8 ms·

Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

116 points by kylelibra 16y ago

cryptoz 16y ago
No mention (yet) of changes to iOS. Clearly they haven't changed the home screen or added widgets, only the hardware seems to have significant upgrades. If Honeycomb is going to excel this year, it will be because they can surpass Apple in the UI. We'll see... (posting this mid-presentation, it's possible iOS changes will come soon)
- jonknee 16y ago
  He's talking about 4.3 now. No apparent huge updates, but things like making the mute/rotation lock switch a preference will be appreciated. Improved AirPlay support (can work with websites now), shared hotspot on iPhone, etc etc. Probably the biggest news for this crowd is Safari's JS boost with the Nitro Javascript Engine.
  - stcredzero 16y ago
    I really want to be able to do a timed mute on my iPhone. I keep on putting my phone on mute to see a movie, then my girlfriend is mad at me the next morning because I don't answer the phone.
    - jonknee 16y ago
      If Apple let you load the apps you choose on your phone this would be easy. It's a solved problem on Android (Locale).
      - iuytghyjuk 16y ago
        What, the problem of having a girlfriend and writing Linux apps?
    - WillyF 16y ago
      Call her before you go to bed... This would actually create an interesting problem. If you have a hardware switch and a software timer, then the switch is going to be wrong sometimes.
      - stcredzero 16y ago
        Simple: you only get to use the software timer/switch if the hardware switch is mapped to orientation lock, which is what I was getting at in the first place. (I have a problem, in that I assume everyone thinks things out two steps ahead, because that's how it works in my family. This is why bystanders sometimes wonder if we all share a gene for schizophrenia. Our conversations seem disconnected.)
      - rbarooah 16y ago
        Motorize the switch ;-)
  - r00fus 16y ago
    Wonder if they'll keep the 4+ finger multitouch gestures. I've kind of gotten used to them on my 4.3 beta.
    - xorglorb 16y ago
      They already killed them. They removed them from the latest beta.
    - xuki 16y ago
      They made it clear that it would not be include in official 4.3.
decklin 16y ago
The auto-refresh on this page is rather annoying. I was attempting to skim the whole thing, and in the middle, the entire page was replaced by a connection-refused error (I imagine they're getting some heavy load, but I don't know why they wouldn't use some sort of AJAX refresh). Here's a link with that parameter removed: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/live-from-apples-ipad-2-event/?sort=newest http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/live-from-apples-ipad-2-e...
- seiji 16y ago
  Why they aren't using custom minimally impacting XHR reloads: Automated ad impression inflation.
- benologist 16y ago
  The aren't using an AJAX refresh because this way they can pretend they got xx pageviews/visit.
  - raufrajar 16y ago
    After all AJAX will not bring content from nowhere, they can still count the feed's requests.
    - coderdude 16y ago
      But not the ad views.
- archgrove 16y ago
  For live update, you might prefer Ars Technica's AJAX driven liveblog : http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/ipad-2-event-liveblog.ars http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/ipad-2-event-liveb...
  - nexneo 16y ago
    Without frames, http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&ThemeId=819 http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&The...
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
phwd 16y ago
You can watch it on delay http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream1 http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stre...
fourspace 16y ago
Love the faster processor, HDMI out and better Safari performance. However, the main reason I'd upgrade my iPad would be for better resolution. Going from my iPhone 4, the iPad's screen just looks like crap. I primarily use the iPad for reading websites and Instapaper, and my guess is that I'm not alone.
- ugh 16y ago
  Why would you buy the new version of any product only one year after you bought the last version? That seems just crazy to me.
  - jrockway 16y ago
    It's not crazy -- having the latest and greatest feels good, and $500 or whatever it costs is not much money for a once-a-year pleasure outlay. Consider what a car costs, and consider that some people buy a new one every 5 years. Now that's crazy.
    - ugh 16y ago
      I would say that’s both about equally crazy. Cars and TVs should be good for a decade.
      - dpritchett 16y ago
        Our only TV is a 32" CRT that I got for $500 in early 2001 as a college sophomore. I felt guilty about that for a few years afterwards, but at this point I can safely say it was a good purchase.
  - mechanical_fish 16y ago
    You sell the old one used. Apple kit holds its value very well, as you would expect from a product that is selling almost as fast as it can be made. Gazelle.com is currently offering me 60% of the retail price of my old iPad. Must... resist...
hakim 16y ago
Live stream (video) is available here: http://bambuser.com/channel/mikebutcher/broadcast/1465264 http://bambuser.com/channel/mikebutcher/broadcast/1465264
mambodog 16y ago
Ars liveblog: http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&ThemeId=819 http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&The...
- 6ren 16y ago
