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iPad 2 video introduction

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Software, Videos,

At this mornings iPad 2 event, Apple showed the video above for the first time. It's about six minutes long, and gives a peek into everything you should expect from the new iPad, as well as some details about what's going on under the hood, and a look at the new iMovie and Garageband iPad apps.


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iPad 2 details: Dual-core A5, cameras, launches March 11 for $499

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds,

 

iPad 2 facetime

Apple just announced the iPad 2 at their March 2 event, and it's pretty much what many of us expected - thinner, lighter, faster, with dual FaceTime cameras and much faster dual-core A5 chip. The A5 is twice as fast as the A4 chip, and graphics performance is up to nine times faster than the original iPad, which is, you know, insane. Despite all that new speed, battery life is the same, and the iPad will run for 10 hours straight, with 30 days standby time. Also unchanged is the price, as the iPad will start at $499 and will be available in the same configurations as the previous model - this time though, you can choose between Verizon and AT&T for the 3G model. Screen resolution remains the same at 1024 x 768, which is fine for now. The iPad 2 is 33% thinner than the original, and as you can see in the image above, will ship in both black and white colors.

Apple is also finally (finally!) releasing an HDMI adapter, which will mirror the iPad 2 on an external display at 1080p resolution. This'll run you $39, but we're sure that there are many out there that'll snap that accessory up quickly. The rear camera will be capable of recording 720p video at 30fps, while the front camera will do VGA resolution, also at 30fps.

Apple has redesigned the cover for the iPad 2, and they're calling the new accessory a "Smart Cover." It's a magnetic cover that sticks tot he display, and automatically wakes the iPad 2 when removed. It folds up and turns into a little stand for both viewing and typing mode. They'll cost $39 for the polyurethane, and $69 for the leather version.

The iPad 2 goes on sale on March 11 at 5:00 pm at Apple Stores. If you were thinking of ordering online instead to get it ahead of time, think again--Apple isn't going to be taking orders for the device until launch day. Hey, they've gotta make sure there are lines at stores, because those look good on the news, y'know?

Read More | iPad 2

How Google can learn from the iPad 2

Apple's March 2 event is all but guaranteed to bring us the iPad 2, most likely with dual cameras and a revamped OS. It arrives two months after CES 2011, to a landscape littered with tablets from scores of manufacturers, most of them with one thing in common: they are running Google's Android OS. But only a handful of them run Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the first Android tablet OS. Can tablets like the Motorola Xoom—the first Honeycomb device—take on the iPad?

If the past is any indicator, it doesn't look good. This has less to do with quality of product, however, and more to do with the manner in which the product is brought to the public.

The clear advantage Apple has over just about every competitor—except perhaps for RIM—is that it relies on no external manufacturers for its products. To clarify: of course Apple needs to farm out production of the components that make up its devices to OEMs, but when you see a new iPad, it is from Apple, running an Apple OS, for sale at the Apple store. The closest Apple comes to working with other companies is its partnerships with Verizon and AT&T for the iPhone and iPad. For the most part, however, Apple is its own, self-controlling entity. With no company—other than the carriers and OEMs— with which to coordinate, Apple can create a realistic product release timeline and stick to it.

Click to continue reading How Google can learn from the iPad 2


Apple has stopped production of the iPad, get ready for iPad 2

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Handhelds,

iPad 2

Apple has stopped production of its first-generation iPad in order to clear room on the shelves for the newest version of the device, which will likely be unveiled at a Wednesday press event, according to 9to5Mac.

Shipments of the original iPad have presumably stopped, the report said; once retailers sell out of the stock they already have, it won't be refreshed. 9to5Mac also cited some retailers that said they could sell out of iPads as early as today.

Click to continue reading Apple has stopped production of the iPad, get ready for iPad 2


Will we see a white iPad this Wednesday?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Design, Handhelds, Rumors,

white ipad bezel

We're days away from Apple's March 2 press event, where Cupertino is widely expected to unveil its next-generation iPad. Not surprisingly, the rumor mill is still churning out stories, and today's tidbit is that Apple will unveil a white iPad.

