Apple Reveals IPad 2
At a special event in San Francisco Wednesday, Apple unveiled the iPad 2, the follow-up to the original iPad it released last April. The iPad 2 features an all-new design along with new features including built-in cameras and a new gyroscope.
At the heart of the iPad 2 is a 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor, which should provide a boost over the 1GHz single-core Apple A4 in the first iPad. Apple says the A5 is two times faster than the previous processor, while graphics performance is nine times faster–welcome news for everything from games to video-editing apps like the soon-to-be-released iPad-optimized version of iMovie.
“The graphics on this thing are wonderful,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who made a surprise appearance at the Wednesday event despite being on medical leave.
The A5 also has a similar low-power consumption rating as the A4. Like the original iPad, the new model promises 10 hours of battery life.
The iPad 2 features two built-in cameras, for use with FaceTime video chat and other apps. FaceTime can be used between two iPad 2s, between the iPad 2 and an iPhone or iPod touch, or between an iPad 2 and a Mac using FaceTime for Mac. As with FaceTime on other iOS devices, you’ll be able to use the front-facing camera to capture your own image; you can switch to the rear-facing camera during conversations to show chat participants what you’re looking at without having to flip around your iPad.
Apple also announced a new Photo Booth app for the iPad. The app uses the front-facing camera to snap your image, which you can then alter with eight included effects. The Photo Booth app previews all effects on one-screen in real-time.
The iPad 2′s front camera is capable of recording VGA-resolution (640-by-480) video at 30 frames per second with audio. The front camera can also take still photos at 640-by-480. The back camera can record HD video at 720p at 30 frames per second with audio. When in still camera mode, the back camera has a 5X digital zoom.
The iPad 2 features a 9.7-inch LCD screen with a 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch, like the original iPad.
Overall, the iPad 2 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, weighing 1.3 pounds and measuring 0.35 inches thick. The original iPad was 1.5 pounds (1.6 pounds for the 3G iPad) and 0.5 inches thick. The iPad 2 is actually thinner than the iPhone 4, which is 0.37 inches thick.
Other new features include a gyroscope, which has previously been included in the iPhone 4 and fourth-generation iPod touch. Apple says the gyroscope feature works with the iPad 2′s built-in accelerometer and compass to sense the direction the iPad is headed and how it’s moving. That should affect gaming and mapping apps, giving both more of a 360-degree feel.
The iPad 2 supports 1080p video out using an Apple VGA Adapter or the newly announced Apple Digital AV Adapter. Users will also be able to choose between a black or white iPad, which will both ship at the same time. That stands in stark contrast to the iPhone 4, which was also supposed to be available in both black and white options; however, the white iPhone 4 has been continually delayed, with model scheduled to arrive sometime this spring.
Apple offers six models of the iPad 2, with pricing identical to the original iPad’s. There are three Wi-Fi only models: a 9 version with 16GB of flash storage; a 9 model with 32GB of flash storage; and a 9 model with 64GB of flash storage.
Apple will offer three 3G-equipped models: a 9 version with 16GB of flash storage; a 9 model with 323GB of flash storage; and a 9 model with 64GB of flash storage. According to Apple’s iPad 3G Website, the 3G-enabled iPad 2 is designed to run on either AT&T or Verizon, but not both carriers for the same tablet.
Apple says the iPad 2 will be available on March 11 through the online and retail Apple Stores. You can’t place an order for the new tablet until March 11, according to Apple’s online store. As of this writing, the original 16GB Wi-Fi iPad was available through Apple’s clearance section for 9.
The iPad 2 specifications call for iTunes 10.2, which Apple released Wednesday afternoon. iPad 2 also requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later (or Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 if you’re using that other platform.)
In a little less than a year, the iPad has become a big part of Apple’s business. Jobs said during Wednesday’s presentation that Apple sold nearly 15 million iPads during a nine-month period in 2010. According to Apple, the iPad has more than a 90 percent share of the tablet market. “While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we’re launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again,” said Jobs in a press release.
