The iPad 2’s Début

The iPad 2 made its first public appearance yesterday, at an Apple conference held in San Francisco.

There are several questions that come to mind when considering this evolutionary development. What’s so good about the new iPad version? How is it better than the original? Why should I bother upgrading?

The iPad 2 made its first public appearance yesterday, at an Apple conference held in San Francisco.

There are several questions that come to mind when considering this evolutionary development. What’s so good about the new iPad version? How is it better than the original? Why should I bother upgrading?

For one, Apple isn’t shy about the iPad 2’s prowess. It advertises iOS4 as being “The world’s most advanced mobile operating system.”

But it doesn’t stop there. In essence, the original iPad was a snazzy tablet PC well worth the investment. But its latest incarnation, the iPad 2, is twice as fast, lighter weight, and thinner.

But faster processing speeds and greater mobility aren’t the only improvements.

Carried at both Verizon & AT&T, the Apple iPad 2 has built-in 802.11n wireless technology, which means it can be used with both Wi-Fi and 3G connections. It automatically seeks out any available networks, and connects to the Internet much like competitors tablet PCs do.

The newest iPad comes in black and white and features front and rear-facing cameras, for a truly immersive experience.

Different news sources are displaying different reveal dates, with availability being slated as early as March 11 or as late as March 23. In a leaked spec listing on Amazon Germany, availability was proposed as starting at March 17 (with delivery by March 23).

But according to the main Apple website, the iPad 2’s availability will begin as of March 11.

As a side note, one feature that is somewhat off the beaten path but is not heavily advertised is the inclusion of what Apple has dubbed the iPad Smart Cover. Apple products aren’t cheap and picking out the right screen protector and case is always something of a challenge. The innovative company has dumbed-down the whole process with the Smart Cover – an option that melds efficiently to the iPad 2’s dimensions.

The way the Smart Cover works is pretty neat – apparently the iPad 2 was developed with this sort of application in mind. The iPad 2 has magnets built directly into its frame – magnets which align directly with the Smart Cover hinge for a perfect fit.

This technology, like all others associated with the iPad 2, very well may catch on for iPhones, MacBook Pros and other Apple goods.