ROUNDUP: APPLE EVENT - iPAD 2

iPad 2

Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad 2 today. As expected it will come in both black and white and be 33% thinner, down to 8.8mm, and lighter at only 1.3 pounds. The processor is an Apple A5 dual-core which has 2x the CPU speed and 9x the graphics speed of the previous model.

The iPad 2 will come with both front and rear cameras and a gyroscope. Jobs promised the new iPad would still have the same battery life at 10 hours as the iPad 1. The iPad 2 Wi-Fi will be available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacitties for $499, $599, and $699 respectively. The iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G will be available in the aforementioned sizes for $629, $729, and $829. The new iPad will launch in the US on March 11th and the rest of the world on March 25th.

Accessories

Additionally, Apple announced a HDMI-out connector cable. The 30-pin dock connector to HDMI cable will support full mirrored output from your iPad 2, output video in full 1080p, support rotation, and cost just $39. The accessory also allows you to charge your device while connected.

A "Smart Cover" was also shown off during the event, which will be built by Apple specifically for the iPad 2. The new cover (not a case) uses magnets to attach and auto-align itself to the iPad, adds minimal weight, and it has a micro-fiber lining to clean the screen. As an awesome little twist, the Smart Cover will automatically put your iPad to sleep when closed and it will wake the tablet when opened. Smart Covers will be available in polyurethane for $39 and leather for $69.

FaceTime/Garage Band/iMovie

Apple unveiled FaceTime for the iPad 2. The video calling app and service will function just as it does on the iPhone 4, and it will obviously support video chatting with both iPads and iPhone 4s. FaceTime for the iPad 2 is part of iOS 4.3 and will be available immediately at launch on March 11th. Apple also introduced iMovie for the iPad, which includes a precision video editor, multitrack audio recording, over 50 sound effects, new themes and AirPlay for sharing videos in HD with popular sites. The new iMovie app is also universal, so it will also run on iPhone and iPod touch as well — and it’s still just $5 in the App Store. Garage Band for the iPad, also announced at the event, features a variety of touch instruments and recording capabilities. Users can also plug in a guitar and play real instruments as well. The app sports guitar amps and effects, 8-track recording and mixing, over 250 audio loops to play with, and it’s compatible with the popular OS X version for Mac. Garage Band will cost $5 in the App Store when it launches on March 11th.

iOS 4.3

After a month long stint in beta-land, Apple’s latest iteration of iOS — version 4.3 — has been rubber-stamped and pronounced ready for public consumption. Demoing the new code at the company’s iPad 2 event today, VP of Engineering Scott Forstall showcased several of the updates new features, including Wi-Fi hotspot creation, a new Photobooth app, and Home Sharing (streaming audio and video from your computer to your iOS devce). iOS 4.3 will be available on March 11th to all iPad, iPhone (GSM), and iPod touch (3rd & 4th generation) owners.