Can The Apple iPad2 Be The Product Of The Year?
Mar 26th 2011Ian Fletcherlaptop computer
The long-awaited arrival of the iPad2 was the only thing which could quell the speculation surrounding Apple's second tablet PC. The original iPad had shown the world that tablet PCs were the future and other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon while failing to dethrone Apple as market leader, but can the iPad2 remain one of the most sought-after products of 2011?
The first iPad had solid hardware for a year ago but the iPad2 takes things to a new level from a technical standpoint. First on the list of important components is its dual core processor sporting ARM architecture, which is apparently able to reduce power consumption by underclocking itself when not in use and then ratcheting up the speed when you need it most.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs claims that the iPad2 is several times more powerful when it comes to graphics, outpacing the original iPad and offering app and games developers the chance to bring some truly impressive titles to the platform. Whether any will actually do this and exclude the huge user base of owners of the original iPad remains to be seen. Without testing the Apple's full potential it is hard to say if it can be other new tablets.
The iPad2 is 33 per cent thinner than its precursor and weighs 909 grams less, which may not sound like a huge amount but it makes all the difference when you are trying to read a book or surf the web for a long time as it is less likely to make your wrists and hands ache thanks to the lighter build. You can choose to buy the iPad2 in either black or white, so you can use it as a fashion accessory as much as a computer.
Like all tablet PCs the iPad2 is prone to scratches and scrapes if improperly stored, so Apple's creation of smart covers which are magnetically attached to the front of the device will be a boon for those who want to keep it in pristine condition. The smart covers attach using hidden magnets and can be rolled up to help you balance the iPad2 for some hands-free viewing on a tabletop, although the cost of these covers might be a hindrance to their popularity.
The original iPad lacked camera functionality but the iPad2 features a pair of cameras. The one on the rear is a five megapixel snapper which can shoot video and still clips to store on the flash memory built into the device ranging between 16GB and 32GB while the front-facing camera enables video calling via the FaceTime function found on the current generation iPhone and iPod Touch.
Your window into the world of the iOS 4.3 operating system is the same 9.7 inch touchscreen display as on the previous generation of the iPad. With the arrival of Android 3.0 on rival tablet PCs the iOS 4.3 platform is starting to look a little long in the tooth when it comes to interface, but it holds its own in terms of user friendliness.
Experts predict that few firms will be able to compete with the iPad2 in 2011, even if it is less of a revolution than the original and more of an evolutionary step before Apple's next big product arrives.
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