iPAD 2.0: March 2nd Event and Product

I'm thinking of getting one this time, but I need to know how good it is at working offline, if it can at all. I know sites can store stuff in a small local database, but will the Web apps themselves display if unconnected to wifi and 3G?

HTML 5 includes features for offline web applications;

http://www.whatwg.org/specs/web-apps/current-work/multipage/offline.html

 

Also, just because something is "an app" it doesn't mean it's usable when being offline.

It's a bit of a joke given the iPhone4 that they're going to release an iPad2 with the same resolution screen.

 

Well, I got an iPad from Best Buy with their replacement plan.  As long as I can break it and bring it in to Best Buy and have them give me an iPad2 (instead of just another iPad1) I plan to have this when it comes out.

 

Otherwise I plan to break my iPad, get a new one and sell that on eBay to get money to buy the iPad2 and definitely not get their warranty plan again.

I don't get people saying its heavy.  Bunch of weaklings I assume. 

I have an iPad 1, and the display is actually the main thing I'd like to see upgraded.  Right now, smaller text is just this side of fuzzy, where a 1.5x bump would put it in magazine-quality territory.  I don't think they need a full 2 x resolution bump, that's overkill.  I'll hold off upgrading until the display resolution goes up.

 

I read they aren't streaming this time.

 

Cloud computing is great. All desktop browsers can handle Web apps perfectly fine when unconnected; everything just syncs up once you regain Internet access. Since I'll be studying abroad in the fall and Internet is free for only the first two hours, I was hoping I could sync everything, such as my feed reader, among other things, and then go offline to actually use the content.

 

I tried Gmail with my iPhone. The site loaded, but none of the e-mails showed up. So much for mobile Safari's HTML5 implementation.

It's cool. So what does everyone think of the announcement? I'd probably wait for the rumored iPad 3 in the fall, but I'll be out of country by then, so I'm going for it.

Ahhh so that's how it started. Thanks for clarifying.

 

I agree that it looks great. GarageBand and iMovie are also pretty dang cool, though I have no idea if I'd ever use them. The cover is interesting, especially the magnets being used to awaken it or put it to sleep. I wonder how sturdy it will be while standing up.

If you bought an original iPad between February 16th and March 2nd, Apple is giving you 100 dollars back. http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/apple-confirms-100-refund-for-those-who-purchased-an-original-i/

Oh man don't know if I should wait for IPad 4. Cause I heard it'll be better than iPad 3! Conan summarized my thoughts pretty well:
http://video.teamcoco.com/video/conan.jsp?oid=245467

Oh and little tip:
iPhone with hotspot WITH WI-FI iPad?! Yeah that's going to be my route. Really though, how often is there not WI-FI where you use an iPad normally?

(yes I still have my unlimited plan from AT&T, and yes I do use it, although the perk of being a developer is writing a program that funnels data through it).

Very true about the rumors.  Last year it was also rumored ipad 2 would come out last year in the fall.  Ipad 2 was rumored to get Retina display, so ppl held off on getting the Ipad1. 

 

Anyway, I called it that there would be retina display for ipad 2, but no one would listen.  As some other poster mentioned, can't give us retina display without draining the battery power, certainly not while bumping up the overall speed.  But everyone was absolutely convinced it would have a retina display.  So annoying listening the dumbasses that populate the net trying to guess how tech will pan out, even Devin Fatso Faracis predictions upon the ipad 2 were laughable and a waste of time.

 

Also I was right when I said the Ipad 2 would not give one a big up grade over the first one.  The cameras of ipad 2 are very low grade, and ever otherwise I wouldn't be interested at the moment.  The increased speed is nice, but the memory is still quite little, these two upgrades don't really provide it with increased fuctions, just makes those functions run a little more smoothly.  Being slimmer doesn't mean much since I still find it very thin, and at first I thought being lighter alone would make me upgrade, but going from 1.5 lbs to 1.35 lbs will be brarely noticeable.  At the end of the day this is by far the barest upgrade one would've predictated.  Glad I didn't withhold buying the ipad 1, waiting for the ipad 2, stupid rationale when one doesnt even know what was in the ipad 2, but this is just an excuse from people who don't make much money(which is okay).

I held off on the first iPad for the same reason I hold off on the first version of any product: it's usually buggy.

 

As for using the iPhone with the WiFi-only iPad, that was my idea too until I realized the iPhone's Internet Tethering option not only doesn't broadcast WiFi (only Bluetooth and USB), you have to pay for a completely separate data plan to activate it.

