<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Gigaom]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://gigaom.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Kif Leswing]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[http://search.gigaom.com/author/kifleswing1/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Would Apple really stick a USB port on an iPad?]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-04/apple-said-to-delay-larger-ipad-production-on-panel-challenges">Yesterday&#8217;s Bloomberg report</a> on big iPad delays seems to have gotten a few people in Apple&#8217;s supply chain talking. On Thursday, the <em><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-suppliers-told-to-mass-produce-larger-ipad-in-second-half-1425530886">Wall Street Journal</a> </em>and <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20150305PD209.html">Digitimes</a> both followed up with their own stories on the rumored &#8220;iPad Pro&#8221; with a 12.9-inch screen.</p>
<p>However, some of the details in <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-suppliers-told-to-mass-produce-larger-ipad-in-second-half-1425530886">the <em>WSJ</em> report</a> are bewildering. For instance:</p>
<blockquote id="quote-apple-is-now-conside"><p>Apple is now considering adding USB ports and adopting so-called USB 3.0 technology, a much faster version that promises to transfer data up to 10 times as rapidly as current USB ports, one of the people said.</p></blockquote>
<p>Later in the article:</p>
<blockquote id="quote-the-company-has-also2"><p>The company has also been considering adding ports to connect to a keyboard and mouse, the people said.</p></blockquote>
<p>If you follow Apple rumors, these details seem unlikely. First, a Microsoft Surface–style traditional USB port on a tablet would almost certainly compromise an iOS device&#8217;s thinness. Second, Apple has been moving away from mice &#8212; even on its desktops &#8212; for years, preferring trackpad gestures.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why I believe the supply chain details in the WSJ need some translation. The &#8220;USB 3.0&#8243; technology mentioned could be referring to reversible <a href="https://gigaom.com/2014/08/12/new-usb-spec-brings-faster-data-speeds-and-reversible-plugs-but-youll-need-new-adapters/">USB Type C ports</a>. Apple has been tipped to be considering the skinny next-gen connector <a href="https://gigaom.com/2015/01/06/report-apples-new-macbook-air-will-have-a-single-next-gen-usb-port/">as the primary port and charger</a> for a future MacBook, and if that were to happen, I think it would make sense to bring Apple&#8217;s MagSafe replacement to the bigger iPad, which could have power needs closer to a desktop than a smartphone. The question then becomes whether the USB port replaces the Lightning connector, which is the existing charge and sync port for iOS devices.</p>
<p><a href="https://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/usb-type-c.jpg?quality=80&strip=all"><img  src="https://gigaom2.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/usb-type-c.jpg?quality=80&#038;strip=all&#038;w=640&#038;h=360" alt="USB Type C" width="640" height="360" class=" aligncenter" /></a></p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal says the advantage USB 3.0 provides is faster wired data transfers, which doesn&#8217;t strike me as a particular weakness of the existing iPad. However, it also mentions new technology to speed up charging times, which would be welcome.</p>
<p>The keyboard and mouse details are equally confusing. It wouldn&#8217;t be a surprise if Apple introduced a keyboard case &#8212; many Android and Windows tablets already have first-party keyboard cases, and the success of iPad keyboard accessories shows there&#8217;s a market there. But an Apple mouse would require significant changes to iOS to adapt it to an older form of input, which seems unlikely. I think the mouse is more likely to be <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/12/30/apple-patents-smart-pen-for-capturing-digital-copies-of-handwritten-notes">the iOS smart stylus</a> that was previously rumored. But even then I think there&#8217;s a better chance it&#8217;s connected through Bluetooth than through a wire.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Apple was said to have delayed production of the 12.9-inch iPad until September because of supply issues. What could be causing the shortage in displays? One guess is that the delays are due to new high-density screens with <a href="https://gigaom.com/2015/03/04/sounds-as-if-the-big-ipad-isnt-launching-any-time-soon/#comment-1530306">a resolution around 4K</a>. However, supply chain rumormonger Digitimes says the reason is <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20150305PD209.html">a new display technology</a>, Oxide TFT LCD, which has the main advantage of being more power-efficient. Apple has been said to be <a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2014/07/apple-reportedly-placed-orders-for-new-power-reducing-oxide-lcd-displays-for-next-gen-ipad-air.html">looking into Oxide TFT LCD</a> technology in the past.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s all a bit unclear what&#8217;s going on with the 12.9-inch iPad. <a href="i">The WSJ</a> indicates that Apple could decide not go to through with some of these features, which is true of all Apple products. One thing is clear, though: <a href="https://gigaom.com/2015/03/04/sounds-as-if-the-big-ipad-isnt-launching-any-time-soon/">You won&#8217;t be seeing the bigger iPad at next week&#8217;s Apple Watch event</a>.</p>
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