  > if you tap softly or hard, it changes the sound How can a touch-screen detect velocity? There's no travel. (I ask because it would be cool if you can). EDIT iPad has an accelerometer, so it can measure the force at which your finger strikes the display
  - culturestate 16y ago
    They use the accelerometer.
    - dazmax 16y ago
      I wonder if it has to be on your lap or some surface that has some give for the accelerometer to properly pick up how hard you tap.
      - culturestate 16y ago
        I think for maximum accuracy (or at least, as accurate as you can be using this method - I can't wait to try it out), you're probably correct.
  - WesleyJohnson 16y ago
    They're saying it uses the accelerometer in the device itself to detect how hard you touch the screen?
    - tesseract 16y ago
      The screen is rigidly attached to the rest of the device, so yes, it should be possible to use the accelerometer (F=ma) to measure a force applied to the screen.
Hominem 16y ago
Ehh.. I love my IPad but I dont know if I will upgrade. Lighter is good I guess.
djacobs 16y ago
Apple has already updated their iPad pages, perhaps prematurely. I haven't heard mention of a white iPad, but it looks like Apple has one made: http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/
- boredguy8 16y ago
  It was mentioned, and to huge applause. Shipping white from the launch.
  - gavingmiller 16y ago
    Why are people so interested in white versions of the iPhone/iPad? Is it merely a matter of preference or is there some kind of significant difference? (I ask this earnestly, and not to troll.)
    - ugh 16y ago
      I’m guessing that was ironic enthusiasm – more applause for the joke, really, than for the color.
    - djacobs 16y ago
      The color was just an example. My actual point was that the pages had been updated before features were announced.
ggordan 16y ago
Screen resolution of the new ipad: 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 (ppi) http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
zhyder 16y ago
http://www.apple.com/ipad/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/ is updated
- koski 16y ago
  Starting 499$ ... Nice.
achompas 16y ago
For me, the most exciting announcement has to be the line of Smart Covers. iPad covers aren't new, but this cover looks like it could solve the ergonomic problem of typing on your iPad or watching a movie/TV show while you're not sitting on a couch. It also protects your iPad's screen without adding bulk. EDIT: @marcoarment: "The Smart Cover might be the best feature of the iPad 2. I can't possibly express how much I hate every iPad 1 case for some reason." [0] http://www.apple.com/ipad/smart-cover/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/smart-cover/
- culturestate 16y ago
  I agree with this; I often carry my iPad naked or in a simple sleeve because every protective case that I've seen or used just makes it slightly-more-just-enough-to-be-annoying difficult to hold and use.
- WesleyJohnson 16y ago
  Anyone notice at the end of the video on Apple's site the disclaimer about the colors potentially wearing off on the leather versions? Still love the concept and I'd just go with a poly one anyway. Definitely agree with the ergonomics aspect as well. I think the Smart Cover is pretty brilliant in its simplicity.
  - panacea 16y ago
    Does anyone have a coloured leather case for an existing device here? Is this something to be expected when working with dyed leather? Are Apple just being cautious by preempting 'leather-gate' or something similar wherever they can with this product launch?
    - ZeroGravitas 16y ago
      Ars Technica reported the demo units as already looking scuffed.
  - jonnathanson 16y ago
    Lots of dyed leathers have a tendency to take scratches, scuffs, etc., and generally weather over time. A lot of folks love this effect, especially on furniture, shoes, jackets, and other items made of leather. Other folks either don't care for the effect, or simply haven't owned leather items long enough for the distressing to kick in. My guess is that Apple is preparing that latter set of consumers for some sort of weathering/distressing over time.
bherms 16y ago
No retina display on the iPad 2 or did I miss that? If not, it makes sense because that would likely greatly increase cost and power, but it would've been cool to see.
- klinquist 16y ago
  not. same 1024x768 res.
Tycho 16y ago
The piano on Garage Band is touch-sensitive (dynamic volume depending how hard you press)? That almost is, dare I say it... magical. All in all, goalposts shifted once again. Can't wait to see what sort of games hit the AppStore (although I suppose backwards compatibility will hinder the uptake of the '9x better' graphics)
- siglesias 16y ago
  I think it pays attention to the accelerometer. EDIT: In fact, it does. See thread below.
  - jrockway 16y ago
    Also, dip your finger into an inkwell. Then press really lightly on a piece of paper, then press really hard on a piece of paper. Note the difference. No accelerometer needed -- flesh is fleshy and distorts under pressure.
    - siglesias 16y ago
      How does that account for finger size though? Children might have a hard press of the same area as my light press. Hm, could be they look at the rate of change in the growth of the tap event...but this wouldn't provide information about mass. I think it's a no go. We need a force here. They know how heavy the iPad is. They have an acceleration. There's a force.
      - Almaviva 16y ago
        The same thing happens with a real piano though: differing fingers impart different forces with the same perceived effort, yet we still manage.
        deleted 16y ago
        [deleted]
      - deleted 16y ago
