As with any new Apple product , questions bristle over the details of the young iPad 2 . certain , we know it ’s thinner , faster , and lighter and , like the original iPad , place to dominate the tablet landscape . But even if you ’ve watched what Steve Jobs had to say , read our hands on account , and perusedour pretty pictures , you may still have lingering question about the newfangled revision .
Not to concern — the Macworld staff is here to respond those fire questions and put your curiosity to rest . Read on for all the gory details that we ’ve been capable to pile up about the belated revise to Apple ’s tablet .
What ’s the iPad 2 ’s screen resolve ?
The iPad 2’s front camera can record video or take pictures at VGA resolution.
Despite rumors that Apple would vamp the iPad ’s display , the iPad 2 sports the same resolution—1024 by 768 pixels at 132 picture element per in ( ppi)—as the screen on the original mannequin . It ’s still , in Apple ’s words , a “ 9.7 - inch ( diagonal ) go - backlit glossy widescreen Multi - Touch display with IPS technology . ” ( That ’s in - plane switching technology , in typeface you ’re not up on your abbreviation . )
What are the specs for the two camera ?
The iPad 2 ’s front camera can commemorate video or take pictures at VGA resolution .
The Apple-designed dual-core A5 is at the heart of the iPad 2.
grant to Apple’siPad 2 technical school specs , the front television camera — the one confront you when you ’re looking at the iPad ’s screen — is near identical to the front camera on both the iPhone 4 and the fourth - propagation iPod touch : it can record VGA video ( 640 by 480 pixels ) at up to 30 frames per minute and can take photograph at the same solving .
The back photographic camera is similar to that of the 4th - contemporaries iPod touch , in that it can record HD - quality ( 720p ) video at up to 30 frames per irregular , and take pictures at that 1280 by 720 pixel resolution ; the television camera also offers a 5x digital zoom . However , the iPhone 4 keep up its spot on top of the camp in footing of still images : its 5 - megapixel camera produces well higher character picture ( 2592 by 1936 pixels ) than what the iPad 2 or iPod cutaneous senses can produce .
speak of cameras , will I last be able to employ FaceTime over 3 G internet ?
The iPad 2 has also gotten a physical makeover, with a new, thinner design and tapered case.
Nope . FaceTime is still available only over a Wi - Fi association , regardless of what iOS twist you ’re using .
How much RAM is in the iPad 2 ?
As with old iPad , iPhone , and iPod touch models , Apple does n’t publish nitty - gritty spectacles such as memory sum . We may have to wait until someone — such as our friends over atiFixit — really take a new iPad apart before we roll in the hay if the novel example has more RAM than its predecessor . We certainly hope so .
With a video adapter, you can mirror the iPad 2’s entire screen on an external display.
What about other computer hardware changes ?
The Apple - designed dual - core A5 is at the heart of the iPad 2 .
Perhaps the vainglorious ironware change , apart from the two cameras , is that the iPad 2 uses a newfangled , double - core central processor Apple calls the A5 . Apple says the A5 fleck offers performance that ’s up to two time faster than the A4 splintering inside the original iPad , despite running at the same 1GHz clock focal ratio ; graphics are nine times quicker , according to Apple . All the while , the A5 eat a interchangeable amount of baron as the A4 does . That means that despite the improved performance , the iPad 2 should maintain the same 10 - hour battery lifetime as its harbinger .
Apple’s new Smart Cover case attaches to the iPad 2 with magnets.
Like the iPhone 4 , the iPad now feature a three - axis gyroscope in addition to its accelerometer . The gyro allows for more - exact motility - detection , including rotation around an axis . This feature article is in the first place of pastime to game developer , who can use it to provide more immersive grease monkey .
The iPad 2 has also gotten a physical makeover , with a raw , slight design and tapered display case .
The iPad ’s enclosing has also gotten a makeover ; the back is mostly flat , taper only at the edges . The new iPad is also importantly fragile and slightly lighter than its predecessor—8.8 millimeter and 1.33 pounds , compared to 13.4 mm and 1.5 Pound for the original iPad . ( We ’re comparing the Wi - Fi - only models here . )
Finally , there are also a couple minor change you ’ll remark if you look closely . The iPad ’s built - in mike , previously in good order next to the headphone doodly-squat , has been moved to the mediate top of the backplate . And the Micro - SIM slot on the GSM 3 gramme model has been move up near the top of the leftover - hand side . ( On the original GSM 3 G iPad , it was about a third of the way up from the bottom . )
Is there a bigger speaker unit ?
A adult speaker is one of the feature we ’d hope to see in an iPad revision . alas , Apple has n’t cite anything about an improved speaker . The opening for the speaker certainly appears larger on the iPad 2 , but that could simply be a change in the case , as the iPad 2 ’s alloy back is shape differently than that of the original iPad . We ’ll make out after we have more metre to wreak music and movies on the tablet .
Does the new iPad have a Thunderbolt port wine ?
No . As we mentioned in our FAQ on Thunderbolt , it ’s unlikely Apple ’s iOS devices will get Thunderbolt ports any time before long . Thunderbolt is a PCI Express - based engineering science , and iOS devices do n’t use a PCI Express architecture . It ’s also unclear what advantages a Thunderbolt port would have over the current 30 - pin dock - connecter port .
Are there different versions for GSM and CDMA 3 G networking ?
