• iPad 2 Keynote Now Available for Download & Stream

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, Download, iPad No Responses

    Apple just posted today’s iPad 2 keynote on iTunes, available for download.

    Go download the keynote here.

    Here’s the streaming version.

  • What Do We Expect in iPad 2?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPad, News, Rants & Raves, Tech. No Responses

    There are a lot of expectations for iPad 2 hardware out there but ours largely falls in line with AllThingsD:

    Aesthetically, the iPad 2 is expected to be slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, with a larger speaker and an improved display designed to deliver a better experience in bright sunlight. It will likely run on a 1.2GHz, dual-core, ARM Cortex-A9 chip and Imagination’s SGX543 GPU architecture–a big improvement over the SGX535 Apple uses today. A Qualcomm multimode chip will allow it to run on both GSM- and CDMA-based networks around the world. And it will have double the RAM–512MB, same as the iPhone 4. Finally, it will feature those front- and back-facing cameras we’ve been hearing about for some time now–one for FaceTime and Photo Booth, the other for POV FaceTime and shooting photos and video.

    The star of the show might be iOS 5 preview which will likely showcase new voice navigation features with Siri’s AI, perhaps a new maps application and certainly Cloud/MobileMe/iWork/iLife integration.  And notifications have to be getting updated.

    We’re getting pumped.  12 hours to go.

  • Apple to Have an Immediate Availability of iPad 2 Next Week

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, iPad, Rumors No Responses

    According to sources close to AppleInsider, Apple is going to surprise everyone next week with “near immediate” availability of the next-generation iPad to public.

    According to people familiar with the matter, Apple is preparing several of its operating segments to perform functions during the second half of next week that are representative of nothing short of a large scale, consumer-oriented product roll out (not just an announcement). And with official invitations to next Wednesday’s press briefing clearly indicating a focus on iPad, these people believe at least one version of the refreshed device will be in transit to retail outlets during that briefing.

    Apple is going to announce iPad 2 in a media event, which is going to be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, at the famous Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

    iPad 2 is expected to feature at least one camera for FaceTime video calls, Dual Core CPU and GPU, and will be thinner in size than its predecessor.

  • Apple to Introduce iPad 2 And iOS 4.3 To Public Within 10 Days?

    // Gradly // Apple, blog, News, Rants & Raves 1 Response

    We’re firmly in rumor territory now, and MacRumors has managed to piece a few tidbits together that certainly seem to point towards iOS 4.3 being released to the public on February 13th, along with a possible iPad 2 announcement.

    Two of the main additions to iOS in version 4.3 are the personal WiFi hotspot feature along with the ability to use in-app subscriptions.

    With that in mind, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber believes that a Feb 13th release must be on the cards, due to the recent release of News Corps’ The Daily app.

    The Daily requires a subscription – either $1 per week, or $40 per year. They’re using a new in-app subscription payment system from Apple for this – but these in-app subscription APIs aren’t in iOS 4.2. So The Daily launched today, free for a limited time. They announced at the event that this initial free two-week period was brought to us by: Verizon.

    This is certainly a logical conclusion. As things are, there is no way for a user to purchase a subscription to The Daily once the 2 week trial expires. An oversight on Apple’s part? I highly doubt it.

    If that doesn’t convince you, try this on for size. In David Pogue’s original Verizon iPhone review, the NY Times writer claimed that all iPhones will be receiving the new mobile hotspot on, you guessed it, February 13th.

    The single new feature in Verizon’s iPhone is Personal Hotspot, where the iPhone becomes a Wi-Fi base station. Up to five laptops, iPod Touches or other gadgets can get online, using the phone as a glorified Internet antenna.

    That’s incredibly convenient. Many other app phones have it – AT&T’s iPhone gets it on Feb. 13 – but Apple’s execution is especially nice

    Unsurprisingly that review has now been edited to remove all mention of the release date. Ooops!

    Next up we have German blog MacNotes claiming that Apple is planning an event for the coming week that will play host to the iPad 2 announcement along with the iOS 4.3 public release. The site also believes Apple is aiming to release the device in the US during the first half of April. Not long now folks!

    It’s only going to get more interesting from here on, with more pieces starting to slot together. All we need now is a couple of nice iPad 2 spy shots, and rest assured we’ll be bringing them to you as soon as we (hopefully!) have them!