iPad 2: Impressive.... If You Like Apple

Steve Jobs blabbing on and on about Magic and being blown away can only mean one thing, Apple is announcing another product for you to buy. The press conference is wrapping up now but the details are spilled and you need to know about them!




The iPad 2

Hardware!

• Dual-core 1GHz A5 processor, which is "up to two times faster" than the previous version.
• The graphics have been improved too. The GPU goes at nine times the speed as before.
• Same low power consumption as the A4.
• Built-in cameras for photos and video: One for frontal FaceTime videoconferencing and Photobooth (VGA resolution) and one on the back with 720p HD video capability.
• It also has a built-in gyroscope, like the iPhone 4.
• They claim the battery life is 10 hours, like before, with a one month stand-by time.
• HDMI mirrored video output at 1080p Full HD (the cable costs $39).

This bad boy is also 33% thinner then the previos iPad and even thinner then the iPhone 4. It is also .2 pounds lighter then the first iPad which I guess is impressive? It will also be available in black and white

The iPad 2 will be available March 11th, keeping up with Apples sales strategy of "OH SHIT ITS COMING OUT SO SOON I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT BUY IT!!!" and will be the same price points as the first generation iPad. For reference here they are.

16 GB: $499 WiFi, $629 WiFi & 3G (AT&T and Verizon)
32 GB: $599 Wifi, $729 Wifi & 3G
64 GB: $699 Wifi, $829 Wifi & 3G

iOS 4.3

The new iOS will be available day 1 when the iPad 2 comes out. It will introduce Nitro Javascript for Safari which improves load times. iTunes home sharing will allow content use over wifi between devices. This will also bring FaceTime to iPad.

Accessories

Besides the HDMI out cord the iPad will have a new case called a Smart Cover. It covers the screen and has microfibers that cleans the screen every time you take it off the device. It will put the device in sleep mode when you close it, and wake it up when you take it off. It is also fold able to be used as a stand for typing, or watching movies. Comes it pretty colors and it's attached to the iPad via MAGNETS (how do they work?)

Apps!

Apple announced two big apps that will be out the same day at the iPad 2 First up is iMovie

This is a video recorder and editor for the device that can also be used on the iPhone 4. Record videos and edit them with various gestures that bring up different editing options. It will have various transitions you can add to the video. You will also have audio options such as adding iTunes songs to your videos and multi-layered sound editing so you can adjust sound levels for the perfect balance.

The second app is GarageBand an app centered around virtual instruments. You are able to play, learn, and record various instruments built into the device such as drums, guitar, keyboard, etc. The accelerometer can detect how hard you are hitting/strumming to provide different sounds. It will 8 track recording capabilities for full band level songs. The songs you record can then be shared with friends or added to iTunes.

All in all pretty neat stuff... that is if you are a fan of apple. What exactly does the bad boy look like? feast your eyes!