March 3, 2011 at 14:46Apple iPad2 Preview
I’ll be brief: yesterday Apple introduced the second version of its iconic tablet - iPad 2. I was lucky not only to watch the live broadcast of the event sitting in the London BBC Television Center, but also to touch the novelty with my own hands. So I just can’t not share my impressions.
This time, before the presentation on the forums and on social networks, there were two subjects for discussion at once. Firstly, the tablet itself, its appearance and technical specifications. And secondly, people wondered who all the same will go on stage and present a novelty. Since Steve Jobs once again had a health problem, there were even thoughts that Apple was actively looking for a successor to Jobs. Fortunately, Steve surprised everyone here too - he went on stage himself, looked very good and had a great presentation. Someone may reproach me with excessive Jobsophilia, but I will answer in advance: the general manager of Apple and what his company can be treated differently, but the fact remains: the uncle is really brilliant, and there are our world is very small.
Now let's go directly to the tablet. Compared to the first iPad, there are a lot of changes in it - both inside and out. The first thing that catches your eye is the thickness of the device. It is only 8.8 mm, which is 33% less than the first-generation tablet and even less than the thickness of the iPhone 4 (9.3 mm). The trend for edge sharpening continued, and so the iPad 2 looked like a very large iPod touch 4G. Fortunately, unlike the “wheelbarrow”, the edges of the tablet do not stick in the palm of your hand.
Unfortunately, I did not have the first iPad or iPhone 4 at hand, so I had to put HTC Desire next to it for clarity. The difference is truly impressive!
Of course, such changes could not but affect the weight of the device. Now it is almost identical in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G versions of the tablet: 601 and 613 grams, respectively. Previously, these numbers were larger: 680 and 730 grams.
In addition, the tablet will now be available in two colors - black and white, with both variations appearing on sale at the same time. White iPad 2 looks very unusual. Some of the colleagues even said that he gives away the Chinese, but I can’t agree with this. Apparently, you just need to get used to it - not so many white devices recently released Apple.
A front-facing camera for FaceTime video calls has appeared on the front side. Using iPad 2, you can communicate with users of any other Apple devices also equipped with a front camera: iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G, MacBook, and iMac. Resolution - 640 x 480 (VGA), recording speed - 30 frames per second.
But if the appearance of a camera for video calls was quite expected, then not everyone was waiting for the main camera on the rear panel. Incidentally, I was just one of them who thought that Apple would save it for iPad 3. It’s hard to say whether it’s the same as in iPod touch 4G or not without watching the video on the computer, but it’s known that it will be recorded with the same indicators: in 720p format at a speed of 30 frames per second.
On the bottom of the back there was a neat grille, under which the speaker is hidden. Many criticize her very much - they say brutally, clumsily, but for my taste, there is nothing terrible in her.
Discussing in advance the display of the upcoming new product, many for some reason expected that the display in the iPad 2 would be done using Retina technology. But miracles do not exist, because it is quite difficult to achieve such a density of points on a 9.7-inch display and it is not yet possible to manage with one processor. So the screen is the same: resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels at a density of 132 dpi, IPS matrix.
Now about the most interesting, about the internal changes. The first is, of course, the new processor, which received the expected name Apple A5. It is dual-core and operates at a frequency of 1 GHz. According to Jobs, this “miracle stone” increased the performance of the graphics subsystem by 9 times and allowed to keep the battery life at 10 hours in normal mode and a month in standby mode.
With RAM, the situation is incomprehensible. There are suspicions that it still increased, but there is no official confirmation of this. No comments, and that’s it. So we wait until craftsmen get information through an autopsy. But this is unlikely to happen earlier than the start date of sales. In addition, a new three-position gyroscope is built into the new iPad. Exactly the same as in iPod touch 4G, so now the tablet doesn’t stupid at all and quickly rotates the display when the gadget is positioned in space.
Another nice feature is the appearance of the optional adapter from the standard Apple dock to HDMI. So now both generations of iPad, iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G tablets can be connected to external displays to play content.
Moreover, the connector is tricky: you can not only connect the iPad 2 via HDMI to the TV, but also continue to energize it. In the USA, this little joy will cost $ 39.
Expectations for the new version of the mobile operating system Apple iOS were also fulfilled. True, she did not get the fifth number, but 4.3, which, in general, doesn’t change much sense. So, about the innovations in order:
It will not be possible to upgrade iOS to version 4.3 free next week - March 11th. But only owners of the iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, as well as iPod touch 3G and 4G can do this.
Well, speaking of new applications specifically optimized for the new iPad, now you can install PhotoBooth (thanks to the front camera), iMovie (thanks to the main camera) and GarageBand (thanks ... well, obviously to Steve Jobs). I don’t know what about iMovie, but many journalists played with GarageBand as children after the presentation. I, too, was no exception, even despite the fact that in the creation of music I do not understand well, absolutely nothing.
IPad 2 sales in the United States will begin on March 11, so it's time to buy tickets to the other side of the Atlantic. There is an opinion that if you bring a bag of gray iPads to Russia on the day of launch, you canfly into customs very well and then not work for a year. In the States, the price tag for new tablets will look like this:
On March 25, iPad 2 sales will begin in 26 more countries, mainly European ones. But Russia did not get on this list as always.
