Apple Set to Unveil Its Next-Generation iPad March 2

Written by Dave Courbanou 1
February 24, 2011

It's finally here ... Apple has sent out official invites to its iPad 2 event, to be held March 2, 2011. In case there was any doubt the event would be about the iPad 2, just take a look at the image to your left. That's the official Apple invite picture. So what can we expect? I've been following the rumors for a while, and here's a rundown ...

IPad 2 It’s finally here … Apple has sent out official invites to its iPad 2 event, to be held March 2, 2011. In case there was any doubt the event would be about the iPad 2, just take a look at the image to your left. That’s the official Apple invite picture. So what can we expect? I’ve been following the rumors for a while, and here’s a rundown …

Both Engadget and TheLoop received invites and proceeded to let the world know. It may be too soon to decide whether to buy an iPad now or wait until version 2 is released, but here’s what I think we can safely assume will be in the iPad 2:

Front-facing (and back) camera: If it made it to the iPod Touch successfully, it’ll be in the iPad 2 for sure. Apple’s entire fleet of iOS and OS X devices can now chat with each other. It’s a given.
Upgraded capacity: I think 16GB will remain the ‘entry-level’ iPad — perhaps even without a camera, (like Apple does with the iPod Touch), but 32GB, 64GB and a 128GB iPads will also be available.
Thinner, lighter, sexier: Apple does this all the time, and the most confirmed rumor heard around the world (other than the camera) is the iPad 2 will be thinner than its predecessor. Keep this in mind when buying any expensive iPad cases or equipment — they might not be forward-compatible.

Here’s what was originally expected, but now I think not:

Retina display: Apple will likely put this in the third-generation iPad. The raw power needed to drive a true, 10-inch retina display is still a bit out of reach for Apple. Not because the company can’t do it, but because it would want to without sacrificing things such as price and battery life. (It’ll be here soon, though. Just look at Nvidia’s latest offering.)
SD card slot: I’m torn on this one. I would love having the ability to upgrade, but Apple thus yet hasn’t made the iPad the platform on which it debuts news innovations. The iPhone usually gets the first go at a new technology, then the iPod Touch, and then the iPad (see: front-facing camera). I would love to be wrong about this. If Apple does include an SD card slot, likely it will be used as additional storage for syncing iTunes, but won’t be accessible through a file system.

Clearly, Apple is showing no fear. Note the tagline: “Come see what 2011 will be the year of.”

It’s a nice jab, considering 2011 thus far has been hailed the year of the Android tablet. Apple took the 2010 tablet honors — could it win the title again this year?

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