Like the existing iPhone and iPod touch, the iPad can output
video via the same composite or component video cables to
present standard definition, analog video with roughly 480 lines
of resolution. The iPad's new VGA-connector option delivers PC
style video at the device's native 1024x768 resolution. Existing
iPhone and iPod models won't work with the new VGA cable, as
they aren't designed to support higher resolution outputs than
they can display. The iPad gets the new VGA output option
primarily to support video projectors, which will allow business
users to present Keynote presentations directly from the device.
The ancient VGA standard Apple's iPad announcement caused some
to wonder why the company is using an ancient standard for video
output rather than a more modern protocol such as HDMI or
DisplayPort output. After all, the VGA video connector has been
around since IBM launched the standard in the mid 1980s as part
of its PS/2 line of computers. While those machines didn't turn
out to be very success