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Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

engadget.com

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Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#121

Post by spamizbad »

danilocampos wrote: post #90
Pewpewarrows wrote: post #64

So... a dual core processor, two cameras, and... that's it? I was honestly expecting a LOT more considering how much competition they're getting this year. The new cover is neat, and it seems like they did a great job with the Movie and Garage Band apps, but the new iPad 2 is pretty underwhelming. Same old low resolution, no USB ports, and no desperately needed UI changes (I'm guessing iOS 5 wasn't ready yet and you'…

Sounds a lot like... "No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame." This kind of thinking is what has allowed Apple to sweep up so much damn money, along with ownership of the DAP and tablet markets. Give people what they actually need instead of filling out spec lists to appeal to the nerds.

But that statement was a fair (albeit glib) criticism of the original iPod. It never really had it's breakthrough moment until the 3rd generation.

Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#122

Post by afterburner »

Pewpewarrows wrote: post #64

So... a dual core processor, two cameras, and... that's it? I was honestly expecting a LOT more considering how much competition they're getting this year. The new cover is neat, and it seems like they did a great job with the Movie and Garage Band apps, but the new iPad 2 is pretty underwhelming. Same old low resolution, no USB ports, and no desperately needed UI changes (I'm guessing iOS 5 wasn't ready yet and you'…

35% thinner, 15% lighter, HDMI out, plus the improvements you mentioned... it's not revolutionary, but it's a strong second showing I think. It'd be nice if it was a lot lighter, but that's battery tech and the 10 hour choice speaking.

Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#123

Post by djacobs »

gavingmiller wrote: post #71
boredguy8 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was mentioned, and to huge applause. Shipping white from the launch.

Why are people so interested in white versions of the iPhone/iPad? Is it merely a matter of preference or is there some kind of significant difference? (I ask this earnestly, and not to troll.)

The color was just an example. My actual point was that the pages had been updated before features were announced.

Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#124

Post by dean »

achompas wrote: post #27

For me, the most exciting announcement has to be the line of Smart Covers. iPad covers aren't new, but this cover looks like it could solve the ergonomic problem of typing on your iPad or watching a movie/TV show while you're not sitting on a couch. It also protects your iPad's screen without adding bulk. EDIT: @marcoarment: "The Smart Cover might be the best feature of the iPad 2. I can't possibly express how much I…

"this cover looks like it could solve the ergonomic problem of typing on your iPad or watching a movie/TV show while you're not sitting on a couch."

This is just another way of saying that tablets are a horrible form factor.

Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#126

Post by pohl »

jrockway wrote: post #46
siglesias wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it pays attention to the accelerometer. EDIT: In fact, it does. See thread below.

Also, dip your finger into an inkwell. Then press really lightly on a piece of paper, then press really hard on a piece of paper. Note the difference. No accelerometer needed -- flesh is fleshy and distorts under pressure.

This is an interesting idea. If one wanted to attempt a mechanism like this in iOS, what APIs would be useful? I don't know UIGestureRecognizer & friends very well at all, but it looks like it wouldn't help when needing to measure contact-area at a given contact point. Any iOS programmers here that know?

Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#127

Post by nroach »

ben1040 wrote: post #110
nroach wrote: post #102

Is this Steve Jobs signing off? Looking at Engadget's coverage, the tone of Steve's closing seems very different from any past event I can recall. It's always about Apple and about the Product. Jobs is very focused and doesn't "accidentally" include information in his presentations that isn't deliberate. Why then would he include that slide depicting the intersection of technology and liberal arts? Why bother using a…

Why then would he include that slide depicting the intersection of technology and liberal arts? He did the same thing last year at the original iPad launch, with same phrase (here's the top hit in google I could find for a picture of the slide): http://submittedforyourperusal.com/2010/02/10/the-intersecti...

Good point. Somehow it didn't stick with me that it was used before. But, I think the tone is very different in this context. It's hard to pin it down, but the way he used it previously seemed less reflective and more promotional. Of course, the re-use could just be incidental, but I think its re-use may give it even more weight.

Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#128

Post by Pewpewarrows »

catch23 wrote: post #76
Pewpewarrows wrote: post #64

So... a dual core processor, two cameras, and... that's it? I was honestly expecting a LOT more considering how much competition they're getting this year. The new cover is neat, and it seems like they did a great job with the Movie and Garage Band apps, but the new iPad 2 is pretty underwhelming. Same old low resolution, no USB ports, and no desperately needed UI changes (I'm guessing iOS 5 wasn't ready yet and you'…

USB would add a huge power drain to the ipad. plus I'm not sure if most people would need it. What's wrong with bluetooth add-ons? Also, where are these cheap tablets running honeycomb? The only one I've seen available so far is the Xoom and that's $800 for their starter model.

The Xoom is $600, not $800, and my comment said soon. Android smartphones started out slow as well as you may or may not remember.

Apple Fanboys were all too eager to laugh at the first model or two of phone running on Android, and now look who's running the market just a short time later. If you don't see any correlation between what happened then and what's happening now I honestly don't know what to tell you.

Re: Live from Apple's iPad 2 event

#130

Post by tesseract »

WesleyJohnson wrote: post #23
6ren wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if you tap softly or hard, it changes the sound How can a touch-screen detect velocity? There's no travel. (I ask because it would be cool if you can). EDIT iPad has an accelerometer, so it can measure the force at which your finger strikes the display

They're saying it uses the accelerometer in the device itself to detect how hard you touch the screen?

The screen is rigidly attached to the rest of the device, so yes, it should be possible to use the accelerometer (F=ma) to measure a force applied to the screen.
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