Yes , Apple will trade separate models for GSM and CDMA electronic connection — AT&T supports the former , while Verizon will serve the latter . And that think there ’s actually a sum of nine iPad 2 models : Wi - Fi and 3G / Wi - Fi models in three capacities each ( 16 GB , 32 GB , and 64 GB ) , with the 3 G models uncommitted in both GSM and CDMA interlingual rendition . Interestingly enough , Apple ’s specifications page notes that the AT&T 3 G model will count 6 gram more than the Verizon version .
Wait , did we say nine ? It ’s actually18 — don’t forget that each model will be available in inglorious or snowy .
Will Apple be offering the original iPad at a scurvy monetary value , as it often does with premature - generation iPhone and iPod cutaneous senses model ?
It does n’t seem so , as Apple is currentlyselling the Wi - Fi only and GSM 3 G version on clearance — rather than as a part of the young lineup — on the on-line Apple Store . If you ’re looking to pick up an original iPad on the trashy , now ’s the clip to do it .
What ’s this about video mirroring from all apps ? Does that admit the Home covert ?
With a TV adapter , you may mirror the iPad 2 ’s entire screen on an outside presentation .
Yep . A novel video recording - mirroring feature article is built into iOS 4.3 , but the feature is available only on the iPad 2 . Plug Apple ’s soon - to - be - released $ 39Digital AV Adapterinto your iPad 2 ’s dock - connector port , and anything on your iPad ’s presentation can be mirrored on an HDTV , a video projector , or any other compatible video display using a standard HDMI cable television . ( The adapter also provides audio end product . )
Unlike the current iPad television - out feature of speech , which is available only from within a few specific apps , the iPad 2 can outputallvideo at up to 1080p solving ( although Apple say film will roleplay at “ only ” 720p ) . This includes the Home CRT screen , making the new iPad much more useful for demos and presentations .
verbalize of video output , will my favorite apps mechanically get the unexampled AirPlay video - out feature of iOS 4.3 on the iPad ?
developer will call for to upgrade their apps to take advantage of the new AirPlay television output , so you ’ll have to wait until your favorite app gains this feature . That said , iOS 4.3 will bring AirPlay to Safari , which means that compatible TV on the Web should work with AirPlay right out of the logic gate .
The new GarageBand app looks interesting , but does the unexampled iPad ’s cover offer pressure sensitiveness ?
Sort of . Using the built - in accelerometer , the iPad can detect how hard you ’re tapping the screen ( regardless of whether the iPad is on a table or you ’re holding it in your hand ) ; however , this is n’t a replenishment for the form of sensitiveness offer by computer graphic tablets and high - ending music keyboard . All the same , it certainly helps add to the GarageBand experience .
Apple say the new iPad has attractor build - in . attracter ? How do they run ?
Apple ’s new Smart Cover case attach to the iPad 2 with magnet .
Indeed , the iPad 2 ’s inclosure hosts a phone number of hidden magnets designed specifically for attaching Apple ’s newiPad Smart Cover . The subject — which is really more of a sieve guardian , as it does n’t protect the rest of the iPad ’s body — has a hinge that attaches to magnets on the edge of the iPad , and uses attraction on the front of the iPad 2 to outride closed . There ’s also a detector inside the iPad that detects when the screen is closed or opened , mechanically putting the iPad 2 to sleep or waking it up , severally .
Can you use the young cover with the original iPad ?
Unfortunately , no . Not only does the original iPad want the progress - in magnets needed to tie the case , but the Smart Cover ’s attachment brackets are design specifically to fit the iPad 2 ’s new sharpen back .
Can I apply my old case with the new iPad 2 ?
If your subject is designed specifically to meet the original iPad , then you ’re probable out of luck — the new model ’s thinner , flatter shape will believably mean a poor fit . On the other deal , sleeves and slipcovers for carrying the original iPad will probably lick just ok with the new model .
Does this mean I wo n’t need a case at all for my iPad ?
Well , that depends on you , really . The Smart Cover does n’t protect the back of the iPad 2 at all , so if you ’re upset about that aluminum getting scuff and call off ( and anyone who has an original iPad has probably run into that trouble ) , then you might require some other case . Rest assured , third - political party vendors are n’t about to throw up their hands and give up on making case .
How much will the iPad 2 example cost ?
As Apple has been known to do , the company is maintaining the same price across the iPad line of products while adding feature and capabilities . The 16 GB , 32 GB , and 64 GB Wi - Fi - only models will deal for $ 499 , $ 599 , and $ 699 , severally , while the Wi - Fi/3 G models will sell for $ 629 , $ 729 , and $ 829 for the same capacity , severally .
So when can I get my hands on an iPad 2 ?
The iPad 2 will be available in the U.S. starting on Friday , March 11 . On March 25 , it will become 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 . extra countries will watch over “ in the come months , ” harmonize to Apple .
Great , where can I place my lodge ?
Not so fast . Unlike in the past , Apple is n’t offering any “ pre - order ” for the iPad . You wo n’t be able to actually localise an order online until March 11 . In fact , it seems like the quickest way to get a new iPad will be to buy one from an Apple retail entrepot , where they will go on sales agreement at 5:00 p.m. on March 11 . Apple has aHow To Buypage set up with entropy . Also , Apple has n’t given any indicant of how many of which model , capacity , and colors will be available at launch .
