iPad 2 Will Be Available In White and Black From Day One [Apple]

Forget the lost dream of a white iPhone 4; Apple has announced that iPad 2 will ship in both black and white on March 11th. Hopefully this also bodes well for a white iPhone 5 this summer! Ars Technica" /> More »

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iPad 2 vs. original iPad: what's changed?

Shockingly enough, Apple found plenty of things to tweak and update on its spectacularly successful iPad. Alright, so the screen resolution didn't improve and we didn't get that ultra-speedy Thunderbolt connector on board, but the iPad 2 is thinner and lighter while somehow becoming more powerful -- a 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 SOC lurks within. Check out our full breakdown of the key spec differences in the chart after the break. It's great fun, we promise!

P.S. - While you're poring over these stats, don't forget that Apple's decided to slap a $100 price cut on the original iPads, making them eminently more desirable today than they were yesterday.

Continue reading iPad 2 vs. original iPad: what's changed?

iPad 2 vs. original iPad: what's changed? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The iPad 2

Apple has just made its second-generation iPad official! It features a dual-core A5 chip and, finally, cameras, both front and rear! The new CPU is said to be up to twice as fast, with graphics performance up to nine times better than on the original iPad, while power requirements have been kept the same. Battery life is, consequently, unaltered, with Apple promising 10 hours. Pricing, too, has been left unchanged, starting at $499. The new tablet will come with an HDMI output capable of 1080p -- which will set you back $39 for the requisite dongle -- but we've yet to hear any rumblings of Thunderbolt connectivity. There's an enlarged speaker grille on the back, as expected, though resolution has not budged from the original iPad's 1024 x 768.

Gallery: iPad 2 press shots

720p video recording at 30fps will be on tap from the rear-facing camera, which can also do a 5x digital zoom if you're into that kind of thing, whereas the front-facing imager will record at a more modest VGA resolution, also at 30fps.

There's a new cover for the device, which is best defined by Steve Jobs himself: "We designed the case right along side the product. It's not a case -- it's a cover." Basically, it's a magnetic flap that protects the front and automatically wakes and puts the device to sleep according to whether it's open or closed. Guess we know what that proximity sensor was about now. These Smart Covers will cost $39 in plastic or $69 if you opt for leather.

The iPad 2 is 33 percent thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and a little lighter at just over 600g, while chromatic options have been expanded: you'll get a choice between white and black. It'll be available on both AT&T and Verizon, and all variants start shipping on March 11th. Apple Retail Stores will start sales at the unusual hour of 5PM, which will probably make online pre-orders the fastest way to get yours.

Gallery: Apple iPad 2

In terms of new software, Apple's launching iOS 4.3 alongside the new iPad and bringing with it much improved Safari performance as well as FaceTime, Photo Booth, iMovie and GarageBand (the latter two costing $4.99 a piece) apps specifically for the newly camera-enriched iPad. Personal Hotspot capabilities are also arriving in the latest version of the OS, but they'll be exclusive to the iPhone 4, so you won't be able to share your 3G iPad's connection.

Gallery: iPad 2 FaceTime and Photo Booth apps

Click past the break for Apple's official press release and some slick promo video action.

Developing... for the latest coverage of Apple's iPad 2 launch event, see our liveblog.

Continue reading The iPad 2

The iPad 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android Quick-App: Launcher7

Apparently some crazy fool went and shared this picture on Twitter and, no, we haven't jumped ship to Windows Phone 7. But that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun with it.

What you see here is the Launcher7 homescreen/launcher replacement app. And it's pretty darn good. You basically have two panes. On the left are the hallmark tiles that serve as application icons. By default you have phone, messaging, internet, gmail, music, Market, contacts and HD Video (gallery).

Flip over to the right-hand pane, and you get a list of all your installed apps.

There are a few basic settings, including tile color, and whether you want them to "fly" in or fade in. Font support apparently is in the works, too.

It's a cool little launcher replacement, and it's no secret that we're impressed by what Microsoft's done with the Metro UI in WP7, and the free Launcher7 is an interesting recreation. Now if only it could get me some Zune Pass on Android. ... We've got a video demo and download links after the break. Check 'em out.

ps: Note that you have to have an HDPI (high-res, basically) screen for this app.

Android Quick-App: Launcher7 posted originally by Android Central

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Older TiVo Series 3 / HD boxes will work with the iPad remote app soon

The companion app for TiVo Premiere DVRs worked out well when we reviewed it, but ZatzNotFunny points out it could get even better soon when it will feature "limited support" for Series 3 / HD boxes, along with TiVo DVRs offered by cable providers like RCN and Suddenlink. This "coming soon" info was included in an update yesterday that added a new DVR selection screen to the setup process, ability to run in the background plus assorted performance enhancements and bug fixes. Of course, we now know that TiVo's "lifetime" offers won't last forever (ten years, give or take) but for users who would prefer to stick with their existing hardware instead of upgrading to a Series 4, there are still a few new features coming down the pipe.

Older TiVo Series 3 / HD boxes will work with the iPad remote app soon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily Crunch: Dr. Watson I Presume Edition

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