Apple and Macs: New products, iMacs, iWork, iLife

[XXXIV]

Why doesnt Apple have Flash?

When Im surfing or working....every other thing is flash.

Interesting info graphics on the current tablet market.

[dbdynsty25]

Because Flash is not the future of the internet...errr something. Basically they financially didn't want to pay Adobe for it...so now only Android does. LOL. It's ridiculous really. Nothing better than getting an email sent to a buddy of mine (with an iPhone 4) and clicking a link to watch a video on a random site and him getting the little FLASH icon and me getting the actual video.

I still can't believe Apple doesn't support it yet...unreal.

[sportdan30]

I'm in iPad 2 heaven!!!! Love it love it love it! Not crazy about the smart cover just yet.

[Sport73]

Typing this from my nice new iPad 2; love it and the Smart Cover! #4 in line out of 400' in and out and happy after 12 hours...

[sportdan30]

I very much like how the smart cover turns the iPad off when closing it, and of course turns it on when you open it. What I don't like is that it doesn't seem to hold the angle in place very well.

+ It's definitely speedier.
+ Videos load quickly
+ Was able to set up my Charter email in a snap, unlike the first gen iPad
+ Apps download faster
+ Photo Booth is cool...kids love it!
+ It's lighter, but not that noticeably so, but seems to have a smaller footprint which is nice
+ Sound is better

- Camera is as bad as it gets

[Diablo25]

Ordered mine last night (well, AM). Luckily I got the order in pretty early and it is listed to ship 3-5 days. A little while after my order was in the Apple site listed all the models as 2-3 weeks shipping. Hopefully I'll have it early next week. Can't wait.

Just got a shipping confirmation...for the smart cover I got one of the leather ones...navy.

[wco81]

+ Photo Booth is cool...kids love it!
[snip]
- Camera is as bad as it gets

Garage Band will probably be a crowd-pleaser.

Yeah the camera sounds like more from the iPod Touch than the iPhone, okay for video, bad for stills. Most you can hope is that it scans bar codes and documents for those apps that use the camera in those ways and that FaceTime and Skype video chats are useable.

[sportdan30]

Do I not necessarily need instruments to enjoy Garage Band?

[greggsand]

I'd file "$529(allegedly)" under: believe it when I see it.

Worst case is $599...so still, price not a deciding factor since it's the same. So what is your point exactly?

My point is the same as PK's, for the money you can't beat the iPad experience. I'm not talking about hardware specs. "Better" hardware doesn't mean a better user experience. The tech graveyard is littered with "better specs"...

[Naples39]

Typing this from my nice new iPad 2; love it and the Smart Cover! #4 in line out of 400' in and out and happy after 12 hours...

Someone at my office said that he walked by the Philly apple store just before 5 and there were 3,000 people there, and the line was at least 2 blocks long and 4 or 5 wide. Said that when he walked back by at 7 there were still 500 people there. Even if those numbers are exaggerated, looks like the opening may have been pretty big after all!

[sportdan30]

Just engaged in Facetime with the in-laws from Chicago, friends of ours, and my sister-in-law and her family in Chicago. That in itself made the upgrade worthwhile for our family. We haven't had the the means to video chat, and while I can't seeing using this feature on a daily basis, it's nice to see family and friends you don't see too often. Having the option to call their cell number or email address is just such a cool feature.

[ScoopBrady]

Typing this from my new iPad and so far it has been a big hit with the family. I am very impressed and can't wait to try out GarageBand with my guitar and bass. Just got back from the Apple store with a smart cover and the iRig so I can plug in my instruments.

[sportdan30]

Scoop,

What's your thought on the smart cover? Did they have any other cases there?

For whatever reason it seems easier to type on this iPad than the first generation one.

