iPad 2: a minor upgrade of Apple’s competition-killing product

March 3, 2011 by Fergus Kelly. Average Reading Time: about 2 minutes.

Tags: Apple, iOS, ipad, iphone, Ireland, Steve Jobs

Amidst its usual fanfare, and with the triumphant (and possibly last) return from medical leave for master-showman Steve Jobs, Apple launched its latest product, iPad 2, last Wednesday. It will be available in Ireland from March 25 but pricing is yet to be confirmed.

Speculation had been mounting in anticipation of the new version of last year’s hottest gadget – Apple says it sold 15 million of them, more than all other tablets ever sold combined.

All the new features were correctly predicted. Everyone in my social network thought that the release would be a bump, a slight upgrade to keep the competition down, followed by a big upgrade in September.

We were right about the bump.

The biggest change is the design itself. iPad 2 is much thinner than the previous model and is actually thinner than an iPhone. It’s also much lighter at only 1.3 pounds and will be available in white as well as black.

The processor has been upgraded to a dual-core A5 which Apple says makes it twice as fast. Graphics performance has also been greatly improved. Significantly, Apple claims that these upgrades do not affect battery life.

The no-brainer addition of two cameras, one on the front and one on the back, just like the iPhone, was confirmed, as was the inclusion of FaceTime, Apple’s video chat software.

Apple also added accessories to its range. The HDMI Video Out dongle allows streaming to your TV at 1080p widescreen, and the Smart Cover protects the screen, attaching magnetically.

What may be more significant is the upgrade of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS. On the back of this will come the release of two pieces of software. iMovie, Apple’s easy-to-use movie editor will make its iPad debut and boasts direct uploading of completed videos to YouTube. Apple’s GarageBand music software will also come to the device.

Expect lots of teenagers to make lots of crap tunes and movies.

What it left out could be a deal-breaker for many. The rumoured USB port and SD slot didn’t materialise and the screen has not been upgraded as many had hoped.

So, now the tricky bit: what do I think? Bearing in mind I’ve not actually seen one, I don’t think it really is iPad 2. It’s more like iPad 1.5. The new processor will almost certainly be included in the new iPhone (probably available in Ireland in August), and the gap between iPad 1 and iPad 2 is not huge.

Apple have already reduced the price of the first-generation model to clear their inventory. If you’re looking for an iPad, and taking everything into account, I’d probably go with iPad 1.

And what about the September upgrade? Jobs repeatedly said: “We think 2011 is clearly the year of the iPad 2″.

Looks like they’re keeping the iPad 3 for 2012, but don’t be surprised if this turns out to be a red herring. And don’t blame me.

• AppleStore Ireland iPad page

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http://irishquestion.com Steve Daley

Don’t underestimate the impact of the improved processing power for content creation and AirPlay improvements. IMHO Jobs’ refrain that PC manufacturers don’t understand the iPad yet is key. I’ve been a Mac user for 20 years for one reason – Apple understands that the user experience trumps the technology specifications. It’s about quality not quantity. The iPad2 is a marginal bump only if you’re judging it based on tech specs, I think the UX improvements are a significant evolution of the touch tablet.
I’m so impressed with iPad2′s smaller size and video capabilities that I am now tempted to buy it and also more than confident that, if I can wait, iPad3 will offer a total replacement for my current MBP.
http://twitter.com/ferguskelly ferguskelly

Agreed – iPad 3, like iPhone 3GS (the third iteration) will be game-changing. I’m still firmly of the opinion that this was just a stunt, something to keep the other tablet manufacturers on the back foot. iPhone 5 will be more powerful than iPad 2.
Content creation on the iPad is very poor. I’ve tried it. It’s definitely a content-consumption device at the minute, although I expect this to change. The two new apps are a small move in the right direction.
Apple want to differentiate their products. iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad are converging, as are MacBook Pro and Air, but Apple are being cute enough to create difference where none is required.
If you are looking for a touch tablet, I wonder what iPad 1 with iOS 4.3 will be like? Will iOS 4.3 require iPad 2 to function ‘normally’? If it’s UX versus power, this could be the deal you’ve been waiting for …
http://irishquestion.com Steve Daley

I think it’s early to dismiss content creation on iPad2. If Photo Booth, iMovie And GarageBand work as fast as they appear in demos, I think it’d be stupid to save 100 or so euro and buy iPad1 with or without iOS4.3.

I agree iPad2 is inferior on specs to iPhone4 (retina display, cameras, etc), and most definitely iPhone5.

However, iPad2 has just crossed a threshold where the iDevice is overtly cannibalising the MacOS family for personal digital consumption and production (I think the inclusion of Server in OSX Lion is a sign that MacOS is settling for home/office and surrendering personal to iOS). I don’t think this is a case of differential marketing, but a case of real product development.
http://ferguskelly.net Fergus Kelly

Well, if @Gruber is right – http://snip.ly/P89tn – iOS5 will be released in June alongside the new iPhone and iPad 3 or Pro (a high-end model) or HD (double resolution Retina display model) in September. Pro or HD would make sense and wouldn’t make a nonsense of Jobs’s “2011 is clearly the year of the iPad 2″.
High quality content creation is extremely difficult without real multitasking and OSX is required for that on the Apple platform. They want to be able to sell you an iPod, an iPhone, an iPad, a MacBook AND an iMac, so there’ll always be key omissions from every product.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NRLCW5SEP6JK5Y5LCHQRKH5IRY Randy Marsh

The iPad 2 is really awesome device from tablet. I am really fan of the device. This is more slimmer than original iPad but it has also more powerful in graphics. I like the video calling capability of iPad 2.

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