iPad 3 Specs: 10 Things It Needs To Stay Ahead Of The Competition

iPad 3 specs are always going to be a topic that is much debated and rumoured right up until the device launches. We even covered a rundown of the hottest iPad 3 rumours recently.

It’s all well and good waxing theoretical about what new features Apple device will bring together, but the question people should be asking is, “What does iPad 3 need?”

With many companies looking to ape the success of the iPad, and even surpass it, Apple has more competition on its hands in the tablet space than ever before. Needless to say, it’s rapidly becoming an active and volatile market.

By looking at the amazing things PS Vita, Kindle Fire and Android tablets bring to the table, we attempt to nail down the features iPad 3 needs if it is to stave off competition from these promising alternatives. 

Let us know what you want from iPad 3 in the comment box below.

10. iPad 3 Needs Competitive Pricing/ Competitive Model

It’s no secret that Apple products are expensive, and both the original iPad and iPad 2 are no exception to the rule. Cost is a real barrier to entry for many would-be iPad owners, and it’s safe to assume that iPad 3 will launch with a hefty price tag as well.

But where there used to be a real air of prestige surrounding the purchase of a high-end Apple product, there is now competition in the form of cheaper alternatives that prove to be just as powerful.

Android-enabled tablets such as the Asus Eee Pad or the Sony Tablet S are proof that you can enjoy a world of functionality, versatility and countless apps for a cheaper price. 

You can pick up Android tablets from anywhere withn a competitive price range – from £270 for the Archos 101 G9, right up to high-end devices like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime at £499. Either way, this is still cheaper than current iPad prices.

Then of course you have new competition in the form of Kindle Fire, Nook and for gaming, the PS Vita. With PS Vita launching at £219.99 and £269.99 respectively, Kindle Fire selling in the US for $199 and Nook shifting for around the $99-$249 mark – depending on model. iPad is still a huge investment by comparison.

Lowering the iPad 3 price point just a little could make all the difference when the device finally launches, or if recent iPad 3 rumours are to be believed, the release of an iPad mini at lower cost could help cash-poor enthusiasts get on board the iPad train without paying over the odds for the privilege.

9. iPad 3 Needs A Bluetooth Controller  

If you’ve ever tried to play a third or first-person shooter on iPad then chances are you also know that the format doesn’t work very well – and by “very well” we mean “no where near as good as the PS Vita’s dual analogue sticks.

The same goes for on screen d-pads. They just don’t work as well as the real thing. Some people might think that plugging a physical controller into what is famously a robust touch screen device might be counter to what iPad is supposed to involve. In a small way, they’d be right.

But if the Android-enabled Sony Tablet S can make great use of Dual Shock support, then there’s no reason that Apple can’t do the same with iPad 3. 

If Apple truly wants to tussle with the big boys of gaming, and move beyond the App archetype, then controller support would be the way forward.

This would also help Apple stay ahead in the games industry, and really bring the fight to the popular consoles and handhelds of the day.

Imagine playing Battlefield 3 or Call of Duty with proper analogue support on iPad 3, rather than clumsy touch screen thumb pads and you can begin to see how this would appeal to a lot of gamers.

8. iPad 3 Needs OnLive

While App Store is a treasure trove of wide and varied gaming experiences, iPad is still lacking big budget, high spec gems that make console and high-end PC gaming so appealing. 

You might think iPad 3 doesn't need this kind of game, but the fact is that PS Vita, and Android tablets already offer them, and unless Apple bucks the trend now, iPad 3 could fall short for those looking for high-end gaming from their tablets.

The continuous delay of OnLive on iPad is disappointing to see. Should Apple ever decide to get around to approving the service, then you will really start to see a shift in the type of people investing in iPad 3, and the kind of games you get on App Store.

If you consider yourself a ‘hardcore’ gamer, chances are you’d opt for a session of Saint’s Row: The Third on your OnLive - enabled iPad 3, rather than a quick bout of Angry Birds.

The positive effect of OnLive launching on iPad 3 would be that the games library would be blown wide open, allowing a slew of triple-a releases to hit a new audience. If this happens, iPad 3 could quite possibly become a viable contender in the triple-a gaming market. 

But with Android tablets already offering a wide range of high end gaming experiences through OnLive, as well as the PS Vita’s high quality of games, Apple is in danger of falling behind.

7. iPad 3 needs a better Game Centre

That’s not to say that Apple hasn’t seriously shaken up its approach to gaming in recent years. Game Centre is Apple’s first step towards creating a unified social network for gamers, much in the style of Xbox Live and PSN.

The only problem is that Game Centre still falls far short of what Microsoft and Sony have been delivering for some time now. With iPad 3 Game Centre however, it would be great to see Apple broadening the service considerably.

Peering into your iPad 3’s email contact book and seeing what games your friends are playing at any given time would be a superb feature, as would advanced party and multiplayer option. 

Also, with the iPad 3’s rumoured and improved microphone, cross game chat would be a superb feature, not to mention making use of iOS 5’s ingrained Twitter support. Tweeting beacons to let other know what iPad 3 games you want to play would be an attractive feature.

As Game Centre is still relatively new, there’s every chance that iPad 3 will bring about these features, but for now, the real contender of the handheld space in this regard has to be PS Vita. 

Making full use of PSN functionality, PS Vita puts game centre to shame, not to mention the inclusion of location-based marvel Near. Again, it’s key to point out that iPad 3 won’t be a game console, but in this regard, the competition is miles ahead.

