Graphic Tablets

Graphic Tablets

UPDATE:

And you can check out what we’re expecting from the iPad 2 launch, too.

And with just days to go now before its unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider.

Reports suggest Apple is also expecting massive demand for the new device and has ordered six million units per month.

Here’s our pick of the latest iPad 2011 rumours.

UPDATE: A white iPad 2? This rumour, which surfaced on 28 February, came with a photo of a supposed white iPad 2 case.

UPDATE: On 24 February 2011, a Japanese blog posted pictures of what it says are accurate mock-ups of the new Apple iPad. It’s slimmer than the first generation iPad and features a front-mounted camera.

UPDATE: iPad 2 has apparently been spotted. Reuters reports on a “source with knowledge of the device” who spotted the new iPad at the launch of News Corp’s The Daily.

UPDATE: On 8 February 2011 the Wall Street Journal claimed that the new iPad has gone into full production.

iPad 2 specs: cameras and a gyroscope

Gizmodo reckons that FaceTime support’s a given, and that means a front-facing camera like the iPhone 4. BuzzBizzNews echoes the camera story, suggesting twin cameras. It also suggests that there’ll be a three-axis gyroscope like there is in the iPhone 4. EETimes says Apple has been testing gyroscopes but decided not to put one in the original iPad.

On 10 December 2010, images of a new iPad case appeared online, suggesting that the iPad 2nd generation will feature a rear-facing camera.

On 17 January 2011, we heard word of not only a rear camera, but a front one too… it seems more likely that FaceTime will be coming to the iPad 2 as well.

iPad 2 specs: a USB port and SD card slot

Rumours suggest that the iPad 2 will have a USB port, which BuzzBizzNews says will enable users to “upload movies, documents and photos”. We’re not convinced it’s for that, because Apple is moving increasingly to wireless. The iPad prints wirelessly. The iPad streams media wirelessly. Why add USB? More likely, we think, is a MicroUSB port or adapter so the iPad meets new EU regulations on mobile device chargers.

Images of a new iPad case have appeared online that seem to show space for an SD card slot.

On 17 January 2011, we also reported on said SD clard slot – it would be a dramatic move for Apple to go with such expandable memory, but a clever one if true.

UPDATE: On 25 February 2011, Engadget wrote that the SD card slot has been canned. So too has the higher resolution screen, according to the Engadget.

iPad 2 specs: GSM and CDMA

AllThingsDigital quotes analyst Brian Blair, who says that Apple may be readying a “world iPad” that uses both GSM and CDMA networks, enabling it to get online anywhere in the world. CDMA, incidentally, is the technology used by Verizon in the US.

iPad 2 case: thinner and more like a MacBook

Brian Blair also says: “the new iPad is thinner than the existing model and is essentially made from one piece of metal with no pins needed. We understand it requires a new type of manufacturing process as a result, similar to the company’s unibody approach seen in MacBooks.”

iPad 2 specs: retina display

Will the gorgeous screen from the iPhone 4 make its way to the iPad? The Apple Blog thinks so: “You can be sure that Apple’s Retina Display, or something very close, will make its way to iPad”.

Then again, such a screen would massively increase the number of pixels, increasing the demands on both the iPad’s processor and its battery, so a nine-inch Retina Display is a challenge. If Apple’s solved it we’ll see you down the Apple Store the second it goes on sale.

iPad 2 specs: a seven-inch screen?

All of Apple’s rivals have plumped for 7-inch displays, which means their tablets are lighter than the iPad. Will Apple follow them into seven-inch territory?

iLounge says prototypes exist, while earlier this year DigiTimes predicted not just a seven-inch iPad 2, but a 5.6-inch iPad 2. Apparently the smaller iPads would target ebooks while the current iPad would target multimedia entertainment, “sources stated”. We’re doubtful. Apple already does a mini-iPad with a retina display. It’s the iPod touch.

The idea of a smaller iPad 2 took another knock in November, when 9to5Mac reported that the iPad 2 adverts have already been shot – with current-generation iPads playing the role of iPad 2s. The iPad 2s will be digitally added nearer the time, and of course that’s much harder to do if the iPad 2 is smaller than the iPads the actors are actually holding.

iPad 2 specs: a faster processor

KitGuru “has been hearing rumours from the Far East” that the iPad 2 will be a seven-inch job with a 2GHz processor and an HD video camera. It reckons the processor will be based on ARM’s Cortex A9, the 1GHz dual-core processor that you’ll find in the BlackBerry PlayBook.

On 18 January, we also reported the iPad 2 will have a boosted dual core GPU, based on an upgraded graphical core from Apple. This will allow better pixel management, lending weight the theory that the iPad 2 will have a much higher-res screen.

iPad 2 specs: more memory

This is a no-brainer: the iPhone 4 has twice the memory of the iPad (512MB compared to 256MB), largely because the iPhone does multitasking. Since the iOS 4.2 release, iPads do multitasking too. 256MB already seems a little bit stingy.

iPad 2 specs: no home button

Boy Genius Report says a source has told it that Apple has employees testing iPads with no home buttons, but we’re inclined to agree with ZDNet, which says “don’t bet on it”.

iPad 2 features: Find My Friends

On 13 January 2011 we reported that Apple seems to have a location-based tool called Find My Friends in the works for its iOS 4.3 iPhone and iPad update.

The iPad 2 release date is probably in the Spring

Rumours suggested that the iPad 2 would be rushed out in time for Christmas, but if that’s Apple’s plan they’re being awfully last-minute about it. Early 2011 seems like a much better bet, and it fits with Apple’s annual product cycle: the first iPad was announced in January and shipped in the spring.

On 7 December we reported on rumours that Apple would be shipping iPad 2 units out to warehouses in February 2011. If that date is correct, it suggests an iPad 2 release date of some time around April.

This has been corroborated by our report on 17 January, with the April UK release date backed up by ‘insiders’.

On 20 January 2011 we reported that the iPad 2 release date could be 9 February, after images leaked showing that date on the home screen (the original iPad launch promotional material had a 27 January 2010 date on the home screen – the date the first iPad launched).

On 7 February 2011, Elton John, speaking on BBC Breakfast, said he is looking forward to buying an iPad 2 in April so he can make video calls using Skype. Did he just out the iPad 2 release date or has he been hearing the same rumours that we have?

On 21 February 2011, we reported that T-Mobile and Orange have dropped their iPad prices. This could indicate that a new iPad is imminent as the carriers try to clear out old stock.

On 22 February 2011, Reuters reported that Yuanta Securitues sent out a note about iPad manufacturer Hon Hai suggesting that there are production bottlenecks which could cause the iPad 2 release date to slip to June.

The iPad 2 price won’t change much

Unless there’s a new seven-inch model we’ll be amazed if the iPad 2 price is dramatically lower than the model it replaces: Apple isn’t struggling to shift units and rivals are charging similar prices. Cheapo tablets do exist, but they’re rubbish.

SEOUL - LG Electronics confirmed its inaugural launch plan tablet computers in the United States next March.

G-slate is one of the first tablet that will use the Honeycomb, Google’s latest operatingsystem for mobile devices with big screens.

It has a 8.9-inch screen, G-slate is smaller than the display iPad that reach 10 inches.However, G-slate is still larger than Tabs Samsung’s Galaxy (7 inches), as reported by the Straits Times, Wednesday (02/02/2011).

LG has not announced the official price for the newest gadgets. However, the world’s third largest handset manufacturer claims will expose the global release date, the end of February.

The launch of G-slate is expected to improve LG handset business that was hit due totough competition from rival smartphones. After experiencing a loss of USD229 millionin the fourth quarter, LG hopes a series of smart phones and tablets they can pushsales figures.

“LG Tablet is expected to be a new trend in global markets, as well as in NorthAmerica,”was a brief statement LG.

Motion Computing

Motion Computing

Motion Computing

Motion Computing was {1|one} of the {initial|first} {businesses|companies} to {truly|really} {attempt|try} to make tablets running Windows into a profitable niche. {It’s|It’s} here {once more|again} at CES and {it’s|it’s} showing off its range of tablets for this year.

The obvious question: how {great|good} is it when {you’re|you’re} {attempting|trying} to control it (rather than just watching video, which is a waste of a {large|big} operating {program|system}) and input content? We got Motion Computing’s {individuals|people} to show it off – {although|though} the {outcomes|results} {had been|were}, to be honest, mixed. See for {your self|yourself} how they got on in this demo which {entails|involves} annotating a PDF, and watch carefully for how {nicely|well} {issues|things} go when he’s {utilizing|using} his fingers and when he’s {utilizing|using} the stylus.