Over a month after it launched iPad 2 in the US, Apple's next-generation tablet, iPad 2, officially arrives in India. Apple tends to roll out iPad and iPhone across the world gradually. The company announced that apart from India, iPad 2 will be available in 11 additional countries.
Earlier, the company received a lot of flak when it launched original iPad in India nearly nine months after its US launch. iPad 2 is a revamped version of original iPad that launched in India in January end. The new tablet features a dual-core processor called A5 and is slimmer and lighter than the earlier version. Apple's original iPad defined the tablet computer market and was swiftly followed by offerings from the tech industry's main players, from Samsung and Dell to BlackBerry maker RIM and Toshiba.
Here are 10 things to know about the new iPad.
Thinner than iPhone 4
New Apple iPad 2 is mere 8.8mm thin. "The new iPad 2 is actually thinner than your iPhone 4," said CEO Jobs during its US launch. "It is dramatically thinner, not a little thinner, a third thinner."
It weighs 1.3 pounds (590 grams) down from 1.5 pounds. It is said to be 33 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter compared to its predecessor.
Retains iPad 1 screen
Apple iPad 2 retains iPad 1 screen size with 9.7-inch LED-backlit display. Also, iPad 2 has the same RAM as the iPad 256MB.
Front and rear facing cameras
iPad 2 features both front- and rear-facing video cameras to enable video chat. The back camera supports video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio. While on front there is VGA-quality still camera.
Is nine times faster
Apple has used in-house designed dual-core 1GHz A5 system-on-chip processor. It would enable multi-tasking, video recording, FaceTime video calls and load apps faster.
Apple claims that iPad 2 is dramatically faster due to its new A5 chip. According to the company, A5 doubles the speed, and graphic display by nine times.
Gets SmartCover
iPad 2 comes with a SmartCover that has built-in magnets for a fit more than just protects. On closing Smart Cover, iPad automatically goes off to sleep. Open it, and iPad instantly wakes up (there is just no need to press any buttons).
Also, SmartCover folds into a perfect typing stand. Its magnetic hinge holds iPad in place so that users can type quickly and comfortably. Is can also be set up for hands-free video calling or watching.
Apple has also start selling its Smart Cover for iPad 2 in India. The cheapest version of the cover costs Rs 2,100.
Supports wireless streaming
Apple iPad 2 is said to support wireless streaming of music, photos, and video to HDTV and speakers via AirPlay-enabled speakers or Apple TV (second generation) on a Wi-Fi network.
The facility of wireless printing of email, photos, web pages, and documents from iPad2 is also claimed possible.
Gets HDMI adapter
iPad 2 offers 3G network support along with Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. There's also a new HDMI cable connector that promises 1080p HD video output when connected to the 30-pin dock connector port on the iPad 2. This means HDMI is not built into the iPad 2, users need to purchase a special HDMI Apple adapter to use it.
HDMI adapter will work with iPad 1, iPhone 4 and 4th generation iPod Touch.
RAM & battery life
While Apple has not given iPad 2's full specs, according to tablet's teardowns, it certainly has 512 MB of RAM.
The battery life remains same as in iPad 1, 10 hours when in use and a month long stand by time. iFixit teardown reveals iPad 2's Li-Ion polymer battery made up of three cells and is rated at 3.8 volts, 25 watt-hours. This is slightly more than the original iPad's rating of 3.75 volts, 24.8 watt-hour.
Yes, white iPad!
While white iPhone may have come now, Apple is shipping white iPad from the day one. As Jobs also jokingly said during iPad 2’s US launch, "And we are going to be shipping white from Day One."
When Apple announced iPhone 4 last year, it showed off both black and white version of the smartphone. However, the company has only recently launched white iPhone 4.
Pricing
The pricing for the new iPad is as follows (non-Wifi versions):
* 16GB: $499; 32GB: $599; 64GB: $699
The pricing for the Wi-Fi/3G devices: * 16GB: $629; 32GB: $729; 64GB: $829
Accessories * HDMI Connector Cable: $39; Poly Smart Cover in 5 colors: $39; Leather Smart Cover in 5 colors: $69
Availability
iPad 2 will ship in the United States on March 11 and on March 25 in 26 other countries including France, Germany and Japan. However, there is no information on when the second-generation iPad will launch in India.
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