iPad Pro to Utilize 2K Resolution, Eye Tracking (Release Date, Specs Rumors)

iPad Pro to Utilize 2K Resolution, Eye Tracking (Release Date, Specs Rumors)

Some analysts believe that the release of the iPad Air signaled the tablet was a precursor to an iPad Pro 'work' tablet in 2014. A recent rumor suggests Apple will integrate 2K resolution and eye tracking security technology into the 12.9-inch tablet. (Photo : REUTERS/Robert Galbraith )

A new report suggests Apple's upcoming 12.9-inch tablet, dubbed the 'iPad Pro,' could also pack improved resolution and eye tracking security technology.

Previous iPad Pro rumors suggested a display with 4K resolution, but the latest rumors point to that tech coming at a later date. Other reports suggest Apple will also ditch retina and instead increase resolution in the next line of iPads.

Another recent rumor suggests that Apple will release the 12.9-inch tablet, which they call the 'iPad Max,' in October.

Digitimes reports that the 12.9-inch iPad Max will release in the fall "targeting North America's educational market [and]... manufactured by Quanta Computer." The tablet would arrive as a competitor to Samsung's rumored 12 to 13-inch tablet and feature new cases with integrated keyboards and batteries, according to the report. The iPad Max will be best-suited for high school and college students that require a tablet that can 'do work,' Forbes reports.

To some analysts, the recent release of the iPad Air, which Apple chose instead of the anticipated 'iPad 5' title, was an early indicator that an iPad with the name 'Pro' would be unveiled in 2014.

According to Will Power, an analyst at RW Baird, the iPad Air will be followed by a high-end tablet called iPad Pro that will feature some of the work tasks only currently available on PCs.

"The name change is likely intentional. Everything that Apple articulates it does for a reason," says Power. "Developing an iPad that is better designed for productivity is something that could very well make sense."

History also indicates that the name change to iPad Air was more than a savvy way to market the fifth-generation iPad. Apple's laptop and notebook computer line features a slimmer MacBook Air and a heavier-duty MacBook Pro.

"This would seem to leave room for a 'Pro' model at some point if a market for a higher performance tablet exists," Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, wrote in a note Tuesday to investors.

Even the new 7.9-inch iPad Mini is a borrowed name; Apple also offers a small desktop computer called the Mac Mini.

Previous speculation suggested Apple could be preparing a larger, 13-inch iPad that would bring a bit more diversity to the company's tablet line. Ben Reitzes, an analyst at Barclays, recently echoed those previous reports in a note to investors.

With Apple's iPad sales at 170 million (with most being used for leisure rather than work), there is still plenty of room for the company to grow. According to Gartner estimates, 300 million PCs are expected to ship in 2013, compared to only about 180 million tablets. Adding a high-end tablet that could do everything a PC can could help Apple get the most of the tablet market.

"Put that 170 million number in the context of the number of PCs out there," Power said. "There's still a significant growth opportunity for tablets and Apple is trying to find ways to further segment the market."

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What's Next for Apple in 2014: iWatch, Larger iPhone 6, 12.9-inch iPad Pro

What's Next for Apple in 2014: iWatch, Larger iPhone 6, 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Over the course of 2013, Apple released a number of exciting new products, including the radically redesigned Mac Pro, a thinner and lighter iPad Air, and an iPhone with cutting edge fingerprint recognition technology.

2014 will likely bring even more innovation to Apple's product lineup, with current rumors hinting at highly anticipated products like the Apple smart watch, a larger iPhone and iPad, and new developments with the Apple TV. A number of these products have been rumored for some time, but the spate of Apple product releases over the past few months and the imminent turning of the calendar offers a chance to bring those rumors back to the forefront.

According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple has plans to create "great products" in areas the company does not participate in today, and in a recent email, Cook told Apple employees that there's a lot in store for Apple in 2014, "including some big plans that we think customers are going to love."

In the list below, we've highlighted Apple's prospective 2014 product plans, outlining what customers might see from Apple in the next 12 months based on current rumors.

iPhone 6
Apple's next iPhone is rumored to come equipped with a larger screen size, somewhere between 4.7 and 5.7 inches. Some rumors have suggested that Apple might release the phone in two separate sizes, both of which are larger than the current 4-inch iPhone 5s/5c.

