Apple's iPad 2 Features Overview

When the first iPad came out, Apple described it as the "most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price". Did the iPad 2 beat that definition? Without a doubt it did. The iPad revolutionized how we read, surf the internet and how we do a bunch of other stuff online. Going beyond that,the iPad 2 surpasses what the original did. You thought the first iPad was thin? Think again because one of the new iPad 2 features is a 33 percent even thinner design and look. That makes the iPad 2 15 percent lighter than the original. Its crazy right? How can a device so thin and so light be so powerful and capable? Well, there is more to this device than just its size and weight.

When you surf the Web with the iPad 2, you will notice the difference when watching movies, gaming, video calling and navigating between apps. The dual core A5 chip is one of the new iPad 2 features that brings out this experience. You can now do twice the work at once with no sweat or waiting time. Multi-tasking just got smoother with the new iPad 2. Plus the load times are much faster and everything just works better.

If you played games on the original iPad, then be amazed with one of the new iPad 2 features which makes gameplay more exciting - superfast graphics. With the new graphics capabilities of the iPad 2, graphics are more realistic and animations are much smoother. This new graphic performance also means that editing videos using iMovie and scrolling the photo library is much faster.

Don't all these new features, a powerful dual core chip and faster graphics work against the battery life? At another time and probably on another device, this could be true, but not with the new iPad 2. Remember that the original had a 10-hour battery life. How about the new? Believe it or not but the iPad 2 retains the same 10-hour battery life. This is because the new chip is battery efficient and the iOS utilizes the battery life in order to maintain it at the 10-hour level. This means that you can use the iPad for all night movie watching or one flight across the ocean.

Finally, 2 cameras - one on the front and one on the back - is one of the new iPad 2 features that blows the radar off the water. These cameras are designed to allow you to video call and work together, allow you to switch between the 2 cameras and share where you are or record what is going on around you. In addition, the cameras are HD, so anything you record is a mini-masterpiece. If you haven't tried the new iPad 2, you are definitely missing out.

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How Apple's New OS 4.2 Update Changes the iPad

Apple has just released a new operating system update (iOS4.2) that dramatically changes how the iPad operates. Let's review the most important changes in this update.

New features of iOS4.2 include:

Multitasking on the iPad

The iPad now has the ability to run more than one program at a time. This convenient features allows users to switch between programs without having to close them.

Folders on the iPad

The upper limit of apps has been expanded from 180 to over 2,000 and users can now create folders to store and organize them.

Free Find My iPad

While this is not a new feature, it was previously only available for a fee with the Mobile Me service. The feature is now free and once it is set up, the program will help you locate a lost iPad or remotely disable it. If the iPad has sensitive information on it, the entire iPad can be remotely wiped so that all information is removed.

Gamecenter

Social gamers will love this new feature for the iPad that allows you to play popular programs like Battleship against friends or others online.

Airprint

It is now easy to send or print photos, emails and documents from the iPad. Apple has truly simplified this process by doing so without additional software or drivers to download or install.

Airplay

Stream digital content like movies, photos and music directly to you TV from your iPad.

Notes

The Notes program has been dramatically improved and now allows the use of custom fonts.

iTunes Video Rentals

It is now possible to watch HD TV shows commercial free on the iPad. Of course, there is a small fee, but many without cable will appreciate this feature.

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Apple's iPad: No Fun for Small Biz

I'm not a big fan of change. I've lived in the same city all my life. I go to the same supermarket every week. I read the newspaper every day. I drive non-hybrid American cars (thank God). I watch 60 Minutes every Sunday. And I think the Who looked just fine at the Super Bowl, O.K.?

I don't like change in my personal life. And much of the time, I hate it when things change in my business-especially when that change lessens productivity and boosts my costs.

Which is why I'm not especially happy about the imminent release of the Apple (AAPL) iPad. It seems like a really cool device. Apple does a great job innovating new products. I love my iPod. My first computer was a Macintosh. My kids love their Macbooks. I get it. Apple is a great company with a history of great products.

The iPad may become another great product-for consumers. Not businesses. Apple admits this. It and AT&T (T), which will provide the wireless connectivity for the iPad in the U.S., are targeting the iPad to at-home users.

Not Seeing the Limitations

Yet for me, as a small business owner who sells software and related consulting services, the iPad is destined to become a pain in the rear. Some of my clients are already talking about buying one. So are some of my employees. They'll start using it at home. Then they're going to want to bring their toys to work.

Clients are going to ask me why I don't recommend it for their business. My employees are going to get frustrated when I tell them to leave their iPads at home. They're all going to call me names and accuse me of living in the Dark Ages. A few of them will probably make fun of my height, too, just like they did when I pooh-poohed netbooks. They'll see everyone else playing with those iPads, and they'll also want one. But they won't understand its limitations.

