Apple unveils new 33-percent-thinner tablet with dual-core A5 processor, front- and rear-facing cameras, HD video; HDMI output available with adaptor; available for AT&T and Verizon.
This morning, right next door to the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Apple held an event at which it--as rumored--unveiled the iPad 2. The new device is thinner and more powerful than its elder sibling and has several new features and improvements. It also has a much-earlier-than-expected ship date of March 11--just over one week away.
The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter than its predecessor, but it boasts the same screen size and resolution. It will sport a new dual-core A5 processor but will still have the same battery life of 10 hours. The device will also be available in two colors: black and white.
The biggest additions to the device are rear- and front-facing cameras. The latter is a VGA camera that can be used for FaceTime video chat with iPad 2 and iPhone 4 owners. The former can shoot 720p HD video, which can be edited with iMovie App for the iPad, also due on March 11. Both cameras can take pictures that can then be altered using the iPad's Photo Booth software.
The iPad 2 will also have the ability to mirror video on larger-screen displays such as HDTVs via an HDMI output. However, an adaptor--sold separately for $39--will be required.
Pricing of the iPad 2 will begin at $499 for the 16GB model, rising to $599 for the 32GB model and to $699 for the 64GB model. The iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G will cost $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, and $829 for the 64GB model. Purchasers will have a choice of two wireless service providers: Verizon or AT&T.
@Office_Ninja In what way has Apple product shorter life cycle than other companies products? ?no doubt the software support for the current model will dry out as developers move to the dual core architecture of the newer machine.? That's a funny conclusion since currently there are quite a few iPhone 4 and IPad ?one? so to say that software support should start to dry out for these devices any time soon seems very strange to me.
OMG whoopee! Lookie here guys! A brand new iPad 2 to replace the already outdated iPad 1. So what's next Apple? Dare I say the iPad 3 is just around the corner? YAY! Keep 'em comin guys! /sarcasm
yo guys ipad is just the beginning, or 2011 technology is not that good to make a prefect tablet, after 5 years, probably ipad 6 and other androids will be the tablets not those nowadays
Am I the only one who hates they short life cycle of Apple products? The original model is but a year old and yet it's already on it's way out... no doubt the software support for the current model will dry out as developers move to the dual core architecture of the newer machine.
Apple should seriously just rename this thing the "Half-Top"...because it's like a lap-top with half the capability/features.
From where things stand now, and what else has been announced, there seems to be a high probability that we will see a repeat of the way things have played out in the mp3 market. Apple grabs around 70% of the tablet market and dozens of other companies fight over the rest. Maybe things will change in the fall or in 2012. But I don't have any practical reason to believe they will. Not yet anyway...
I am no apple fan (I think Jobs is trying to become a controlling overlord and usurp Satan), but way too mamy people are saying the ipad should have upwards 500gb storage... iOS stuff uses SSDs, which are way more expensive per byte to produce than HDDs.
@BAD-C0MPANY... Uh, no. I merely pointing out that people are bashing this thing because "it's $900 OMFG!!!!!" Well, it's not $900. There's a $499 model for a reason. Android sucks compared to iOS. It's catching up, but not quite there yet. I have experience with both, and I prefer iOS over Android and Blackberry any day. It runs smoother, looks better, and does exactly what I want it to. Obviously you're Droidboy, and that's okay. It's your money, do what you want to with it. Just like I'll take mine to the Apple store, and buy what I want to.
@jshaas Oh, so just because it's 3G compatible that explains the extra $400 dollars? Clear and simple: Apple's products are over-hyped, over-priced pieces of garbage. Everyone should support the market and get anything running the Android OS.
I don't get the iPad. It isn't powerful enough to be a laptop and it isn't convenient enough to be a phone. It does look cool though. But if that is the only feature going for it, then why bother? Makes more sense to either buy an iPhone or a laptop IMO.
Hopefully the iphone 5 has dual core a5 processors too. Ipad is mostly a waste of money if you own an iphone or ipod touch of equivelent generation.
