Josh Ong
Reuters reports that an eyewitness spotted "what appeared to be a working model of the next iPad with a front-facing camera at the top edge of the glass screen" at Wednesday's media event for the experimental iPad publication. Apple announced a new in-app subscription feature at the event.
"A source with knowledge of the device confirmed its existence, adding that the final release model could have other features," the report noted, adding that News Corp and Apple declined to comment.
Though Apple's iTunes chief Eddy Cue and, presumably, other Apple staff were on hand at The Daily's debut, that they would bring recognizable prototypes of an unannounced product is uncharacteristic of the highly secretive company.
In the past, Apple has gone to great lengths to disguise unreleased products that are undergoing testing out in the real world. For instance, a prototype model of the iPhone 4 was discovered last year wrapped in a plastic case housing that made it look like an iPhone 3GS.
Apple's Eddy Cue, left, with News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch jointly unveil The Daily Wednesday.
However, if accurate, the report tracks with growing evidence that Apple will add cameras to the next version of its successful tablet. On Wednesday, AppleInsider discovered a new job listing from Apple seeking a digital photography expert to help "deliver great photography applications for the Mac and iPad platforms." Cameras on the iPad are expected as part of a push by Apple to promote its FaceTime video conference standard.
Rumors regarding Apple's plans for its next-generation iPad have increased as of late— a possible indication that the device's release is nearing. Recent reports suggest that overseas suppliers will begin production in February in preparation for an April launch.
One analyst reported earlier this week that Apple is focusing on reducing thickness and improving anti-reflection in the display for the iPad 2, but will keep the resolution the same. AppleInsider reported in January that Apple's next iPad could sport the upgraded SGX543 dual-core graphics processor from Imagination Technologies.
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19 Comments
That is if this really happened, you never know these days.
In any event what I mean is that by definition the tablet can't have a lot of variables to adjust. One tablet pretty much looks the same as any other. The bread and butter of iPad 2 will for the most part be inside. Also at this time is there anybody left on the planet that doesn't think iPad 2 will come with a camera suitable for FaceTime?
In the end there was little risk for Apple and sights like this jumping on the rumor mill just provide Apple with free advertising and promotion. If anything this sounds more like a controlled leak carefully orchestrated by Apple.
First!
I didn't buy the first gen iPad (waiting for this one) so the most important question for me is "when?" Tired of waiting.
A new report claims that a prototype version of Apple's second-generation iPad with a front-facing camera was present at News Corp's press conference to launch The Daily digital newspaper on Wednesday. ...
Sounds fishy to me.
This would be a big scoop, but the person who saw it wasn't asked for more detail or description? It makes me think that they saw it in a case and that it had a "spot" of some kind that looked like a camera.
It could just as easily have been the ambient light sensor that's already there on iPad 1.0 and looks a lot *like* a camera. Unless they describe the housing (the only part likely to look any different at all), I'm going to assume this is just wishful thinking.
Though Apple's iTunes chief Eddy Cue and, presumably, other Apple staff were on hand at The Daily's debut, that they would bring recognizable prototypes of an unannounced product is uncharacteristic of the highly secretive company.
In the past, Apple has gone to great lengths to disguise unreleased products that are undergoing testing out in the real world. For instance, a prototype model of the iPhone 4 was discovered last year wrapped in a plastic case housing that made it look like an iPhone 3GS.
The rumor does not track with reality - imagination gone wild maybe (see quote above). Even after the iPhone 4 was outed last year Apple was quite tight lipped and certainly did not show up at a large launch like this with the prototype models for all to see.
I suggest hip waders (and a close pin for the nose) when close to whoever is spreading this rumor.
they're just messing with us