Apple iPad 2

The new iPad 2 tablet is a reality, with details of its full characteristics now known.

The new iPad 2 tablet closely resembles its predecessor, at least on the front. It is 241 x 185 x 8.8 mm in size (compared to 13.4 mm for the iPad and 9.3 mmm for the iPhone 4) weighing 601 g – less than the 680 g recorded for the first model, while the WiFi/3G version weighs 613 g compared to 730 g for the previous model. This means that the device comes in less than tablets released operating Android Honeycomb (730 g for the Motorola Xoom, for example, and is the same as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet).
The screen hasn’t changed: it is still 9.7" on the diagonal with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels with it using the IPS technology (In-Plane Switching) to assure a wide viewing angle with rich colours. In terms of storage space, nothing has changed from the first iPad with three storage sizes available: 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB for WiFi and WiFi/3G models.


Apple A5 processor.
The processor has evolved from the Apple A4 with ARM Cortex-A8 architecture running at 1 GHz to the Apple A5 dual core processor (probably with ARM Cortex-A9 architecture), still running at 1 GHz.

While the clocking speed is the same, the performance has doubled. We will have to wait to see what graphics processor Apple has installed, but the company has announced that its performance is almost 10 times better than the previous generation.

If Apple follows the same development steps on their other product lines, we should find this processor in the future iPhone 5, anticipated for launch in June and the next iPod Touch 5G (in September of October 2011?).

And despite the performance improvements, the energy consummation remains the same, providing the user with 10 hours of battery life. This was one of the promises of the dual core processor made at its launch. 


Digital camera lens, FaceTime and Photo Booth

The iPad 2 tablet comes with two camera lenses. We also find a VGA webcam above the screen on the front, with this allowing the user to benefit from the FaceTime system, while the lens on the back allows you to record 720p HD video in 30 fps, and photo tagging possibilities. The camera is unfortunately lacking a flash.


It is still WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 compatible, while the 3G version brings with it an A-GPS module. It should be noted that the tablet comes with a gyroscope, like the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4G. On the side of the device, you will find the volume buttons, while the top button is a mute function.


The speaker isn’t located along the top of the device but instead on the back, with a larger grill than that seen in the previous version. Unlike the rumours circulating before its release, the device still has no USB or SD card ports present on the device.


The processor is sufficiently powerful to allow you to watch 1080p HD video, but you will need to purchase an accessory (39 dollars) to create a HDMI connection through the use of a connector. The tablet will be delivered with iOS 4.3 (an update will be available to all from the 11th of March), with integrated Photo Booth application, with the device to be available in black or white from the 25th of March.


The prices are the same as those for the release of the first iPad:

iPad 2 WiFi :

• 16 Go : 499 dollars
• 32 Go : 599 dollars
• 64 Go : 699 dollars

iPad 2 WiFi / 3G :

• 16 Go : 629 dollars
• 32 Go : 729 dollars
• 64 Go : 829 dollars