Apple Announces iPad 2: A5 Dual Core, 2 Cameras, Thinner

[Sander]

1080p HDMI

I noticed something strange - it's mentioned that you can hook the iPad 2 up to your TV via an HDMI adapter, and it's specified as 1080p. However, if you look in the tech specs section, you'll see:

- Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p with Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter (cables sold separately)
- Video out support at 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable
- Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

In other words, it can output 1080p but I don't see any format delivering it..?

 

[Mac21ND]

No real killer feature, or unexpected one, but there are a lot of minor improvements here that really add up.

iPad 2 especially seems "future proof". That may be its best feature. That it comes with a fresh, speedy CPU and GPU with preserved battery life. Nothing more annoying than having future iOS (think iOS 5) features that won't be available on your device because it's too slow or incompetent... I'm almost 100% sure that iPad 1 will lose support at least one iOS generation before iPad 2, and that can really matter. It's the software that makes these devices. I wouldn't even have considered an iPhone if it wasn't for the iOS ecosystem, or a MacBook Pro if it wasn't for OS X.

Exactly. I have an iPod Touch 2 and it can't run many of the newer 4.2 features and much of the new, more graphically intense software.

 

[stefmesman]

Can’t decide if this is an iPad 1.5 or 1.4. Perhaps the name "iPad Lacking" is more fitting. I'll wait for the REAL iPad 2.

Positives
- Size
- Camera
- Speed
- More case options

Negative
- No LP/TB Support (no port or controller) makes this a relic before its even sold
- RAM ???
- No ‘world’ model; its either CDMA or GSM.
- Screen Resolution is the same
- No super-special daylight viewable screen
- Design has not soul
- GPS not on the Wi-Fi model
- No vibration motor for alerts or games

lol android fan much?

- TB? almost nothing uses this yet. so is utterly useless. will be in the future. and then still ipad will probably have an dock connector to TB instead of USB. speed will remain te same.
- Ram? Nobody said anything about the ram apple doesnt advertise specs. dont count this as a negative. probably it will have 512mb or 1gb coz its dual core.
- no world mode? why? you want to use it on verizon and at&t? way to ruin your money on 2 dataplans.
- screen resolution need to be doubles in case they want it because of app development. if they literally would have doubled it you would have been looking at a -4 hours battery life. anyone can imagine the hoax out here if it had 3 hours battery less?
- no super-special daylight viewable screen? as you point out yourself. such thing does not exist yet. unless you go for matte. wich is less protected.
- design had not soul - otherwise... what planet do you come from?
- why would one need gps on a device you dont have internet on outside you home?
- vibration motor decreases battery life by alot. technology is not ready for battery waste for shaking a device.

answered your negatives?

 

[Benjamins]

I wonder if they will ever have GF if they think the same way.

lol.... I am sure there are other legitimate reasons why they don't have a GF.

 

[hayesk]

I can't seem to find the specs for memory, and I didn't catch it announced in the presentation. Am I missing it, or is it conveniently not being mentioned this time around? Surely it was boosted from 256 MB

Apple never talks to the public about the RAM in their iOS devices. As you said, they don't want to spec it like a PC, because they don't want people to think of it as a computer; and this strategy is working. We'll find out soon - my money is on 512MB - same as in the iPhone 4.

 

[clukas]

I think the new design is a huge feature, being thinner and lighter. It will feel even better in the hands. I just need to know if they bumped the ram to 512mb and I'm sold.

I agree, I think the design is really nice. Personally I think they have bumped RAM to 512mb, since I dont think you would get a very smooth performance from apps such as garageband and imovie, unless they are very well coded to use little ram. However I could be wrong, im dissapointed with apple that they dont state the RAM and camera specs on their website, but it appears to be a strategical move.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Those are pretty much my same criteria, especially the screen glare. I bought my iPad primarily as a travel device, and was frustrated that I couldn't watch movies on a plane without seeing my own reflection (even with the windowshade down). On the RAM front, I think it's almost certain the iPad 2 will have at least 512 MB, and it seems easily possible it could be 1 GB. We'll know for sure on March 11 after someone tears it down or runs a system profiling app on it.



The 3G model has real GPS, just like last year's 3G model had real GPS and just like the iPhone has real GPS. If you were thinking that A-GPS was not real GPS, then you'd be wrong.

