Apple unveils Thinner, Lighter & Faster iPad 2

San Francisco, Mar 3: Finally, the cat came out of the bag! After a long series of leaks and rumors, the iPhone maker Apple Inc. has uncovered the the mystery behind the second generation iPad. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad 2 on Wednesday, Mar 2 during a special Apple Event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Apple set for the tablet war with an announcement that, "2010 - the year of tablets and 2011 - the year of copycats." Apple launched the first generation iPad in 2010 and managed to sell more than 15 million iPads. Steve Jobs said that dedspite of various products from different manufactures, iPad dominates the tablet market with more than 90 per cent market share.

iPad 2 - Faster, Thinner and Lighter

Apple focused to satisfy its strong dedicated fan base with all additional features they were asking for. The iPad 2 is more thinner, lighter and faster than its first version. iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad.

iPad 2 - Dual Core A5 Processor, dual Camera with FaceTime

Apple iPad 2 also features Apple"s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time.

iPad 2 - HDMI Video Mirroring port, 3G and Wi-Fi

Apple claimed that the iPad 2 will deliver up to 10 hours of battery life. iPad 2 will be available in black and white colours, features models that run on AT&T"s and Verizon"s 3G networks. iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3, the latest version of the world"s most advanced mobile operating system, with new features including faster Safari mobile browsing performance, iTunes Home Sharing, enhancements to AirPlay, the choice to use the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute audio and Personal Hotspot to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.

iPad 2 - Smart Cover to protect the screen

Apple also unveiled an innovative iPad 2 Smart Cover that provides protection for the iPad screen. The iPad2 Smart Cover is designed with a unique self-aligning magnetic hinge that makes it easy to attach and remove. This cover also automatically wakes iPad 2 when it"s opened and puts it to sleep when it"s closed, and has a soft microfiber lining to help keep the screen clean. iPad 2 Smart Cover will be available in a range of vibrant polyurethane and rich leather colors.

Other features on iPad 2 include a built-in gyro for advanced gaming, HSUPA support for enhanced 3G upload speeds on iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on AT&T, and HDMI Video Mirroring that lets users mirror their iPad screen on an HDTV using an optional adaptor.

Pricing & Availability:
Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that the company will start the shipping of iPad 2 by Mar 11. iPad 2 will be available in United States by Mar 11 and in nearly 15 European countries by Mar 25. Apple said that iPad 2 would available in other countries around the world in the coming months.
* iPad 2 (16 GB model) - $499
* iPad 2 (32 GB model) - $599
* iPad 2 (64 GB model) - $699
* iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (16 GB model) - $629
* iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (32 GB model) - $729
* iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (64 GB model) - $829

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