Apple CEO Steve Jobs took time off from sick leave to launch a "completely redesigned" iPad 2 to go on sale in the US on March 11.
The new device is 33% thinner than the current model - that's thinner than the iPhone 4 - but with the same 10-hour battery life. It's got a 2X faster processor, better graphics chip, front-and-rear cameras, and comes in two colours - black and white.
It wasn't known if Steve Jobs would be well enough to even attend the launch event in San Francisco: it's reported he's undergoing treatment at a cancer centre. And he surprised many by hosting the entire presentation that lasted more than an hour.
The iPad 2 will ship first in the US on March 11 and roll out to other countries - including the UK - on March 25, but it won't be available for pre-order before then. It will cost exactly the same as the current iPad - starting at $499 in the US. Apple has already cut the price of the original iPad by $100 in the States, so they now start at $399.
It will also have new accessories, including an HDMI Out cable and new cases, called "SmartCovers", which will put the device to sleep when closed and waken it up when opened. The covers, which also act as stands, will cost $39 in plastic and $69 in leather, not cheap for something that just covers the front of the device.
Bottom line: the iPad 2 is a worthy successor to its groundbreaking predecessor, but most of the improvements are predictable and not earth-shaking. If you're in the market for your first tablet, it's a good buy and better than its rivals. But, is it worth upgrading from the current iPad? Probably not. And anyway, there could be an iPad 3 before the end of the year.
You can get full technical specs at the Apple website.
And here's a hand-on video from Engadget:
If you want to watch the entire Steve Jobs keynote launch of the iPad 2, you can get the video in iTunes.
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