AppleInsider Staff
In a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook characterized an apparent slowdown in tablet sales as a "speed bump," a sentiment that runs counter to some industry pundits who claim slates like the iPad are past their prime.
Speaking with Re/code's Walt Mossberg, Cook was decidedly upbeat about the tablet industry, and unsurprisingly Apple's iPad, amid worries that the market is losing steam.
"We couldn't be happier with how we've done with the first four years of the iPad," Cook said. "I'd call what's going on recently a speed bump, and I've seen that in every category."
Cook said much the same in July when addressing shareholder concerns over sagging iPad numbers. For the June quarter, Apple managed to move 13.3 million iPads, which was in line with company estimates, but fell short of upside expectations. The performance was down 9.2 percent compared to the same period last year.
At the time, Cook pointed to channel reduction and localized slowdown in certain developed markets like the U.S. and Western Europe, but noted upcoming innovations and partnerships would drive growth down the road. While nothing concrete was announced, the Apple chief promised new hardware, software and services are on their way.
One possible outlet for growth is Apple's recently announced collaboration with IBM dubbed "IBM MobileFirst for iOS." The program focuses on enterprise solutions, with IBM developing more than 100 native iOS apps and services tailored to the needs of multiple industries. MobileFirst is set to roll out later this year.
As for future product prospects, a rumor today rekindled discussions over a gigantic 12.9-inch iPad that could be on track for an early 2015 launch. Current iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display models are also expected to get a refresh this year with Touch ID fingerprint sensors, spec bumps and possibly a doubling of RAM for the 9.7-inch version.
The latest rumors claim Apple will double onboard memory for the "iPad Air 2" to 2GB, while keeping
Andrew Orr
Thomas Sibilly
Christine McKee
Andrew O'Hara
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Sponsored Content
61 Comments
You tell 'em, Tim!! The partnership with IBM is what the big-ass iPad is for!!!
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about that at all.
iPads have been around for a few years now, and they're no longer a brand new category of product.
Also, I believe that people are keeping and using their iPads for much longer than they keep their phones for example, so the product lifespan for iPads is longer. People aren't going out and buying a brand new iPad every year, well at least most people aren't. iPads that are a few years old still work great today. Part of what makes iPads so great is that they're like an appliance that practically anybody is able to use. Do people go out and buy new refrigerators every year? Hell no.
Unlike netbooks and other cheap, crappy fads, iPads are here to stay. They're not going away anytime soon. There have been a hell of a lot pathetically named "iPad killers" that are all six feet under now, rotting away in the cemetery for technological flops and other man made disasters, but has anything ever even come close to unseating the iPad from its throne? Nope.
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about that at all.
iPads have been around for a few years now, and they're no longer a brand new category of product.
Also, I believe that people are keeping and using their iPads for much longer than they keep their phones for example, so the product lifespan for iPads is longer. People aren't going out and buying a brand new iPad every year, well at least most people aren't. iPads that are a few years old still work great today. Part of what makes iPads so great is that they're like an appliance that practically anybody is able to use. Do people go out and buy new refrigerators every year? Hell no.
Unlike netbooks and other cheap, crappy fads, iPads are here to stay. They're not going away anytime soon. There have been a hell of a lot pathetically named "iPad killers" that are all six feet under now, rotting away in the cemetery for technological flops and other man made disasters, but has anything ever even come close to unseating the iPad from its throne? Nope.
So iPad refresh should be every 2 years and new design should be every 4 years?
You tell 'em, Tim!! The partnership with IBM is what the big-ass iPad is for!!!
Not big enough. This one is actually big...huge I mean...24" and resolution: 92ppi...lol
So iPad refresh should be every 2 years and new design should be every 4 years?
No, of course not.
Just like cars, there should be a brand new iPad model every single year, that is improved over the previous model.
The average person wont be buying a brand new iPad every year, but that doesn't mean that Apple shouldn't release a new model every year.
Everybody's upgrade cycle is different.
John Smith owns an iPad 3, and John will be upgrading to the iPad Air 2 in September 2014.
Craig Johnson just bought an iPad Air six months ago, so Craig doesn't plan on upgrading until 2015 when the iPad Pro gets released.
The point I'm trying to make is that everybody is on their own schedule.