Tag Archives: Second Generation

Apple Online Store Down Ahead of iPad 2 Launch

As is the case before most big Apple product launches, Apple has taken down all of their Online Stores ahead of today’s iPad 2 media event. The Online Store went down approximately two hours ago and should come back shortly after the conclusion of today’s launch which should be around 2:00 PM Central Time.

The fact that Apple has taken the store down could mean that the iPad 2 will be available for order immediately following the event.

Be sure to check back with us beginning at 12:00 PM Central Time today as we cover all of today’s iPad 2 launch news.

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Is This The New iPad 2?

iPad 2 rumors are reaching a feverish pitch with Apple’s official iPad 2 unveiling just days away. We’ve already seen several photos of what is rumored to be either the actual iPad 2 or a case for the new device, but this latest image from BGR is one of the best looking photos we’ve seen thus far.

The image has all the right elements, from the rumored tapered edges and larger speaker port to the rear facing camera. We’ve seen all of these items on other mock-ups but this image has a more polished feel to it than the earlier leaked photos that have hit the net.

BGR thinks this is probably more likely a fan rendering rather than a real photo of the new device, but they too think it is a good representation of what Apple will unveil on March 2.

The item that still bugs us is the speaker port on this new photo. As was the case in earlier photos, the speaker port lacks the fit and finish we’re used to seeing in an Apple product. The holes are not in line with Apple’s other product designs and we’d expect any speaker port to have tiny precision machined holes like those found on Apple’s Mac Book Pro lineup.

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More iPad 2 Pictures Surface – Fact or Fiction?

With the iPad 2 media event just days away, new pictures of what are reported to be the body design for the iPad 2 keep popping up on the net. While all the iPad 2 body and case designs share several similar features such as volume controls, mute button, headphone port and dock connector, they differ in many key areas.

So with all these rumored iPad 2 photos sharing so many similar elements, this could mean one of two things, these photos are authentic and Apple has been making last minute design changes to the new iPad 2 or more likely these are clever fakes.

The latest set of rumored iPad 2 body photos, from website iLab.cc, show a thinner iPad body with a distinct tapered design. The photos contain many of the same design elements seen in earlier iPad 2 photos such as front and rear facing cameras, a thinner body and a larger speaker port on the back of the iPad’s case. While the latest photos show the new iPad 2 will get a larger speaker, the speaker grill has a distinctly different design from what we’ve previously seen.

Many of these elements are in-line with previous iPad 2 rumors; however, the latest photos show a design which many consider to be out of line with Apple design aethstetics. The tapered sides and unrefined speaker grill on the body in these latest photos don’t strike us as something Johnathan Ive or Steve Jobs would approve.

The new speaker port doesn’t have the fit and finish we’ve grown accustomed to from Apple. Apple has spent millions in developing cutting edge precision machining capabilities to constantly push the envelope with its industrial design. With its advanced aluminum laser drilling capabilities, we’d expect the speaker grill to look more like the tiny holes found on the current Mac Book Pro than the crude slotted or large drilled hole designs we’ve seen in photos so far.

So does this uncharacteristic design mean that these photos are all fakes? Not necessarily. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people working on the iPad 2 so it’s not hard to imagine that basic design elements are being leaked out to accessory makers throughout Asia. While these might not be the refined final product we’ll see form Apple on March 2, they more than likely reflect some of the elements to be unveiled this week.

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PadGadget Weekend iPad News Roundup – Feb 27, 2011

In case you missed them, here are some of the most popular articles on PadGadget from the past week (February 20 – 27, 2011).

greenpois0n RC6.1 out, Fixes iBooks Issues
Apple Announces iPad 2 Launch Event
Apple Getting Ready for Next Week’s iPad 2 Announcement
Motorola’s Xoom Tablet Available at Best Buy This Week
Is iPad 2 Getting “Light Peak” High-Speed Connector?
YouTube Movie Service to Compete with iTunes and Netflix?
MLB at Bat 2011 for iPad now Available – Batter Up!
Medical Grade iPad Case Helps Prevent the Spread of Germs

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Apple Sends Out Media Invitations for iPad 2 Launch Event

According to The Loop, Apple has sent out invitations to the press to attend a media event on Wednesday, March 2. While Apple hasn’t explicitly said what will be unveiled at the event, based on the invitation artwork it appears Apple plans to introduce the new iPad 2. The invitation has a Calendar App icon showing March 2 and partly exposed behind a peeled corner is an image of the iPad.

The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco and kicks off at 10:00AM Pacific Time. We’ll be bringing you the latest iPad 2 news so be sure to stayed tuned to PadGadget on the big day.

