Apple has unveiled the iPad 2. Incorporating a dual-core Apple A5 processor that’s up to two times faster than the one in the original iPad, the new iPad 2 is 33% thinner and up to 15% lighter than its predecessor, and features both a front- and a back-facing camera.for capturing video and stills. Like the previous version, the Apple iPad 2 sports a 9.7” LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with a resolution of 1024x768 pixels, and will be available from 11th March in the US, starting at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi variant. Coinciding with the US launch, Apple is releasing a new iPad version of its iMovie video editing software, priced at $4.99. The tablet will go on sale in 26 other countries, including the UK, on 25th March.

Somewhat surprisingly, the iPad 2 still lacks USB connectivity and also fails to include an integrated memory card reader, which is bad news for photographers who may have hoped for an easy and familiar way to transfer their photos from their camera to the tablet. (Although we do suppose that the optional Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit, developed for the previous model, works with the new generation device too.)  As to the iPad 2’s own cameras, they are of limited interest to photographers. The front-facing camera is for FaceTime video calling, while the back-facing unit can capture 720p HD videos and features a back-illuminated sensor but is evidently not geared toward stills photography. So far the company hasn’t even released the sensor’s full pixel count.

Website: iPad 2 Specifications

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