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

[Commodore 64]

the year of...

I think it all looks good. But then again I haven´t got an iPad, and I still don´t feel the need for one (though it´s starting to get to my basic lust...). So I´m not the right person to comment on today´s event.
Only thing I wonder about is this "year-thing". If 2010 was the year of the iPad, and 2011 is the year of the iPad 2, then what does that say about iPhone 4? Or the hopefully great iPhone upgrade this summer? Or the Mac line, or OSX?

 

[ladeer]

that case alone is BRILLIANT!!!!

Hahaha, I can't believe people are actually complaining about this! It's awesome!

Believe it or not, I would probably not buy this simply because of the case.
What exactly does this case do? It's just a plastic cover for the screen, and a stand. It however doesn't offer any protection on the back or the rim/side of the iPad--more fragile part than the screen.

Yes, the glass screen is more scratch resistant than the back! Remember the old case? it covers the entire iPad snugly and really offers protection against a light drop...Now w/ this the iPad has zero protection against any liquid, drop, scratch, etc.

Also, magnetic attachment?? So I can't even hold onto my iPad simply just grabbing the case? This means I have to be very careful with how I handle it. If I didn't pay attention and just grab the case the iPad might snap out and drop on the ground. I can already picture a friend or a kid pick it up and iPad snap out of the cover and fall on the ground...

Please offer a regular case like before....then I will def get one.

 

[lilcosco08]

Nice, might consider an upgrade

 

[SeattleMoose]

I'd Take Dedicated I/O Port Over Thin Any Day...

Really glad to see Steve on stage but I wonder...if Steve starts to gain weight again, will they start making their products thicker again?

 

[blackcrayon]

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.

No, the GPS in the 3G iPad doesn't rely on the cellular network. It may use it to get a faster fix or for additional data, but it's a "real" GPS chip in every practical sense.

If what you are saying is true, when we lose all cellular connectivity while driving, we'd lose our GPS fix... But of course we don't. (Those of us with 3G iPhones or 3G iPads). The 3G iPad has a real, dedicated GPS chip, that's also assisted by other methods where available/applicable.

 

[gohanmzt]

Almost there...

Today's update is exactly as I expected it. It is a nice device (so is the ipad 1 and I actually like its design better than the new one). The only thing that is making me wait is local file storage. I mean there's got to be an easier way to store a file than emailing it to yourself. How about some space to use as file storage and then when you get to your computer sync it? The moment apple says the ipad can do that I'm all over one.

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Out of curiosity, members of MR, white or black iPad 2?

 

[rochford]

The hotspot feature's great, so I don't need to buy the +3G version. It would be cool if the iPad could also use the iPhones GPS for the apps that use location services. iOS5 ?

 

[adbe]

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.

Good Lord will this never die.

AGPS is normal passive GPS with the added benefit that cell towers can be used to get a faster fix. No cell reception? No problem, you just have to wait for the almanac. That typically takes a minute or so. Cell towers available? Something useful can happen whilst the GPS is getting a more accurate fix. The 'A' helps things along.

AGP > GPS.

 

[kazmac]

right now I'll pass

Once my iPhone contract expires in 7 months, then I'll decide: iPhone 5 or just wait to what iPad 3 and next Macbook Air offer.

I'm enjoying/using mobile more these days, but iPad 2 is a pass.

The Smart Cases are really cool.

 

[iLunar]

Reduced Bevel - this would have an immediate effect that would make the iPad 1 look like it was from the 80s.

I find the large bezel comments so strange. In actual everyday use, the large bezel is so functional as it gives you an area to grip while not accidentally hitting the touch surface.

 

[dwd3885]

Today's update is exactly as I expected it. It is a nice device (so is the ipad 1 and I actually like its design better than the new one). The only thing that is making me wait is local file storage. I mean there's got to be an easier way to store a file than emailing it to yourself. How about some space to use as file storage and then when you get to your computer sync it? The moment apple says the ipad can do that I'm all over one.

yea that was pretty classic. EMAIL yourself the aac. lol.

 

[CandyCane23049]

The first Ipad did nothing to interest me but I'm really liking the Ipad 2 right now, especially because of the hotspot feature that I can use with my Iphone.