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iPad 2 Delayed Until June?

Apple tablet fans have anxiously been awaiting news on when Apple’s new iPad 2 will be released. Based on a new report from Bloomberg, it looks like iPad 2 fans will have to wait quite a bit longer.

According to Bloomberg, Yuanta Securities analysts Vincent Chen and Alison Chen claim that Apple’s contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry is experiencing “production bottlenecks” forcing Apple to push the iPad 2 release from April to some time in June.

Yuanta Securities analysts Chen and Chen say, “Our checks suggest new issues are being encountered with the new production and it is taking time to resolve them.”

Not only is this is the first we’ve heard of any possible production delays it’s also the first iPad report we’ve seen from Yuanta Securities. It’s unclear exactly how reliable this new information might be so we’d take it with a grain of salt.

Most experts still think a March or April release date is the most likely time frame for Apple to reveal the new iPad 2. Any delay beyond this will give iPad competitors more time to release competing tablet.

[via MacRumors]

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More iPad Shortages in Europe Could Lead to Imminent iPad 2 Launch

Earlier today, we mentioned the fact that UK mobile providers T-Mobile and Orange started to offer heavily discounted first generation iPads, as the device’s price is now reduced by a hefty £100. While neither T-Mobile nor Orange commented on the price reduction, the discount was likely motivated by the imminent launch of the iPad 2, in order to get rid of current stocks of ‘soon-to-be-stale’ first generation iPads.

As noted by several Apple news outlets, things seem to be accelerating, as a sizable number of retailers seem to be out of iPads throughout the world. Typically, such widespread shortages imply an imminent product line refresh.

For instance, Carphone Warehouse, a UK-based reseller, is currently out of iPad 3G (all flavors), and is also out of 64GB WiFi-only iPads.

Also, some distributors of Apple products in Europe and Canada seem to be low on stock or completely out of stock.

While the launch date of the iPad 2 is still unclear at this stage, Apple recently reduced its first generation iPad production output, and heavily ramped up the production of the iPad 2.

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Apple Secures 60% of Touch-Panel Capacity for iPad 2 – Competitors Scramble

One of Apple’s most overlooked strengths is its ability to manage its supply chain, giving it a competitive advantage over rival manufactures. Apple has demonstrated this strength again, reportedly securing 60% of global touch panel capacity, causing supply constraints for other vendors planning to build tablets.

According to Taiwanese website DigiTimes, Apple has secured touch panel capacity to meet demand for iPads in 2011. The websites’ sources claim Apple placed large orders with all of its iPad suppliers and that OEM vendors are having issues meeting demand due to low yield of touch panels.

Sources from tablet PC makers also pointed out that the component shortage is causing their shipment volumes to be unable to catch up with their orders, especially for second-tier players. Touch panels are currently suffering the most serious shortage due to Apple holding control over the capacity of major touch panel makers such as Wintek and TPK, and with US-based RIM, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard (HP) also competing for related components, second-tier players are already out of the game, the sources noted.

DigiTimes’ component supplier sources claim that the shortage is limited to glass capacitive touch panels and that thin-film capacitive touch panels, mainly used in smartphones, are still available. Most tablet manufacturers prefer not to use thin-film panels as they are less durable and don’t have the same touch characteristics as the more widely used glass displays.

Apple’s move to secure such a large portion of the touch-panel capacity has forced other vendors such as HP and Samsung to get their screens from smaller touch-panel suppliers like Sintek Photronic. According to DigiTimes, “Apple’s strategy of taking up most of the capacity should help the company quickly expand its sales, while reducing its competitors’ shipment growth.”

Apple is expected to release the new iPad 2 within the next 60 days and other rumors point to Apple possibly releasing an iPad 3 as soon as this fall. To meet the demand for its new tablets, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple secure other component capacity, causing further supply chain issues for its competitors.

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Motorola CEO Says Xoom Better than iPad – $800 Price Justified

Motorola Mobility’s Chairman and CEO, Sanjay Jha confirmed the numerous rumors that Motorola’s new Xoom Android tablet will go on sale for a whopping $800 when it comes out later this month.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Jha met with a group of reporters in Barcelona during this year’s Mobile World Congress and spoke about the company’s upcoming Xoom tablet. Jha confirmed pricing for a 32GB 3G Xoom will start at $799, which is a $70 premium over a similarly configured iPad. Jha didn’t discuss pricing for the WiFi only model, but according to CrunchGear, it is expected to come out later this year with a price tag of $600, on par with Apple’s 32GB iPad with WiFi.

