Apple CEO Steve Jobs hit the stage to a huge round of applause and a standing ovation at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Wednesday to unveil the company’s followup to the wildly successful iPad, which is being dubbed the iPad 2 and begins shipping on March 11.
Apple used a media event held at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Wednesday to announce the iPad 2. Apple CEO Steve Jobs took the stage and following a round of thunderous applause, reminded the world how the iPad has changed the tablet landscape prior to introducing the latest model, known simply as the iPad 2.
iPad 2 features a new dual-core A5 processor which equates to a CPU that’s twice as fast as the original model, with 9x faster graphics and the same low power usage as the original model -- 10 hour battery life, or a month of standby. Apple claims iPad 2 is the “first dual-core tablet to ship in volume,” a clear swipe at their Google Android-powered competitors.
As widely predicted, iPad 2 also comes packing both front and rear-facing video cameras as well as the same gyroscope featured in the iPhone and iPod touch. Also matching recent rumors, the iPad 2 is thinner than ever before -- Apple claims 33 percent thinner, and at only 8.8mm, it’s even thinner than the company’s iPhone 4 at 9.3mm. (For comparison, the original iPad was 13.4mm thick.) The thinner design also reduces the iPad 2’s weight, which is a mere 1.3 pounds compared to the prior model’s 1.5 pounds.
iPad 2 will also come in two colors, black and white -- with the white model shipping from day one, according to Jobs. The new Wi-Fi + 3G models will work with either AT&T or Verizon service (sadly, you’ll have to choose a favorite), and the price remains the same, with a Wi-Fi only model starting at $499 for 16GB and topping out at $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + 3G model starts at $629 for 16GB, topping out at $829 for 64GB -- and as Apple notes, all but one of their models is still cheaper than the Motorola XOOM released last week for $799, with only 32GB of storage.
Apple also introduced a couple of new new accessories which join the existing iPad Camera Connection Kit, Dock and VGA Adapter. For the first time, Apple has introduced a $39 HDMI out adapter dubbed the Apple Digital AV Adapter, which provides mirrored video out at up to 1080p resolution -- and it works with all apps, not just those sanctioned by the company.
The small white dongle also supports rotation and is as simple as can be -- there’s no setup or configuration, it “just works,” in the grand Apple tradition. Users can also charge their iPad while using the Apple Digital AV Adapter, making it an ideal addition for every iPad 2 owner’s arsenal.
Apple also unveiled new Smart Covers, which attempts to solve the problem of covering too much of the device while it’s in use. Smart Covers are essentially a flap that covers the front and back of the iPad 2, with magnets that grasp and auto-align themselves when closed.
The new iPad Smart Cover promises to add minimal weight and thickness to your iPad, with a micro-fiber lining that keeps the screen clean. The covers, which come in a veritable rainbow of colors, are easy to remove or change, available in either polyurethane or leather. Finally, the Smart Covers magically wake the iPad 2 when opened and sleep it when closed. Smart Covers will be available for $39 (polyurethane) or $69 (leather).
iPad 2 will be available in stores beginning at 5pm on March 11, cementing last-minute rumors of “near immediate” availability, with 26 additional countries getting the revamped model on March 25. Apple isn’t taking preorders quite yet, but you can order online starting March 11 as well.
Follow this article’s author, J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter
