Let’s Get Digital! – iPad 2

Today was the long awaited (for me) day when Apple announced their successor to the iPad. Cunningly named the iPad 2 this is an evolution of the existing product with some fairly substantial changes although maybe not the revolutionary change some had hoped for.

Here’s what we know:

Dual-core A5 processor approx twice speed of the iPad

Same display (1024×768) 9.7″

1/3rd thinner than iPad

10hr claimed battery life

Front & rear cameras (720p and VGA resolution respectively)

Same pricing

Up to 15% weight reduction

As yet we don’t know how much additional RAM the iPad 2 has but it’s safe to say it’ll be up on the 256MB in the iPad.

So as a digital comic fan, or a potential fan, what does this mean?

Well…in truth it’s not a game-changer for digital comics in most senses. With one exception. In my humble geek opinion the current crop of iPad/iPhone apps perform poorly on the iPhone 4 and marginally ok on the iPad. With more RAM and dual-core processor the iPad 2 should generally perform much better when you’re browing comixology or iverse. I do think the reduction in depth and weight will improve the overall reading experience as well.

The absence of a retina quality display will disappoint a lot of people and is an inevitable addition when the iPad 2s or iPad 3 appears in 6-12 months.

The iPad 2 goes on sale in the UK on 25th March. I’ll be back soon after with my thoughts.

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