6. iPad 3 Needs a Quad-Core Processor

2012 is the year of quad core, with a slew of Android-enabled tablets boasting far superior processors than those housed within the iPad 2 A5 chip set.

If rumours are to be believed, then the iPad 3 A6 chipset will indeed house a quad core processor, but Apple is yet to confirm or deny the rumour.

iPad 3 simply needs to follow suit if it is going to keep up with the pack, although there are also rumours that iPad 3 will house a larger battery than its predecessors – giving rise to quad core allegations. If true, the additional battery clout could be used to power the much-touted Retina Display, or to power a chunky new iPad 3 A6 quad core processor.

If one or both are true, you’re looking at a seriously advanced iPad model. The bottom line is that iPad 3 simply needs q a quad-core processor, as PS Vita houses a quad-core, as well as the previously mentioned Android tablets. By comparison, Apple’s A5 chipset is feeling rather dated already.

5. iPad 3 Needs Siri 2.0

Siri is a cool new innovation from Apple, but it still has a long way to go. iPad 3 would be the ideal launch pad for an updated edition of Siri. Once again, rumours have been flying around that Siri tutorials have been found in alleged iPad 3 source code.

Couple this with rumours that iPad 3 casing has space to accommodate a larger microphone, and it seems that Apple is going to really push Siri on iPad 3 when it launches.  

In Siri, iPad 3 doesn’t have any direct competitors, but if Siri is to remain a unique USP as a viable reason for buying Apple products over PS Vita, Kindle Fire or Android tablets, Apple really needs to be constantly improving it. 

4. iPad 3 Needs Thunderbolt

The age of USB is coming to an end. Thunderbolt ports look set to be the new standard in the way we connect devices together, so it makes sense for Apple to equip iPad 3 with a Thunderbolt compatible input.

The Intel-developed Thunderbolt port is rumoured to be coming to iPad 3 following the registration of several patents by Apple, however, it’s no secret that Apple has patented the tech for other applications before.

But if Apple truly wants to future-proof iPad 3, then it really needs the device to have Thunderbolt out of the box. Not only would this result in greater connectivity between devices, it will also help charge up that rumoured large battery much faster. 

Considering that Thunderbolt allows for HDMI connections, as well as wired transfer between cameras, televisions, and a massive range of devices, Apple would be wise to include the port to make iPad 3 a truly versatile device.

The inclusion would also be good news for any iPad owners who has suffered through the lengthy sync process as well – Thunderbolt would also result in a faster sync when hooking your device up to a Mac or PC, which would be a welcome change for owners. 

But as Apple’s competitors are all likely to feature Thunderbolt support as standard in coming years, it simply can’t afford to fall behind the pack with iPad 3. 

3. iPad 3 needs expandable storage

Apple’s latest line of iMacs have onboard SD slots as standard. It may be a small addition, but it solves a wealth of storage issues, such as transferring data between Apple and third-party devices.

Then of course you have the old issue of deleting and re-downloading Apps whenever onboard storage space becomes tight. Should iPad 3 feature an SD card slot, space issues would quickly become a thing of the past. 

PS Vita, Kindle Fire and most – if not all – Android-enabled tablets all boast moveable date options. Both tablets also support external hard drives as well, while iPad 2 continues to be stuck with internal flash memory.

Quite simply, iPad 3 expandable storage would make memory management more convenient, and when coupled with iCloud storage would make for ease of use that  matches and even surpasses most tablets and handheld consoles on the market today. 

2. iPad 3 needs retina display

Should iPad 3 come with a Retina screen, Apple would deliver a top of the range tablet display and put current competitors to shame. Say what you will about the PS Vita OLED screen which – while technically and visually impressive – is still small compared to iPad 2, and supposedly, even smaller than the alleged iPad 3 screen. 

But that said, the iPad 2 screen is currently dated, and is in danger of falling behind the pack. With a 9.7 inch LED backlit display, capable of 1024x768 resolution, iPad 2 doesn't have a bad screen by any stretch of the imagination.

However, compare this to the Android-enabled Eee Pad Transformer Prime from Asus. The 10.1 inch LED is also backlit, and displays at 1280x800 resolution. It also boasts an IPS+ feature, giving you a clear image from multiple viewing angles, and boast a clearer, more vivid picture than iPad 2.

With Android tablets featuring bigger and better screens with each iteration, Apple really needs to release something that pushes screen tech and keeps iPad 3 ahead of the game when it eventually launches.

1. iPad 3 needs an Amazon Prime equivalent for iTunes

Amazon has been very clever in the way it has approached content streams on Kindle Fire. Amazon Prime is a subscription based membership programme that is similar to Netflix and LoveFilm, but with added bonuses.

For just £49 a year Kindle Fire users can stream from a pool of 10,000 movies and TV shows, rent one free book a month and get faster shipping on physical Amazon store items. It’s a great service that is well worth investing in.

Now imagine if iPad 3 offered a similar deal – unlimited monthly access to the entire iTunes music, movie and TV catalogue, book rentals, games and more. It would be an absolute revelation, not to mention making Apple a lot of money.

Kindle Fire may have the edge at the moment, but should Apple go down this path, you’re looking at a serious coup in the way millions access entertainment online. 

Want more iPad 3 news and rumours? Check out these articles:

• iPad 3 Rumours: Release Date, Specs & Siri
• iPad 3: Apple Set To Reveal Next Tablet On 7 March - Source