There is no doubt that apple products are slick.
Many have already heard, but officially Apple released their second version of the iPad. Starting March 11th, you have yourself this $500 piece of equipment, but why? It’s thinner, it’s lighter, it’s faster, has a 10-hour battery and has a pretty cool cover that comes with it. Oh yah, just like the iPhone 4, it is featuring FaceTime. Really, what is there not to love about this thing?
Gathered from Cnet, here are some common questions regarding this new little toy;
How is the iPad 2 different from the original iPad?
In a nut shell, the iPad 2 is thinner, lighter, faster, and has two cameras for video conferencing.
The new iPad uses a new A5 dual-core processor, which Apple CEO Steve Jobs says is twice as fast as the previous iPad. He also said it will help boost graphics performance making it nine times faster. The newer iPad is also about 33 percent thinner and lighter than the original iPad: 1.3 pounds instead of 1.5. And it now comes in white as well as black.
Additionally, the iPad 2 now offers two cameras, which means it can be used for video conferencing via Apple’s FaceTime app or a third-party video conferencing app, such as Skype. The rear camera is 720p. And the front camera is “VGA-quality” suitable for video and still photography.
I’m glad Apple added HDMI capability, but how does it work? Do I have to buy something extra?
Yes, you do have to buy an adapter. Apple didn’t change much about the overall design of the iPad in the latest version. Specifically, it didn’t add additional ports to the device. But it is offering a $39 HDMI connector that will allow the iPad 2 to be connected to a flat-screen TV so whatever you’re seeing on your iPad can be viewed on a big screen. The adapter fits into the iPad’s 30-pin opening and then connects via an HDMI cable to the TV.
How much does a new iPad 2 cost?
Here is the pricing for the Wi-Fi only versions:
- 16GB: $499
- 32GB: $599
- 64GB: $699
Here is the pricing for the Wi-Fi/3G devices:
- 16GB: $629
- 32GB: $729
- 64GB: $829
Has the original iPad gone down in price?
Yes, it is has gone done in price. You can save about $100 if you buy the older version of the iPad.
Here’s the pricing for the original Wi-Fi only iPad:
- 16GB: $399
- 32GB: $499
- 64GB: $599
And here’s pricing for the original Wi-Fi/3G iPad:
- 16GB: $529
- 32GB: $629
- 64GB: $729
Will a 3G version of the iPad work on either Verizon’s network or AT&T’s?
No, if you want a 3G-enabled iPad 2, you will choose either an AT&T version, which uses GSM technology, or a Verizon Wireless version, which uses its CDMA network technology.
How much are the service plans from AT&T and Verizon Wireless?
For Verizon Wireless the pricing is as follows:
- $20 per month for 1GB per month
- $32 per month for 3GB per month
- $50 per month for 5GB per month
- $80 per month for 10GB per month
AT&T offers two pricing options:
- $15 per month for 250MB per month
- $25 per month for 2GB per month
Customers of either AT&T or Verizon Wireless are not required to sign a contract for the 3G service. They can turn the service on and off as they like.
What will the iOS 4.3 upgrade offer?
The new iOS 4.3 will improve the Safari mobile browsing performance with the Nitro JavaScript engine. It will add iTunes Home sharing, which allows users to play music, movies, and TV shows on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch from their iTunes library on a Mac or PC over a local Wi-Fi network. The new update also added enhancements to AirPlay, a wireless technology that allows users to stream music, photos, and video to Apple TV. Photos and videos can be shot with an iPad 2, iPhone, or iPod Touch and streamed directly from the Photos app to Apple TV.
The software update also adds a Personal Hotspot feature, which turns a device into a Wi-Fi router allowing a device connected to the 3G cell network to connect up to 5 devices to the Internet using Wi-Fi. But this Personal Hotspot feature, which was first introduced for the Verizon Wireless version of the iPhone, is only available for the iPhone 4. It doesn’t work for 3G connected iPads.