At a special event in San Francisco Wednesday , Apple reveal theiPad 2 , the follow - up to the original iPad it release last April . The iPad 2 features an all - new design along with new features include built - in tv camera and a new gyroscope .
At the substance of the iPad 2 is a 1GHz dual - effect Apple A5 mainframe , which should allow for a boost over the 1GHz single - core Apple A4 in the first iPad . Apple says the A5 is two time faster than the previous processor , while nontextual matter performance is nine time quicker — welcome tidings for everything from games to picture - redaction apps like the shortly - to - be - releasediPad - optimized version of iMovie .
“ The graphic on this thing are grand , ” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs , who made asurprise appearanceat the Wednesday effect despite being on medical leave .
The A5 also has a similar low - power consumption paygrade as the A4 . Like the original iPad , the newfangled model call 10 hour of battery animation .
The iPad 2 boast two built - in cameras , for manipulation withFaceTimevideo chat and other apps . FaceTime can be used between two iPad 2s , between the iPad 2 and an iPhone or iPod touch , or between an iPad 2 and a Mac using FaceTime for Mac . As with FaceTime on other iOS devices , you ’ll be able to use the front - facing camera to capture your own image ; you’re able to switch to the ass - facing tv camera during conversations to show chat participants what you ’re looking at without have to flip around your iPad .
Apple also announced a newPhoto Boothapp for the iPad . The app apply the front - facing camera to lose it your image , which you’re able to then alter with eight included effects . The Photo Booth app previews all gist on one - screen door in literal - metre .
The iPad 2 ’s front photographic camera is capable of recording VGA - solution ( 640 - by-480 ) video at 30 frame per second with audio . The front camera can also take still photos at 640 - by-480 . The back camera can read HD video at 720p at 30 figure per second with audio . When in still camera style , the back camera has a 5X digital rapid climb .
The iPad 2 feature a 9.7 - inch LCD screen with a 1024 - by-768 - pixel resolving at 132 pixel per inch , like the original iPad .
Overall , the iPad 2 is thin and lighter than its predecessor , weigh 1.3 pounds and measuring 0.35 inches thick . The original iPad was 1.5 pounds ( 1.6 pound for the 3 G iPad ) and 0.5 inches thick . The iPad 2 is in reality flimsy than the iPhone 4 , which is 0.37 inch thick .
Other new features include a gyroscope , which has previously been included in the iPhone 4 and 4th - generation iPod touch . Apple say the gyroscope characteristic work with the iPad 2 ’s built - in accelerometer and compass to sense the direction the iPad is head and how it ’s move . That should affect gaming and mapping apps , giving both more of a 360 - arcdegree feel .
Apple offers six models of the iPad 2 , with pricing identical to the original iPad ’s . There are three Wi - Fi only simulation : a $ 499 reading with 16 GB of flash storage ; a $ 599 model with 32 GB of flash storage ; and a $ 699 model with 64 GB of flashgun storage .
Apple will offer three 3G - equip models : a $ 629 rendering with 16 GB of flash storage ; a $ 729 model with 323 GB of flash memory board ; and a $ 829 model with 64 GB of ostentation storage . harmonize to Apple’siPad 3 G Website , the 3G - enable iPad 2 is designed to carry on either AT&T or Verizon , but not both carriers for the same tablet .
Apple says the iPad 2 will be uncommitted on March 11 through the online and retail Apple Stores . You ca n’t place an ordering for the new pill until March 11 , according toApple ’s online storage . As of this writing , the original 16 GB Wi - Fi iPad was uncommitted throughApple ’s clearance sectionfor $ 399 .
TheiPad 2 specificationscall for iTunes 10.2 , which Apple turn Wednesday good afternoon . iPad 2 also call for Mac OS X 10.5.8 or subsequently ( or Windows 7 , Windows Vista , or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 if you ’re using that other platform . )
In a little less than a year , the iPad has become a big part of Apple ’s patronage . Job said during Wednesday ’s presentation that Apple deal nearly 15 million iPads during a nine - calendar month period in 2010 . concord to Apple , the iPad has more than a 90 percentage parcel of the tablet market . “ While others have been scrambling to re-create the first generation iPad , we ’re launch iPad 2 , which move the bar far ahead of the competition and will belike cause them to go back to the draftsmanship boards yet again , ” said Jobs in a press waiver .
At the event , Jobs recognize the role of the retail Apple Stores as a cay to the success of the iPad . The memory board ’ built - in ability to support the iPad was key to educate customers and to handle client doubtfulness . “ Without these store , I do n’t think we would have been successful either , ” Jobs suppose .
“ It ’s in Apple ’s DNA that technology alone is not enough , ” suppose Jobs at the end of the iPad 2 result . “ That it ’s technology married with liberal arts , hook up with with the humanities , that yields us the resultant role that do our nerve sing . ”
Apple has avideo demo of the iPad 2available on its Website .
Appleposted the video of today ’s iPad 2 event . The video is also available if you take to theApple Keynotes podcast in iTunes .
update 11:00 a.m. PT with details on the cameras and the presentation , and a link to the video demonstration . update 11:20 a.m. PT with video out information and details on the software requirements . Updated 12:20 p.m. PT to correct the hurrying of the A5 processor . Updated 12:35 p.m. PT with 3 G carrier info . update at 2:52 p.m. PT with more info throughout the article .