Fun as it may be, the iPad will have its own unique support issues. And my 10-person company barely has the resources to support our existing devices-the PCs, Macs, Research In Motion (RIMM) BlackBerrys, the iPhones, the netbooks, etc. So when some employee of mine insists on using his new iPad and then runs into a printing issue or a connection problem, I'm going to have to step up and help him so he stays productive. Which means I'm going to have to incur yet more costs with my IT firm. The upshot: I'll be paying them to learn how to support the new iPad, because they'll be just as clueless. This won't be fun.

Security Headaches

It won't be fun for my clients, either, when they find problems running the applications we sell on their iPad. And it's not like my company sells some type of unknown propriety software. We sell well-known products such as Intuit's (INTU) Quickbooks and Microsoft's customer relationship management product. My technicians struggle with these programs, as good as they are, to work on Windows PCs, let alone all the other technology that our clients want to use.

Oh boy, and then there's security. Super-now we have yet another way for users to access data on their networks. As if we don't have enough portable devices to do this already. And because users will be so swept away with the awesomeness of watching an episode of Lost on their iPad, they'll be angry with me when they find out that someone got into one of the databases we support using an iPad and-gasp-lost their information. They'll say things like, "How could you let this happen?"

Maybe I'm being a little extreme here. Business owners like me can put up with some degree of change. We're cool with Ellen Degeneres being on Idol. We're O.K. with ice hockey games played in Fenway Park. And we can deal with the iPad's device issues. The software compatibility problems. The security risks. This is the world we live in. But to a business owner, there is a line in the sand. And that's Return on Investment. Even if there were no other issue with it, the most important reason I can't justify the iPad for my employees, or my clients' employees, is that there's no ROI.

Boring is Better

For the same price as an iPad, users can get a boring little laptop. I know, I know. It's not as good for streaming The Twilight Saga. And that chilling YouTube Worst Office Freak Out video doesn't seem as compelling. Boo hoo.

Because with that boring laptop, you'll have compatibility with most business software. In fact, right now the iPad only lets you install software from the Apple Store (but I'm sure that'll change in the future). With a boring laptop running boring Windows, you'll have USB ports. And replaceable batteries. And a full-size keyboard. You'll have a broader network of support from boring business partners that have years of experience with similar devices (which is why they're so boring). And you'll have more options for securing data going back and forth between your employees and your database, which contains boring business things like orders, invoices, and payroll.

O.K., so the iPad really won't reduce any costs in my business. Can we justify its business ROI through increased employee productivity? Ha! You try using one of those things for a few hours and then tell me how much actual work you accomplished. It's just too damn fun.

So here comes the iPad. And another headache for small business owners. It's just more change. Boy, do I hate change.

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Best iPad 2 Cases Compatible With Apple's Smart Cover

Apple's Smart Cover is about as popular as the iPad 2 device itself. Unlike the device, users have been quick to find one major design flaw with the Smart Cover case - the lack of protection the case provides. If you are familiar with the case, you know that it is a unique case with ultra-unique features. You may also know that it only protects the screen of the device and that is only when it is not being used.

Many users have found themselves in a bind because they want a case that has the same features of the Smart Cover - which no other cases do, but they also are looking for a case that provides full bodied protection. The solution for these types of iPad users is to buy a protective iPad 2 case that works together with the Smart Cover to protect the device.

iPad 2 users are having a hard time finding these types of cases so here is a list of the different cases that work with the Apple Smart cover:

Speck Smart Shell for iPad 2

Speck has just released its newest iPad 2 case, the Speck Smart Shell. This case is a hard plastic shell that protects the back and sides of the device, allowing the Smart Cover to protect the screen. The neat thing about these cases is that they are available in the same colors that the Smart Covers are available in. This is the only smart cover compatible case that comes in these colors.

Custom Coveroo for iPad 2

Coveroo has released a line of cases that are very similar to the Speck Smart Shell. The awesome thing about these cases is that you can choose any design, emblem or logo to go on the back. Are you an animal lover? This case is available in over a 100 different animal prints, including a zebra print cover for your iPad 2.

These are just two manufacturers that have released iPad 2 cases that work with the overly-popular Smart Cover from Apple. Apple seemed to think they could corner the iPad 2 accessory market, but instead they only fueled other manufacturers' creativity and ingenuity!

Do yourself a favor and invest in an iPad 2 case that will protect the back of your device. These cases are significantly cheaper than the cost of replacing your iPad 2 due to it being damaged.

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Apple's iPad - A Nice Effort But Still Missing a Few Key Elements to Attract Customers

The hotly anticipated iPad was released on January 27, 2010 by Steve Jobs in his annual press event in California. Touting the device as a new technological revolution for media fans around the world, the device itself has been the focus of many rumors for months on end with spyshots being released tantalizing potential buyers about the specs and features of the device. What's interesting to note is that the tech world is defining new media in terms of newspapers and books finally gracing the online world in a more comprehensive manner than the traditional online subscription models, and the iPad leading the charge.