pete_123 16y ago
Damn it! When the fuck would ipad2 be available in India? Apple just dumps stuff that it couldnt sell elsewhere 1 year later after US launch. ipad 1 was "launched" in India this year January. The Bastards.
GHFigs 16y ago
I don't know what Apple is thinking with these iMovie and GarageBand apps. Everybody knows the iPad is only for consumption. Did they not get the memo?
6ren 16y ago
http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ RAM not mentioned (so it's probably not increased).
- moxiemk1 16y ago
  Does Apple normally include how much RAM iOS devices have on their site? It doesn't seem to be: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html Maybe the increased the memory, maybe not. But that doesn't seem to be a good indicator.
- YooLi 16y ago
  Apple has never advertised the RAM on an iPhone, iPod, or iPad version.
- mikeklaas 16y ago
  They surely have as least as much memory as the iphone4—but probably not more than that
- dvdhsu 16y ago
  iMovie refused to run on the iPad 1 because the RAM was only 256. iMovie only ran on the iPhone 4, because it had 512 megabytes of RAM. We can safely conclude that the iPad 2 has at least 512 megabytes of RAM, because iMovie requires that much. I daresay RAM will be increased to 1 gigabyte (if not already) when the retina display for iPad debuts. 4x resolution requires more RAM, as I've noticed on the iPod Touch 4.
WesleyJohnson 16y ago
As expected, the 1st gen went on clearance. Starting at $399 for 16GB WiFi only and going up to $729 for 64GB WiFi & 3G. The refurb prices were discounted as well at $349 and $659 respectively. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance/ipad?mco=MjEzNTIxMzk http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance...
maigret 16y ago
For me the news of the day was that Steve is still over here.
apitaru 16y ago
Is there a place we can learn more about the Nitro engine for Safari? For example, will it support webGL?
- sp332 16y ago
  Nitro is Apple's branding of SquirrelFish Extreme, which is part of WebKit.
DrHankPym 16y ago
This is why I love Apple. They heavily advertise the iPad during the holiday season, I foolishly purchase one for my parents, and they release a new model three months later. Are they planning to release a new iPad every year or just with every new iOS update?
- Locke1689 16y ago
  Apple works on a yearly refresh cycle. They release new versions of their products every year at about the same time. You can expect a new iPad around the same time next year and I expect the iPhone 5 in the next couple months.
- dvdhsu 16y ago
  Good point. John Gruber noticed this. He made the prediction that the iPad 3 would come in fall, along with the new iPods. This would allow people to buy the iPad during the holiday season without worrying a newer model coming a few months later.
  - marcuschristie 16y ago
    But they kept referring to 2011 as the year of the iPad 2. Not to read too much into it, but is that a hint that there won't be an iPad 3 this year?
pohl 16y ago
No mention of memory? Is it still 256MB, or did they bump it up to the 512MB in iPhone 4? Or is it finally 1GB?...
- drawkbox 16y ago
  On their tech specs page they have no mention of it: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ I am guessing 512MB otherwise it would have been mentioned if it was 1GB. Kinda bummed by that, 1GB would have been nice.
- ary 16y ago
  They never say in the specs. We'll have to wait for someone to corner an Apple rep at the hands-on or iFixIt to tear one down.
- fdb 16y ago
  I find it fascinating that the technology is so pushed to the background, putting the experience front and center, that they don't even mention how much memory it has. This is a very conscious decision.
xuki 16y ago
Not really related to iPad 2, but Apple just dropped the original iPad price everywhere except U.S store.
- ugh 16y ago
  The old entry model is down to 380€ from 500€ in the German Store.
- allwein 16y ago
  Dropped in the US too. They're all on clearance. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance/ipad?mco=MTM3NDc1NzM http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance...
- ghurlman 16y ago
  Yes they did: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance/ipad http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance...
pitdesi 16y ago
Wow, Steve seems to have done a turnaround... does anyone remember when he said 7" was way too small? http://www.tipb.com/2010/10/18/steve-jobs-7inch-tablets-terrible/ http://www.tipb.com/2010/10/18/steve-jobs-7inch-tablets-terr...
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
- mattparcher 16y ago
  The iPad 2 retains the 9.7" screen size and dimensions of the original iPad: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
  - pitdesi 16y ago
    thanks i totally misread that
- bjtitus 16y ago
  Did I misunderstand something? The size specs (minus the thickness) seem to be identical... 9.7 inches diagonal. He is not referring to the width...
Pewpewarrows 16y ago
So... a dual core processor, two cameras, and... that's it? I was honestly expecting a LOT more considering how much competition they're getting this year. The new cover is neat, and it seems like they did a great job with the Movie and Garage Band apps, but the new iPad 2 is pretty underwhelming. Same old low resolution, no USB ports, and no desperately needed UI changes (I'm guessing iOS 5 wasn't ready yet and you'll have to wait for the new iPhone announcement). The only good thing still going for it is the price, and if the past few years of the smartphone market has taught us anything, we'll soon see a flood of a variety of cheap tablets on all the service providers using Android. Can the iPad 2 compete with that? We'll see.
