Just got the new iPad last week and the plan is that this will be how I update this site. But like many, typing on the iPad is easy, but editing, especially trying to select blocks of text is quite a pain.
The video above, by YouTube user danielchasehooper, showed how he thinks Apple should implement text selection on the iPad, and I really hope Apple does that.
Wired How-to has a few good pointers on how to ensure you squeeze as much juice out of your iPhone battery when the charger is no where in sight. Also mentioned were some battery usage myths which you might have heard before, debunked.
Our hunch is off. In last night’s Second-Quarter Earnings call, Apple COO Tim Cook stated that another 13 countries will get iPad 2 next week – so next week it is!
Demand on iPad 2 has been staggering. We’re still amazed that we are still heavily backlogged, not only at the end of the quarter but also up to date. However, I can tell you that I’m extremely pleased with the progress of the manufacturing ramp and we were so confident that we rolled out 25 additional countries at the end of last month, and we are shipping to an additional 13 countries next week, and we’re planning to add even more countries through the quarter. So I’m very confident that we can produce a very large number of iPads for the quarter. Whether that will be enough to meet demand, I don’t know. Demand has been staggering and I’m not going to predict when supply and demand will come into balance. I can only be confident on supply side.
And the iPad 2 pricing might have been leaked …
16GB – $628 + $200(3G)
32GB – $728 + $200(3G)
64GB – $828 + $200(3G)
“This is what we believe: technology alone is not enough.” – A great new TV ad from Apple for the iPad 2.
Apple had just announced that iPad 2 will be available in Singapore, in April. In a press release just published, together with Hong Kong and Korea, Singapore will be the 2nd batch of countries to receive the iPad outside the US.
CUPERTINO, California–March 22, 2011–Apple® today announced that iPad® 2, the second-generation of its third post-PC device, will go on sale in 25 additional countries this Friday, March 25. iPad 2 will be available at Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers at 5 p.m. local time, and online through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com) beginning at 1 a.m. Apple today also announced that all models of iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April.
However, there are no information as yet of how Apple will price them in Singapore. In the US, the iPad 2 prices matches those of the original iPad when it was launched. However, over the year, the exchange rate between US$ and S$ had dropped to the extend that if Apple are to stick with the original iPad prices last year, there will be more than S$100 difference. We hope there will be good news in the pricing.
iPad SG Pricing back in 2010
(US$499 now will be only S$630)
As of now, if you are not convinced, have a look at our review and if anyone is interested to have a look, do drop me a note.
So is anyone preparing to camp out?
Yeps that is the new iPad 2 on my bay window. To be precise, the 16GB WiFi, White iPad 2. And nope I did not go get hammered by the Sim Lim Sq profiteers with their heavily marked-up iPad 2 prices.
Fortunate for us, we had a friend who was right in the US on the day of the launch and bless him for queueing 2 hours to get us the iPad. Thanks Mel!
As some of you might remember – I have the iPad back in May last year and after using it sparingly (will talk about this later…) over the last 10 months, how does the next generation compare with the original?
Well, the 33% shaving of the iPad’s weight, though might not sound much, but when carried, did feel more comfortable on the hands. Add to that the tapered corners makes the iPad 2 sits more snugged on your palms.
With the White model, if you have been using the iPad, you might feel that the screen had grown smaller. Though that is not true as the screen remains the same – just that having the white frame around the screen makes it seems more constrained.
The other obvious difference is the appearance of the pair of cameras on the iPad 2. As mentioned in almost every other tech publications, the rear camera might be good with the 720p HD videos, but snap a photo and you will be appalled by its quality, especially if you have been happily Instagraming on your iPhone 4.
Early benchmarks have shown the the new A5 dual-core chips are slower than the A4 on the original iPad. But with the dual cores, apps do run snappier on the iPad 2. But that doesn’t mean the original iPad is slow. At least not yet. Most apps that you run on the iPad will still start and run like new. But with developers updating their apps or writing new ones that will utilise the dual cores on the A5, you will start to observe the differences grow.
Oh – the Smart Cover? It is such a joy to use. Once attached, you can use it as a stand like how Apple showed you, but it also works well as a grip when you are holding it with one hand. I just hope Apple did not patent the Smart Cover design and companies can incorporate the smart folding design with their existing cases.
If you already own an iPad – my honest opinion is no. Keep it and wait till the next iPad to come out. Yes iPad 2 is lighter and has a camera and faster, for at least a year, those improvements are marginal. Plus there is no improvement in the screen even though the graphic prowess has increased.
If you don’t own one – don’t wait. If you are comparing with other tablets – don’t bother. At this point of time, there is no competition with the iPads. If you are looking for a gadget that will fit into the post-PC lifestyle, then please be at the front of the queue when iPad 2 is launched.
The perennial question with such launch is – when is the iPad 2 coming? Honestly we don’t know. Such questions to our Apple contacts will only be responded with the same answer – “we don’t know”. With the unfortunate situation happening in Japan, we might expect a longer delay than expected. But please, don’t fall into the trap and give a hand and a foot for those selling it at exorbitant prices.
Go look and ask around friends and families who might be coming back from the US to help get a set from Apple Store there. Taking into consideration the current weak US$, the 16GB WiFi model selling at US$499 can be bought with S$650 (not taking into consideration tax/shipping etc). So be prudent and not be conned.
If we organise an impromptu viewing, will anyone be interested? Let us know in the comments below and if responds is good, we will try to arrange a short viewing sometime during the last week of March – as I am on my annual leave.
As with all good husband, the sparking new iPad 2, has become my wife’s favourite gadget now. She’s been using the original iPad and the iPad 2′s weight loss is a welcome feature for her.
Here are some photos of the iPad 2, the Smart Cover in action and some comparison shots between the original iPad and iPhone 4.
Feel free to drop us any questions on the iPad 2 and we will try to answer them.