When Jha was asked about the pricing premium compared to the iPad he replied, “We felt that our ability to deliver 50Mb/s would justify the $799 price point. It is 32GB with 3G and a free upgrade to 4G. Being competitive with iPad is important. We feel that from the hardware and capabilities we deliver we are at least competitive and in a number of ways better [than the iPad].”

The Xoom packs in several features, such as dual cameras and Flash support, missing in Apple’s current iPad models so one could argue the extra price is not completely unwarranted. Of course Apple’s not standing still either with the second generation iPad expected within weeks. Once Apple takes the wraps off its latest tablet, it will be telling how big a gap, if any, remains between the Xoom and iPad.

The latest iPad is rumored to pack more memory, a faster processor, improved display, dual cameras, and new slimmer body. If these rumors are indeed accurate, the Xoom’s price can quickly go from premium to uncompetitive and force Motorola to drop pricing or suffer poor sales. The coming weeks will show if Apple has reset the bar or if it’s given its competitors a little breathing room.

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Apple Finally Starts Production of New iPad 2

According to its sources, The Wall Street Journal claims that production of Apple’s new second iPad is now underway. The newly designed iPad 2 is expected to have several new features such as a front and rear facing camera, improved graphics performance and a thinner and lighter body design.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the new iPad will be available through AT&T and Verizon. The fact that the iPad would be available from both wireless carriers could indicate that the new iPad uses the same Qualcomm “World Band” chip that’s found in the new Verizon version of the iPhone 4. The Qualcomm MDM6600 integrates both CDMA and UMTS radios into a single chip making it easier for device manufacturers to build one device that supports all major wireless standards.

Late last year Taiwanese news site DigiTimes reported that Apple had selected the major component suppliers for the new iPad 2. The companies were ramping up production and planned to begin shipping components in December in order to meet a 1st quarter iPad 2 launch date.

The new iPad 2 will face increased competition from consumer electronics companies launching a range of new tablets based on Google’s new Android 3.0 mobile OS. The new version of Android, code named Honeycomb, is the first version of the OS to be designed specifically for new tablet devices. The Motorola Xoom will be the first tablet to use the Android 3.0 and is expected to be available later this month.

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So When Will Apple Unveil the Second Generation iPad?

It’s pretty much a forgone conclusion that Apple is busy working on the next generation iPad. The blogoshpere is full of rumors about new features, liked a carbon fiber body or high resolution screen, that might make their way into the final shipping version. But features aren’t everything.

While the new features are important, the other big question is when will Apple finally unveil the new iPad. The first generation iPad was unveiled on January 27 and Apple traditionally updates products on an annual cycle. While we expect the new iPad 2 to makes its debut any day now, we decided to take a closer look at when the magic day might be.

Just this week Japanese tech site Macotakara announced that their sources informed them the big event would be some time in March. While the site didn’t provide any additional details on the exact time frame, it did question whether the release date would be a global release or come in stages, as was the case with the first generation iPad.

While March certainly seems like a possibility, German Mac site MacNotes.de (German) says they’ve received information from an iPad accessory maker that the iPad 2 will be previewed next week. The site claims the event is already in the works and that the iPad will initially be exclusive to the US for the first three months.

We feel that February is the likely month for Apple to introduce their new tablet but next week is probably a bit early. Why? Apple generally sends out media invites before they introduce a new product and these invites usually give attendees a 5-10 day notice. Since no invites have been spotted, the probability that next week is the magic week is extremely low.

Another thing going against a release next week is the day of the event. Apple is a creature of habit and it likes to release products on Wednesdays. Last year three of four major product launches happened on a Wednesday, only one launch happened on a Thursday.

Next Wednesday is February 9th and this also happens to be the exact date MacStories speculates the iPad could be unveiled. The website came to the conclusion based on some icon artwork found in the latest iOS 4.3 beta. While the day would match nicely with Apple’s preferred launch day, it doesn’t give the press much time to prepare and travel to California to cover the event.

So if next week isn’t the week, when will the iPad 2 makes its debut? Based on the latest rumors and previous Apple launches, we speculate that they’ll take the wraps off in the third or fourth week of February and that it will likely be on a Wednesday. That leaves only a few more weeks for us to find out if our guess is correct.

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iPad 2 Rumored to Get Carbon Fiber Body and new NFC Features

Now that the iPad 2 is only weeks away, the rumors are picking up steam. iLounge is reporting that the second generation iPad will have several new features to set it apart from the current iPad. While iLounge has received the new information from a previously reliable source, they caution that “some of the information is very preliminary.”

