The second iPad tablet lands but is it more update than overhaul
Since the launch of the first iPad, almost a year ago to the day, tablets have been the topic of conversation for tech fans. However, while geeks got gooey over their coolness factor the wider market has found it difficult to find a purpose for this new form of computing. ‘Sure, it looks great and can do lots of whizzy things, but what can it do that my laptop or mobile phone can’t?’ is the cry from those able, but not willing, to spend £500 on a ‘big iPod touch’. Apple hopes its latest iteration of the iPad, will have greater appeal.
Its major improvement (and one that stopped a wealth of people buying it first time around) is the addition of front-and rear-facing cameras. These allow you to take still photos and HD video footage but can also be used to video message other people using Apple’s ‘FaceTime’ technology, which is a bit like Skype but with the typical Cupertino polish. Presently you’ll only be able to FaceTime somebody else with an iPhone 4, Macbook, new iPod touch or an iPad 2, but expect compatibility to open up during the course of the year.
The second big improvement is with speed. Apple has upgraded the processor (now dual-core) and claims that this iPad is twice as quick as the previous. Apple also says that graphics performance is nine times better. In plain English, this means that web-surfing, film-watching, games-playing and multi-tasking will be much smoother. More importantly, the battery life remains at ten-hours, which will please transatlantic flyers.
Another criticism raised for the first iPad was its size and weight. Apple has addressed both. The iPad 2 is designed with a curved back, which takes 33% off of the overall size and shaves 90g off of the weight. Whether this will be enough for many people’s liking, remains to be seen, especially when Samsung, Motorola and Blackberry are launching their own new tablets over the coming weeks.
Things that didn’t appear (but we weren’t really expecting them to) were; a USB port for attaching external peripherals, a high-contrast ‘Retina display’, as seen on the iPhone 4, or an SD card slot for inserting memory cards. Apple did announce a HDMI cable for plugging the iPad 2 straight into a TV, and a pressure-sensitive screen that allows for cool things such as getting more sound out of a drum kit the harder you tap the screen, or more paintbrush pressure the harder you swipe your finger. Apple has also released a natty ‘Smart Cover’ that magnetically attaches to the iPad and protects the screen and works as a stand.
In short, Apple has reacted to a few of the niggles highlighted by its first tablet but this is more polish than renovation. For that, you’ll have to wait for the iPad 3 this time next year…
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Its major improvement (and one that stopped a wealth of people buying it first time around) is the addition of front-and rear-facing cameras. These allow you to take still photos and HD video footage but can also be used to video message other people using Apple’s ‘FaceTime’ technology, which is a bit like Skype but with the typical Cupertino polish. Presently you’ll only be able to FaceTime somebody else with an iPhone 4, Macbook, new iPod touch or an iPad 2, but expect compatibility to open up during the course of the year.
Things that didn’t appear (but we weren’t really expecting them to) were; a USB port for attaching external peripherals, a high-contrast ‘Retina display’, as seen on the iPhone 4, or an SD card slot for inserting memory cards. Apple did announce a HDMI cable for plugging the iPad 2 straight into a TV, and a pressure-sensitive screen that allows for cool things such as getting more sound out of a drum kit the harder you tap the screen, or more paintbrush pressure the harder you swipe your finger. Apple has also released a natty ‘Smart Cover’ that magnetically attaches to the iPad and protects the screen and works as a stand.
