The Resolution Revolution

When Apple shipped its newest generation iPad (the one with the Retina display) in March, some hailed it as the dawning of a new era in screen resolution. Indeed, at 2048×1536, the resolution is significantly greater than the 1920×1080 that is currently the high-definition standard. This will likely have a serious impact in the digital world as competitors scramble to emulate it, and there is a probability that this new size will become the standard.

It is not without its concerns, however.

There are several issues and challenges that will have to be addressed due to the new, higher resolution. First and foremost, such sharp resolution will leave current graphics, video, and images less sharp looking, much like a low res video on a high-definition player does now. There is very little content currently available on the web that meets Apple’s higher standard, and as higher image resolutions are required, file sizes will increase as well, which brings its own considerations, particularly for things like hosting and bandwidth.

Bigger and better resolution is an inevitable march forward, and again, Apple seems to be spearheading the drive. With such a push, the main question is how long until the new becomes the standard?