- marknutter 16y ago
  USB Ports? Really?
- ary 16y ago
  I suspect that when iOS 5 is announced there will be more to say about the iPad 2's abilities. We'll see I guess.
  - potatolicious 16y ago
    They really need to fix the notification system and the multitasking model. Now that we have a CPU that screams while sipping power, there's not a large case against it. The constant waiting (IM apps in particular) when task-switching is aggravating, and the one point where Android can really whip the hell out of the iPad.
    - ary 16y ago
      Agreed. Judging from banter on the web the iOS notification system is approaching "Fix The F Finder" levels of frustration.
- vyrotek 16y ago
  They needed to give you reasons to buy the iPad 3 of course.
Newky 16y ago
Maybe if I don't directly look at it I won't want one.
HSO 16y ago
from the iOS 4 page: "the built-in dictionaries support over 50 languages and dialects" Hmpf, I just splurged on German-English, French, and Korean dictionaries a few days ago... :-( Still, if this means I can tap a word in any app, say Le Monde, and an explanation/definition pops up, I'll be superhappy. At the moment, one needs to switch back and forth between dictionary and app.
- mattparcher 16y ago
  The current iOS 4.2 does not include any standalone Dictionary apps, AFAIK. I believe "dictionary" here refers to the system’s built-in spelling autocorrect and suggestion engine, which lacks definitions.
- JacobAldridge 16y ago
  If you can tap Le Monde for immediate translation, then the world will be at your fingertips.
  - three14 16y ago
    I was tempted to downvote, then wondered why, then realized that downvoting would have been a translation of an urge to groan.
alienreborn 16y ago
One thing for which I have high admiration for apple is that they never give competitors the space to breathe ever they are quite ahead in the game. :) The most exciting thing is that they kept the price same.
nroach 16y ago
Is this Steve Jobs signing off? Looking at Engadget's coverage, the tone of Steve's closing seems very different from any past event I can recall. It's always about Apple and about the Product. Jobs is very focused and doesn't "accidentally" include information in his presentations that isn't deliberate. Why then would he include that slide depicting the intersection of technology and liberal arts? Why bother using a product launch to make a mission statement: "This is worth repeating. It's in Apple's DNA that technology is not enough. It's tech married with the liberal arts and the humanities. Nowhere is that more true than in the post-PC products. Our competitors are looking at this like it's the next PC market. That is not the right approach to this. These are post-PC devices that need to be easier to use than a PC, more intuitive." edit (Commenters have pointed out that the slide was used in the iPad launch as well. Sorry, chalk that up to fuzzy memory on my part.) That doesn't sound like a product pitch to me. It sounds like a going-away message to Apple's employees. It's a public reminder of what Apple stands for, even without Jobs at the helm. Jobs also highlighted very prominently the scope of apple beyond the stage presenters: "I'd like the teams that worked on this to stand up -- give them a round of applause. And as always, I'd like to thank everyone's families. They support us and let us do what we need to do. They make it possible for us to work our tails off." Perhaps I'm reading more into this than necessary, but this change in tone appears to be significant. It's the first steps to mapping out a post-Jobs Apple. A public recognition that the success or failure doesn't hinge upon one man's presence, but instead the atmosphere and culture that was developed under his tenure. I'd like to be wrong, but this may be of the last times we see Steve Jobs take the stage, and I think he knows it.
- silvestrov 16y ago
  Jobs also highlighted for the first time the scope of apple beyond the stage presenters [...]I'd like to thank everyone's families This is not true. He has done this at more than one WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference).
- jonknee 16y ago
  > Jobs also highlighted for the first time the scope of apple beyond the stage presenters: "I'd like the teams that worked on this to stand up -- give them a round of applause. And as always, I'd like to thank everyone's families. They support us and let us do what we need to do. They make it possible for us to work our tails off." He does that at almost every event.
ojbyrne 16y ago
Nada (from what I can tell) clarifying subscriptions, especially as related to Amazon and Netflix. That disappoints me.
Charuru 16y ago
I hope one of these bloggers is geeky enough to head over to Sunspider or one of the other benchmarks when trying the hands on.
Groxx 16y ago
Ya know, the auto-refresh is nice and all... but could they please remember my scroll position? It's not that hard...
portman 16y ago
For me, the most interesting announcement was that $2 Billion had been paid out to App Store developers to date. That means Apple's 30% of App Store purchases is currently $857MM and change. I also find myself wondering what portion of that $2B went to Angry Birds. I wouldn't be surprised if Angry Birds turns out to be the first >$100MM business on the App Store.
ylem 16y ago
I currently have the first generation iPad. The thing that tempts me about the iPad 2 is the front facing camera for video conferencing. I think I'll wait and see what the reviews are like first...

