The iPad2 will offer rear and front cameras, and ship in black or white from day one.
Apple’s iPad2 is shipping to Australia on March 25 (two weeks after the US), at the same price as its predecessor, and in two colours: black or white. But it will not feature the dazzling retinal display of its smaller cousin, the iPhone4, which will be a disappointment for ebook readers.
The new design is curvy, and looks a little like the iPhone3 around the edges.
The iPad2 will be 33 per cent thinner than the first iPad, at 8.8mm compared to 13.4mm. That makes it slimmer than the iPhone4.
It will weigh just under 600g, which is more than 80g lighter.
Its rear and front cameras will allow users to video call other iGadget users over WiFi using Apple’s Facetime technology, as well as shoot still and video images.
A new app called iMovie will allow video editing and sharing.
While the iPad2 will run a new operating system, iOS 4.3, and feature a powerful new chip for nine times faster graphics, it will offer the same ten-hour battery life.
Apple has developed its own series of coloured poly and leather cases. They’re more of a screen cover than case really, attach using magnets, and fold into a stand. Ebookish.com.au has her eyes on the navy leather for $US69.
Apple’s Steve Jobs was on hand for the San Francisco announcement (at 5am Australian time), and updated us all on iPad stats: 15 million sold in 2010 worldwide, 90 per cent market share in the tablet segment, and 65,000 dedicated apps. Apple has also recently shipped its 100 millionth iPhone (that was to ebookish.com.au’s 66-year-old mother, I think – she finally succumbed to iPhone4’s call yesterday).
Jobs says there are more than 200 million iTunes/AppStore/iBooks accounts. That’s a lot of credit card numbers.
He says the iBookstore now features 2500 publishers, and 100 million books have been downloaded in less than a year. Random House has just signed in the US, bringing 17,000 titles with it.
We’ll be getting our hands on an iPad as soon as is humanly possible, and will bring you a review soon after.
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