Today Steve Jobs took the stage to announce Apple’s next version of the iPad. The new iPad 2 has seen a speed upgrade with a new A5 processor, front and rear cameras, and a considerably thinned down case. Battery life remains the same at 10 hours.
Faster, Thinner, Lighter
The new dual core processors are reported to deliver up to 2 times the CPU performance and 9 times the video performance of the current iPad, with the same power consumption. The case is 33% thinner going from 13.4 mm to 8.8 mm, thinner than the iPhone 4 at 9.3 mm. Edges are beveled, as with the current iPod Touch design. Weight is down to 1.3 pounds from the original’s 1.5 pounds. The cameras are 720P for the back facing, and VGA for the front facing. And, living up to the rumours, there will be a white version, shipping the same day as the black one.
HDMI output is accomplished through the use of a dongle that will attach to the main data port and allow all video output to be sent to a bigger screen. All apps will be supported through HDMI and rotation of the iPad will be reflected on the larger screen. The dongle will be $39.
The iPad 2 will ship on March 11 in the US and March 25 to a number of other countries including Canada, the UK, Germany, France, and Australia. The new machine keeps the original version’s pricing, starting at $499 for 16GB and Wi-Fi only, topping out at $829 for 64GB and 3G.
iOS 4.3 Arrives with iPad 2
The new iPad will run on iOS 4.3, which will be available March 11, the same day as the new tablet. Featured improvements are better Safari browser performance, iTunes home sharing, improvements to AirPlay and an option to return the sliding switch to rotation lock, if you don’t find mute as useful. iOS 4.3 will also allow use as a personal hotspot, though only when running on the iPhone 4 (not iPad 2).
Also shown was a new case for the iPad, called a Smart Cover, that folds away from the screen in quartered segments that can be rolled and used as a brace for angled typing, or photo frame vertical orientation. The Smart Cover comes in a variety of colors, in both polyurethane and leather. Poly cases are $39, leather are $69.
So what do you think about the announcement and new specs? Are they enough to get you to upgrade? Or are you going to buy an iPad for the first time? Tell us in the comments.
UPDATE: It seems the Apple Online Store will not be taking orders until the on-sale date of March 11. In-store purchases will begin at 5:00 PM on March 11.
One front camera was enough for me to buy it.
To be honest with you i probably wont buy one based on these improvements, theyre just too expensive for what they do.
There are some things that I don’t know yet which will determine if I buy a new version. First, can I transfer my unlimited 3G plan from the old iPad to the new one? Second, what new apps will come out that just don’t run on the old one? Anything related to the new camera is a given, but I don’t yet see why I couldn’t run GarageBand on my current iPad.
The new iPad looks nice, but the apps that take advantage of its new features will be the driver.
If I didn’t have the first one, I’d get this one. But mostly because I don’t really do much in the way of editing/producing video and audio and I actually don’t have a television or projector that uses HDMI. I haven’t seen anyone talk about how nice it would be to use in a business setting for doing keynotes/presentations. I do like the fact that it supports both Iwork and Microsoft file formats.
@johnclayton tweeted this:
What other company on earth can regularly obsolete year old products and have customers say, “Thank you, may I have another?” #iPad2
would live to get an ipad but the issue of file storage is a problem for me
i think you would be better off getting the Dell Inspiron Duo dont know if its state side (me being UK based) 2gb ram 320gb HD and the screen can be flipt so that its a tablet and a laptop in one
here is a link to the item on dell’s uk site http://dell.to/dNv1Ms
How much ram?
Does garageband record podcasts?
Will the HDMI port carry 5.1 or 7.1 audio?
Hi Jason, on the subject of RAM, it’s looking like 512MB, double the old iPad’s, half that of the Xoom, TouchPad, and Playbook. But there has not been a clear and official message from Apple on this. See here for a bit more – http://blogs.forbes.com/briancaulfield/2011/03/03/solved-the-ipad-2s-memory-mystery/
Also, HDMI, through the adapter, will have 5.1 audio.
I have an iPad I’ve been evaluating since last year for the corporate environment. I had a laundry list of issues with it last year ~ most have have been resolved with software updates… except video. The iPad 2 video cameres and editing software address (for the most part) the video communication needs (non-professional creation only). Now a key issue for many users is the lack of a serious replacement for Excel and PowerPoint. This is where the killer product for many people will be a product with iPad spec’s and a proper Windows tablet OS. If Microsoft would get off their sorry seat and crack the code, they would sell millions. Instead they drive us to Apple for what is fast becoming the product that is eating their lunch and stands to cannibalize them further. But I digress.
So for a select class of users, (I call them primary information consumers – as opposed to information authors) I will offer a replacement of their laptop with an iPad 2. I expect to purchase a dozen or so in the next few weeks and replace those laptops with iPads. As more apps become available and microsoft stays in hibernation, the transformation to tablets will occur and Redmond will be a ghost town. (Will someone wake them up please? Maybe the Redmond Campus can become a theme park dedicated to expired tech companies: Microsoft, 3Com, Avaya, NorTel, Palm, BlackBerrry, Nokia, the list is growing).
Oops, there I go again.
JJ
That’s it. I expected more. Wow it has cameras. Face Time? What a joke if you don’t have wireless access. I think I will move from the iPad to an new Android device. I am tired of Apple dictating what we can do. Also, their move to monetize more in the app store like netflix streaming is why my next phone will also be Android based.
My only question is will Garageband and iMovie be compatible with the original iPad (guess we’re calling it iPad1 now huh?). Anyway, Garageband looked great and I’m not even a musician. I’d buy that in a heartbeat if it is compatible with iPad1. And if my SD cards that I shoot AVCHD video are able to be used through the camera adaptor to edit my HD video in iMovie, I’d be on board with that too. But no, I’m not buying a new iPad. Not enough advancement to even make me bat an eye.