116 points by kylelibra 16y ago

No mention (yet) of changes to iOS. Clearly they haven't changed the home screen or added widgets, only the hardware seems to have significant upgrades. If Honeycomb is going to excel this year, it will be because they can surpass Apple in the UI. We'll see... (posting this mid-presentation, it's possible iOS changes will come soon)

jonknee 16y ago
He's talking about 4.3 now. No apparent huge updates, but things like making the mute/rotation lock switch a preference will be appreciated. Improved AirPlay support (can work with websites now), shared hotspot on iPhone, etc etc. Probably the biggest news for this crowd is Safari's JS boost with the Nitro Javascript Engine.
- stcredzero 16y ago
  I really want to be able to do a timed mute on my iPhone. I keep on putting my phone on mute to see a movie, then my girlfriend is mad at me the next morning because I don't answer the phone.
  - jonknee 16y ago
    If Apple let you load the apps you choose on your phone this would be easy. It's a solved problem on Android (Locale).
    - iuytghyjuk 16y ago
      What, the problem of having a girlfriend and writing Linux apps?
  - WillyF 16y ago
    Call her before you go to bed... This would actually create an interesting problem. If you have a hardware switch and a software timer, then the switch is going to be wrong sometimes.
    - stcredzero 16y ago
      Simple: you only get to use the software timer/switch if the hardware switch is mapped to orientation lock, which is what I was getting at in the first place. (I have a problem, in that I assume everyone thinks things out two steps ahead, because that's how it works in my family. This is why bystanders sometimes wonder if we all share a gene for schizophrenia. Our conversations seem disconnected.)
    - rbarooah 16y ago
      Motorize the switch ;-)
- r00fus 16y ago
  Wonder if they'll keep the 4+ finger multitouch gestures. I've kind of gotten used to them on my 4.3 beta.
  - xorglorb 16y ago
    They already killed them. They removed them from the latest beta.
  - xuki 16y ago
    They made it clear that it would not be include in official 4.3.

decklin 16y ago

The auto-refresh on this page is rather annoying. I was attempting to skim the whole thing, and in the middle, the entire page was replaced by a connection-refused error (I imagine they're getting some heavy load, but I don't know why they wouldn't use some sort of AJAX refresh). Here's a link with that parameter removed: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/live-from-apples-ipad-2-event/?sort=newest http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/live-from-apples-ipad-2-e...

seiji 16y ago
Why they aren't using custom minimally impacting XHR reloads: Automated ad impression inflation.
benologist 16y ago
The aren't using an AJAX refresh because this way they can pretend they got xx pageviews/visit.
- raufrajar 16y ago
  After all AJAX will not bring content from nowhere, they can still count the feed's requests.
  - coderdude 16y ago
    But not the ad views.
archgrove 16y ago
For live update, you might prefer Ars Technica's AJAX driven liveblog : http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/ipad-2-event-liveblog.ars http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/ipad-2-event-liveb...
- nexneo 16y ago
  Without frames, http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&ThemeId=819 http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&The...

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

phwd 16y ago

You can watch it on delay http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream1 http://edition.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stre...

fourspace 16y ago

Love the faster processor, HDMI out and better Safari performance. However, the main reason I'd upgrade my iPad would be for better resolution. Going from my iPhone 4, the iPad's screen just looks like crap. I primarily use the iPad for reading websites and Instapaper, and my guess is that I'm not alone.

ugh 16y ago
Why would you buy the new version of any product only one year after you bought the last version? That seems just crazy to me.
- jrockway 16y ago
  It's not crazy -- having the latest and greatest feels good, and $500 or whatever it costs is not much money for a once-a-year pleasure outlay. Consider what a car costs, and consider that some people buy a new one every 5 years. Now that's crazy.
  - ugh 16y ago
    I would say that’s both about equally crazy. Cars and TVs should be good for a decade.
    - dpritchett 16y ago
      Our only TV is a 32" CRT that I got for $500 in early 2001 as a college sophomore. I felt guilty about that for a few years afterwards, but at this point I can safely say it was a good purchase.
- mechanical_fish 16y ago
  You sell the old one used. Apple kit holds its value very well, as you would expect from a product that is selling almost as fast as it can be made. Gazelle.com is currently offering me 60% of the retail price of my old iPad. Must... resist...

hakim 16y ago

Live stream (video) is available here: http://bambuser.com/channel/mikebutcher/broadcast/1465264 http://bambuser.com/channel/mikebutcher/broadcast/1465264

mambodog 16y ago

Ars liveblog: http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&ThemeId=819 http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=22452&The...