The first reported change to the iPad will be a possible carbon fiber body. The new material is being considered as an alternative to Apple’s standard aluminum design. Carbon fiber is very durable, can easily be shaped and is a light weight alternative to metal based bodies.

Apple likes the physical characteristics of aluminum and has spent a considerable amount of time and money in new manufacturing and milling techniques. Apple has also touted the “green” aspects of aluminum, it is easily recycled and a highly sought after metal. While a carbon fiber based iPad has been rumored for some time, we’re skeptical that Apple would move away from aluminum any time soon.

It’s also purported that Apple will beef up the iPad’s Personal Area Network capability by adding new Near Field Communications (NFC). The iPad already supports both Bluetooth and WiFi so it’s unclear why an additional network technology would be needed. iLounge believes the new NFC capabilities could be used to communicate with a range of new iPad accessories. This would allow iPads and accessories to communicate with one another and activate features when they come into close proximity with one another.

The latest rumors from iLounge certainly sound plausible and could make their way into a future iPad. However, we would be surprised to see Apple implement additional networking capabilities or move to a new case manufacturing process at this point in the iPad’s lifecycle. Guess we’ll find out in a few weeks exactly what tricks Apple has up it’s sleeves.

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iPad 2 Spotted at the Launch of News Corps ‘The Daily’ App

Looks like a new iPad publication wasn’t the only thing on display at the launch event of News Corps’ new iPad publication, The Daily. Reuters reports that one of their staff members saw a new iPad 2 at the launch event in New York city earlier today.

According to the Reuters employee, the iPad appeared to be a working prototype of the upcoming iPad 2 and featured a front facing camera near the top of the screen. A front facing camera has been rumored by many sources to be one of the main new features in the second generation iPad expected later this quarter.

Reuters contacted both News Corp and Apple to find out more about the device, but both companies declined to comment.

In addition to a front facing camera, the second generation iPad is expected to have an additional rear facing camera similar in design to the iPhone 4. The new iPad is also expected to sport a thinner design along with improved speakers.

There has been some speculation on whether the new iPad will have a higher definition display. Some evidence points to the possibility that the iPad 2 will have a new display with twice the pixel density of the current iPad, while others question if such as large, high-resolution display can be manufactured in the quantity and at the price point needed for Apple’s large production needs.

Apple has sold over 15 million iPads to date and analysts predict that they will be able to sell 30 million iPads this year. A new iPad will certainly boost sales but Apple is also aggressively expanding iPad sales channels and increasing the number of countries where the iPad is sold.

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iPad 2 Spotted at the Launch of News Corps’ “The Daily” App

Reuters contacted both News Corp and Apple to find out more about the device, but both companies declined to comment.

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iPad 2 Screen Expected to Feature Twice the Resolution

With the iPad 2 just weeks away, new rumors are coming out of the woodworks. The latest set of rumors focus on the second generation iPad’s new graphics processor and all new high-resolution display.

Mac Rumors reports that the latest iOS 4.3 beta includes references to a new OpenCL-Capable GPU which is expected to make its debut in the iPad 2 later this month. Imagination Technologies supplies the GPU for the current iPad and iPhone and the UK based company is expected to be the supplier of choice for the iPad 2. The current iOS 4.3 beta makes reference to drivers for Imagination Technologies SGX543 GPU which belongs to the company’s next generation of high end graphics chips for mobile devices. The improved GPU will provide better graphics performance for high-end gaming and 3D applications.

One reason for the more advanced GPU is the need to drive the iPad 2′s higher resolution screen. According to reports, the new iPad will feature a screen with a resolution of 2048×1536, twice the resolution of the current iPad. Rafeed Chaudhury did some digging and found a new version of the iBook wood tile graphic labeled Wood Tile@2x.png. The 2X designation seems to point to a doubling of the current resolution. The iBook app uses a wood tile graphic for the bookshelf which measured 768×400 pixels, the newly found version of the same file now measures 1536×800 pixels. This doubling in the size of graphics in iBooks would seem to indicate that Apple intends to significantly increase the iPad’s display this next time around.

While 2048×1536 pixels is certainly a significant increase, it still falls short of the resolution found on the iPhone 4′s Retina Display. The iPhone 4′s Retina Display features nearly 25% more pixels per inch compared to the improved iPad 2 screen resolution.

If Apple does double the iPad’s screen resolution, it will mean developers will need to rework their current applications to take advantage of the new higher resolution. This change in resolution is something developers have gone through before. When the iPad was first introduced, it featured a resolution twice that of the iPhone 3GS. Developers quickly retooled their apps and for those that didn’t, Apple offered a resolution doubling 2X feature. We expect Apple will follow a similar process this time around and provide a pixel doubling feature so apps can play back in full screen mode on the new iPad 2.