The larger iPhone, which will likely incorporate a faster 20-nanometer A8 chip from TSMC, may also include sweeping design changes in the form of a curved display. While it is possible Apple will release an updated iPhone earlier in the year, the most likely release target for the larger-screened device is September or October.

Read full roundup for iPhone 6

iPad Pro
Along with a larger iPhone, Apple may be planning to add a larger iPad to its current tablet lineup, which comprises the 9.7-inch iPad Air and the 7.9-inch iPad mini. The "iPad Pro" or "iPad Maxi" as it has been called by the media, is rumored to include a larger 12.9-inch display, which would be most similar in size to the current 13.3-inch MacBook Air.

The display reportedly offers higher pixel density nearing ultra high-definition quality and it will likely adopt many of the design elements offered in the current iPads, like an ultrathin chassis and narrow side bezels. Aside from a larger screen size, not much is known about Apple's larger iPad, and it is unclear when such a product might be released.

iWatch
Apple's much-anticipated "iWatch," which was a major rumor focal point in 2013, will likely be released in 2014. According to rumors, the smart watch will primarily function as an accessory to the iPhone and the iPad, providing at-a-glance access to common iOS functions.

The watch may also include a multitude of biometric functions, possibly offering a pedometer and heart rate monitor, among other things, and it could also serve as a home automation hub. While it is entirely unclear what the iWatch will look like, rumors have indicated that it could have an OLED display in the range of 1.3 to 1.7 inches, possibly coming in multiple sizes for a customized fit.

Apple's iWatch may incorporate an ultra durable sapphire glass screen, as the company recently signed a deal with GT Advanced to ramp up sapphire glass production. Rumors have also hinted at a flexible, curved design.

Over the course of 2013, Apple ramped up its work on the iWatch, with a team of 100 product designers working on the project. The company also filed for iWatch trademarks in multiple countries throughout 2013.

Currently, Apple's iWatch is expected to debut during the second half of 2014.

Read full roundup for iWatch

Apple Television
Apple has been long rumored to be making some upgrades to its Apple TV, either in the form of a revamped set top box with additional functionality or a full blown television set. It is unclear what Apple will do in the television arena in 2014, however, as rumors have suggested that the company has shelved its TV plans for the time being in order to focus on wearables like the iWatch. Television remains an area of "intense interest" for Apple, according to Tim Cook.

If Apple does release a television-related product in 2014, it will likely be a new set top box that could bundle key features like an App Store and Siri, along with additional content offerings.

In 2013, Apple worked hard to beef up content offerings, adding several new channels, including WatchESPN, HBO GO, Vevo, Yahoo Screen, and PBS. The company is also said to be in talks with cable provider Time Warner and a deal with that company, as well as other improvements in content, could come in 2014.

Improving content and reaching deals with various cable companies and content providers is a necessary step before Apple can make headway in the television industry.

Read full roundup for Apple TV

4K Display
Many people believed Apple would introduce a new Thunderbolt Display alongside the Mac Pro, as it has been two years since the last Thunderbolt Display update. No new display appeared, but it is possible that the company will debut a new display product in 2014, likely offering a 4K resolution of 4096 or 3840 x 2160 pixels.

In late 2013, Apple supplier AU Optronics introduced new 27 and 32-inch 4K display panels, sparking speculation that revamped Thunderbolt Displays were on the horizon, though concrete information on a new display or a possible release date is unavailable at the current point in time. In lieu of a 4K Thunderbolt Display, Apple is offering a 4K 32-inch Sharp display as an add-on to the Mac Pro.

Read full roundup for Apple Displays

Other updates: iOS 8, OS X 10.10, MacBooks, and More
As it does every year, Apple will undoubtedly offer refreshed MacBooks over the course of 2014. Recently, a rumor has suggested that a 12-inch MacBook with a MacBook Air-style design and a Retina display could make its debut in the middle of 2014, and other incremental updates to products like the Retina MacBook Pro will come as well.

Apple has several products that have not been refreshed for quite some time, including its lineup of iPods and the Mac Mini, which could see updates in 2014.

New versions of both iOS and OS X are also expected, though few details are available on the software at this time. iOS 8 may include improvements to Maps, iOS in the Car, and a possible Siri API, while the next version of OS X could take on some iOS 7-style design elements. iOS 8 will probably arrive during the fall along refreshed iPhones, and it is likely that a revamped version of OS X will come during the same general time frame.

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