Apple (AAPL) didn't reinvent the wheel with the iPad 2 that goes on sale March 11, but the truth is, it really didn't have to.
With sales of 15 million units, the original iPad was already a runaway best seller, way out in front. That's because Apple, more than any of the growing slew of rivals that are trying to knock the company off its perch, has already set the bar high for tablets. Though I spent only a few minutes holding an iPad 2 after Apple's media event in San Francisco, CEO Steve Jobs has by all appearances another winner on his hands.
As expected, the new iPad adds front and rear cameras that permit the kind of FaceTime video chat that is so appealing on the latest iPhones and on Mac computers. FaceTime is especially inviting on the iPad's 9.7-inch screen, the same size and resolution as its predecessor. Several competitors have already introduced tablets with cameras, including the generally praised — and more expensive —Motorola Xoom that went on sale recently.
The VGA camera on the front of the second-generation iPad can capture video (and audio) at up to 30 frames per second, a standard measure of smoothness; the rear camera can shoot in high-definition, up to what techies refer to as 720p.
The presence of cameras also permits the Photo Booth feature popular on Macs that lets you snap pictures with a bunch of wacky special effects, one of which can morph your head into two.
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The hardware itself is a head-turner. New tablets come in black or white — Apple says both will be available on day one — and are noticeably slimmer. In fact, they're 33% thinner than the first iPad and, at 1.3 pounds for the Wi-Fi-only model, a tad lighter.
Keeping iPad 2 svelte may be one reason Apple didn't add the SD memory card slot some users have been craving.
Some will also complain about the lack of a USB port. As before, you'll hook up most accessories through Apple's standard 30-pin connection. For now, you'll have to purchase an optional camera connection kit that already exists for the first iPad to add USB or SD.
Apple will be selling a new $39 accessory that will let you plug the iPad into an HDTV with an HDMI port so you will be able to "mirror" the apps and whatever else is on the iPad screen on a bigger display. Consider the rich possibilities for gamers.
Same limitations on storage
While the design is a little different, Apple kept the same storage limits and prices as before: The Wi-Fi model with 16, 32 or 64 gigabytes costs $499, $599 or $699, respectively. Models with Wi-Fi and 3G cellular (through Verizon or AT&T) are $629, $729 and $829. With the first-generation iPad, those upper limits were plenty generous. Now that you can capture video directly from the device, it remains to be seen if some people will wish they had even more storage.
Apple also souped up the machine's innards. IPad 2 is considerably faster, thanks to a robust "dual-core" Apple A5 processor that gamers in particular ought to appreciate. Apple also claims way faster graphics and superior speeds through the Safari Web browser. I'll be putting these to the test.
I'm also curious to see if the new iPad matches the 10 hours or so of battery life that Apple is claiming, about the same impressive longevity measure as the current generation. If so, that's a notable achievement, given the overall thinness of the device.
But Apple's biggest advantage against rivals who have built tablets around GoogleAndroid, among others, is one they already have: the 65,000 apps that are made especially for the iPad's large display and the 350,000 apps overall when you include all the iPhone apps that work on the machine.
I'll be trying out two new $4.99 iPad-ready apps: versions of Apple's iMovie video-editing software and the GarageBand music-creation program. Sorry, but the iMovie app works only with the new iPad.
The new iPad will also run a fresh version of Apple's mobile operating system software, iOS 4.3. It enhances the AirPlay feature that lets you wirelessly stream multimedia content to an HDTV through an optional Apple TV box. For example, you can now use AirPlay to share wirelessly on the TV your home videos that are stored in your Photo library.
Using another iOS 4.3 feature upgrade, called iTunes Home Sharing, you'll also be able to wirelessly share music, videos, podcasts and other stuff stored in iTunes on any of your computers, via your home network.
Moreover, through either AT&T or Verizon, you can employ the iPad as a personal hot spot for sharing a Wi-Fi connection with other devices. No details on what that will cost.
Stay tuned for a full-fledged review.
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