6ren 16y ago
> if you tap softly or hard, it changes the sound How can a touch-screen detect velocity? There's no travel. (I ask because it would be cool if you can). EDIT iPad has an accelerometer, so it can measure the force at which your finger strikes the display
- culturestate 16y ago
  They use the accelerometer.
  - dazmax 16y ago
    I wonder if it has to be on your lap or some surface that has some give for the accelerometer to properly pick up how hard you tap.
    - culturestate 16y ago
      I think for maximum accuracy (or at least, as accurate as you can be using this method - I can't wait to try it out), you're probably correct.
- WesleyJohnson 16y ago
  They're saying it uses the accelerometer in the device itself to detect how hard you touch the screen?
  - tesseract 16y ago
    The screen is rigidly attached to the rest of the device, so yes, it should be possible to use the accelerometer (F=ma) to measure a force applied to the screen.

Hominem 16y ago

Ehh.. I love my IPad but I dont know if I will upgrade. Lighter is good I guess.

djacobs 16y ago

Apple has already updated their iPad pages, perhaps prematurely. I haven't heard mention of a white iPad, but it looks like Apple has one made: http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/

boredguy8 16y ago
It was mentioned, and to huge applause. Shipping white from the launch.
- gavingmiller 16y ago
  Why are people so interested in white versions of the iPhone/iPad? Is it merely a matter of preference or is there some kind of significant difference? (I ask this earnestly, and not to troll.)
  - ugh 16y ago
    I’m guessing that was ironic enthusiasm – more applause for the joke, really, than for the color.
  - djacobs 16y ago
    The color was just an example. My actual point was that the pages had been updated before features were announced.

ggordan 16y ago

Screen resolution of the new ipad: 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 (ppi) http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

zhyder 16y ago

http://www.apple.com/ipad/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/ is updated

koski 16y ago
Starting 499$ ... Nice.

achompas 16y ago

For me, the most exciting announcement has to be the line of Smart Covers. iPad covers aren't new, but this cover looks like it could solve the ergonomic problem of typing on your iPad or watching a movie/TV show while you're not sitting on a couch. It also protects your iPad's screen without adding bulk. EDIT: @marcoarment: "The Smart Cover might be the best feature of the iPad 2. I can't possibly express how much I hate every iPad 1 case for some reason." [0] http://www.apple.com/ipad/smart-cover/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/smart-cover/

culturestate 16y ago
I agree with this; I often carry my iPad naked or in a simple sleeve because every protective case that I've seen or used just makes it slightly-more-just-enough-to-be-annoying difficult to hold and use.
WesleyJohnson 16y ago
Anyone notice at the end of the video on Apple's site the disclaimer about the colors potentially wearing off on the leather versions? Still love the concept and I'd just go with a poly one anyway. Definitely agree with the ergonomics aspect as well. I think the Smart Cover is pretty brilliant in its simplicity.
- panacea 16y ago
  Does anyone have a coloured leather case for an existing device here? Is this something to be expected when working with dyed leather? Are Apple just being cautious by preempting 'leather-gate' or something similar wherever they can with this product launch?
  - ZeroGravitas 16y ago
    Ars Technica reported the demo units as already looking scuffed.
- jonnathanson 16y ago
  Lots of dyed leathers have a tendency to take scratches, scuffs, etc., and generally weather over time. A lot of folks love this effect, especially on furniture, shoes, jackets, and other items made of leather. Other folks either don't care for the effect, or simply haven't owned leather items long enough for the distressing to kick in. My guess is that Apple is preparing that latter set of consumers for some sort of weathering/distressing over time.

bherms 16y ago

No retina display on the iPad 2 or did I miss that? If not, it makes sense because that would likely greatly increase cost and power, but it would've been cool to see.

klinquist 16y ago
not. same 1024x768 res.

Tycho 16y ago

The piano on Garage Band is touch-sensitive (dynamic volume depending how hard you press)? That almost is, dare I say it... magical. All in all, goalposts shifted once again. Can't wait to see what sort of games hit the AppStore (although I suppose backwards compatibility will hinder the uptake of the '9x better' graphics)

siglesias 16y ago
I think it pays attention to the accelerometer. EDIT: In fact, it does. See thread below.
- jrockway 16y ago
  Also, dip your finger into an inkwell. Then press really lightly on a piece of paper, then press really hard on a piece of paper. Note the difference. No accelerometer needed -- flesh is fleshy and distorts under pressure.
  - siglesias 16y ago
    How does that account for finger size though? Children might have a hard press of the same area as my light press. Hm, could be they look at the rate of change in the growth of the tap event...but this wouldn't provide information about mass. I think it's a no go. We need a force here. They know how heavy the iPad is. They have an acceleration. There's a force.
    - Almaviva 16y ago
      The same thing happens with a real piano though: differing fingers impart different forces with the same perceived effort, yet we still manage.
      - deleted 16y ago
        [deleted]
    - deleted 16y ago

pete_123 16y ago

Damn it! When the fuck would ipad2 be available in India? Apple just dumps stuff that it couldnt sell elsewhere 1 year later after US launch. ipad 1 was "launched" in India this year January. The Bastards.