No... real GPS means you don't need to go through a wireless phone company to use it. It's even listed "assisted GPS" for a reason as to differentiate it's usability. Assisted is handicapped... The Tom Tom dock lets the iPhone work as an un-assited, uncrippled GPS, but for the price of the dock, you can just get a Tom Tom and be done with it. I will never rely on assisted GPS again. You're arguing schematics. No one thinks it's imaginary GPS. We know it exists, but it still is crippled.

 

[Shagrat]

No soul? It means its bland.

And the iPad 1 wasn't? In what way, precisely, did iPad 1 have soul, but v2 doesn't?

 

[Benjamins]

Has there been any word on Verizon data plan pricing for the iPad and how it compares to AT&T? I can find nothing on this subject!

yeah, don't see pricing anywhere.
but I guess it might be in line with AT&T's offerings.

 

[Stella]

Hold it for a second. So with the "Hotspot" Feature i could use the 3G connection from my iPhone4 to browse the web on my iPad 2? If so, i wouldnt have to purchase the 3G version. Can anyone confirm this working?

Your iPhone batteries will probably drain faster when used as a hotpot faster than if you were to use a3G iPad.

If your carrier allows it - you can tether yes, so you wouldn't need a separate data plan and so you wouldn't require a 3G version.

( If your carrier doesn't allow tethering for your particular plan and you tether anyway you could end up with a hefty data charge ).

 

[stefmesman]

I noticed something strange - it's mentioned that you can hook the iPad 2 up to your TV via an HDMI adapter, and it's specified as 1080p. However, if you look in the tech specs section, you'll see:

- Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p with Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple VGA Adapter (cables sold separately)
- Video out support at 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable
- Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

In other words, it can output 1080p but I don't see any format delivering it..?

good question...

 

[hayesk]

APPLE HAS SUCH A CLEAR ROAD MAP OF TINY UPDATES ALL TO MAKE YOUR LAST PURCHASE SEEM OBSOLETE!

This a MASSIVE WASTE for those who will inevitably buy it after buying the first generation. A press events for .33 cm of space and 'useless in one year cameras' are becoming a huge waste of energy in transportation for the journalists who travel across the continent to report absolutely next to nothing!

Did you read any articles on the iPad 2 written by journalists? Well, you had to in order to discover the new features of the device?

If you read the article, it wasn't a waste of energy. And nobody forced them to go either.

 

[DrSQL]

Troll much?

Can’t decide if this is an iPad 1.5 or 1.4. Perhaps the name "iPad Lacking" is more fitting. I'll wait for the REAL iPad 2.

Positives
- Size
- Camera
- Speed
- More case options

Negative
- No LP/TB Support (no port or controller) makes this a relic before its even sold
- RAM ???
- No ‘world’ model; its either CDMA or GSM.
- Screen Resolution is the same
- No super-special daylight viewable screen
- Design has not soul
- GPS not on the Wi-Fi model
- No vibration motor for alerts or games

 

[labrat1996]

Apple just slashed the original iPad 16GB WiFi to $399! Refurbs now $349. I might just have to pick up one of these for mom..

I just did! My Netbook screen is crapping out on me so for $349 AND free shipping HELL YES!

 

[SteelWheel]

I haven't seen anything on the usual blogs/websites about the pricing of data plans for either the AT&T or VZW versions of this. For me, this is a huge factor in my decision to buy or not.

Currently, I'm on the original, truly "unlimited" plan from AT&T. Will I be able to migrate this to an iPad 2 from AT&T? If not, might VZW be offering unlimited data plans on this for a limited time, similar to what they did with the iPhone 4?

If anyone has any info, I'd appreciate it. I intend to either call Apple online and/or drop by an Apple store today--but I strongly suspect that nobody will have a definitive answer just yet.

 

[Luis Ortega]

I had decided to wait for this update to see what was added, but now I am looking at the alternatives.
The Motorola xoom is going to get a serious look.
In any case, I won't buy the current ipad2 because of all its limitations, and if the others don't convince me, I'll pass on tablets again.
They are really just toys at the moment.

 

[andrewsd]

Not a bad update and to the people that complain about the screen..... I get the bright light arguments but the screen is not that bad and is really nice especially for what it is. Also super happy that they did not put a flash on the camera because you would look very foolish if you were trying to take a photo that needed a flash with an iPad anyways.

