By Grace Chng
Senior Correspondent
chngkeg@sph.com.sg

 

ON Wednesday (March 2), Apple refreshed its iPad which it debuted in April 2010, giving the iPad 2 two cameras, making it thinner by a one-third and giving it more power and speed by putting in a dual processor called A5 and a gyroscope.

Apart from the standard black, it also comes in white.

Battery life will remain at 10 hours and the iPad 2 can be connected to a TV via a HDMI accessory. But the iPad 2 is minus the Retina Display high resolution screen that is available in the iPhone 4.

I followed the launch via liveblog on techcrunch.com on Thursday morning (Singapore time) at 2am. The surprise event was not the iPad 2 which had been widely anticipated.

Instead, it was the appearance of a Mr Steve Jobs, Apple’s iconic chief executive - who is on medical leave but turned up to host the event.

The iPad is Mr Jobs’ baby. It comes at a time when the new wave of competing gadgets is emerging this year and which threatens Apple’s dominance in the tablet market.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in January this year, over 100 tablets were showcased among them, from Hewlett-Packard, Blackberry and Samsung.

Two things on the iPad 2 stuck out for me.

HEADSTART OVER RIVALS

By putting the iPad 2 on store shelves from March 11 in the United States - and in 26 other countries on March 25 - it is getting a few months’ headstart over its challengers which are only starting to sell from the middle of 2011.

Only two credible tablets are selling today: The Samsung Galaxy Tab which was launched late in 2010 and the Motorola Xoom which hit stores on Feb 24.

The other thing that stood out is price.

Apple is pricing the iPad 2 between US$500 ($633) and US$830 – the original price of the iPad - despite improved features. It means consumers will get more bang for their buck.

These two trends raise the bar and sustain pressure on the tablet challengers.

I expect Apple will break its previous record of 1 million iPads sold in the first month.

Market analysts will also take note that Apple is launching its second-generation iPad just as its competitors are starting to roll out their first-generation tablets.

So the million-dollar question: Should you buy the iPad 2?

It is thinner, lighter, faster and more connected. The specs have been merely bumped up, but when taken as a whole, they significantly enhance its overall appeal.

I have been using the iPad since April 2010, and the iPad 2 will make it easier for me to use in a few ways.

About 100 gm lighter does not make a real difference in weight, but it will make it easier to hold on one hand, while waiting for a taxi or someone.

The glare from the screen has always disturbed me. With the addition of the LED-backlit screen, the glare will be reduced, making it easier to read e-books and e-magazines in an al fresco cafe or by the beach.

With faster speed, apps will load much faster and graphics-intensive games like Infinity Blade will not suffer from lag.

I have been taking videos with my Flip HD handheld webcam. With iMovie (US$4.99app), editing HD videos will be easy. I do not have to think about learning video editing skills.

COOL FACTOR

But what really wowed me is the smart cover with the iPad 2. It is the single factor that makes the gadget really cool.

The smart cover is magnetically attached to the iPad, waking it up when opened. Folding the cover back changes it to a stand.

So, so, so clever. Just a small step but such a cool factor!

I have always believed that the 350,000 apps which can be used on the iPad are a crucial compelling factor for people to buy the iPad. Apps ranging from recipes, beauty tips, children’s e-books to games, boost the usefulness of iPads.

Using my iPhone 4 to tether to the tablet is a boon especially in areas where the 3G signal is really low. For people who buy just the Wi-Fi version, this is a big plus.

While there is no retina display that will give the iPad 2 the same HD-screen resolution as the iPhone 4, I am not too worried about it.

The current display is good enough for me. Since there are two cameras, I just may start video conferencing with my niece in London.

I know I would want the white Wi-Fi+3G 64GB iPad 2 plus the smart cover.

But Apple Singapore is not saying when the new gizmo will arrive here.

So I may just have to export one from the US.

chngkeg@sph.com.sg

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