Blog 9to5Mac got its hands on photos of what it says could be second-generation iPad parts - and the frame is white.

Of course, Apple has thus far failed to deliver on its promise of a white iPhone 4; the latest prediction is sometime this spring. Would it really unveil and start selling a white iPad before delivering the white iPhone 4? Or will both devices hit the market at the same time?

All our questions should be answered by Wednesday. For now, all we have is the wild speculation that happens before every big Apple event.

Click to continue reading Will we see a white iPad this Wednesday?


Apple confirms March 2 iPad 2 event

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds,

iPad 2 March 2

Yesterday we posted with certainty that Apple would be announcing the iPad 2 on March 2, a week from today. Today, Apple has confirmed that date. As you can see, their invitation to their March 2 event features an iCal icon peeling away to reveal an iPad behind it. Doesn't get much clearer than that, does it? As always, we'll have the full details live as the event happens. Anyone else crossing their fingers for some iOS 5 news to share the stage next week?


Apple will reveal iPad 2 on March 2

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors,

ipad 2 march 2

Rumors of the next iPad have been running rampant for a couple months now, and it looks like they'll all be put to rest next week. AllThingsD is reporting that Apple will be announcing the iPad 2 next week on March 2 in San Francisco, most likely at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Expect a thinner bezel, improved display, better sound, and cameras for FaceTime. In addition, we expect that the Qualcomm MDM6600 chip will find its way into the device, allowing it to operate on both AT&T and Verizon 3G networks. We also hope to hear about iOS 5.

The other big question is, will Steve Jobs be the one to take the lead at the announcement? As we know, he has been on medical leave since January, but he's been seen on campus and around Silicon Valley during that time, and also appeared at a dinner with President Barack Obama and other industry powerhouses last week.


Apple iPad 2 now in production

Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors,

The iPad 2 rumors have been going ever since the current iPad hit stores. If you've been looking for something solid though, the Wall Street Journal is now reporting that the next iPad is currently in production. They say the new iPad will be thinner and lighter than the first model, and will support Facetime with a camera on the front of the device. Those hoping for a Retina display will be disappointed though, as WSJ is reporting that the resolution of the display won't be changed. It will also have more memory and a more powerful graphics processor, according to insider sources.

Click to continue reading Apple iPad 2 now in production

Read More | WSJ

iPad 2 to sport carbon fiber, NFC, and a 7-inch option?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors,

carbon fiber ipad

Our friends at iLounge got a few new tidbits relating to the iPad 2, which are interesting to say the least, but should be taken with a grain of salt. First, Apple has been toying with the idea of using carbon fiber for the casing of the next iPad. Carbon fiber is strong, but also very lightweight, and this would be a move to make the iPad much lighter than the original (which was a complaint from many.) Second, Apple is considering throwing NFC technology into the iPad 2. We think this one is pretty much a lock, as it will allow Apple to tap into a huge revenue stream. Last, Apple is reportedly still tossing around the idea of a 7-inch version of the iPad. Steve Jobs recently trashed this idea, saying that all the 7-inch tablets out there were pretty much dead on arrival because they were too small. We don't buy that, because, well, look at the iPod touch. It's pretty much a 3.5-inch tablet. Still, we aren't gonna hold out hope for a 7-inch iPad to roll around this April.

Read More | iLounge

The future of Apple’s NFC mobile payment strategy

Posted by Reza Malayeri Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Rumors,

iBankApple NFC payment system

There is no question that mobile phone payments are very popular, and that many of us can operate our entire financial lives from our mobile phones. Apps from PayPal, and Square can turn our iPhones into portable financial centers, allowing us to exchange money quickly and easily. These new applications are creating opportunities and benefits that will shape the future of mobile payments.

Predictions about the iPhone 5 and the iPad 2 are beginning to heat up, and much of the talk has been about the implementation of NFC (near field communication) technology. What we haven't heard about so far, is anything about native intergration of mobile payment solutions from Apple and Google.

Click to continue reading The future of Apple’s NFC mobile payment strategy


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