The iPad 2 launch took place today, 2 March. Links to all of our iPad 2 coverage are below.
Hands on: Apple iPad 2 reviewThe Apple iPad 2 has been unveiled, and TechRadar has spent some time with the hottest piece of kit so far in 2011.Read our hands on: Apple iPad 2 review
Apple iPad 2: 12 things you need to knowSo Apple's latest worst-kept secret is out – it's released a new iPad to keep the Android pack at bay.And while it's a stunner visually, you'll see that iPad 2 is an iteration in terms of its core specs. Here's everything you need to know about the new iPad 2.Read Apple iPad 2: 12 things you need to know
iPad 2 launch live coverageiPad 2 launch live, minute by minute
Apple iPad 2 officially unveiledThe new iPad is dual core, front and rear facing cameras, an all new A5 dual core CPU and a nine times more powerful GPU. And yes, there is a white iPad 2 as rumoured. And the iPad 2 UK price? Apple says it will be the same.Read Apple iPad 2 officially unveiled
Apple iPad 2: our first impressionsThe new iPad is thinner - 33 per cent thinner. Wow. It looks incredible and has the expected front-facing camera (as well as one on the back). It's also a bit lighter, which is welcome. With the same low power as the Apple A4 processor, the new iPad 2 utilises an all-new Apple A5 processor, presumably based on ARM's Cortex-A9 design. Read Apple iPad 2: our first impressions
Our colleagues at T3.com grabbed some video footage of the iPad 2 which you can watch below.
Apple iPad 2 UK release dateThe new iPad was launched by Steve Jobs today, with the Apple head announcing the tablet is dual core, has a front and rear facing cameras, an all new A5 dual core CPU and a whopping nine times more powerful GPU.Read Apple iPad 2 UK release date
iOS 4.3 officially announcedNot just a new iPad but a new OS. The new OS features enhancements to AirPlay, allowing your iPhone to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot (hello, Android!), as well as improvements to the Facetime software.Read iOS 4.3 officially announced
Apple iPad 2 accessories revealedApple has outlined all the new accessories you can get for its brand-new iPad 2, including a HDMI out lead and some apparently smart cases.Read Apple iPad 2 accessories revealed
iPad 2: official picturesAfter all the build up, the speculation, the pondering, more speculation, the fan-boy flaming and the speculation, Steve Jobs took the stage today in San Francisco to unveil its second-generation iPad.Read iPad 2: official pictures
iPad 2 coming to Orange and T-Mobile in MarchIn a standardly vague statement, the network told us that it couldn't confirm any price plans but is going to be part if the first wave of operators to bring the spangly new tablet to UK shores.Read iPad 2 coming to Orange and T-Mobile in March
iPad 2 videosApple may have only just announced the iPad 2, but the official videos have already been uploaded to the internet for Apple fans to gawp over.Read iPad 2 videos
O2 confirms it won't be offering iPad 2O2 has confirmed to TechRadar that it will not be selling the Apple iPad 2, but will still offer competitive data bundles for the tablet.Read O2 confirms it won't be offering iPad 2
Steve Jobs speaks out on the iPad 2"Most other tablets aren't even catching up with first iPad, but we're not resting on our laurels - so we're bringing you the iPad 2."Read Steve Jobs speaks out on the iPad 2
How iPad 2 smacks down the competitionApple's new iPad ticks all of the non-bonkers spec boxes that people were expecting and, broadly speaking, brings the iPad back to the cutting-edge of touchscreen tablets, obliterating any major tech lead the competition thought it had.Read How iPad 2 smacks down the competition
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Below is our earlier coverage of iPad 2 rumours and launch details, published in the months leading up to the showing off of the new iPad.
Just hours before the launch it looked as though the iPad 2 release date and specs had already been shown by Amazon Germany. Read iPad 2 release date and spec outed on Amazon Germany for the full details.
iPad 2 announcement - what to expect
Onto details of the new iPad announcement: TechRadar has been invited to the UK relay of the event, which kicks off at 1800GMT at BBC Television Centre. Why there? It's a satellite relay and the BBC have some pretty big satellite dishes.
The corporation isn't anything to do with the event, it's just renting out its studio space (that makes your TV licence cheaper, don't sweat it).
As is usual with many Apple events, there probably won't be a live stream of the event online, so keep checking TechRadar for the latest news from the keynote.
UPDATE: Our hands on: iPad 2 review is posted.
Could it be a red herring, and not the iPad 2 launch at all? Well, the invite clearly shows the iPad and it could even be the iPad 2 - the peel isn't peeled far enough to see the middle of the device - more specifically, it isn't peeled back enough to see the inevitable front-facing camera.
New iPad UK release date
Of course, the real iPad 2 UK release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but it's clear that Apple reckons the new iPad will sell well.