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iPad 2 Cases and Mockup Revealed at CES

Over the past several weeks we’ve gotten received several photos of what are supposedly cases for Apple’s upcoming second generation iPad. The cases all show extra cutouts for what is reported to be an additional connector or speaker and a rear facing camera. Up until now we’ve just seen photos but it appears that some manufactures are so certain that these are the specs for the next iPad that they are showing them off at CES and Engadget just spotted one of them.

While roaming the halls at CES today, Engadget came across the booth of Chinese accessory maker Dexim who had new cases designed specifically for the iPad 2. Of course it’s hard to get a good feel for how a new case will fit a yet to be released product and to help prospective buyers get a better sense for fit and finish, the company also had mockup second generation iPads on hand for people to play with.

It’s hard to believe that so many Chinese companies have already leaked specs to Apple’s second generation iPad this far in advance, but the design and sizing of Dexim’s cases closely match the details we’ve been receiving from other accessory makers. You might ask yourself, why a company would invest in creating mockups for cases and display them at CES if they didn’t know the specifications to be legit? Marketing? How many of us ever heard of Dexim before today? Not many. But now with the bizz of having iPad 2 cases and mockups, we’re sure their booth will enjoy some extra traffic this CES.

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Three iPad 2 Versions Coming in January – Verizon Model Expected

We previously reported that Apple was increasing its shipment targets for the next iPhone thanks in part to the addition of a CDMA version of the iconic phone. We now hear that Apple has similar plans for the second-generation of iPads expected to be released in the first quarter of next year.

Taiwanese website DigiTimes reports that Apple is preparing to release three distinct versions of the iPad in January. According to DigiTimes sources, the second-generation iPad lineup will include WiFi and UMTS versions, which is currently available in the first generation iPad, plus an all new CDMA iPad model. CDMA is the wireless radio technology used by Verizon and would indicate a Verizon iPad is in the works.

Based on information from iPad component vendors, Apple plans to have a production ratio of 3:4:3 for the WiFi, UMTS and CDMA models respectively. Apple is expected to ship 500,000-530,000 units to sales channels beginning in January, which puts iPad 2 availability several months ahead of previous reports.

The sources pointed out that about 60-65% of current iPad shipments are 3G models, indicating that consumers prefer models that are able to connect to the Internet all the time, therefore Apple is aiming to work even more closely with telecom carriers by offering more wireless solutions for iPad 2 to satisfy market demand.

In addition to new wireless radio options, Apple is also working on new screen technology to help the iPad compete with Amazon’s Kindle e-reader. Apple will include new anti-smudge and anti-glare technology in the second generation iPad’s LCD screen to help improve readability and reduce distracting smudges and glare from the device’s glass surface.

Previous reports put the second generation iPad’s release in February or March so if this latest report is accurate, new iPads will begin hitting store shelves in January, a full 60-90 days ahead of previous estimates. We would be surprised to see the new iPads available in stores that early but we do expect Apple to announce a new device during that time frame, with availability following another 30-60 days.

It’s long been rumored that Verizon would launch a CDMA version of the iPad in 2011. Verizon began selling iPads bundled with MiFi CDMA / WiFi routers earlier this year and many saw this as a clear sign that Apple and Verizon would be cooperating more closely as the exclusivity contract with AT&T expired.

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iPad 2 Rumored to be Thinner and Have Improved Speakers

According to the latest report from Japanese website MacOtakara, Apple’s second generation iPad will be thinner and have a flat case design similar to the current iPod Touch. The website is not known for their Apple rumors but their predictions are none-the-less, an interesting read.

MacOtakara’s anonymous Chinese source said the new iPad will be 3mm (0.118 inches) smaller with a height of 239mm (9.41 inches) and a width of 186mm (7.32 inches). The iPad’s display will reportedly remain the same size with the front of the iPad featuring a front facing FaceTime enabled camera.

According to MacOtakara sources, the rear of the new iPad will undergo several changes which include a new slotted space for a large “wide-ranged” speaker unit, the relocation of the Ambient Light Sensor (ALS) and the addition of a 5-megapixel rear facing camera.

Rear and front facing cameras have been reported by many analysts in recent months. Apple’s expected to include them to further the reach of their FaceTime video conferencing technology. Suppliers are reported to begin shipping components for the second generation iPad in January and February of next year, just in time for an April product launch.

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