Together with the new tablet, a new accessory, Smart Cover, has appeared. A very vivid example of the fact that all ingenious is amazingly simple. A four-segment cover with magnets is attached directly to the iPad 2. If you close the tablet screen, it will immediately go into sleep mode, if you fold one of the sections or the entire cover completely, the tablet will wake up. By changing the position of the Smart Cover segments, you can position your iPad 2 exactly as you like.
For example, like that.
Or like that.
Both polyurethane and leather versions of the accessory will go on sale: for 39 and 69 dollars, respectively. There will be 5 rugs of each type in different colors.
Frankly, when I first took the iPad 2 into my hands, divine grace did not come to me, the chakras did not open, and there was no uncontrolled salivation. In a word, no particular delight. I just felt that I was holding a solid, high-quality, lovingly and, most importantly, wisely done thing. Apple, as always, in its repertoire: no sharp and ill-conceived releases, smoothly and measuredly top-end products are updated, they are getting better and better. This is exactly what happened with the iPad 2.
It’s good that the body material did not become the same as in iPod touch. The chances were small, but there were still concerns. Brushed aluminum is pleasant to hold in your hands, the tablet does not slip. But it is a pity that with such a serious decrease in thickness there was no radical decrease in weight. I suspect that lying in bed watching a movie on the iPad will still not be very convenient - your hands will still get tired.
But pleased with the appearance of versions of GarageBand and iMovie, optimized for Apple tablets. Although not so wide, it’s still a step towards the professional use of the iPad.
I do not know if the statistics are true, which claims that Apple owns 93% of the market for all tablets in the world. But I can say for sure that the iPad 2 will very seriously strengthen its already strong position in this segment. And it will certainly set a new trend for dual-core processors in tablet computers.
OS: iOS 4.3
Processor: Apple A5, 1 GHz
Memory: 16-64 GB
RAM: 512 MB
Display: 9.7 ", 1024 x 768, IPS
Video: Full HD can be displayed on a large screen
Wireless: UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n, Bluetooth
Connectors: Apple USB, 3.5 mm, HDMI via adapter
Camera: video recording in 720p format at 30 fps + camera for Face Time calls
Operating time: 10 hours, up to a month in standby mode
Dimensions: 241.1 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm
Weight: 601 g
Presentation
This time, before the presentation on the forums and on social networks, there were two subjects for discussion at once. Firstly, the tablet itself, its appearance and technical specifications. And secondly, people wondered who all the same will go on stage and present a novelty. Since Steve Jobs once again had a health problem, there were even thoughts that Apple was actively looking for a successor to Jobs. Fortunately, Steve surprised everyone here too - he went on stage himself, looked very good and had a great presentation. Someone may reproach me with excessive Jobsophilia, but I will answer in advance: the general manager of Apple and what his company can be treated differently, but the fact remains: the uncle is really brilliant, and there are our world is very small.
Design
Now let's go directly to the tablet. Compared to the first iPad, there are a lot of changes in it - both inside and out. The first thing that catches your eye is the thickness of the device. It is only 8.8 mm, which is 33% less than the first-generation tablet and even less than the thickness of the iPhone 4 (9.3 mm). The trend for edge sharpening continued, and so the iPad 2 looked like a very large iPod touch 4G. Fortunately, unlike the “wheelbarrow”, the edges of the tablet do not stick in the palm of your hand.
Unfortunately, I did not have the first iPad or iPhone 4 at hand, so I had to put HTC Desire next to it for clarity. The difference is truly impressive!
Of course, such changes could not but affect the weight of the device. Now it is almost identical in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G versions of the tablet: 601 and 613 grams, respectively. Previously, these numbers were larger: 680 and 730 grams.
In addition, the tablet will now be available in two colors - black and white, with both variations appearing on sale at the same time. White iPad 2 looks very unusual. Some of the colleagues even said that he gives away the Chinese, but I can’t agree with this. Apparently, you just need to get used to it - not so many white devices recently released Apple.
A front-facing camera for FaceTime video calls has appeared on the front side. Using iPad 2, you can communicate with users of any other Apple devices also equipped with a front camera: iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G, MacBook, and iMac. Resolution - 640 x 480 (VGA), recording speed - 30 frames per second.
But if the appearance of a camera for video calls was quite expected, then not everyone was waiting for the main camera on the rear panel. Incidentally, I was just one of them who thought that Apple would save it for iPad 3. It’s hard to say whether it’s the same as in iPod touch 4G or not without watching the video on the computer, but it’s known that it will be recorded with the same indicators: in 720p format at a speed of 30 frames per second.
On the bottom of the back there was a neat grille, under which the speaker is hidden. Many criticize her very much - they say brutally, clumsily, but for my taste, there is nothing terrible in her.
Display
Discussing in advance the display of the upcoming new product, many for some reason expected that the display in the iPad 2 would be done using Retina technology. But miracles do not exist, because it is quite difficult to achieve such a density of points on a 9.7-inch display and it is not yet possible to manage with one processor. So the screen is the same: resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels at a density of 132 dpi, IPS matrix.
