The new iPad is official, with Retina display, LTE and A5X CPU. Available March 16th
So, what'd you have in the bag? iPad 3, iPad 2S, iPad HD? Doesn't matter, really. All that matters is that it's here! This is the next generation of Apple's iOS slate and, as usual, it's a beaut -- and yes, it's still rockin' a physical button. As was rumored this thing is packing a Retina display, potentially making this the most pixel-packed slate on the market. The 9.7-inch screen plays host to 3.1 million pixels in a 2048 x 1536 arrangement -- that's 264ppi. It's not just a higher resolution though, the screen also boasts improved color saturation. Of course, what would a new iPad be without some updated guts. The new model has an A5X processor and quad-core graphics chip. Apple even claims its newest sliver of silicon can deliver four times the performance of a Tegra 3.
Ever since Siri showed up on the iPhone 4S, she's been put to work in a variety of non-Apple approved ways and unofficially ported to other iDevices, including the iPad and iPod. Now Apple's next-generation iPad has made it's debut in San Francisco with a splash of Siri on board. It's not the full voice assistant, but the new tablet does have voice dictation software that supports US English, British, Australian, French, German and Japanese. Not only that, but the dictation feature is available in third-party apps as well, so you'll be able to speak your tweets and status updates on Apple's new tablet.
There's also a new iSight camera on board that's quite similar to the version inside the iPhone 4S. It's only five-megapixels, but it does have a backside illuminated sensor with a five element lens. It's also capable of capturing 1080p video, which should come as no surprise. I'm also excited to see the keyboard sporting a brand new dictation key that lets you speak instead of type -- yes, just like on Android. The new software inside will also let you use the slate as a portable WiFi hotspot... so long as the carriers are game. It even has the ability to recognize at least some bezel gestures, as revealed during its iPhoto demo.
Perhaps most exciting though, is the new connectivity options -- you guessed, LTE! The new iPad is sporting 21Mbps HSPA+, but it's also rocking an LTE radio capable of pulling down 73Mbps on both Verizon and AT&T here in the US. Outside of the states Rogers, Bell and Telus will also be scoring 4G flavors of the iOS tablet. Amazingly enough, even with an LTE antenna on board, Apple is still claiming to get 10 hours of battery life. That's probably partially do to the slightly increased weight of 1.4lbs, though the 9.4mm thickness is nothing to sniff at.
The new iPad will be available March 16th, starting at $499 for the 16GB WiFi model and scaling up to $829 for the 64GB version with 4G. So, on the price front, nothing has changed. Pre-orders start today in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia, with much of the rest of the globe to follow on March 23rd.
IOS 5.1:
Well, it looks like we didn't have to wait long for that iOS 5.1 update. The update is already rolling out to iPhones, iPads and compatible iPod touches. That brings with it a number of improvements and bug fixes, including the previously-announced Japanese language support for Siri, a redesigned camera app for iPad, the ability to delete individual photos from Photo Stream and, somewhat curiously, an "updated AT&T network indicator." What's more, as previously rumored, the camera shortcut is now also always visible on the lock screen for iPhone and iPod touch users.
As a number of commenters have pointed out, it turns out that update to the AT&T network indicator is a change to display "4G" in the status bar, even though the device's connectivity of course remains the same speed as ever.
As a number of commenters have pointed out, it turns out that update to the AT&T network indicator is a change to display "4G" in the status bar, even though the device's connectivity of course remains the same speed as ever.
Apple TV:
Apple has now announced the latest version of Apple TV and it can do 1080p video. The new UI inches slightly closer to iOS territory, with a splash of new color and a whole range of third-party apps willing to play with the new box. This includes access to Photo Stream alongside old favorites like Netflix, Flickr and YouTube. Expect improved connectivity to the iCloud (including your movie content) and better integration of your iTunes playlists directly from the refreshed UI. The good news: the price is going nowhere -- the new model matches the 2010 version at $99. The bad? You'll have to wait until next week to get your hands on one. Pre-orders are now active.
iTunes 10.6:
It's not just iOS device users getting a software update. Apple has also now made iTunes 10.6 available for download, which includes support for 1080p movies and TV shows to match those available on the new Apple TV. The update also brings with it a number of improvements to iTunes Match, including better song matching, and improvements to the way album artwork is downloaded and displayed.
iPhone 4S:
Ever since T-Mobile and AT&T began touting their HSPA+ networks as "4G," the debate on the term's legitimacy has raged on. Regardless of how you feel about the matter, one thing's for sure: Apple's finally taken sides on the argument, and the company's all for it. In today's iOS update, Cupertino features an "updated AT&T network indicator," which means you'll see a 4G icon whenever you're in HSPA+ coverage. Granted, this doesn't actually mean you'll enjoy faster speeds -- you'll just have a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that another G just got added to your screen. Such an action makes me wonder if Apple's slowly losing its ability to stand up against AT&T's wishes, not to mention the demands of other US carriers.
iPad 2:
Facing soaring demand for budget tablets Apple has announced it will sell the iPad 2 alongside the new iPad, with last year's model tumbling to a more edible price of $399 for the WiFi-only model, or $529 for the 3G version. That entry-level price in particular puts it in more direct competition with a slew of mid-range tabs that previously undercut the iPad, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and others. Specifically, though, Tim Cooks hopes that that lower price will attract not just thrifty consumers, but schools looking to issue iPads in large numbers -- a move that dovetails with the release of iBooks textbooks and the iBooks Author OS X app earlier this year.
Though this is the first time the company's offering two iPads at once, this strategy is old hat for Apple, which has long been taking that tack to sell more iPhones. What's notable is that usually the trade-off (aside from year-old specs) has been that users have had to settle for devices with minimal built-in storage, which you naturally can't expand with a memory card, this being an iDevice and all. In this case, though, the iPad 2 will still be offered with 16GB of built-in storage, as opposed to, say, eight gigs. Still, depending on the size of your library, this might be a good time to get acquainted with iCloud, if you haven't already.
Though this is the first time the company's offering two iPads at once, this strategy is old hat for Apple, which has long been taking that tack to sell more iPhones. What's notable is that usually the trade-off (aside from year-old specs) has been that users have had to settle for devices with minimal built-in storage, which you naturally can't expand with a memory card, this being an iDevice and all. In this case, though, the iPad 2 will still be offered with 16GB of built-in storage, as opposed to, say, eight gigs. Still, depending on the size of your library, this might be a good time to get acquainted with iCloud, if you haven't already.
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