iPad Generation 2 Rumors: Retina Display

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IPad is way better than a netbook and the screen is fantastic for watching video and playing games. It's small and travels well whether you are flying or driving and it takes up virtually no space. There's really not much you can't do with an iPad. However, we are all aware of how Apple works especially with first generation iPad and we have focused on the next generation iPad. The iPad 2 rumors is growing, and many people are looking for several improvements on the hardware when the device eventually becomes available next year. A front facing camera is amongst some of the rumored new features, but one new upgrade that could be difficult to have is a Retina Screen for the iPad 2.

Fred Straker of the iPad Guid is reporting that according to calculations by Ryan Block, a 9.7 inch iPad screen would exceed the capabilities of current mobile device technology. With the iPhone 4 having a smaller screen, the 330 pixels per inch works well with it. The Retina Screen for the iPad 2 has 614,000 pixels at 960 x 640, and each pixel has to be rendered.

Processors to power the display graphics are the same in the iPhone 4 and the first generation iPad, and the iPad display has 786,432 pixels at 1024 x 768. To have a Retina Screen for the iPad 2 on the iPad would mean a massive number of pixels, which would mean the processing hardware would be overwhelmed. To achieve a Retina Screen for the iPad 2 it would need 2560 x 1920 = 4,915,200 pixels.

Compare that to the Apple 27-inch Cinema Display which has 2560 x 1440 = 3,686,400 pixels. Current technology just won't be able to achieve that amount of pixels on a mobile device, but Apple have surprised us before and may have some super low power graphics processor up its sleeve.

There are the many things that I would like to see with the next generation iPad. I would really like to see a new OS tomorrow but I'm not holding my breath. Let me know what you would want from the next generation iPad. I'm interested to hear what others have to say.