response to the figures released rose by 1.4% to $584.62 on November 5.

Timeline of iPad models

Timeline of iPad models v t e
See also: Timeline of Apple Inc. products

Source: Apple Newsroom Archive.

See also

• iPad accessories
• Comparison of tablet computers
• E-book reader

References

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2. Gene Ryan Briones (December 7, 2012). "iPad Mini & iPad 4 Debut in China Looks Underwhelming". Ubergizmo. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
3. "iPad mini and iPad 4 Goes on Sale in Malaysia Today". Vernonchan.com. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
4. "iPad, iPad Mini hit SA". iAfrica.com. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
5. Swapnil Kale (December 9, 2012). "Apple iPad Mini and iPad 4 launched in India". Technoholik.com. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
6. Neil Churchill (December 12, 2012). "iPad Mini To Launch In UAE". Gulf Business. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
7. Telecompaper (December 16, 2012). "Apple launches iPad 4 in Brazil for BRL 1749". Telecompaper. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
8. Andrii Degeler (December 12, 2012). "Apple to bring the iPad mini to Russia on December 14". The Next Web. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
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21. Geller, Johnathon S. (October 16, 2012). "Apple sends out invitation for iPad mini event". Boy Genius Report. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
22. Lowensohn, Josh (October 16, 2012). "iPad Mini, anyone? Apple sets Oct. 23 event". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
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24. ^ "Apple Introduces iPad mini". Apple Inc. October 23, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
25. Sulleyman, Aatif (24 October 2012). "Reports: recent iPad 3 owners to receive free iPad 4 upgrade". ITProPortal. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
26. ^ "The new iPad: It's a Breakthrough because it features are". Apple. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
27. Ankan Deka, Jim (September 14, 2011). "iPad – the Musician's Genie". EF News International. Eastern Fare Music Foundation. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
28. "The new iPad – Amazing iPad apps, built right in". Apple. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
29. Sarno, David (January 29, 2010). "Apple confirms 3G VoIP apps on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Skype is waiting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
30. Patel, Nilay (January 27, 2010). "The Apple iPad: starting at $499". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
31. Topolsky, Joshua (January 27, 2010). "Live from the Apple 'latest creation' event". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
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33. "Free Kindle Reading Apps". Amazon.com. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
34. "Free NOOK app for iPad, Download eReader app – Barnes & Noble". Barnes and Noble. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
35. ^ Tim Stevens (October 30, 2012). "iPad review (late 2012)". Engadget. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
36. Kingston-Hughes, Adrian (October 30, 2012). "iPad 4 benchmark leaks into the wild, shows 1.4GHz processor". ZDNet. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
37. Griffith, Chris (March 8, 2012). "Apple launches new iPad with higher resolution screen, and a new Apple TV with HD capability". The Australian. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
38. "New iPad will have a 2048×1536 Retina Display". Geek.com. Ziff Davis. March 7, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
39. "What to do with all those extra pixels?". Bjango. Bjango Pty Ltd. June 19, 2010. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
40. Poeter, Damon (March 17, 2012). "IHS iSuppli Breaks Down Cost of Parts in the New iPad". PCWorld. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
41. Huang, Joyce (June 7, 2010). "Best Under a Billion: Batteries Required?". Forbes. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
42. "iPad: Charging the battery". Apple. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
43. VanHemert, Kyle (March 13, 2010). "Apple will replace the dead battery of an iPad for $99". Gizmodo. Gawker Media. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
44. "iPad Battery Replacement Service: Frequently Asked Questions". Apple. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
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48. "iPad must-haves. And fun-to-haves". Apple. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
49. Frakes, Dan (April 14, 2012). "iPad Keyboard Dock or Bluetooth Keyboard?". PCWorld. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
50. ^ Beavis, Gareth (November 5, 2012). "New iPad 4 review". TechRadar. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
51. Rougeau, Michael (October 30 2012). "iPad 4 more than twice as fast as iPad 3, benchmarks reveal". TechRadar. Retrieved January 01, 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
52. Shimpi, Anand Lal (November 2, 2012). "iPad 4 GPU Performance Analyzed: PowerVR SGX 554MP4 Under the Hood". Anandtech. Retrieved January 01, 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
53. Shimpi, Anand Lal (December 16, 2012). "iPad 4 (Late 2012) Review - Charging and Battery Life". Anandtech. Retrieved January 01, 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
54. Crothers, Brooke (December 13, 2012). "iPad Mini set to eclipse Retina iPad". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
55. Stoukas, Tom and Nazareth Rita (November 5, 2012). "U.S. Stocks Rise Before American Presidential Elections". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
56. Apple Inc. (2010–2011). iPad News – Newsroom Archive. Retrieved June 7, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Apple introduces iPad mini - Apple's press-release from October 23

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Category

• IPad
• Apple Inc. hardware
• Apple personal digital assistants
• IOS (Apple)
• Tablet computers
• Touchscreen portable media players
• Products introduced in 2012