IPad 2

The second generation of the iPad,

The iPad 2 is the second generation of the iPad, a tablet computer designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It serves primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games and web content, and is available in black or white. The Foxconn-manufactured iPad 2 has a lithium-polymer battery that lasts up to 10 hours, a new dual core Apple A5 processor and VGA front-facing and 720p rear-facing cameras designed for FaceTime video calling.

Software

The iPad 2 is currently supplied with iOS 4.3.1, a similar system to previous iOS versions. The 4.3.1 system fixed bug with the graphics on the iPod touch, bugs related to activating and connecting to some cellular networks, authenticating with some enterprise web services. A newer version, 4.3.2 is available for online download once an account is created with the iStore.  

Hardware 

The iPad 2 includes a new A5 processor, front and rear cameras plus a 3 axis gyroscope. Several components were made smaller to fit the new iPad.

Audio

The iPad can play audio in mono using its built in speaker. Its frequency response ranges from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. If attached to the Apple Digital AV Adapter, it can output Dolby Digital stereo or even 5.1 surround sound.

Screen and input

There are four physical switches on the iPad 2 (same as 1st generation iPad), including a home button near the display that returns the user to the main menu, and three plastic physical switches on the sides: wake/sleep and volume up/down, plus a third which, for either screen rotation lock or mute. Business Insider states that the home button on the iPad 2 is "easier to double tap" than the previous generation of the iPad.

Apple has reduced the size of the iPad by eliminating the stamped sheet metal frame from the display, integrating new thinner glass technology for the touch screen overlay, and slightly reducing the space between the display and battery. The iPad 2's screen is thinner, lighter, and yet stronger than the original iPad's.

Power.

The iPad has a 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery  that lasts 10 hours, like the original iPad. It is charged via USB or included 10-watt, 2-amp power adapter. The battery is 2.5 mm thick, 59% smaller than the original and has three cells instead of two. The improvements allowed the injection-molded plastic support frame to be omitted.The iPad 2 ships with a 10W USB power adapter which provides 4x the power of a conventional USB port.

Cameras

See also: FaceTime

The revised tablet adds front- and rear-facing cameras, which allow FaceTime video calls with the iPhone 4, fourth-generation iPod Touch and Macintosh computers (running Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later with a webcam). The 0.3MP front camera shoots VGA-quality 30 fps video and VGA-quality still photos. The 0.7MP back camera can shoot 720p HD video at 30 fps and has a 5x digital zoom. Both shoot photo and video in a 4:3 fullscreen aspect ratio, unlike the iPhone 4, which shoots in a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.

Size and weight

The device is 33% thinner than the original iPad, is thinner than the iPhone 4 by 0.5mm, and is 15% lighter than the original iPad.

 The Wi-Fi version is 1.33 lb (600 g). Both the GSM and CDMA versions (known respectively as the AT&T and Verizon versions in the US) differ in weight slightly due to the mass difference between the GSM and CDMA cellular radios, with the GSM model at 1.35 lb (612 g) and the CDMA model at 1.34 lb (608 g). The size of the iPad 2 is also less than the original iPad at only 9.5×7.31×.346 in (240×186×8.8 mm), compared to the original iPad's size at 9.56×7.47×.528 in (243×190×13.4 mm).

Applications

The iPad 2 comes with several applications, including Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, YouTube, iPod, iTunes, App Store, iBooks, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Contacts, Camera, Photo Booth, and Spotlight Search. Several are improved versions of applications developed for the iPhone, or of applications for the Mac.

The iPad 2 syncs with iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC. Apple ported its iWork suite from the Mac to the iPad, and sells pared down versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps in the App Store. Apple also ported Photo Booth, and two iLife applications, iMovie and Garageband. Although the iPad 2 is not designed to replace a mobile phone, a user can use a wired headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or 3G using a VoIP application. The iPad has lots of third party applications available for it; as of March 2, 2011, there were 65,000 iPad specific apps on the App Store.

Smart Cover

 A Smart Cover being used by an iPad 2.

The Smart Cover is an accessory just for the iPad 2 tablet computer, and was unveiled at the iPad 2 event by Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs. It attaches magnetically to the side of the device and covers the front. The Smart Cover has three folds, dividing the case into four portions, so it can be maneuvered to create a stand for the tablet. This can be either used to prop the iPad up in a position suitable for typing, or in an upright position for watching video and video calling over FaceTime. To expose the rear facing HD video camera on the iPad 2, the cover can also be folded in half. The cover aligns with the front screen of the iPad and is designed to add very little thickness to the overall profile of the device. Additionally, when the Smart Cover is lifted off the face of the iPad 2, it automatically turns the device on from standby, meaning the on/off button on the top right of the device does not need to be pressed when the user wishes to use it.

Timeline