Inside the iPad 2: chip brings 50% browsing boost

Wondering what makes that iPad 2 you just got tick and how much faster it is than the original iPad? Anandtech, iFixit, iosnoops, and UBM TechInsights have provided some answers. Processor performance: Let's address this first--for obvious reasons. Apple has already been very public about the dual-core 1GHz A5 processor--a step up from the single-core chip in the original iPad--and the chip's "up to 9X faster" graphics" (Apple's ad copy). And the verdict from an independent review? "CPU [Central Processing Unit] performance...we found to be a healthy 50 percent faster than the A4 in the original iPad--at least in Web browsing," said Anandtech in a "performance preview" of the iPad 2. (More detailed benchmarks here.) But a boost in raw "clock" speed...

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Japan quake and tsunami puts Apple iPad in perspective

Sometimes it takes a disaster for reality orientation and life’s priorities to set in.This week, at least for those of us reporting in the New Media and other technical publications that cover computers and the consumer electronics industry, all eyes were on Friday, the 11th of March, 2011. The day that the iPad 2 went on sale.Some of us became completely obsessed with the notion of buying an iPad 2 and wrote about the anticipation and lengths one would go through in order to obtain it. include myself in this shameless group — I woke up that Friday morning to find out there was now a 2 or 3 week shipping lag instead of a 2 or 3 day estimated time until I’d receive one if I placed an order with Apple’s web site that day.Massive lines at the...

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Top 5 Things to do When You Get Your iPad 2 [Setup and Security]

There are a few things to do as soon as you get your iPad 2 home and out of the box. Today we are going to cover security, protection and a few other things to do right now.Top 5 Things to do When you get Your iPad 2:These steps are free, and should only take about 10 minutes, though the initial sync may take longer if you have a lot of apps and media. Set up Find My iPad – 3 minutesIf you skipped past this when you first connected your iPad to iTunes, make sure you enable the free Find My iPad feature. This requires you to set oil a MobileMe account, but is completely free and will help you find your iPad if it is lost or stolen.To setup Find My iPad, tap the settings icon on your iPad 2. Tap on Mail, contacts and Calendars. Add a MobileMe account. Enter your Apple...

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Strong demand pushes new iPad 2 shipments from Apple back to 3-4 weeks

Shipping times for new iPad orders continue to slip, with orders placed as of Saturday evening estimated to ship within 3 to 4 weeks. Demand for the iPad 2 has been so strong in its first 24 hours of availability that Apple has been forced to push back estimated ship times yet again. While initial orders placed in Apple's online store began shipping Saturday for a March 17 delivery, those who hesitated to buy will be forced to wait longer. Initial orders were scheduled to ship in two to three days, but that estimate was quickly pushed back on Friday as orders continued to flood in. By later Friday morning, new orders were estimated to ship within 2 to 3 weeks. But orders placed late Saturday may not ship for up to a month. And many retail locations, which began selling the...

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IOS Brainstorming Apps

Mind-mapping on a small-screened iOS device is not much fun and best avoided. True, all three of the apps reviewed here are designed for the small screen, but the small size of the iPhone/iPod touch screen and the expanse that even a basic mind mapped brainstorming session can become are two things that don't go great together. Of these three apps, only two offer native iPad versions--SimpleMind and iThoughtsHD--and neither of those apps is Universal, which means that if you want to use them on all your iOS devices you'll have to purchase both versions.Tenero Software's iBlueSky is the only non-iPad app in the mix (in the sense that there's no iPad-optimized version), while you can run it in 2x-mode on your tablet, it doesn't scale well. The app offers a limited set...

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Survey says 70% of first iPad 2 buyers own original iPad

A small survey of customers waiting in line to buy the iPad 2 on Friday revealed that 70 percent of those surveyed already own the first-generation iPad, while 20 percent of respondents planned to purchase the 3G model. Mobile ad network Mobclix surveyed 50 of the 250 customers waiting in line at Apple's Palo Alto, Calif., retail store. According to the survey, 70 percent of respondents were upgrading from the original iPad. It should be noted, however, the results should be taken with a grain of salt, as Silicon Valley residents are likely skewed toward early adopters. 20 percent of those surveyed indicated they would purchase a 3G-capable iPad 2. Customers favored the AT&T network, with 68 percent planning to purchase the AT&T iPad 2 and 32 percent planning to buy the...

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