What's new and different with Apple's revised tablet
As with any new Apple product, questions abound over the details of the new iPad 2. Sure, we know it’s thinner, faster, and lighter and, like the original iPad, set to dominate the tablet landscape. But even if you’ve watched what Steve Jobs had to say, read our hands on account, and perused our pretty pictures, you may still have lingering queries about the new revision.
Not to worry—the Macworld staff is here to answer those burning questions and put your curiosity to rest. Read on for all the gory details that we’ve been able to accumulate about the latest revision to Apple’s tablet.
What’s the iPad 2’s screen resolution?
Despite rumors that Apple would revamp the iPad's display, the iPad 2 sports the same resolution—1024 by 768 pixels at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)—as the screen on the original model. It’s still, in Apple’s words, a “9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology.” (That’s in-plane switching technology, in case you’re not up on your abbreviations.)
What are the specs for the two cameras?
According to Apple’s iPad 2 tech specs, the front camera—the one facing you when you’re looking at the iPad’s screen—is virtually identical to the front camera on both the iPhone 4 and the fourth-generation iPod touch: it can record VGA video (640 by 480 pixels) at up to 30 frames per second and can take photos at the same resolution.
The back camera is similar to that of the fourth-generation iPod touch, in that it can record HD-quality (720p) video at up to 30 frames per second, and take pictures at that 1280 by 720 pixel resolution; the camera also offers a 5x digital zoom. However, the iPhone 4 maintains its spot on top of the pack in terms of still images: its 5-megapixel camera produces substantially higher quality pictures (2592 by 1936 pixels) than what the iPad 2 or iPod touch can produce.
Speaking of cameras, will I finally be able to use FaceTime over 3G networks?
Nope. FaceTime is still available only over a Wi-Fi connection, regardless of what iOS device you’re using.
How much RAM is in the iPad 2?
As with previous iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch models, Apple doesn’t publish nitty-gritty specs such as memory amounts. We may have to wait until someone—such as our friends over at iFixit—actually takes a new iPad apart before we know if the new model has more RAM than its predecessor. We certainly hope so. Read more...
No comments:
Post a Comment