Why would Apple call it "the new iPad"

Apple's naming conventions seem to work just fine for the "iMac", "MacBook", "iPod touch" and many other Apple products without a number.

No doubt people will do what the do with other Apple products and append the year when it's important to distinguish (e.g. iPad, March '12).

Apple Is Returning To The Simple Names, What Steve Would Have Wanted... No More Confusing Numbers!! 

If we continue to use the actual names of the devices as Apple introduced and named them, I don't see how you can confuse the devices ...

The iPad, the iPad2 and the "new iPad". They all sound different enough to me - as long as we continue to call this version the "new iPad". They are in fact three different names.

..... Just my worthless two cents.

Because it is "New" and it is an "iPad"

Pre-orders refer to it as "iPad (3rd generation)."

Depends on what you are looking at. 😉 Maybe Apple isn't even sure yet!

That could very well be 😉

Julian Wright wrote:

Apple's naming conventions seem to work just fine for the "iMac", "MacBook", "iPod touch" and many other Apple products without a number.

While most who own an iMac know what I'm about to say, I'm posting it for those who might not be aware of Apple's method of numbering their devices.

For example I have what is generically known as a "mid-2010 i7 iMac". I can search for memory or other updates using that info. If more specific info is required I can use the Model Identifier--available via Apple-About This Mac-System Report-Hardware Overview"--which in my case is "iMac 11,3". Each and every iMac version has a different Model Identifier.

While the iPad also has a similar identifier often called "Device Number" that number isn't generally available to the public without a third party app. Each iPad version also has a Model Number associated with it and that number is available in the Settings-General-About area. In my case my iPad 2 is model number MC775LL. A Google search for that number quickly reveals that it is a 64GB iPad 2 with AT&T 3G.

Using the app "System Status" I can determine that the Device Number of my iPad 2 is iPad2,2 and that of my iPhone 4S is iPhone4,1. Since this number is not generally viewable without an app it isn't as useful but it does identify the hardware.

Maybe they should call it iPad12, as in released in 2012

it is confusing, because it's been said it's NOT iPad3, yet seems to be the third generation, so maybe iPad 3Gen (can't leave off the en of course)

I thnk we should just call it "Fred".

Naw, needs to be more distinctive, like Wellington Fitzhume the third.

Naw, needs to be more distinctive, like Wellington Fitzhume the third.

Ginger? Mary Ann??

they name the mac OS after cats, maybe they need to start naming the iPads after dogs or something, name the phones after rodents, the ipods after fish....'someone stole my goldfish, can 'find my iPod' find it???'

Wouldn't that apply more to iOS?

"My Fred is running nipper, I can't get a steady wifi connection" as an example :D