Apple reportedly wants to turn the iPad into a smart display with a new dock

It would be really cool if they made this work with older iPads since that would be a good use for them. But I doubt it.

I read some statistic a while back that said the majority of tablet owners use them at home, 90% of the time. So this accessory makes sense as it's designed to make the tablet serve more home-based use cases.

I've found this to be true in my own use. I've owned tablets for years, but I always, always seem to go for my smartphone first; it's portable, it has all my apps and bookmarks, and most importantly all my notes and thoughts.

Once I realized this, I got a foldable phone with a pen. Best of both worlds IMO, although I do have to keep a power bank on me nowadays.

For repurposing iPads to smart-home-ish devices I think that's a great idea.

But for secondary displays? I'd not go there. My wife used her iPad Pro relentlessly, for anywhere from 3 to 12 hours a day, for 5 years, and it finally died a few months ago.

Now imagine you have your iPad's screen always on while your computer is on -- which is at least 6h a day all the way to 18h. How long will these devices last like this?

My number #1 question however would be: how far in the past would this go? I imagine a lot of people have iPads lying around and they use them no more than 2h a day for some videos or music. This initiative could definitely breathe new life in them and help people get the maximum of their money's worth.

This reminds me a bit of this [0]. I hope it doesn't have the same fate!

[0]: https://www.engadget.com/2007-09-06-apple-hi-fi-rip-2006-200...

Haha, iPad docks are so last decade they’re slated to become in again!