Some rumours coming out of Asia suggest that Apple has ordered nigh on six million units of the new iPad per month - this compares to four million of the older iPad which have been produced on a monthly basis.
We'd expect we're now looking at a late March or early April iPad 2 UK release date although that doesn't mean you won't be able to order one before then. We'd expect the new iPad to be available for pre-order right after next week's event. Well, Apple wouldn't want you plumping for an Android 3.0 tablet instead, would it?
iPad 2 features
As we've already said, the main difference to the front has to be a front-facing camera. And that means the inevitable FaceTime support.
We also reckon the new iPad will have at least one key physical advantage over the old one. It'll surely be lighter (the original iPad was criticised for weight) and perhaps even thinner too. Perhaps it'll have a true unibody, like Apple's laptops, though, we can't quite see how this can be done.
However, the thing that will make the most difference has to be the new display. Expect a retina display iPad to blow away the competition.
Then again, such a screen would massively increase the number of pixels, increasing the demand on the iPad 2 battery life. A nine-inch Retina Display is a challenge. But if Apple has solved it, the new iPad will be stunning.
Also expect beefed up key specs. Could Apple take the A4 into dual-core territory? We'd expect so, especially since almost every other key tablet will be dual-core this year. Apple won't want iPad 2 to be inferior in any way.
The new Apple processor design, like Nvidia's Tegra 2, will be based on ARM's Cortex A9, the 1GHz dual-core processor that you'll find in the BlackBerry PlayBook.
iPad 2: what else?
We also reckon there will be a three-axis gyroscope like there is in the iPhone 4 for improved gaming performance.
The rumour is that the iPad 2 will have a USB port for importing photos and the like, though we'd be surprised if this happens - it doesn't seem like a very Apple thing to do. And, after all, it already provides the dock connection kit for uploading photos from a camera.
What would make more sense is for the device to have an SD slot. We're undecided on this one. It would be a dramatic move for Apple to go with such expandable memory, but a clever one if true.
Could the new iPad also be compatible with CDMA networks like Verizon as well as GSM? It's possible and would certainly streamline production. But it's unlikely we reckon - it would require both radios to be in the unit, which would increase weight and cost unnecessarily.
One thing's for sure, we'll find out tonight.
iPad 2 rumours pre-launch
Below are the iPad 2 rumours that we've been rounding up over the past few months.
The internet loves Apple and it loves ill-founded speculation, so it's hardly surprising that iPad 2 rumours were flying before the first iPad even reached the UK.
And with just days to go now before its unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn't mean there aren't some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider.
Reports suggest Apple is also expecting massive demand for the new device and has ordered six million units per month.
Here's our pick of the latest iPad 2011 rumours.
UPDATE: A white iPad 2? This rumour, which surfaced on 28 February, came with a photo of a supposed white iPad 2 case.
UPDATE: On 24 February 2011, a Japanese blog posted pictures of what it says are accurate mock-ups of the new Apple iPad. It's slimmer than the first generation iPad and features a front-mounted camera.
UPDATE: iPad 2 has apparently been spotted. Reuters reports on a "source with knowledge of the device" who spotted the new iPad at the launch of News Corp's The Daily.
UPDATE: On 8 February 2011 the Wall Street Journal claimed that the new iPad has gone into full production.
iPad 2 specs: cameras and a gyroscope
Gizmodo reckons that FaceTime support's a given, and that means a front-facing camera like the iPhone 4. BuzzBizzNews echoes the camera story, suggesting twin cameras. It also suggests that there'll be a three-axis gyroscope like there is in the iPhone 4. EETimes says Apple has been testing gyroscopes but decided not to put one in the original iPad.
On 10 December 2010, images of a new iPad case appeared online, suggesting that the iPad 2nd generation will feature a rear-facing camera.
On 17 January 2011, we heard word of not only a rear camera, but a front one too... it seems more likely that FaceTime will be coming to the iPad 2 as well.
iPad 2 specs: a USB port and SD card slot
Rumours suggest that the iPad 2 will have a USB port, which BuzzBizzNews says will enable users to "upload movies, documents and photos". We're not convinced it's for that, because Apple is moving increasingly to wireless. The iPad prints wirelessly. The iPad streams media wirelessly. Why add USB? More likely, we think, is a MicroUSB port or adapter so the iPad meets new EU regulations on mobile device chargers.
Images of a new iPad case have appeared online that seem to show space for an SD card slot.
On 17 January 2011, we also reported on said SD clard slot - it would be a dramatic move for Apple to go with such expandable memory, but a clever one if true.
UPDATE: On 25 February 2011, Engadget wrote that the SD card slot has been canned. So too has the higher resolution screen, according to the Engadget.