Filling
Now about the most interesting, about the internal changes. The first is, of course, the new processor, which received the expected name Apple A5. It is dual-core and operates at a frequency of 1 GHz. According to Jobs, this “miracle stone” increased the performance of the graphics subsystem by 9 times and allowed to keep the battery life at 10 hours in normal mode and a month in standby mode.
With RAM, the situation is incomprehensible. There are suspicions that it still increased, but there is no official confirmation of this. No comments, and that’s it. So we wait until craftsmen get information through an autopsy. But this is unlikely to happen earlier than the start date of sales. In addition, a new three-position gyroscope is built into the new iPad. Exactly the same as in iPod touch 4G, so now the tablet doesn’t stupid at all and quickly rotates the display when the gadget is positioned in space.
Another nice feature is the appearance of the optional adapter from the standard Apple dock to HDMI. So now both generations of iPad, iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G tablets can be connected to external displays to play content.
Moreover, the connector is tricky: you can not only connect the iPad 2 via HDMI to the TV, but also continue to energize it. In the USA, this little joy will cost $ 39.
Software
Expectations for the new version of the mobile operating system Apple iOS were also fulfilled. True, she did not get the fifth number, but 4.3, which, in general, doesn’t change much sense. So, about the innovations in order:
- Safari will now run even faster thanks to the introduction of the Nitro JavaScript module.
- Now you do not have to copy audio and video files to watch them on your tablet, phone or top-end Apple player. You can listen to music and watch movies on devices running iOS 4.3 simply by connecting to the main computer via Wi-Fi.
- Improved the function of streaming audio, video and photo content on Apple TV - AirPlay. The main innovation is support for third-party applications during data transfer.
- Well, the most pleasant, in my opinion, feature is the ability to turn the iPhone 4 into a hotspot for other iGadgets.
It will not be possible to upgrade iOS to version 4.3 free next week - March 11th. But only owners of the iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, as well as iPod touch 3G and 4G can do this.
Well, speaking of new applications specifically optimized for the new iPad, now you can install PhotoBooth (thanks to the front camera), iMovie (thanks to the main camera) and GarageBand (thanks ... well, obviously to Steve Jobs). I don’t know what about iMovie, but many journalists played with GarageBand as children after the presentation. I, too, was no exception, even despite the fact that in the creation of music I do not understand well, absolutely nothing.
Prices
IPad 2 sales in the United States will begin on March 11, so it's time to buy tickets to the other side of the Atlantic. There is an opinion that if you bring a bag of gray iPads to Russia on the day of launch, you can
On March 25, iPad 2 sales will begin in 26 more countries, mainly European ones. But Russia did not get on this list as always.
Nanocover
Together with the new tablet, a new accessory, Smart Cover, has appeared. A very vivid example of the fact that all ingenious is amazingly simple. A four-segment cover with magnets is attached directly to the iPad 2. If you close the tablet screen, it will immediately go into sleep mode, if you fold one of the sections or the entire cover completely, the tablet will wake up. By changing the position of the Smart Cover segments, you can position your iPad 2 exactly as you like.
For example, like that.
Or like that.
Both polyurethane and leather versions of the accessory will go on sale: for 39 and 69 dollars, respectively. There will be 5 rugs of each type in different colors.
Summary
Frankly, when I first took the iPad 2 into my hands, divine grace did not come to me, the chakras did not open, and there was no uncontrolled salivation. In a word, no particular delight. I just felt that I was holding a solid, high-quality, lovingly and, most importantly, wisely done thing. Apple, as always, in its repertoire: no sharp and ill-conceived releases, smoothly and measuredly top-end products are updated, they are getting better and better. This is exactly what happened with the iPad 2.
It’s good that the body material did not become the same as in iPod touch. The chances were small, but there were still concerns. Brushed aluminum is pleasant to hold in your hands, the tablet does not slip. But it is a pity that with such a serious decrease in thickness there was no radical decrease in weight. I suspect that lying in bed watching a movie on the iPad will still not be very convenient - your hands will still get tired.
But pleased with the appearance of versions of GarageBand and iMovie, optimized for Apple tablets. Although not so wide, it’s still a step towards the professional use of the iPad.
I do not know if the statistics are true, which claims that Apple owns 93% of the market for all tablets in the world. But I can say for sure that the iPad 2 will very seriously strengthen its already strong position in this segment. And it will certainly set a new trend for dual-core processors in tablet computers.
TTX
OS: iOS 4.3
Processor: Apple A5, 1 GHz
Memory: 16-64 GB
RAM: 512 MB
Display: 9.7 ", 1024 x 768, IPS
Video: Full HD can be displayed on a large screen
Wireless: UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n, Bluetooth
Connectors: Apple USB, 3.5 mm, HDMI via adapter
Camera: video recording in 720p format at 30 fps + camera for Face Time calls
Operating time: 10 hours, up to a month in standby mode
Dimensions: 241.1 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm
Weight: 601 g