GHFigs 16y ago

I don't know what Apple is thinking with these iMovie and GarageBand apps. Everybody knows the iPad is only for consumption. Did they not get the memo?

6ren 16y ago

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ RAM not mentioned (so it's probably not increased).

moxiemk1 16y ago
Does Apple normally include how much RAM iOS devices have on their site? It doesn't seem to be: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html Maybe the increased the memory, maybe not. But that doesn't seem to be a good indicator.
YooLi 16y ago
Apple has never advertised the RAM on an iPhone, iPod, or iPad version.
mikeklaas 16y ago
They surely have as least as much memory as the iphone4—but probably not more than that
dvdhsu 16y ago
iMovie refused to run on the iPad 1 because the RAM was only 256. iMovie only ran on the iPhone 4, because it had 512 megabytes of RAM. We can safely conclude that the iPad 2 has at least 512 megabytes of RAM, because iMovie requires that much. I daresay RAM will be increased to 1 gigabyte (if not already) when the retina display for iPad debuts. 4x resolution requires more RAM, as I've noticed on the iPod Touch 4.

WesleyJohnson 16y ago

As expected, the 1st gen went on clearance. Starting at $399 for 16GB WiFi only and going up to $729 for 64GB WiFi & 3G. The refurb prices were discounted as well at $349 and $659 respectively. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance/ipad?mco=MjEzNTIxMzk http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance...

maigret 16y ago

For me the news of the day was that Steve is still over here.

apitaru 16y ago

Is there a place we can learn more about the Nitro engine for Safari? For example, will it support webGL?

sp332 16y ago
Nitro is Apple's branding of SquirrelFish Extreme, which is part of WebKit.

DrHankPym 16y ago

This is why I love Apple. They heavily advertise the iPad during the holiday season, I foolishly purchase one for my parents, and they release a new model three months later. Are they planning to release a new iPad every year or just with every new iOS update?

Locke1689 16y ago
Apple works on a yearly refresh cycle. They release new versions of their products every year at about the same time. You can expect a new iPad around the same time next year and I expect the iPhone 5 in the next couple months.
dvdhsu 16y ago
Good point. John Gruber noticed this. He made the prediction that the iPad 3 would come in fall, along with the new iPods. This would allow people to buy the iPad during the holiday season without worrying a newer model coming a few months later.
- marcuschristie 16y ago
  But they kept referring to 2011 as the year of the iPad 2. Not to read too much into it, but is that a hint that there won't be an iPad 3 this year?

pohl 16y ago

No mention of memory? Is it still 256MB, or did they bump it up to the 512MB in iPhone 4? Or is it finally 1GB?...

drawkbox 16y ago
On their tech specs page they have no mention of it: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ I am guessing 512MB otherwise it would have been mentioned if it was 1GB. Kinda bummed by that, 1GB would have been nice.
ary 16y ago
They never say in the specs. We'll have to wait for someone to corner an Apple rep at the hands-on or iFixIt to tear one down.
fdb 16y ago
I find it fascinating that the technology is so pushed to the background, putting the experience front and center, that they don't even mention how much memory it has. This is a very conscious decision.

xuki 16y ago

Not really related to iPad 2, but Apple just dropped the original iPad price everywhere except U.S store.

ugh 16y ago
The old entry model is down to 380€ from 500€ in the German Store.
allwein 16y ago
Dropped in the US too. They're all on clearance. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance/ipad?mco=MTM3NDc1NzM http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance...
ghurlman 16y ago
Yes they did: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance/ipad http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/clearance...

pitdesi 16y ago

Wow, Steve seems to have done a turnaround... does anyone remember when he said 7" was way too small? http://www.tipb.com/2010/10/18/steve-jobs-7inch-tablets-terrible/ http://www.tipb.com/2010/10/18/steve-jobs-7inch-tablets-terr...

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
mattparcher 16y ago
The iPad 2 retains the 9.7" screen size and dimensions of the original iPad: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/ http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
- pitdesi 16y ago
  thanks i totally misread that
bjtitus 16y ago
Did I misunderstand something? The size specs (minus the thickness) seem to be identical... 9.7 inches diagonal. He is not referring to the width...