UPDATE: The new iPad screen is also rumoured to be ultra-thin but that's not all good news - on 1 March 2011, Bill Shope, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, wrote to investors to warn that there are production delays in the new screens.
iPad 2 specs: GSM and CDMA
AllThingsDigital quotes analyst Brian Blair, who says that Apple may be readying a "world iPad" that uses both GSM and CDMA networks, enabling it to get online anywhere in the world. CDMA, incidentally, is the technology used by Verizon in the US.
iPad 2 case: thinner and more like a MacBook
Brian Blair also says: "the new iPad is thinner than the existing model and is essentially made from one piece of metal with no pins needed. We understand it requires a new type of manufacturing process as a result, similar to the company's unibody approach seen in MacBooks."
iPad 2 specs: retina display
Will the gorgeous screen from the iPhone 4 make its way to the iPad? The Apple Blog thinks so: "You can be sure that Apple's Retina Display, or something very close, will make its way to iPad".
Then again, such a screen would massively increase the number of pixels, increasing the demands on both the iPad's processor and its battery, so a nine-inch Retina Display is a challenge. If Apple's solved it we'll see you down the Apple Store the second it goes on sale.
iPad 2 specs: a seven-inch screen?
All of Apple's rivals have plumped for 7-inch displays, which means their tablets are lighter than the iPad. Will Apple follow them into seven-inch territory?
iLounge says prototypes exist, while earlier this year DigiTimes predicted not just a seven-inch iPad 2, but a 5.6-inch iPad 2. Apparently the smaller iPads would target ebooks while the current iPad would target multimedia entertainment, "sources stated". We're doubtful. Apple already does a mini-iPad with a retina display. It's the iPod touch.
The idea of a smaller iPad 2 took another knock in November, when 9to5Mac reported that the iPad 2 adverts have already been shot - with current-generation iPads playing the role of iPad 2s. The iPad 2s will be digitally added nearer the time, and of course that's much harder to do if the iPad 2 is smaller than the iPads the actors are actually holding.
iPad 2 specs: a faster processor
KitGuru "has been hearing rumours from the Far East" that the iPad 2 will be a seven-inch job with a 2GHz processor and an HD video camera. It reckons the processor will be based on ARM's Cortex A9, the 1GHz dual-core processor that you'll find in the BlackBerry PlayBook.
On 18 January, we also reported the iPad 2 will have a boosted dual core GPU, based on an upgraded graphical core from Apple. This will allow better pixel management, lending weight the theory that the iPad 2 will have a much higher-res screen.
iPad 2 specs: more memory
This is a no-brainer: the iPhone 4 has twice the memory of the iPad (512MB compared to 256MB), largely because the iPhone does multitasking. Since the iOS 4.2 release, iPads do multitasking too. 256MB already seems a little bit stingy.
iPad 2 specs: no home button
Boy Genius Report says a source has told it that Apple has employees testing iPads with no home buttons, but we're inclined to agree with ZDNet, which says "don't bet on it".
iPad 2 features: Find My Friends
On 13 January 2011 we reported that Apple seems to have a location-based tool called Find My Friends in the works for its iOS 4.3 iPhone and iPad update.
The iPad 2 release date is probably in the Spring
Rumours suggested that the iPad 2 would be rushed out in time for Christmas, but if that's Apple's plan they're being awfully last-minute about it. Early 2011 seems like a much better bet, and it fits with Apple's annual product cycle: the first iPad was announced in January and shipped in the spring.
On 7 December we reported on rumours that Apple would be shipping iPad 2 units out to warehouses in February 2011. If that date is correct, it suggests an iPad 2 release date of some time around April.
This has been corroborated by our report on 17 January, with the April UK release date backed up by 'insiders'.
On 20 January 2011 we reported that the iPad 2 release date could be 9 February, after images leaked showing that date on the home screen (the original iPad launch promotional material had a 27 January 2010 date on the home screen - the date the first iPad launched).
On 7 February 2011, Elton John, speaking on BBC Breakfast, said he is looking forward to buying an iPad 2 in April so he can make video calls using Skype. Did he just out the iPad 2 release date or has he been hearing the same rumours that we have?
On 21 February 2011, we reported that T-Mobile and Orange have dropped their iPad prices. This could indicate that a new iPad is imminent as the carriers try to clear out old stock.
On 22 February 2011, Reuters reported that Yuanta Securitues sent out a note about iPad manufacturer Hon Hai suggesting that there are production bottlenecks which could cause the iPad 2 release date to slip to June.
The iPad 2 price won't change much
Unless there's a new seven-inch model we'll be amazed if the iPad 2 price is dramatically lower than the model it replaces: Apple isn't struggling to shift units and rivals are charging similar prices. Cheapo tablets do exist, but they're rubbish.
Read more: http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/ipad-2-all-the-latest-details-900232#ixzz1FasyhqAY
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