My $300, 4 year old asus laptop has 3 usb ports, wireless internet, a dvd rw drive, 64gb hard-drive and can hook up to any hd tv and standard tv right out the box. Also has slots for camera memory, mini sd cards and a keyboard. That was 4 yrs ago and now people will be stupid enough to pay for this over-priced machine that doesn't have usb ports or any drives. Have to pay an extra fee to hook up to hd tvs and the largest hard-drive is just 64gb for $900?!!! ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!
@TheRealLisaAnn... Aren't you leaving out some other facts about what makes the pricing different for different models? The $829 model is also 3G compatible, whereas the $499 isn't. Now, I know I'm not going to convince any Apple-haters here. But, if you're going to bash something don't pick and choose your points. Bash the product in it's entirity, not just the most expensive price tag associated with it.
@ TheRealLisaAnn That may be true for magnetic disks, however the Ipads use flash, which is significantly pricier for decent quality chips, the other part of cost is of course the wonderous Apple Tax that you pay on anything with the Apple logo on it.
$829 for a 64gb HDD vs. $499 for a 16GB HDD? That's kinda nuts. HDD prices right now are about 1 penny per gigabyte. Based on that, the 64gb HDD should only be $48 more than the other (!!)
@zmanrwks They cannot "take" your money, you have to give it to them. Everything else you said though I agree.
I love my ipad but it will never replace my PC for any task, but seriously why does Apple have to release a new verison of everything every year? Give us time to atleast wear our products down before trying to get us to buy new ones.
Holy smokes, nearly $900 for THAT!? Unless it has everything, including glasses-free 3D, then NO WAY am I dishing out that much cash for an under-sized laptop/over-sized ipod. Thanks, but NO THANKS!!
Ihope this doesn't turn into a Guitar Hero type trend. Ipad 5 now with 700 Gigabytes!! + Plus it can wipe your ***
If Apple released the iVibrator (trying to not get my comment deleted), I know some people who would be the first ones with it up their butt..
I have been waiting for this ever since the first ipad but I have to wait until march 25th because I live in Australia. Can't wait.
Some people have legitimate needs for technology like this. Some people buy it because they enjoy it. Nobody needs to upgrade so quickly after buying the original, and Apple announced it so close to release so people couldn't "hold off" on buying the original model.
I just don't see what's so appealing about tablets. They trade portability for...nothing. Any smartphone these days can do just as much as a tablet, while also being able to carry it in your pocket. The iPad is just an overpriced, over-glorified, over-sized, iPod Touch. Besides, you could get a laptop, which has way more features, twice the speed, and is 10x more powerful for half the price!
i am so sick of hearing about arbitrary geek chic hipster products that attract cult like followings
If it wasn't the same price as a laptop that does ten times as many things at twice the speed, I'd buy it. I'd also buy it if I thought that it would go more than two months without becoming obsolete due to the release of the next Ipad...
A friend of mine wants to buy this to replace his Apple MacBook and I told him straight up that he's a moron.
I don't have one but both my son-in-laws do and they use them all the time. It's a fun device, easy to use and OS is solid as a rock. Lighten up people, jeez!
Judging by the comments, its seems that the gamespot community is generally smart enough to avoid being ripped off by Apples overpriced and overrated products. Good to see there are people who have not become iZombies.
Unfortunately, I will not be wasting my money on the iPad 2. However, I will be buying one of the Honeycomb tablets!
This is going to be the greatest device ever. Day one purchase of the $829 one. Hell, I think I'll buy two!
So much hate for Apple on this site. :( Granted that I don't plan to buy an iPad anytime soon, they do have their market niche. Last year these same haters were here saying the original iPad would fail. Apparently this isn't the case as Apple continues to be a market leader in consumer electronics.
I can't wait to spend $700 on an over sized iPhone that doesn't make calls, and an undersized laptop that doesn't play games. Sounds great.
@acasero44 Unfortunately we know it wont. People love paying top dollar for old technology when it has an apple logo on it.
The iPad wasn't out even a year before we get an "improved" version. It's thinner and has 2 cameras. Oh boy! Seriously, this is just another Apple scam to take our money. Anybody who buys this who already has an iPad gets the official seal of stupidity from me.
Apple will unveil iPad 2 successor during first of week of March at an event in San Francisco, Wall Street Journal sources say.
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