At the event, Jobs acknowledge the role of the retail Apple Stores as a key to the success of the iPad. The stores’ built-in ability to support the iPad was key to educating customers and to handle customer questions. “Without these stores, I don’t think we would have been successful either,” Jobs said.
“It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough,” said Jobs at the end of the iPad 2 event. “That it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our hearts sing.”
Apple has a video demonstration of the iPad 2 available on its Website.
Apple posted the video of today’s iPad 2 event. The video is also available if you subscribe to the Apple Keynotes podcast in iTunes.
Noventarus
получил уровень 15 в игре The Syndicate! HD на iPad http://bit.ly/syndicatehd #ipad #ipadgames
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/identity/nopic_48.gif
Can i do everything an IPAD like an HP pavilion G4?
What can a Notebook like HP G4 do and IPAD cannot.
Answer:
you are comparing apples with watermelons here…..
apple is totally different than any other notebook. first of all the ipad or ipad 2 is not a tablet PC but an oversized ipod touch. while they have apps. you are limited to what you can do with one of those.
any other windows laptop will let you do anything you want.
good luck.
by: Andrew R
The iPad has much, much less functionality than a netbook (I won’t go into specifics here, I’m sure others will).
But another difference that a lot of people overlook is that the iPad has an ARM processor, while most netbooks have an x86 or AMD64 processor.
you are comparing apples with watermelons here…..
apple is totally different than any other notebook. first of all the ipad or ipad 2 is not a tablet PC but an oversized ipod touch. while they have apps. you are limited to what you can do with one of those.
any other windows laptop will let you do anything you want.
good luck.
-Ipad is running a 1GHz dual core A5 chip, while most laptops have 2.4GHz processors, with more than 2 cores
-Most notebooks have a larger screen
-The iPad has a touch screen
-The iPad cant play FLASH material, which means so websites wont work on the iPad
-You can only install applications from the APP STORE
-Notebooks are a lot more customizable
-Hard for iPads to get viruses.
im not sure if u are still interested
but i found site where u can apply for free ipad
http://bit.ly/jmVKye
thanks@ good luck
The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and a little lighter at just over 600g, while paintjob options have been expanded: you’ll get a choice between white and black. It’ll be available on both AT&T and Verizon, and all variants start shipping on March 11th. Apple Retail Stores will start sales at the unusual hour of 5PM, which will probably make online pre-orders the fastest way to get yours.
Apple iPad 2 Features
Apple iPad 2 boasts of being faster, lighter and thinner than the original iPad. It is armed with two cameras – one at front and the other one at rear. The presence of a front camera does hint at video calling facility which is yet another reason why you need to look forward to buy this device. The new iPad sports a LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology and fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating like the one used in iPhone 4. Even though there were some rumors about Apple iPad 2 screen being cut down to 7 inches, the company seems to have preferred to stick to 9.7 inch screen.
Other than the internal components, even the external components have been subjected to revamp. Apple A4 chip has been replaced by the all new Apple A5 – which makes the iPad 2 CPU twice as powerful as the ones in its predecessor. At the same time, the GPU that this device sports is believed to be 9 times faster than the one is original iPad. When it comes down to the Apple iPad 2 memory, one hopes that this device will have better or a higher memory module compared to the older iPad. However, no specifications have been provided with regards to the internal RAM, but like its predecessor, it comes in all the 3 storage options, maxing out at the familiar 64GB.
Apple seems to have taken a serious note of Android 3.0 Honeycomb release – at least the inclusion of iOS 4.3 hints at this very fact. Simiarly, the inclusion of three-axis gyro, accelerometer and ambient light sensor are all set to add to your iPad experience. iPad 2 also boasts of 10-hour battery life, thanks to the new built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. Of the amazing accessories, the Smart Cover for iPad 2 is one to look out for. The magnetic cover doesn’t just protect the iPad but also doubles up as a keyboard stand. Interestingly, you don’t need to sleep or wake up your iPad now as the Smart Cover which attaches itself to the iPad does that for you.