Steve Jobs took to the stage at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco today to announce the Apple iPad 2. As rumored, the next generation tablet device will have a 33% thinner profile and sport the following specs:
- 1GHz Dual-core A5 processor (2x faster and 9x the graphics processing of the A4)
- front and rear-facing cameras, rear-camera records at 720P HD, front at VGA
- 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display, 1024 x 800 resolution
- 16, 32 or 64 GB capacity
- WiFi Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and 3G connectivity
- gyroscope (similar to the iPhone)
- HDMI out (1080P) using Apple Digital AV Adapter
- 1.3 lbs (down from 1.5 of the original iPad)
- available in white with support for Verizon and AT&T
- starting price of $499 for 16GB WiFi model
- New case accessory will cover the front of the device using a magnet to hold it in place and toggle the sleep state of the device
- iOS 4.3
- Wi-Fi + 3G model: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- Wi-Fi + 3G for Verizon model: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
The iPad 2 is a small step forward for the Apple tablet lineup. Those hoping for a great leap forward with a high-resolution Retina display may be disappointed by the inclusion of a screen that matches the first generation model. Despite this one drawback, this refresh brings the device, at last on paper, on par with the Motorola Xoom and other upcoming tablets from HP and RIM. The iPad 2 goes on sale starting at March 11th for $499 (WiFi-only, 16GB model) here in the U.S; March 25th internationally. A 3G version compatible with Verizon and AT&T will also be available. Expect to pay more for the 3G versions of the iPad 2, as the 3G+WiFi 64GB model will run you $829.
So, anyone going to grab one when it goes on sale?
For more info, check out the official iPad 2 page. Here.