Magical.
It’s truly the only way to describe the new Apple iPad 2. Sleeker, lighter, and faster, the iPad 2 serves as a significant improvement off the original ground-breaking technological marvel.
At less than one and a half pounds, the new iPad has a 10 hour battery life with a minimum storage space of 16 gigabites. Its front and back cameras open a whole new realm of opportunities including FaceTime, high definition video recording, and Photo Booth.
Nevertheless, despite these improvements, Apple has maintained the same price for the iPad 2 as the original, starting at $499, and now offers the iPad in black or white while having 3G options provided by AT&T and Verizon.
In addition, to complement the iPad 2 is Apple’s new Smart Cover, which masterfully integrates with the device, magnetically snapping onto the side and over its screen. The new cover’s configuration allows you to prop the iPad up vertically or create a slight horizontal incline, optimal for typing. Furthermore, it showcases the nearly instantaneous startup time of the iPad 2 because as you open the cover, it immediately awakens from its sleep, ready for use.
In the end, one might wonder what they could do with an iPad that is sometimes seen as merely an oversized iPod. Yet, the options are mind-boggling, considering the over 65,000 iPad applications that are available in Apple’s App Store.
The iPad 2 is a blank palette – a beautiful multi-touch platform – for you to install, explore and enjoy any multitude of applications from the App Store that personalize your iPad to fit your lifestyle. Whether you are a high school student or a grandparent, there are numerous ways of utilizing your iPad, including some of the following:
Book: First off, the iPad is a great way to read a book. Indeed, some cannot stray from the classic paper of a book but the iBooks, Kindle and Nook applications on the iPad have thousands of stories that you can download in a matter of seconds and leaf through with the simplicity of a swipe of a finger. Newspaper: As more newspapers switch to online subscriptions, the iPad has huge potential as a revolutionary way of embracing online journalism through the multi-touch interaction of media applications. Most newspapers like the New York Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and USAToday now have interactive applications.Arcade: With advanced graphics performance, the iPad can be your video game arcade. Choose from thousands of games in the App Store and challenge your friends to virtual competitions through the Game Center application built into the device.
FaceTime: FaceTime is one of the greatest new additions to the iPad 2. You can now video call any of your friends if they own more recent Apple products and take advantage of iPad’s two new cameras.
HD Video: The backside of the new iPad features a HD video camera that is perfect for capturing classic moments on the go. Then, you can edit your footage on the iMovie application for the iPad.
Email: The iPad is also a easy way for you to browse through your email, organize your inbox and send messages. At first, it is a little unusual typing on the touchscreen keyboard, but, with time, it comes naturally.
Instrument: With its advanced multi-touch technology, the iPad can become a piano, guitar, drum set or music editor through applications such as GarageBand.
Television: Through subscription to applications such as Netflix or Hulu Plus, you can actually stream your favorite television shows or movies straight from your iPad with either a 3G or a wireless connection.
Computer: With applications such as Pages (like Word), Keypoint (like PowerPoint) and Numbers (like Excel), you can create and print documents and give presentations by connecting the iPad to a digital projector.
