Analysts see the introduction of split screen multi-tasking for the iPad at the World Wide Developers conference in San Francisco as confirmation that Apple is set to release a 12-inch “professional” iPad which has the potential to reignite sagging tablet sales and turn the iPad into a truly productive machine.
Another software tweak coming to Apple tablets is the ability to turn your onscreen keyboard into a giant touchpad, with quick one-touch buttons that let you attach files or attach photos to emails.
Initial rumours were that Apple would use the WWDC event to unveil the 12-inch iPad but that proved not to be the case, with one report suggesting troubles with the manufacture of the larger display meant pushing the release of the product back to September.
Jackdaw Research chief analyst Jan Dawson said that the announcements of changes to iOS for the latest tablet is a sign that the bigger iPad is definitely on its way.
“If you look at iOS, all the recent enhancements have basically added the same feature set to both the iPhone and the iPad.
“And even as they’ve come out with new iPad hardware, they had the same hardware features such as touch ID that is on the iPhone.
“There hasn’t been anything new and different that’s really made you say `ok this iPad is amazingly better from the last one from a software perspective especially’.
“I think split screen multi-tasking is the first time in ages we’ve seen something that is clearly designed to move the iPad forward.
“It feels like there is this split now where you have iPhone, iPad and Mac as three distinct categories that are going to have their own feature roll out from now on.
“Obviously it feels like it is a precursor to a bigger iPad.”
Recent research from Tesyte shows the most popular tablet in Australia remains the iPad 2. Tablet sales have slowed for Apple in recent years with people finding little need to upgrade to the latest model iPad.
Kantar Worldpanel chief of research Carolina Milanesi agrees that the announcement of new software features for Apple tablets is a sign the iPad Pro is on its way.
“There is no question about it. Apple has always spoken about the iPad as a PC in that way, as a full computing device,” she said.
“They keep on adding things that are validating that point. The fact they are now using the keyboard as a trackpad to me also says that they are not thinking about a hybrid, that they can do everything from that form factor.”
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