Let Me Tell You, About the IPad 2

Apple advertisements want you to know that there have been 3 major improvements to the iPad 2 compared to the original: it's thinner, lighter, and faster. Thinner, as in 33% thinner. Lighter, as in 15% lighter. And faster, because it's got a better processor. The different models of the iPad 2 are the same as the original. There are Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models, which come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB hard drive sizes.

So what does it look like? The upgraded iPad 2 still has a 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. That's a whole mouthful. It means you're going to get a crisp image that can deliver a beautiful vision of that movie you're watching. The iPad 2 has two cameras: a front-facing VGA camera, and a rear-facing camera which can capture 720p HD video. There is a built-in speaker, as well as a headphone jack and built-in microphone. The shell itself comes in black or white, though it can be covered with an iPad Smart Cover to make it any of a wide number of colors.

With a dual-core A5 processor, the iPad 2 is very powerful and power-efficient. The A5 is better at multitasking than the original iPad and can do twice the work. Apps load and graphics move faster. The process enhances iMovie editing, animations in Keynote, and most importantly your gaming experience. Don't worry; the A5 can more than handle your Angry Birds obsession. Another key technical aspect of the iPad 2 is the gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass. The gyroscope existed on the original iPad but now there is a new three-axis system which refines the accuracy of the gyroscope in sensing tilts, twists, turns, and rotations. The accelerometer can tell you how fast you're moving the iPad 2, important in a number of apps, specifically games. The compass does just what you'd think it does; maintain orientation so you can use the map or GPS function, as well as any other app which demands orientating. Power management was a strength of the original iPad; the new iPad 2 takes it to another level. Through the use of a built-in lithium polymer battery, it boasts a 10 hour battery life.

There are a number of built-in apps which by default are installed on the iPad 2. Photo Booth lets you take whacky photos and make them wackier by adding a number of silly effects. Mail is... well, where you get your e-mail. Safari is Apple's official web browser. iBooks makes the iPad 2 capable of downloading and displaying digital books. In this way, it can essentially become an e-reader akin to the Nook or Kindle. The Game Center is a place where you can find social games. Play with your friends or complete strangers! Lastly, you'll have access to the App Store, where the hundreds of thousands of apps at your disposal can be found.

As for downloadable apps, there are hundreds of thousands with more being created every day. Some of the more notable apps include: iMovie, Garage Band, and iWork. iMovie is Apple's movie editing software. Edit HD movies with the Multi-Touch Precision Editor. Perfect audio, video cuts, and easy sharing are highlights of this app. Garage Band is a music creation software. Create music and play various touch instruments to jam out however you want to. iWork is the equivalent to Microsoft Office. Keynote is PowerPoint, Pages is Word, and Numbers is Excel.

What about accessories? Well it wouldn't be an Apple product if there weren't tons of them! I spoke before of the iPad Smart Cover, the official cover for the iPad 2. The iPad Smart Cover attaches magnetically to the device, and comes in a wide range of colors. You can also fold the cover into a stand for viewing ease. The Digital AV Adapter allows for Video Mirroring. Video Mirroring is when you can share the view of your iPad 2 with a TV, projector, or other HDMI device. Use your iPad 2 to connect to your TV and show the photos from your vacation, or watch the latest movie from Netflix! There is an iPad Camera Connection Kit which allows you to upload photos through a USB or SD card. It supports most formats, including JPEG and RAW. As for video formats, it supports H.264 and MPEG-4.

The iPad 2 Dock is a simple dock and charge station. It also has an audio jack for speakers, so you can play music while letting your iPad 2 fully charge for your next adventure. If you love the portability and awesomeness of a tablet but long for the feel of an old-school keyboard, Apple offers a wireless keyboard which has built-in Bluetooth 2.1. Wirelessly connect it to your iPad 2 and type at your fastest while freeing up space on the screen where the keyboard would normally appear. The last accessory I will talk about is the 10W USB Power Adapter. This allows you to charge your iPad 2 through an electrical outlet. There are a myriad of other accessories, most of which are third-party brand covers and cases. There are also stylus' for enhanced touch screen operation, and scratch preventative covers.

Sources:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/?cid=wwa-us-seg-ipad10
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/ipad-2-review/