Apple's first major product release in the post-Steve Jobs era included many great additions, such as a (slightly redefined) Retina Display, 1080p video and a 4G data connection. It even had a few nice surprises like the ability to use the iPad as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices and the addition of iPhoto to the iPad's lineup of great Apple apps.
But not every expectation about the latest iPad was met. Here are a few of the features that are missing in the 3rd generation iPad:
No Siri. The biggest surprise of the night wasn't a feature that was added. It was one that was missing. The idea that the next iPad would sport the iPhone 4S's Siri voice recognition system seemed a no-brainer leading into the event, but it soon became evident that Siri wouldn't be making an iPad appearance. Instead, the iPad will allow a small portion of Siri in the form of voice dictation, but not the "Siri, where's the nearest Pizza place?" that we see in the commercials. This doesn't mean we have to wait for the 4th iPad to get Siri. It could still make an appearance in a future update, but for now, we'll have to do without.
No Quad-Core A6. It's always a good bet to see a speed increase when a new iPad is released, but rather than the much-touted quad-core A6, Apple produced an iPad with an A5X. This dual-core system-on-a-chip includes a quad-core graphics processor, so the new iPad does get that boost in speed -- especially where graphics are concerned -- but not quite the leap that was expected.
No Little Brother. Rumors of an iPad Mini being announced alongside the iPad "3" were always a little far-fetched, but still within the realm of possibility. Amazon's release of the Kindle Fire has everyone itching to see Apple's response. And while it wouldn't be a total surprise if Apple stayed silent on the issue, Google's rumored entrance into the 7" tablet market may be enough for Apple to swoop in and steal the show. Expect this rumor to stay around until Apple finally releases a 7" tablet.
No "3" at the end of its name. The talk started about 45 minutes into the presentation: Apple still hadn't named the device. In fact, they had -- the new iPad is the new "iPad". Apple ditches the numbering system at the end of the iPad name, a move that will pay dividends next year when the 3rd generation iPad will seem less "outdated" and more like a bargain, a befitting way to introduce a low end tablet to the lineup.
No improvement to front-facing camera. The back-facing camera got a nice upgrade into a 5 MP iSight camera capable of taking 1080p video, but for the front-facing camera, we still get a rather shabby VGA camera. Sure, it's not like anyone is filming a movie using the front-facing camera, but we all want to look great for Facetime, don't we?
No Missing Home Button. The missing feature that is not "missing", rumors persisted over the last few months that Apple would ditch the home button, which is the only button on the front of the iPad. The idea was that multi-gestures could easily supplant the home button, a move that could free up a half inch or more of the iPad's height. But for now, the home button still has a home, and that is probably for the better. As easy as it is to use, some people still get a little intimidated by the iPad, and having a physical button to push can be a nice safety net. iPad 101: A New User's Guide
No Price Hike. The missing feature that we are all glad didn't make it into the final specs, some speculation that the Retina Display and the 4G capabilities would lead to a price hike by up $80 for each model. Instead, Apple will eat any additional cost while leaving the retail price the same. Like the existence of the home button, this one wasn't a big surprise either. With Amazon putting on the pressure with a $199 Kindle Fire, Apple wasn't likely to boost the iPad's price.
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