 

[telepati]

OK! This is really bad updates like 2nd and 3rd generation iPhone. I understand most buyable iPad will be come 4th generation like a iPhone 4. The 4th gen iPad will have much more significant updates. Apple using "milking strategy". We are not stupid Apple we read as like you we are know what marketing is!

 

[blackcrayon]

Right, it is mirroring the screen of the iPad in 1080p, but the actual dimensions of the iPad are not the same aspect ratio of a 1080p display. Meaning that the image projected has the 1080p resolution for the section of the display actually displaying information (forget the black bars on left and right of the screen.)

I may be off on that explanation, but since it is not true video out, but really a mirror of the screen, it seems to me to be the way it works.

It's also important to realize the iPad has 1024 horizontal lines (vertical pixels) in portrait mode, so maybe outputting up to 1080p is a way to get to see all the lines without scaling

 

[AdeFowler]

Awesome update in my opinion but I'll make my iPad 1 last another year.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

i will upgrade if i can get at least within the range of 100$ less than the model i want when selling my "old" ipad.

 

[CFreymarc]

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

You forgot to mention the Local Gravity Field Cancellation (LGFC) module that activates when the accelerometer detects free fall. You don't want something expensive like that to obey the Law of Gravity when you drop it.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Verily doth this mekethstthst me happy.

Just last night I found VueCad will let me import my Autodesk Inventor 3d solid models and spin em around for people, and today, this!

Garageband! Facetime! iMovie! All the things on my wishlist for the device. More horsepower to run em without a drop in battery life?


After this, they're gonna have to add Thunderbolt support, a pressure sensitivity layer in the screen, a high res screen, or a 3d holographic heads up display. ...I fully expect a demo with princess leia bending over.

 

[firewood]

No... real GPS means you don't need to go through a wireless phone company to use it.

You don't need to go through a wireless phone company or wifi to use the GPS on an iPhone 3GS or an iPhone 4 either. It just takes longer to lock. Just like with many older handheld dedicated GPS units. Real GPS. No difference.

The newer dedicated GPS units get a faster lock using the "assist" of bigger exposed antennas, and chips that suck more battery power. But the iPhone 4 already has the cellular and wifi radio chips sucking battery power, so it uses those for the assist instead, instead of yet another big power sucking GPS radio receiver chip.

 

[Luis Ortega]

So you're going to give the xoom a serious look and at the same time you're saying that all tablets are toys that you'll pass on? God the troll's logic is dumbfounding. There seems to be a direct correlation between the success of an apple product launch and the increase in quantity and stupidity of troll posts.

Lol...why are you so insecure?
The fact is that the ipad2 is underwhelming technically, and it's too restricted, but if you like style over substance, then go for it.

 

[Apple Expert]

Out of curiosity, members of MR, white or black iPad 2?

Black 64gb for me. White 32gb for her.

 

[ECUpirate44]

Is there a full length video of the event online yet?

 

[Full of Win]

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.

So the best selling non iOS line of computer from Apple today is "almost nothing". . News to me. It will be on the others in the next few months most likely. Will it still be "almost nothing" then?

- 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.

If its 512, its a negative. If its 1GB , its a positive.

- no world mode? why? you want to use it on verizon and at&t? way to ruin your money on 2 dataplans.

In a word - flexibility. For example, use Verizon in the US for data. Later, if traveling in Europe and or Asia, sign up for a GSM plan when in those countries. This is not a difficult concept for anyone with a passport full of stamps. Also, having a World Chip would help if you were to move to a location where one service is not as well deployed as the other.

- 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?

We know this how? The iPhone 4 drives a display that is very close in pixel count to the iPad. Sure it might be a hit on battery life to a degree.... but I do not think the amount you suggest.

- 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.

Sure it does.

- design had not soul - otherwise... what planet do you come from?

Earth., Its lacking IMHO. It looks like a iPod Touch stretched out.

- why would one need gps on a device you dont have internet on outside you home?

So I guess you have never heard of the slew of Apps that carry maps on the device instead of accessing them with the internet. For example on my iPad 3G, I use Navigon, which uses GPS w/o the need for an internet connection. There are several others out there, I suggest you do some research before posting.

- vibration motor decreases battery life by alot. technology is not ready for battery waste for shaking a device.

If its an issue, turn it off like on the iPhone.

 

[labrat1996]

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

Congrats though.

Thanks! Looks like that price is gone now! Thank goodness for my iphone apple store app!