Now that some of the hype has died down, we plan on taking a developer viewpoint about the iPad and what are the things that we are really liking and other things that definitely need to be addressed.
Source - guardian.co.uk

Before we launch into the real details, here are some basic specs about the device itself.

Display: 9.7 inch IPS
Size and Weight: 9.56 by 7.47 by 0.5 inches, and 1.5 to 1.6 pounds
Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 Chip
Storage: 16, 32, or 64GB flash
Battery life: 10 hours battery life, over 1 month standby
Connectivity: 802.11n Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Other Features: Accelerometer, compass, speaker, microphone, 30-pin connector
Price: $499 onwards moving to the full 64GB with 3G version costing $829.

Our initial impressions about the iPad have been somewhat related to the original rumors circulating. The device is coming with the same hype that the iPhone has but we feel is still missing out on some key aspects. The four main issues that are bothering us are:

1. Lack of support for Flash

It's not that we love Flash, but we have to use it in development from time to time. Using numerous workarounds or hacks doesn't necessarily please us or the clients we develop games and apps for. We're aware that it may not be the best technology available but a large portion of digital media has been converted into Flash. Until HTML5 and new video codecs get better support, we have to make do with Flash. Apple's continuing stubbornness to refuse open support for Flash means that we're still stuck in the same place as the iPhone and iPod Touch.

2. No camera

Again, such an expensive device and no camera? It seems a little odd considering that the media sharing capability of the iPad and all those connectivity options, there's nothing that lets you record interesting and relevant moments. With major educational partners being enlisted to support the iPad, it'd be a nice feature to record lectures if you're a student or at least take photos or record video. Pictures would look great as it is on that gorgeous screen. Location based apps and augmented reality are really beginning to utilize the full capacity of the camera as a potential source of input, yet there's no potential for it in Apple's newest device.

3. No voice support (SMS and calling not supported)

There's Bluetooth support, but no ability to pair it a device for voice support on GSM networks. It's a nice step that the iPad is on pre-paid micro-SIMs but nonetheless, it'd be awesome to pair a Bluetooth headset and make a call using the iPad. No need to carry an iPhone around when you can just fire up your iPad to make a call. It's got a nice big screen and better keyboard making it easier for SMSs and longer battery life - see, doesn't that seem logical? Apple's refusal to support something like this is beyond us. Add to the mix the recent decision to let Google Voice and VOIP run free on carrier networks, the potential for the iPad to throw the concept of dedicated phones away was huge. Apple didn't really capitalize on this idea as much as we wanted them to.

4. No USB or microSD support

We all don't download from iTunes, some of us have accounts elsewhere for media. It'd be nice to view the pictures someone's taken on their iPad or at least take a music source or transfer files without having to use a computer for transferring things around. It's the one thing that stops most Apple products from receiving criticism for what are generally flawless designs. The 3G connectivity means that people will download but if they run out of space, they can't transfer it to other places. It helps create a sense of longevity for device in terms of price and usability; since people can upgrade the iPad with better microSD cards when they need more storage.

Although these were a few of the niggles we think that Apple should look to improve, we're excited to hear about the fact that the iPad will run all the apps from the App Store. For game developers like us, its great news to hear at how the new faster processor will be able to handle more intensive code, but the large screen is what the ultimate focus is. A larger screen means that we'd be able to create games that may involve multitouch support on a different scale since two to three fingers can easily be accommodated rather than just two. In addition to the screen, another piece of good news for us is the fact that the iPad runs a version of the iPhone OS meaning that development isn't going to vary excessively. Along with this, the fact that there is compatibility with the existing apps means that we can easily continue to offer titles for both the iPhone and iPad without having to recode titles for both devices. It's a smart move that Apple seems to have picked up from the success of the iPhone and iPods.

Although there's been a lot of criticism for the iPad not necessarily making its case as being a killer product for "new" media, but we feel it's a natural extension of the iPhone. The larger screen, the focus towards the educational giants, the iBooks store, the compatibility with the App Store, etc all indicate that it was the logical extension. Netbooks weren't really making a strong enough case while tablet computing had definitely missed out on this digital revolution, it was logical to combine something that had the best features of both. The connectivity, power and storage of netbooks with the natural ease of no additional weight such as a keyboard, etc to create the iPad.

It's only been a week though, and Apple's definitely given itself a challenge, but it seems that the iPad may bring a change around for everyone involved in the company and supporting industries. Quite a few industry giants have criticized the iPad for not making a case as strong as the iPhone or the iPod, but we're still in favor of the device. Even with its limitations, the people that are supporting it - namely the educational heavyweights - seem to indicate that the market has changed. We feel that the focus is now moving towards education, already Apple products are successes on many college campuses internationally, so this could be an educational device at heart with a side focus on being a media device.

