“Using OpenGL ES on iPad is identical to using OpenGL ES on other iPhone OS devices. An iPad is a PowerVR SGX device and supports the same basic capabilities as other SGX devices. However, because the processor, memory architecture, and screen dimensions are different for iPad, you should always test your code on an iPad device before shipping to ensure performance meets your requirements.” Apple SDK documentation

Previous reports had suggested that the iPad might, in fact, use a less powerful GPU, which seemed at odds with the hardware available elsewhere in Apple’s range.  This new information makes far more sense; Apple has made considerable investment into Imagination Technologies, the company responsible for the PowerVR SGX chips.

The GPU is combined into the custom Apple A4 chip, the 1GHz processor at the heart of the iPad.  For consumers it should mean similar gaming performance to an iPhone 3GS, while for developers it should mean a more straightforward process translating gaming titles and other graphics-intensive apps from the smartphone platform to the new tablet.

[via Everything iPad]

If you’ve seen our post on the “N89” codename in the iPhone OS SDK, a tipster has just taken a look at the MediaValidator.plist file  - it reveals several enlightening stats: the maximum video width is up from 768 pixels to 1280, and the maximum number of pixels per frame is up to 921,600, resulting in a 1280 x 720 resolution. The device’s AVC profile has been bumped from 3.0 to 3.1, too, which adds support for 720p.  Seems like everything points to the direction of HD video – thoughts?

According to some tipsters over at Engadget, it’s “likely the codename of the next iPhone (previous versions were called the M68, N82, and N88)”.  Also may be true is the new model “N80” included in Apple’s released 3.1.3 firmware, which may very well be the new iPod Touch codename.

We’ll keep you updated with anything else we find.  Any thoughts what the N89 or N80 may come out with?

Could this mean something big?  Like app developers will be able to give a go at an newly update iPhone OS alongside the “unintentionally confirmed” tablet?  Also take the fact that McGraw-Hill CEO Harold Mcgraw was kind (or confused?) enough to confirm the tablet launch for tomorrow, as well as the possibility of an iPhone-OS variant running on the tablet device.

As a burgeoning app dev myself, this is going to be very interesting  to see what Apple can concoct up this time with their mobile operating system.  OS 3.x?  4.0?  Whatever it is, we’re hungry to see more.

The event is also expected to coincide with Apple releasing the iPhone and iPod touch firmware 3.0, which will bring several new features to the devices.  While many column inches have been given over to iPhone OS 3.0′s cut & paste abilities, of more interest to developers are the new APIs such as push notification, that will allow them to create applications more in line with Apple’s own.

There also might be the chance of an announcement for the release date of OS X 10.6 “Snow Leopard”, which has seen multiple new seeds to developers in recent months.  Videos from the WWDC will be available – to purchase, mind – after the event, for any developer who was unable to attend.

According to Computer World’s Seth Weintraub, Apple will possibly use today’s event to launch the 10-inch capacitive touchscreen device we’ve been reading rumors about over the past few weeks.  Contrary to what some believe, though, Weintraub expects not a netbook – with a hardware keyboard and traditional clamshell design – but a slate-format device similar to a larger iPod touch.

Of course, there’s no knowing until Apple take to the stage in under six hours time.  SlashGear will be liveblogging (http://live.slashgear.com) the whole iPhone OS 3.0 event, so make sure to tune in on March 17 at 10AM Pacific time (1PM Eastern; 5PM London).

Mac Tablet concept via

I believe that a lot of the features we’ve seen on webOS and “people-centric” capabilities offered by HTC in the new Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2 will be included in iPhone OS 3.0.  For existing iPhone owners, this is great news, especially if we don’t have to run out and buy new hardware.  Then again, Apple might surprise us with a new 10-inch touch device of some sort that we’ve been hearing so much about since there’s a reference of a new SDK.

Of course, given their track record it’s not outlandish to imagine that Apple are planning the iPhone 3.0 hardware for a June/July unveil, hardware that will be running firmware 3.0.  SlashGear will liveblog (http://live.slashgear.com) at the iPhone OS 3.0 event, so make sure to tune in on March 17 at 10AM!