The iPad 2

Apple has just made its second-generation iPad official! It features a dual-core A5 chip and, finally , cameras, both front and rear! The new CPU is said to be up to twice as fast, with graphics performance up to nine times better than on the original iPad, while power requirements have been kept the same. Battery life is, consequently, unaltered, with Apple promising 10 hours. Pricing, too, has been left unchanged, starting at $499. The new tablet will come with an HDMI output, which will set you back $39 for the requisite dongle, but we’ve yet to hear any rumblings of Thunderbolt connectivity. There’s an enlarged speaker grille on the back, as expected , though resolution has not budged from the original iPad’s 1024 x 768. There’s a new cover for the device, which is best defined by Steve Jobs himself: “We designed the case right along side the product. It’s not a case — it’s a cover.” Basically, it’s a magnetic flap that protects the front and automatically wakes and puts the device to sleep according to whether it’s open or closed. Guess we know what that proximity sensor was about now. These Smart Covers will cost $39 in plastic or $69 if you opt for leather. The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and will ship in two hues: white and black. It’ll be available on both AT&T and Verizon, and all variants start shipping on March 11th . Gallery: Apple iPad 2 In terms of new software, Apple’s launching iOS 4.3 alongside the new iPad and bringing with it much improved Safari performance as well as FaceTime, Photo Booth and iMovie apps specifically for the newly camera-enriched iPad. Personal Hotspot capabilities are also arriving in the latest version of the OS, but they’ll be exclusive to the iPhone 4, so you won’t be able to share your 3G iPad’s connection. Gallery: iPad 2 FaceTime and Photo Booth apps Click past the break for Apple’s official press release and we’ve got video coming for you shortly as well. Developing… for the latest coverage of Apple’s iPad 2 launch event, see our liveblog . Continue reading The iPad 2 The iPad 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Posted by on March 2, 2011. Filed under News, Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry