On Wednesday Apple revealed the next generation iPad. The iPad 2 is very much an evolutionary iterative device. It is faster, lighter, and thinner than its predecessor, packs back and front-facing cameras, and comes preloaded with a new version of iOS. Take my hand and let’s discover everything that makes iPad 2 the next extraordinary tablet, or as Steve Jobs calls it the “third blockbuster post-PC product” joining the iPod and iPhone.

Specs are important to you, hm? Then let’s start there. iPad 2 is faster. It features Apple’s new 1GHz dual-core A5 processor that is up to 2X faster than the A4; it boasts up to 9X faster graphics and somehow still maintains the same low power as the A4. Battery life remains the same at 10 hours with over a month of standby. iPad 2 is lighter and thinner. It is a mere 8.8mm thick, that’s 33% thinner than the original iPad (13.4mm). In fact, it is even thinner than iPhone 4 (9.3mm). It also lost some weight dropping from 1.5 to 1.3 pounds. On the front you’ll find a VGA camera that takes pictures and records video at 30fps; the camera around back shoots video in 720p HD also at 30fps and can do 5x digital zoom. The built-in gyroscope will assist the device in locating itself in space and orientation; higher precision in gaming will result. Last, Apple has hooked up with AT&T and Verizon to bring 3G data to the tablet.

iPad 2 is coming sooner than you think. It will be made available for purchasing March 11 in two color options: black and white (thankfully the latter ships “from day one”, teehee). Pricing remains the same, too; iPad 2 will come in various capacities (16, 32, 64GB) and models (WiFi, WiFi + 3G) starting at $499. After releasing on the 11th in the U.S., the new iPad will make its way to an additional 26 countries (including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and the UK) on March 25.

Learn all about iPad 2’s accessories, iOS 4.3, and new apps after the break.

Two new accessories will ship alongside the iPad 2 when it ships. First is the Smart Cover. During Jobs’ keynote, he admitted that the original iPad’s case hid the product’s beautiful design, added weight and thickness to it, and made it more difficult to attach accessories to it. This time around they designed a new cover to more harmoniously mate with the iPad 2. The device has magnets built into the side of its frame and they align perfectly with the Smart Cover’s magnetic hinge. This instant attraction snaps and auto-aligns the cover on top of the iPad’s glass display. It adds minimal thickness and weight to the device when it’s attached, but there’s more. The underbelly of the cover is lined with microfiber so it will clean the display every time it is flipped open. In addition, the cover will instantly wake up and put to sleep the iPad when it’s applied and removed, respectively, thanks to the built-in ambient light sensor. The foldable cover can easily be transformed into a stand to watch movies or propped up for an easier typing experience. Ten different color options will be made available, half of which will be made of polyurethane ($39) and the others of leather ($69).

The second new accessory is a Digital AV Adapter that allows you to perform HDMI Video Mirroring. In layman’s terms that means you can hook up your iPad to an HDTV and see everything your device shows right on the big screen. The accessory supports 1080p HDMI video out, device rotation, and it can charge your device too. The separately sold dongle ($39) has two ports: HDMI for video out and a 30-pin connector for charging. It is compatible with iPhone 4, iPod touch (fourth-gen only), and the first-gen iPad; these older devices, however, are limited to 720p output.

Next let’s transition from hardware-speak to software. iPad will come shipped with the latest version of iOS–that is, version 4.3.  The following updates were highlighted during the keynote. (1) Significantly increased Safari browsing performance: Apple’s bringing the Nitro JavaScript engine to the mobile version of Safari and it runs JavaScript up to twice as fast than before. (2) iTunes Home Sharing: You can now access your entire iTunes library on your iOS device over a shared WiFi network. In addition to music, streamable content includes movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks. No syncing required. (3) AirPlay improvements: AirPlay is the wireless technology that allows you to stream content from an iOS device to an HDTV with Apple TV serving as the mediator. So far you’ve been able to beam music, movies, and photos from one device to another. With 4.3, you can beam videos you’ve shot that are stored in the Photos app and take advantage of Apple TV’s built-in transitions when playing a slideshow. In addition, you can beam AirPlay-enabled apps and websites (including video and audio) to the TV. (4) iPad side switch: Now you can customize the switch on the side of your iPad to lock the screen rotation or mute the volume. (5) Personal Hotspot: This feature allows you to share your iPhone 4’s 3G internet connection over WiFi with up to three other devices, including the iPad 2. This comes at a price, however; AT&T and Verizon will charge extra for the premium (another $20 on top of your current data plan). On March 11 iOS 4.3 will be a free download for all GSM iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and third and fourth-gen iPod touch owners. It has not been specified as to when it’ll be ready for Verizon iPhone users.

Apple is also bringing a slew of new apps to iPad 2 that take advantage of the device’s fast processor and large touch screen. (1) FaceTime, the video conferencing app that debuted on the iPhone and iPod touch, is making its way onto the iPad in iOS 4.3. It works just the way you’d expect, allowing you to switch between the front and back cameras and it can talk to other iPads, iPhone 4s, iPod touches, and Macs. (2) Photo Booth, everyone’s favorite Mac application, is also coming to the iPad. When you launch it you’ll see nine live video streams at once of your face twisted and contorted in various ways. Click one and it’ll take over the screen; use your finger to manipulate the effect in real time and save the projected image by taking a picture. (3) iMovie: After making its way to the iPhone, a mobile version of iMovie comes to iPad bringing with it a precision editor, multitrack audio recording, new themes, AirPlay to Apple TV support, and video sharing in HD. (4) GarageBand: The music-making application is ready to play nice in a touch screen environment. It features touch instruments (grand piano, guitars, drums, bass, and so much more), guitar amps and effects, 8 track recording and mixing, and over 250 loops. You can email an AAC file of your song, plus it’s compatible with the Mac version (you can start a project on your iPad and complete it on a Mac, or vice versa). During the keynote Smart Instruments were highlighted; described as “musical training wheels”, these help you create original music even if you’ve never played an instrument before. FaceTime and Photo Booth both come preloaded in iOS 4.3; iMovie and Garageband will cost $4.99 each when they land in the App Store on March 11.

In other Apple related news, as let known by Jobs during the same keynote… Users have downloaded over 100 million books in less than one year from the iBooks Store; Random House, the largest trade book publisher in the U.S., is bringing their17,000 books to the iBooks Store; there are currently over 200 million iTunes accounts registered with credit cards; developers have earned over 2 billion dollars from selling their apps on the App Store; Apple recently shipped their 100 millionth iPhone; in 2010 15 million iPads were sold resulting in $9.5 billion in revenue for Apple; and finally, of the over 350,000 apps in the App Store, over 65,000 of them take advantage of the iPad. Take that, competition.

The iPad 2 is not the biggest step in an entirely new direction, but it is certainly a bold one in the right direction. Using the original iPad as a canvas, Apple has made almost everything better (including hardware and software) and that’s all you can ask for in an iterative update. I say almost because the addition of a higher resolution Retina Display would’ve been welcome. But iPad 3 has to have some redeeming qualities too, right?

Videos from Apple highlighting iPad 2, Smart Covers, and a touching tribute to the first iPad are sitting below, along with the official PR.

[Via Apple]

Apple Launches iPad 2

All New Design is Thinner, Lighter & Faster with FaceTime, Smart Covers & 10 Hour Battery

SAN FRANCISCO-March 2, 2011-Apple® today introduced iPad™ 2, the next generation of its magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect. iPad 2 is available in black or white, features models that run on AT&T’s and Verizon’s 3G networks, and introduces the innovative iPad 2 Smart Cover in a range of vibrant polyurethane and rich leather colors.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.