Pewpewarrows 16y ago

So... a dual core processor, two cameras, and... that's it? I was honestly expecting a LOT more considering how much competition they're getting this year. The new cover is neat, and it seems like they did a great job with the Movie and Garage Band apps, but the new iPad 2 is pretty underwhelming. Same old low resolution, no USB ports, and no desperately needed UI changes (I'm guessing iOS 5 wasn't ready yet and you'll have to wait for the new iPhone announcement). The only good thing still going for it is the price, and if the past few years of the smartphone market has taught us anything, we'll soon see a flood of a variety of cheap tablets on all the service providers using Android. Can the iPad 2 compete with that? We'll see.

marknutter 16y ago
USB Ports? Really?
ary 16y ago
I suspect that when iOS 5 is announced there will be more to say about the iPad 2's abilities. We'll see I guess.
- potatolicious 16y ago
  They really need to fix the notification system and the multitasking model. Now that we have a CPU that screams while sipping power, there's not a large case against it. The constant waiting (IM apps in particular) when task-switching is aggravating, and the one point where Android can really whip the hell out of the iPad.
  - ary 16y ago
    Agreed. Judging from banter on the web the iOS notification system is approaching "Fix The F Finder" levels of frustration.
vyrotek 16y ago
They needed to give you reasons to buy the iPad 3 of course.

Newky 16y ago

Maybe if I don't directly look at it I won't want one.

HSO 16y ago

from the iOS 4 page: "the built-in dictionaries support over 50 languages and dialects" Hmpf, I just splurged on German-English, French, and Korean dictionaries a few days ago... :-( Still, if this means I can tap a word in any app, say Le Monde, and an explanation/definition pops up, I'll be superhappy. At the moment, one needs to switch back and forth between dictionary and app.

mattparcher 16y ago
The current iOS 4.2 does not include any standalone Dictionary apps, AFAIK. I believe "dictionary" here refers to the system’s built-in spelling autocorrect and suggestion engine, which lacks definitions.
JacobAldridge 16y ago
If you can tap Le Monde for immediate translation, then the world will be at your fingertips.
- three14 16y ago
  I was tempted to downvote, then wondered why, then realized that downvoting would have been a translation of an urge to groan.

alienreborn 16y ago

One thing for which I have high admiration for apple is that they never give competitors the space to breathe ever they are quite ahead in the game. :) The most exciting thing is that they kept the price same.

nroach 16y ago

Is this Steve Jobs signing off? Looking at Engadget's coverage, the tone of Steve's closing seems very different from any past event I can recall. It's always about Apple and about the Product. Jobs is very focused and doesn't "accidentally" include information in his presentations that isn't deliberate. Why then would he include that slide depicting the intersection of technology and liberal arts? Why bother using a product launch to make a mission statement: "This is worth repeating. It's in Apple's DNA that technology is not enough. It's tech married with the liberal arts and the humanities. Nowhere is that more true than in the post-PC products. Our competitors are looking at this like it's the next PC market. That is not the right approach to this. These are post-PC devices that need to be easier to use than a PC, more intuitive." edit (Commenters have pointed out that the slide was used in the iPad launch as well. Sorry, chalk that up to fuzzy memory on my part.) That doesn't sound like a product pitch to me. It sounds like a going-away message to Apple's employees. It's a public reminder of what Apple stands for, even without Jobs at the helm. Jobs also highlighted very prominently the scope of apple beyond the stage presenters: "I'd like the teams that worked on this to stand up -- give them a round of applause. And as always, I'd like to thank everyone's families. They support us and let us do what we need to do. They make it possible for us to work our tails off." Perhaps I'm reading more into this than necessary, but this change in tone appears to be significant. It's the first steps to mapping out a post-Jobs Apple. A public recognition that the success or failure doesn't hinge upon one man's presence, but instead the atmosphere and culture that was developed under his tenure. I'd like to be wrong, but this may be of the last times we see Steve Jobs take the stage, and I think he knows it.

silvestrov 16y ago
Jobs also highlighted for the first time the scope of apple beyond the stage presenters [...]I'd like to thank everyone's families This is not true. He has done this at more than one WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference).
jonknee 16y ago
> Jobs also highlighted for the first time the scope of apple beyond the stage presenters: "I'd like the teams that worked on this to stand up -- give them a round of applause. And as always, I'd like to thank everyone's families. They support us and let us do what we need to do. They make it possible for us to work our tails off." He does that at almost every event.

ojbyrne 16y ago

Nada (from what I can tell) clarifying subscriptions, especially as related to Amazon and Netflix. That disappoints me.

Charuru 16y ago

I hope one of these bloggers is geeky enough to head over to Sunspider or one of the other benchmarks when trying the hands on.

Groxx 16y ago

Ya know, the auto-refresh is nice and all... but could they please remember my scroll position? It's not that hard...

portman 16y ago

For me, the most interesting announcement was that $2 Billion had been paid out to App Store developers to date. That means Apple's 30% of App Store purchases is currently $857MM and change. I also find myself wondering what portion of that $2B went to Angry Birds. I wouldn't be surprised if Angry Birds turns out to be the first >$100MM business on the App Store.

ylem 16y ago

I currently have the first generation iPad. The thing that tempts me about the iPad 2 is the front facing camera for video conferencing. I think I'll wait and see what the reviews are like first...