Wishful Thinking: What We Want In the Next iPad

Jul

2010

Robert Workman, iPadNewsDaily Contributor
11:15 PM ET

It's only been a few months since the iPad hit the market, and even though it's selling quite well for Apple, it's not perfect. It's only a matter of time before the company goes back to the drawing board to introduce a new version of its tablet, possibly dubbed iPad 2.0 or iPad Plus or something along those lines. So we've put together a list of items that Apple should take under advisement when it comes to designing its next iteration...

iPad Camera – All of the iPhone models come with a built-in camera, enabling you to take pictures and, in the iPhone 4, take part in video chat. So why doesn't the iPad have one? True, it wouldn't be the most convenient device for taking photos, but adding a high-definition camera lens to the back of the unit would really be great. There's enough room to implement a better camera than the one available for the iPhone, and you could even use it for video conferencing with your business pals -- or your family -- when you're away on a trip.

Enhanced security measures – Although we haven't experienced any problems with the regular iPad, we've been hearing how some users of the higher-end 3G model have had their data exposed due to an accidental leak of information. This problem made some of you a little cautious about using your iPad in public spots outside of Wi-Fi range. This is something Apple needs to fix in order to bring peace of mind to current owners and potential buyers. A security upgrade would keep users' information safe , while also providing updates in case someone decides to be courageous enough to "jailbreak" their device and leave it open to possible threats. In this day and age, you'll want to play it safe every way you can when it comes to protecting your information, what with identity theft and all.

Higher-quality screen – If the iPhone 4 is able to receive a brighter, higher-definition screen, then why can't Apple produce one for the iPad? That's not to say that the screen it has right now is garbage. Far from it. But this would be a proper time to dig a little deeper and see what kind of better resolution screens are available for the price. Furthermore, Apple should research making said screens out of a better transparent material so they don't smudge so easily. We're constantly cleaning off fingerprints on our iPad, and not having to worry about them in a future model would make us consider buying one. Yes, we're that finicky about fingerprints.

Multitasking – As users on the go, we end up doing multiple things at once, such as reviewing notes, listening to music and checking online to see what the latest news is. Currently, the iPad is unable to handle multitasking, and there's no better time to research the possibility of this feature than with a newer model iPad. Imagine being able to take part in a game of "Angry Birds HD," then pausing for a second and opening up another screen to check email, and then prepping your favorite iPod tune ... all without needing to close and reopen programs. Of course, the current iPhone operating system can handle multitasking, and it's probably only a matter of time before current iPads can as well through a software update.

Better heat handling – Currently, Apple is facing a lawsuit from a group in regards to the iPad's current inability to handle hot temperatures. Supposedly, the device has a safeguard that shuts it down should it heat up over 90 degrees. Now, while we haven't tried that out yet (we like our iPad too much to melt it in the sun) it makes you wonder if Apple needs to consider a cooling system of some sort to prevent the next model from getting too hot under the collar. We're not talking a built-in fan or anything like on deluxe PC's, but something to prevent the sun from doing too much damage. If that's too much to ask, there's always using it indoors.

Real Flash support – We know there are simulation programs available for the iPad, including "Frash," that allow users to implement Flash programs . But like that classic love song goes, there ain't nothin' like the real thing. For the next model of the iPad, Apple needs to include both full-on support for Java and Flash programs, so people can activate their video players and games without needing to run through a series of endless upgrades and independent programs.

HDMI support – Finally, we'd like to recommend adding an HDMI port to the next generation of the iPad. Although the screen it comes with now is very nice, we'd be thrilled to hook up our device to a secondary monitor or TV. Think about it. You can play "Angry Birds HD" on the big screen, hook up your iPad for a night at the movies (so you don't have to huddle around the screen) or do some web browsing on a larger scale, so you don't have to squint to make out smaller text. HDMI is all the rage, for Blu-Ray players and game consoles alike. So why can't the iPad get on board?