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iPad 2
Apple Confirms iCloud Web Apps for Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Find My iPhone
Jun 24th
Web access to iCloud Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Find My iPhone will be available at icloud.com this fall.Apple also confirms that the existing iWeb publishing, Gallery, and iDisk services from MobileMe will not be making the transition to iCloud. Some of these functionalities will, however, be replaced and/or enhanced with the already-announced photo and cloud services in iCloud.
All existing MobileMe services will continue to be available through June 30, 2012, although some such as syncing of Mac Dashboard widgets, keychains, Dock items, and System Preferences will become unavailable if users transfer their existing MobileMe accounts to iCloud before that deadline. Other MobileMe services not transitioning to iCloud such as iWeb publishing, Gallery, and iDisk will continue to be available until June 30, 2012 regardless of whether users maintain their existing MobileMe accounts or transition them to iCloud.
Skype for iPAD with Video chat
Jun 24th
A new video promoting a theretofore unreleased Skype for iPad app and demonstrates a stylish interface and video chat capabilities. The video, allegedly posted to Skype’s YouTube channel and then quickly removed, was captured by Twitter user @trackizmy1 and reposted by RazorianFly.
Skype for iPhone supports voice chat, voice calling, and instant messaging but does not include a native iPad client, instead running in pixel doubled mode.
Apple to Launch iMovie and GarageBand for iPad on March 11th
Mar 7th
At recent media event, Apple introduced a revamped universal version of its iMovie application for iOS devices, bringing compatibility to the iPad for the first time. The company also unveiled a brand-new GarageBand application for the iPad. The new apps will be priced at $4.99 each and will be available alongside the March 11th launch of the iPad 2.
iMovie allows users to shoot video directly from the iPad and have it appear right in the application for easy editing. With new themes and still photo support, users can easily drag-and-drop footage, photos, and text to quickly create high-quality video right on their tablet devices. With a Precision Editor built right into the timeline on the iPad, clip management is straightforward and simple.
Other new features include sound effects, audio waveforms, multiple audio tracks for easy voiceovers, and new tools for sharing to the web, among devices, and via AirPlay.
GarageBand for iPad offers libraries of virtual instruments with both simple touch and more complex “smart” functionalities to allow users to sound like expert musicians with simple gestures. Recording studio functionality allows users to mix together various tracks, with various amps and effects to adjust the sound of individual instruments. The new GarageBand also includes a number of sharing tools to allow users to export their work via email or to their iTunes libraries. GarageBand for iPad is also compatible with the Mac version of GarageBand, allowing for easy movement of projects between devices.
All New iPad 2 is here !!
Mar 6th
Thinner
How much thinner is the new iPad? 33% thinner. The iPad has gone from 13.4 mm to just 8.8 mm. The iPad 2 is now even skinnier than the iPhone 4 which is 9.3 mm thick.
Lighter
Up to 15 percent lighter claims Apple. This should come as a relief to those who felt the original iPad was too heavy.
Faster
The iPad 2 is getting a new dual core processor dubbed the A5 (just as we predicted). Apple says the new processor is twice as fast as the old one and claims the graphics performance is 9 times faster. A ninefold increase is graphics performance is pretty crazy for one generation of improvement. Early hands on reports claim the new iPad is blazingly fast.
Cameras
The new iPad comes into line with the rest of the iOS family by getting front and rear facing cameras. The front camera is a VGA camera that can be used for facetime chats with other iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Mac users. There is also a neat photobooth app that allows you to take photos of yourself using the front camera. The rear camera can shoot 720p HD video.
iOS 4.3
The new iPad will come with the newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system iOS 4.3. This update enables better performance while using the Safari Internet browser, iTunes home sharing, Airplay improvements, and you can now turn the iPad mute switch back into the rotation lock if you so wish.
iPad Smart covers
It attaches magnetically and aligns perfectly. Open and close it, and iPad 2 wakes up and goes to sleep. Fold it into a stand for watching and typing. It’s smart in more ways than one.
Other stuff
The iPad 2 also gets a gyroscope and will now be available in black or white (as reported earlier this week). Apple demonstrated new apps for iMovie and GarageBand for iPad. Both apps looked very impressive and both will be available the same day iPad 2 releases. I have been expecting iLife apps for iPad for awhile now. The only thing oddly absent was iPhoto for iPad. Finally, Apple announced new “smart covers” for the iPad which act as a screen protector / case.
Conclusion
With much improved hardware yet the same exact prices as the last generation iPad, Apple should continue to dominate the tablet space. iPad 2 definitely looks like a worthy upgrade over the original iPad. Did we get everything on our wish list (SD card reader, retina display)? No, but Apple has to keep some things for future hardware updates. We are definitely excited about iPad 2 and will have much more on iPad 2 in the days and weeks to come. Now we just have to decide which color iPad 2 to buy.