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You’ve read about the iPad 2 already, now feast your eyes on 14 videos detailing the new features, functions, and apps associated with Apple’s latest tablet.
Apple iPad 2 reviews are popping up around the Internet from tech sites, techies, and media outlets who were lucky enough to get their hands on the new tablet before they go on sale tomorrow. The glowing reviews shed more light on iPad’s potential to outshine its competitors this year, though some reviewers did mention some drawbacks like the poor camera quality. iPad 2 comes with new features, a new body, a new inside, and everybody thinks it will be as much or a bigger success than the first-generation iPad.
Walt likes the iPad 2, calling it the “best tablet for average consumers,” and thinks it makes the old iPad and Xoom look “bloated”. But he’s not happy about the quality of the rear facing camera for taking pictures and lack of 4G support. He suggests not buying the iPad 2 if you have a first-generation iPad as it is “evolutionary rather than revolutionary.”
As new contenders move into the field, Apple isn’t likely to keep its 90% share of the booming tablet market. But the iPad 2 moves the goal posts, by being slimmer and lighter, boosting speed and power, and holding its price advantages, available apps and battery life. As of now, I can comfortably recommend it as the best tablet for average consumers.
For Apple’s competitors in the tablet-device market, the iPad 2 is a bucket of water to the face. After more than a year of struggling to catch up to the original iPad, here’s a new model that addresses many of the iPad’s deficiencies, dramatically improves its speed, and doesn’t cede any ground on price, features, or battery life. The iPad 2 raises the bar Apple set a year ago—and it’s time for the rest of the industry to scramble again to catch up.
For everyone else, the iPad 2 is a triumph, an iPad that’s even more iPad than the original. And the original one was really good. The first iPad was a bolt from the blue, a device that defined an entire category, and a tough act to follow. The iPad 2 follows it with aplomb.
A week ago, after its unveiling, I got some hands on time with the new hardware and my initial assessment was that it pushed a device that already had no true competition, even farther ahead. But now I’ve had the chance to actually use the thing non-stop for a week. Is my feeling the same?
Actually, it’s even stronger.
The original iPad was considered a huge hit — but that was with no real competition. The iPad 2 has some competition — right now, the Xoom, and many more are coming. But I have no doubt that the iPad 2 will be an even bigger hit than the original.
Apple has just released the latest version of its operating software for iPad, iPhone and iPod, iOS 4.3. Its launch was originally set for this Friday when iPad 2 goes on sale.
iOS 4.3 comes with several new updates and improvements. Javascript in the Safari web browser is now faster. A “Personal Hotspot” is now possible in conjunction with iPhone4 using AT&T, but you must purchase a tethering plan. iPad users can take advantage of a 3G connection by being wirelessly connected to iPhone 4. This feature has been available between iPhones and iPads that are jailbroken, but now Apple has sanctioned its use in iOS 4.3.
Users can also now take advantage of iTunes Home Sharing, enjoying shared iTunes content over Wi-Fi. Music and movies can be streamed from a Mac or PC to an iOS device through a local wireless network.
Third-party applications also get support for AirPlay. You can stream audio and video to Apple TV, or audio to AirPort Express. Photos and videos can also be shared.
The big day for those who want to buy iPad 2 is approaching. iPad 2 will be launched this Friday, March 2011 at 4:00am Eastern time (just after 1am on the west coast) through apple.com and at 5pm Eastern time at Apple retail stores.
Best Buy and Target will also sell iPad 2 on launch day. Best Buy locations will start selling iPad 2 in their stores at 5pm Eastern time this Friday, according to an iPad 2 FAQ on Best Buy’s website. Target will probably follow suit with a 5pm launch as well, though that has not been confirmed.
If last year is any indication on waiting lines to buy an iPad, then you probably will want to line up as early as possible to make sure you can walk out of the store with an iPad 2 in your hand this Friday. Walmart and Sam’s Club are slated to sell iPad 2 as well, but an on sale date for those stores has not yet been set.
Best Buy and Walmart will sell iPad 2 on their websites, but both currently have the availability online as “coming soon”. We’ll let you know when they will be available.
All Things Digital put together a chart to help explain the iPad 2 data plans for AT&T and Verizon:
As with the first-generation iPad, AT&T is offering the same data plan rates – 250MB/$15 and 2GB/$25 with the prepaid option. If you happen to go over your plan rate with data usage, you can order another 250MB or 2GB plan. If you choose the “postpaid” option, AT&T will charge you another $14.99 for 250MB and $10 per 1GB of data transfer should you go over your monthly allotment.
There’s good news for those first-generation iPad users who signed up for the unlimited data plan with AT&T in April of last year, which was canceled a month later. Those users will be “grandfathered” in with the new data plan, according to Engadget, allowing them unlimited data usage for $29.99 per month.
The tablets are coming! The tablets are coming! And in full force.
Steve Jobs mentioned at the iPad 2announcement event last Wednesday that 2011 will be the “year of iPad 2“. That may be true, but there are also a number of other tablets either currently being sold or slated to launch this year like Xoom and Galaxy Tab. All of this is giving PC makers concern as a report from Gartner is saying demand for PCs in the next 2 years will weaken.
Gartner lowered their PC sales forecast for 2011 and 2012 last Thursday. Traditional computers and laptops aren’t in as high demand as they once were due to the Apple iPad and other tablets.
Even though PC shipments are expected to rise to 387.8 million in 2011, a 10.5 percent increase from 2010, a dent in sales will still be felt thanks to the emerging tablet market. Gartner had previously reported an expected 15.9 percent growth of PC shipments for this year. A 14.8 percent growth for 2012 was also expected but that number was revised down to 13.6 percent.
A few million shy of total iPad sales for 2010(starting in April), Apple hopes to ship 10-12 million iPad 2 devices in the 2nd quarter of 2011 alone. Q1 shipments could reach 3 million which would indicate about 15 million iPad 2’s could sold within the first half of 2001.
Apple’s target to take delivery of 40 million iPads from Taiwan suppliers in 2011 remains unchanged with shipment volume expected to top 6-6.5 million units, including over three million iPad 2 models, in the first quarter and to further expand to 10-12 million units in the second.
After producing 1.7-2 million units of the first-generation iPad in January, Apple began to phase out production of the old model in February, while beginning to roll out the iPad 2, according to component suppliers in Taiwan. Shipments of iPad 2 are expected to top 2-3 million units in March, the sources added.
With a shipment ratio of 4:6 for the first and second halves, shipments of iPad 2 are likely to reach 21.5-24 million units in the second half of the year, the sources estimated.
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