Apple Unveils Sleeker, Prettier, Better iPad 2
The secret that almost everybody knew about already is out! Apple has announced the iPad 2!
There are a lot of new bells and whistles, and some of the same ones from before. The rundown is as follows:
- New
- Dual-core (not dueling) 1GHz A5 processor (twice as fast as the original iPad's processor)
- 9x faster graphics performance
- Specially designed cover ($39 for plastic, $69 for leather, each with 5 unique colors)
- Thinner form factor (33% thinner, coming in at 8.8 mm)
- HDMI out capable of 1080p (requires a $39 dongle)
- iOS 4.3
- Front facing camera (VGA, 30 fps)
- Rear-facing camera (720p, 30 fps, 5x digital zoom)
- Mobile hot spot capabilities (limited compatibility - iPhones only)
- Apps like Garage Band, iMovie, Photobooth, and FaceTime
- Old
- 1024 x 768 resolution
- $499 price tag
- Battery life of 10 hours
Most of these features are pretty self-explanatory, but the cover definitely needs a bit more 'splaining. During the iPad 2 event, Steve Jobs mentioned that the cover was developed alongside the iPad 2, in order to make sure it was fully compatible, while not hindering any aspect of the new, improved design. It uses magnets to adhere to the front display of the iPad 2, and uses a proximity sensor to put it to sleep when you cover the screen, or wake it up when you remove it. The side that faces the screen is made of microfiber, which keeps the display clean, and the other side will be either plastic or leather. The really interesting aspect of the cover, however, is that between the microfiber and plastic/leather, Apple has inserted 4 rigid panels. When folded, these panels turn the cover into a stand that can prop the iPad 2 up so that you can type, surf, watch movies, or game with ease.
The best part? It ships in 9 days. It'll be available on March 11th, starting at 5 pm.
For more information on the release and features, head on over to Engadget, Gizmodo, or any other gadget self-respecting tech site.
Sources: Engadget, 1
