Apple iPad 2 : Price, Specs, Photos - Officially Announced!

The much awaited follow-up to the Apple iPad has just been officially announced by the Cupertino company at a media event in San Francisco.

Without further ado, here's Apple iPad 2 --




iPad 2 comes in two colors (just like the iPhone); White and Black




iPad 2 is exactly 4.4 millimeters thinner and 10 grams lighter than the first generation iPad


Like what was earlier speculated, Apple iPad 2 dons a design identity largely similar to iPod Touch 4G -- having the same flat rear as opposed to the curved back of the previous generation iPad. This construction allows iPad 2 to sit flat on the table for easier typing and navigation on its oleophobic touchscreen. But that's not the only that's similar between iPad 2 and iPod Touch 4G, like the latter, iPad 2 also dons two cameras - one in front and another one at the back.


Now, that looks almost exactly like the iPad 2 Leaked Photo TP posted last weekend!

The innards also saw major improvements. Apple iPad 2 runs iOS 4.3, which was also announced today, with an improved dual-core chip called Apple A5 with greater processing power than Apple A4 - the first gen iPad's CPU. iPad 2 also comes with nine times the graphics performance of its predecessor resulting in smoother gameplay and apps performance.

Here's the Apple iPad 2 price schedule (also starts at $499 like the first generation iPad);

$499, $599 and $699 for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB the Wifi-only version, respectively.
And $629, $729 and $829 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB the Wifi-3G version, respectively.

Availability:

iPad 2 will hit store shelves in the US on March 11 and will reach 25 or more countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany and UK on March 25, 2011. Release date in other countries, to be announced.

Accessories:

You may opt to get an HDMI 1080p output dongle for your iPad 2, which will set you back $39. You can also get this new iPad 2 screen cover, which transforms into a stand and comes in poly and leather --


Check out the color options

The Smart Cover and iPad 2 were made for each other. Built-in magnets draw the Smart Cover to iPad for a perfect fit that not only protects, but also wakes up and stands your new tablet.

It's magnetic and it folds up...


to become a stand!

Poly cases cost $39, the leather ones $69.

Read the official Apple iPad 2 press release --

Apple Launches iPad 2

All New Design is Thinner, Lighter & Faster with FaceTime, Smart Covers & 10 Hour Battery

SAN FRANCISCO—March 2, 2011—Apple® today introduced iPad™ 2, the next generation of its magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect. iPad 2 is available in black or white, features models that run on AT&T’s and Verizon’s 3G networks, and introduces the innovative iPad 2 Smart Cover in a range of vibrant polyurethane and rich leather colors.

“With more than 15 million iPads sold, iPad has defined an entirely new category of mobile devices,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we’re launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again.”

With the new front and rear cameras, iPad 2 users can now make FaceTime calls to millions of iPhone® 4, iPod touch® and Mac® users so they can see family and friends anywhere there is Wi-Fi. Photo Booth lets you apply fun visual effects, including eight photo special effects like Squeeze, Twirl and Kaleidoscope, to photos captured by either camera.

iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, with new features including faster Safari® mobile browsing performance; iTunes® Home Sharing; enhancements to AirPlay®;** the choice to use the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute audio; and Personal Hotspot to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.*** Additional iPad 2 features include a built-in gyro for advanced gaming; HSUPA support for enhanced 3G upload speeds on iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on AT&T, and HDMI Video Mirroring that lets users mirror their iPad screen on an HDTV using an optional adaptor.

The innovative new iPad 2 Smart Cover provides protection for the iPad screen while maintaining its thin and lightweight profile. Designed with a unique self-aligning magnetic hinge that makes it easy to attach and remove, the new iPad 2 Smart Cover automatically wakes iPad 2 when it’s opened and puts it to sleep when it’s closed, and has a soft microfiber lining to help keep the screen clean. The Smart Cover also folds into a stand for typing or viewing videos and is available in vibrant polyurethane for $39 or rich leather for $69 in a range of colors, including a (PRODUCT) RED one which helps support the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Apple also introduced two new apps: iMovie® and GarageBand® for iPad, both available on the App Store℠ for just $4.99 each. With iMovie, iPad 2 users can shoot and edit videos right on their iPad and post their movies to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and their MobileMe℠ gallery; watch them on their iPod®, iPhone or iPad; as well as view them on their HDTV using AirPlay and Apple TV®. GarageBand turns your iPad into a collection of touch instruments and 8-track recording studio, allowing you to perform with onscreen keyboards, guitars, drums and basses using multi-touch gestures–even if you don’t play a musical instrument.

iPad 2 runs almost all of the over 350,000 apps available on the App Store and there are more than 65,000 native iPad apps available from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 14 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 10,000 films including over 3,500 in stunning high definition video. The iBooks® app for iPad includes Apple’s iBookstore℠, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device.

Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available on March 11 for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G compatible with the Verizon network will be available in the US only for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad 2 will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. iMovie and GarageBand for iPad apps will be available on March 11 for $4.99 each from the App Store on iPad or itunes.com/appstore.

iPad 2 will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on March 25; and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

**AirPlay video requires second generation Apple TV running the latest software.

***Personal Hotspot requires supporting data plan. Customers should check with their carrier for availability.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

(This post will be updated as soon as we get more info about iPad 2.)

Here are the technical specifications of Apple iPad 2 --

TechPinas Tablet Technical Specs Table (TTabTST)
Name	Apple iPad 2
Type	Tablet
Price Category	High-End (Flagship Release)
Dimensions	241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm (to be confirmed)
Weight	589 grams
Available Colors	Metal Finish - Anodized Aluminum at the back. Front - White, Black bezel options
Operating System	iOS 4.3
Display	9.7-inch 768 x 1024 pixels TFT Capacitive Touchscreen
Processor	1 GHz Apple A5
Camera	2 cameras, one in front, another at the back camera
Video Capture	Back camera: Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still camera with 5x digital zoom Front camera: Video recording, VGA up to 30 frames per second with audio; VGA-quality still camera
Audio and Video Playback	MP4/MP3/WAV/AAC player
Ports	3.5 mm audio jack, 30-pin dock connector port, microSIM card tray for the 3G version
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth wireless technology 2.1 + EDR
Memory	option of either 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage
Sensors	Digital Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Battery	Li-Po
Uptime	10 hours uptime
Value-Added Features	App Store, Fingerprint and scratch resistant oleophobic surface, iBooks, Google Maps, FaceTime, HDMI video out via dongle
Announcement	March 3, 2011 - Manila
Availability	March 11, 2011 in US, March 25, 2011 in 25 countries, TBA for others
Price	$499, $599 and $699 for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB the Wifi-only version, respectively. And $629, $729 and $829 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB the Wifi-3G version, respectively.