So why haven't Apple called it "The iPad 3"? All I can see is "The new iPad"...

I think to an extent it's a wise decision to drop the numbering, one can foresee some 'genius' marketing person releasing the "iPad 5000" in a few years...After all, we don't number MacBooks, iMacs, etc...

I reckon the iPhone 4S will be the last to be numbered too.

Probably true. I'm sure their marketing people would be much more happy if there was just 'the iPhone', 'the iPad' and in fact 'The Mac'.

Plus it also means the rumour mongers can't use lazy shorthand. if the next iPhone isn't going to be called 'The iPhone 5' for example, it makes anyone who started a rumour about the iPhone 5 immediately look even more silly.

Jon

Event now available as a stream

Will probably be on their podcast feed shortly.

That's tomorrow morning sorted

Boo! Booo! iPhoto won't install on my iPad because it doesn't have a camera. You don't need a camera to edit photos you fools!

Just checked my iPod touch and the update for the iOS edition of iMovie is available - sadly it's ballooned from 69Mb (existing v1.2.2) to 404Mb (latest v1.3). Wow, is it really *that* much better? Hmm, think I'll skip this update!
#bloatware

On a positive note, although the new iPad isn't an earth-shattering update, I'm sure the retina screen will be really impressive, along with the improved graphics and processor. A nice refresh, but not sure if I'll be buying one. Need to update my aging Powerbook G4, but I think I'll be going for a Macbook Air instead - once Mountain Lion is out.

Price drops on the iPad 2 look interesting.

*muses about refurbished 16GB wifi iPad2 for £289*

No, Heather, just no.

You have really necessary, actually useful stuff you need to spend that money on.

True, but I can dream. I would actually have a business use for an iPad (I want to learn more about ebook publishing, and it would make an awesome photo portfolio viewer) and I can currently reclaim the VAT, too.

Besides, Best Beloved would get use from it, too. In which case, he'd make a contribution to the purchase.

It's no good. I've convinced myself. I'll only spend the money on food, fuel, heat and light otherwise.

You mean waste it, then?

Precisely. At least I can hold an iPad.

Seriously, though, the refurb prices are pretty tempting if you don't mind having last year's model.

The prefix “The new…” just makes me think of great TV shows like “The All New Yogi Bear Show” and “The New Scooby Doo Movies”.

Still, Apple are, I think, trying to move away from numbering these things. They never numbered their desktop hardware. It’s been iMac, MacBook, etc. for a long time now. The last model I bought with a number in the title was a PowerMac G4, and even that was just the name of the processor with no indication of the speed, etc..

Computers to Apple are now appliances. An iMac is an iMac. I suspect that the next iPhone will just be called iPhone. No need for differentiating numbers or model names.

Last year's model is still a decent piece of kit - if I had an iPad 2 I wouldn't bother to upgrade this time, personally. As it is I have an original iPad, sooo... *click* - pre-ordered

I... no... under... stand...

Will someone please explain the attraction of tablet computing? I just don't get it.

Then you don't need it explained. Tablets are obviously not for you.

For me, it's a device that does many of the things I can do with my desktop/laptop setup. It may appear to be duplicating what I can already do, but I am looking forward to reading a bunch of PDF magazines and ebooks on it which I find a real pain to do on a larger screen.

And a bunch of other cool stuff that I don't really want to have to lug a lappy about for.