Apple Inc.'s announcement of the iPad mini on Oct. 23 was widely expected. It was the second announcement that caught many industry observers off guard -- going against the typical one iPad-per-year product cycle, Apple stunned reporters with the announcement of a fourth-generation iPad (or iPad 4), just over six months since the launch of the iPad 3.
The iPad 4 introduces a new variant on the Apple A6 processor found within the iPhone 5. The Apple iPad 4 features the latest processor in the "A" family, the A6X. Like the A6, the A6X features two customized ARM cores. However, this new processor features four graphic cores, as opposed to the three graphic cores featured in the A6.
Apart from the change in processor, Apple has been quite mum on what other changes are featured in the latest iPad. Will taking apart this device reveal some design changes from the previous-generation iPad, or has Apple created a product that only requires a change of software and a swapout of processors?
Taking a look inside will answer those questions. Click on the photo below to check it out.
This is what is left of our iPad 4. Click through the slideshow to see how we got here.
Allan Yogasingam is a technical research manager at UBM TechInsights, which is owned by the same company that publishes Design News and EE Times, UBM plc.
I'm still amazed, Chuck, by the small size of computer brains. The smart phones really prove it. The power of NASA moon-shot brains are now in the palm of our hand.
I suspect it ends up in somebody's lab facility so some engineer can figure out what parts can be altered slightly, copied and stolen for a competitors product. That is what passes for research in many instances today.
As soon as I see Hot Glue being an integral part of the assembly, I decide against reassembly.
I have never been able to clean all residue off the surfaces to get the proper seal. Also since it is an electronic device is it not the case that things could become overheated and then malfuction. If there are mechanical fasteners, even rivets, I am much more likely to attempt tear down and repair. But, welds, glue, crimp and seal have rarely worked well for me when I attempt to open and reseal.
That makes sense, Tool_maker. I didn't realize you had experience in this area. So basically, you have to ruin the product in order to do the tear down.
I did not mean to imply that I had the expertise to undertake this particular teardown, I was just talking in general terms. I have taken somethings apart and been able to repair simple items. Eight track tapes, minnow bucket areators and a flash attachment for my 35mm camera. They were already "Throw-away" if I could not fix them. I would never attempt the teardown in this video, but might be willing to take the cover off and look at stuff if it was screwed on rather than glued.
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