 

Then I realized I will only be using the iPad at home or at school, so I'll never need 3G anyway.

Problem with waiting is it does nothing for ones aim of not being held hostage to the next iteration, especially if ipad3 gets a retina display.  Considering the specs of the ipad 2, I think we can safely say those who decided to wait for it due to the hopes of the upgrade, made the wrong decision.  Being afraid its buggy is certainly a reasonable concern, and I'm sure its the concern that made some ppl stop from buying it.

 

But, the ipads tech and software was based off existing technologies and products, thus the likely-hood of the typical growing pains of a first gen Apple product didn't really exist.  Its also why there wasn't likely to be that huge leap in the ipads capabilities many were anticipating.  But even though I knew the ipad was most likely going to improve at a pace similar to the existing iphones (incrementally, rather than explosively), I'm still a little surprised by the lack of ambition of the ipad 2.  I had a feeling they wouldn't tackle the resolution issue until they have a full retina display ready.  Which somewhat makes sense, certainly from a marketing stand point.  Whats the probability the average user would care about or even notice minor bumps in resolution?  Jumping to a true retina display resolution on the otherhand will be noticed by everyone, and you just know this feature will be heavily marketed, and rightfully so.  The retina display on a tablet will truly look stunning.

Edited by Nabster - 3/5/11 at 3:39pm

Sooo I should wait for the iPad 3? :p

 

In all seriousness I'm glad I waited for the second version. As minor an upgrade as it is, I'd much rather have this version for the same price than the older model. Retina is great, but the lack of it will not dissuade me from finally attaining a worthy portable computing device, especially for studying abroad. I'm the guy who never saw the need for a laptop.

 

The only announcement I would have liked to have seen was greater storage capacity, but that was never in the cards.

Oh if you can get your texts on to it, they are amazing to study with.  And yea, don't wait for the ipad 3.  If the ipad 3 demands to be bought, whenever it comes out, just sell your ipad 2.  Apple products retain their value better than any other second hand electronics.  As long as you sell it at the right time, you won't really lose much money, plus you'll have the added benifit of actually enjoying it now rather than wondering what the next one will be like.

 

Its also looking like the Honeycomb tablets are going to remain at a disadvantage to Apple, especially when it comes to price.  Apples struck some sweetheart deals with manufacturers of components.  Their ability to undercut everybody on price doesn't seem like its going to vanish anytime soon. 

 

When it comes to tabs Microsoft is screwed.  Their hesitance to enter the market may be surprising, but they've weathered the storm before.  For instance, they thought they'd already been through this with netbooks.  For a while, cheap netbooks running linux, were believed to be a major threat to laptops and Windows.  Their initial sales were even more explosive than tabs, but also a lot more choice and a lot cheaper.  MS waited it out, and they were right, netbook sales tapered down, generally due to the lack of power and functionality on offer.  Then tablets come around, and well remember, MS has already launched tablets with Windows well before the ipad, so from their point of view new tablets were even a less of a threat than Linux powered netbooks.  But Apple came out with a superior product and effective marketing, they obviously should not be underestimated.  

Edited by Nabster - 3/5/11 at 8:34pm

Hehe lets just say I'm doing it, and yes it's possible to broadcast wi-fi, just not so app store approved.

I also have 2 magic words: jail & break.

Yeah, I use my iPhone with iPad using MyWi.  Don't have to pay jackshit to AT&T.  Pretty easy.

I don't jailbreak.

Foolish.

Nope.

 

Yea, I want to see what iOS5 looks like, very curious to see what they have up their sleeve.  But its got to be able to handle the slower more memory deficient ipad1, so tweaks is what I would expect.  And its definitely true that ipad 2 will look fantastic to most, thinner and faster.  And of course, the biggest advantage its price point.  So far it doesn't appear as though anyone is going to be able to compete on the price point yet.  And the glut of Honeycomb tablets coming out should keep a specific Android tab from becoming a market leader, thereby keeping those prices up.  I think Ipad could corner the tablet market in an even more dominant fashion than the Iphone has the smartphone market.

 

My philosophy on jailbreaking,
I get the features I want on the hardware I want.

I also travel, so unlock helps.

I hate Best Buy, and I hate Apple, but I hate Best Buy more.

but Best Buy loves you? well, your money that is.

Oh I know.  They already have my money.  They just wont give me my iPad.