iPad 2 – Everything you need to know
March 3rd 2011
It’s been less than a year since the release of the first iPad – an iDevice that has been years in the making – and today we saw just what the latest development from Planet Apple is going to have.
Will this improved version have the features that change your mind about what some people call a “glorified iPhone? Will it have the few things that push you to finally buy one? Or will you find yourself making another iDevice purchase without even realising that you actually already own the previous generation and don’t REALLY need to get this one too?
Simply put, we found ourselves pretty excited about the new additions and we may have needed a ShamWow just to soak up the wet patch. Here are some major changes that we think will blow your mind.
Today Steve Jobs came out of sick leave saying he just couldn’t miss this. The main slogan for the new iPad release is “Thinner, Lighter, Faster’ and it’s just that. iPad 2 has had quite a makeover, making it 33% thinner and up to 15% lighter. For a device that’s already thin and light, this takes it to the next level – and now it also comes in white (much to our delight)!
“Courtesy of Apple “
The new dual-core A5 chip makes this baby two times faster, which can only push the boundaries for gaming and web browsing for an overall better experience. The graphic performance is up to nine times greater, which makes it even smoother and more realistic. And they have managed to do all this while maintaining the same 10 hours of battery life.
Two cameras have been added – front and back – with the back camera with video recording capabilities at HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second, and the front camera VGA up to 30 frames per second. This major new feature makes Facetime possible, allowing you to connect to another iPad 2, iPhone 4, or the new iPod touch – but a Wifi connection is required.
"Courtesy of Apple"
New Apps
Some great new apps have appeared on top of all this. Photo Booth, which lets you add all kinds of effects to your photos; Garage Band, where you can play a collection of built-in instruments or simply plug in and play; and iMovie, that allows you to record all of your great moments and edit them in HD on the go. For those of you who keep misplacing your iPad, Find my iPad will do just that, plus iPad 2 still comes packed with all the standard apps we have grown to love. You can get iMovie and Garage Band on itunes for just US$4.99 each.
"Courtesy of Apple"
iPad Smart Cover?
Trying to find the best accessories for your iPad that can do everything you want has been a bit tricky previously, but with the new iPad Smart Cover, we really feel Apple has nailed it. At US$39 and with a selection of 10 colours, the Smart Cover literally clips on with built-in magnets to protect the front of your iPad, whilst Auto- aligning itself.
It folds and stands giving you more options on how you type and view and when combined with a BodyGaurdz protective skin, you probably won’t even need any other case. Not only that, it keeps your new thinner, lighter iPad at the size it was designed to be – without the hassle of bulky cases and skins..
Release Date & Pricing
As they have stopped supplying retailers worldwide with the first generation iPad, Apple revealed today that the US launch of the iPad 2 will be much sooner than originally anticipated. The US release will be on March 11th and Australia can expect to get their hands on one on March 25th.
With regards to the pricing, it has been mentioned that iPad 2 will remain at the same price as the original, despite talk that the new release and a host of competitor tablets popping up might encourage a price drop. At this stage only the US pricing has been released as follows, but expect to pay about the same for the second gen as you would have for the first gen.
“Courtesy of Apple “
iPad with Wi-Fi (US)
16GB $499.00 – Black or White
32GB $599.00 – Black or White
16GB $699.00 – Black or White
iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G (US)
16GB $629.00 – Black or White
32GB $729.00 – Black or White
64GB $829.00 – Black or White
If you’re thinking you might not need all these new features, then you might want to check out apple.com/au for specials on the original iPad, including savings of $100 or more off the original price.
There are so many great new features that you really have to take some time to check them all out.
Head to Apple.com here, and remember to have your ShamWow ready. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about whether or not you should buy an iPad, the iPad 2 is the only reason you need. And if you want to upgrade, you could always sell your first gen iPad on eBay…
We’d just like to wish Steve Jobs all the best with his health, and we hope that he continues to challenge Apple and bring new ideas and creations to share with the world.
