New Ipad 2

The iPad 2 event was like a whirlwind, with information on the new tablet coming thick and fast, so here is the specification list as we know it.  We’ll save you a bit of time if you’re looking for how much RAM the iPad 2 has, or what the megapixel count is, as Apple haven’t released those details yet.  The teases!

As you’ll probably already know, the iPad 2 has had a redesign and the body is now just 8.8mm thin, that’s slimmer than the 9.3mm thin iPhone 4 and noticably thinner than the iPad, which measured 13mm.  The overall size of the tablet has seen a slight reduction in size too, by about 5mm all round.  The weight is the next thing to change, as the iPad 2 tips the scales at 601 grams, that’s 80 grams less than the Wi-Fi iPad, and that’s going to make a difference.

Nobody seriously expected a Retina Display on the iPad 2, and sure enough the screen’s size and resolution stays the same at 1024 x 768 and 9.7″.  The iPad 2’s battery will also return the same 10 hours usage and around a month of standby, and there will be a choice of either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB worth of storage.

So what has changed?  The processor has been upgraded from the A4 1Ghz chip to the A5 dual-core 1Ghz chip, which Apple say makes everything from web browsing and gaming to multi-tasking faster than the original.  The new chip also promises nine-times faster graphics performance too.

The iPad 2 also gains two cameras, one on the front and one on the rear.  The addition of these two lenses sees the introduction of FaceTime for the iPad, so you’ll be able to video-call anyone using another iPad 2, an iPhone 4 or a Mac with FaceTime installed.  The official spec page doesn’t provide their megapixel count, but does state the rear lens can shoot 720p video at 30fps and has a 5x zoom, while the front camera has VGA quality video at 30fps.  Both can take still pictures and will add geo-tagging information.

AirPrint and AirPlay are joined by video mirroring, which requires the purchase of an Apple Digital AV Adaptor cable that plugs into the 30-pin dock connector and provides an HDMI-out at the other end.  This way whatever is playing on your iPad can be streamed to your HD TV, and it even supports 1080p playback.  The cable will cost $39.

Finally, the iPad 2 has been given a gyroscope, so games using that feature on the iPhone 4 will now operate in the same way on the tablet.

The iPad 2 will be available in black or white from March 11th in the USA, or March 25th in 25 other countries, and the price remains the same.

From: http://www.iphonefreak.com