 

[ten-oak-druid]

Can't they make the 3G service generic? One model and you choose the provider and change as you wish?

I heard there are now chips that do this.

 

[ilifecomputer]

I'll be getting one since I have wanted one since first gen was released but could not afford at the time. The updates were definitely nothing to be about but we all saw this coming. I'm still excited at being able to carry some light work around with me.

The fact that there is no preorder does not surprise me. I doubt apple expects the same first day sales volume as ipad1 and allowing preorder would only make it look like a weaker release to the generic apple store passer byer (and potential buyer). Making us wait for shipping or go buy is a no brainer for those free on Friday near a retail store. Longer lines, any amount longer at all, will make it all look more exciting for those on the fence.

 

[al2o3cr]

Almost as heavy. Still no real GPS.

Um, wut? The 3G model of the first has GPS (just like the new 3G model), so you may want to try *reading* in the future...

Same price is doing me a "favor" with all the competition offering thinner, lighter, cheaper, more open OS?

Funny, I don't recall seeing "cheaper" amongst any of the serious Android offerings. Just because you can buy a $200 suck-tab from China doesn't make it comparable...

I know we all hate flash, but the reality is 25% of the top 100 pages on the net still use it, so we can either have access to it or not have access, they go with #2 to try and make a statement.

Yeah, like all the people on Android 3.0 who have Flash already... Oh wait, Adobe's still got them on the "real soon now" train. BTW, have you seen the reviews of the existing Flash implementations? (hint: slow, buggy, crashes the device)

Comparing your year-old platform to one that hasn't even been released yet?

Yep, nothing says "year-old" like a brand-new hardware platform with a new OS release...

Wow, Apple w\o Jobs is really tanking quick. This is like the 80s where Apple had everything going for it then just gave it all up to be satisfied with 10% forever. It's all just a mess, this is Android's year.

Because they put the new iPad together in the 45ish days since Steve took a leave of absence, amirite?

Queue the flamer responses.

No need for a queue - MR lets you post this garbage without a waiting period.

It's hard to see Apple fall short this year.

You'd make a great parent: "Little Johnny hasn't gone to college yet? He's two years old - he must be a complete washout!"

 

[ten-oak-druid]

The back side should be a kindle

 

[Sodner]

I like it. Faster, thinner, lighter and a cool cover as well.

Apple has changed the choice from iPad or xoom to black or white iPad 2.

 

[andrewsd]

I just did! My Netbook screen is crapping out on me so for $349 AND free shipping HELL YES!

Get them while there hot .. iPad get your iPad...

Congrats though.

 

[clukas]

No... real GPS means you don't need to go through a wireless phone company to use it. It's even listed on the specs as "assisted GPS." Assisted as in handicapped... The Tom Tom dock lets the iPhone work as an un-assited, uncrippled GPS, but for the price of the dock, you can just get a Tom Tom and be done with it. I will never rely on assisted GPS again.

How does assisted GPS actually work, does it use the 3G network? Did you have bad experiences with it?

 

[Shagrat]

lol android fan much?

- TB? almost nothing uses this yet. so is utterly useless. will be in the future. and then still ipad will probably have an dock connector to TB instead of USB. speed will remain te same.
- Ram? Nobody said anything about the ram apple doesnt advertise specs. dont count this as a negative. probably it will have 512mb or 1gb coz its dual core.
- no world mode? why? you want to use it on verizon and at&t? way to ruin your money on 2 dataplans.
- screen resolution need to be doubles in case they want it because of app development. if they literally would have doubled it you would have been looking at a -4 hours battery life. anyone can imagine the hoax out here if it had 3 hours battery less?
- no super-special daylight viewable screen? as you point out yourself. such thing does not exist yet. unless you go for matte. wich is less protected.
- design had not soul - otherwise... what planet do you come from?
- why would one need gps on a device you dont have internet on outside you home?
- vibration motor decreases battery life by alot. technology is not ready for battery waste for shaking a device.

answered your negatives?

I think the universe wouldn't last long enough to answer all their negatives..

Really people. You don't HAVE to buy an iPad2...get an Android tablet instead!

Oh yes, one that has "SOUL"