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Apple iPad Unveiled - Take a Look at Apple's New Gadget

If you follow Apple, or tech news in general, you will know that Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad this week in San Francisco.

His goal/dream for the iPad is that it will bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops. But does the iPad fill this gap? Not really. But we'll get to that in just a moment. The iPad at first glance looks like a scaled up version of the iPhone. And in some ways it is. First let's take a look at the dimensions.

The iPad is half an inch thick, which is why many people began referring to it as iSlate. The IPS display is a rather respectable 9.7 inches. In comparison, the iPhone has a 3.5 inch display. The whole devices weighs 1.5 pounds.

According to Steve Jobs, the iPad has a battery life of 10 hours, and can stay in stand-by for one month.

Hardware specs are also pretty decent. The processor is a 1 GHz Apple A4, which should provide more speed than it does. As it stands, the iPad is not capable of multitasking. What does that mean? Well, if you're reading this, you probably have your browser open. If you checked your inbox, your email client may be open. Then there is whatever other programs you normally use on your computer. With the iPad you can only use one application at a time. Disappointing, isn't it?

I really don't see this as a limitation of the hardware. Either the OS can't handle the demands, or won't. In either case this is something that Apple will have to fix in a future release.

As with most of the other hardware, Apple makes the iPad come in multiple different flavors, these range from the 16GB to the 64GB versions, with the price increasing for each one. The 16GB version costs $499, with the 32GB version jumping to $599. If you want the big version with 64GB storage space, you will be looking to spend $699.

The iPad connects over WiFi 802.11n, although some versions come with 3G. The data plans for the device start at $14.99 a month for 250MB of transfer, while the unlimited plan costs the double, $29.99, and you get free access to AT&T hot spots. Unlike the iPhone, there aren't any contacts you get locked into. Instead it runs on the pre-paid model, which is activated directly through the device.

Some of the other features the iPad comes with are an accelerometer, compass, microphone, speaker, and a 30-pin connect. If you think you're going to get a camera too, think again. The iPad does not come with a camera. This is rather disappointing, since including one with the device would make sense.

That about sums up the feature list. Does it sound like something you will need to have?

For me there are several issues with the iPad in its current state.

First, it doesn't offer multitasking, which is a fundamental part of using a computer. If this isn't changed, it isn't anything more than a glorified iPhone with a lame name. This is the biggest problem for me with the device. Maybe this won't bother most of the users, but for anyone that wants to do more than browse the Internet, read some email, and listen to music (not at the same time) this isn't a viable solution.

Second, the lack of a camera. Apple's solution for this was two huge adapters that could/should have been built into the device in the first place. Neither of them actually gives the device "real" camera functionality, instead they are only a way to import photos. Here is what Apple has to say about them:

The Camera Connection Kit gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera. The Camera Connector lets you import your photos and videos to iPad using the camera's USB cable. Or you can use the SD Card Reader to import photos and videos directly from the camera's SD card.

My verdict, if you're looking for something bigger than your iPhone, and only care about browsing the Internet, reading your email, and other simple functions then this might be for you. I feel that Apple is trying to bank on the trendiness of their products rather than truly bridge the current gap between smartphones and laptops. If the iPad is their solution, we still have a long way to go.

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Apple iPad - Apple's Next Big Hit?

There has been a lot of speculation about the new release of the Apple iPad. Many consumers are very exited for it to hit the US market in the next couple months, but some investors are not so sure what the excitement is all about. There seems to be a lot of mixed emotions about the most recent release by Apple, the iPad.

No matter if you think that the iPad is the best thing since sliced bread or if you think it is a lost cause, it will be released in the next few months. I think that the media has overplayed the negative vibe that Adobe has given to the Apple iPad, after all this may be the first successful release of a tablet pc ever. For some reason tablet pc's have had a hard time taking off and the familiar interface that the iPad offers consumers may make all the difference in the world.

There seems to a great buzz surrounding the iPad and this will be sure to give it a great deal of exposure and assure a big release day. Another thing the iPad has going for it is the very reasonable base model price. Apple says that the base model iPad will start at $499 which is one of the lowest prices that consumers has seen from Apple in some time.

The Apple iPad Release is getting some major tech buzz and I think that there is good reason. This is one of the most innovative releases in a long time. There are many high hopes for the success of this device and hopefully it will spawn many others like it.

Looking forward, I for one am very pumped about this release and being an iPhone lover, think that a over sized iPhone is a great idea. The small bugs and quirks can all be worked out between now and the soft release date 2 moths from now. So I for one will be counting down the days, until I can get my hand on the Apple iPad and check it out for myself!

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