[Diablo25]

Got my Navy Leather Smart Cover today My iPad 2 is listed as "Prepared For Shipment" so I'm expecting an email within the next 6-12 hours. Hopefully I'll have it Tuesday or earlier...fingers crossed

[Diablo25]

Got my Navy Leather Smart Cover today My iPad 2 is listed as "Prepared For Shipment" so I'm expecting an email within the next 6-12 hours. Hopefully I'll have it Tuesday or earlier...fingers crossed

Damn, I really miss having my iPad laying on the coffee table to just grab whenever I want.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Those of you that have it, damn you.

They won't be available in PR till late next week...

[wco81]

Anyone going to try this?

http://theappera.com/2011/03/12/real-ra ... -2-launch/

[Diablo25]

Got my Navy Leather Smart Cover today My iPad 2 is listed as "Prepared For Shipment" so I'm expecting an email within the next 6-12 hours. Hopefully I'll have it Tuesday or earlier...fingers crossed

Damn, I really miss having my iPad laying on the coffee table to just grab whenever I want.

My 64 GB White WiFi iPad has been shipped! Should have it by mid week

[dbdynsty25]

My 64 GB White WiFi iPad has been shipped! Should have it by mid week

We were all on pins and needles waiting for the update today. Whew. Now I can leave the house. Nothing like quoting and re-quoting yourself to give me a good laugh on this lovely sprung forward morning. Stupid lost hour!

[Diablo25]

My 64 GB White WiFi iPad has been shipped! Should have it by mid week

We were all on pins and needles waiting for the update today. Whew. Now I can leave the house. Nothing like quoting and re-quoting yourself to give me a good laugh on this lovely sprung forward morning. Stupid lost hour!

Love my damn gadgets.

[Spooky]

Loving my 64GB white iPad. Been wanting one for a long time and held out for the new version. Was bummed that the display was not upgraded but after using it quite a bit I truly think the display is more than acceptable. I recalled thinking the first gen iPad was a bit to 'electronic' looking (slightly pixelated look I guess) after getting used to my retina display ont he iPhone, but I think my eyes have settled down.

I am not, however, a fan of the 'smart case'. Bought one, returned it. Gonna have to wait for other options. The idea of it is pretty genus, but I just wasn't feelin' it. Seemed kinda cheap and I've started to think they're ugly. Not sure I want the back totally exposed either.

Any thoughts on how banged up the back gets from normal usage without a cover?

[Naples39]

I would want to at least cover the screen when not in use. I'm sure you can survive without it, but it's worth covering. I think you can get away with a back cover as long as you're not throwing the thing around in bags and whatnot a lot.

Some links for the iPad geeks;
Performance comparisons;
http://toucharcade.com/2011/03/11/infin ... vs-ipad-2/
http://toucharcade.com/2011/03/11/ipad- ... pressions/
http://toucharcade.com/2011/03/13/ipad- ... nce-gains/

Sales;
http://www.slidetoplay.com/story/ipad-g ... d-2-launch
http://toucharcade.com/2011/03/11/ipad-game-sales/
Honestly the sales could be better (remember nearly every EA game was 99 cents at christmas, bought infinity blade for $3 and World of Goo for $1 last week), but better than full price if you're interested!!

[wco81]

Surprising that the GPU is scoring much higher in benchmarks than the Tegra 2 in the Xoom, considering NVidia made their rep on graphics.

Looks like only 512 MB of RAM, not the hoped-for 1 GB.

[sportdan30]

The video camera is surprisingly good in a well lit room. This makes the upgrade worth it to me.

[Sport73]

Garage Band is absolutely amazing on the iPad. A full recording studio with you anywhere, without needing actual instruments.
During my flight, I assembled the outline of a tune including verse, chorus, & bridge structures. The chords and drum groove are all my own, but I let Garage Band create the style, then added manual guitar strumming/picking and some loops.

Going to repeat/order the piece, add vocals, and publish it to my iTunes library before this business trip is over.

It will take some time before I can craft a truly 'original' song that suits my actual style, because I let the tool (software) take me along in creating this one, but the potential is astounding.