With Apple lowering the entry level pricing of its new iPad2 device, the tablet war is about to enter a new phase. The new iPad, Apple says, will redefine the category. And there is some reason for that confidence. The new version of the iPad has the highest resolution, in terms of display, ever. Geared to impress with 3.1 million pixels, the device is now designed to create ultra sharp text and video. The new iPad?s retina display can deliver four times the number of pixels of iPad2. In other words, the photos and videos are going to get as real as possible.
What Apple is doing is quite incredible, even by its standards. To put things in perspective Apple wants us to compare its
visual treat with that of a high definition (HD) television. The 3.1 million pixels in its retina display stands one million more than that available in a high definition TV. It has 44% more colour saturation as well. The device is embedded with a new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing photos.
With the new device, movies are now capable of playing at full 1080p HD-resolution, something that movie buffs in
India will immensely enjoy. The fact that all of this is available at R24,000 makes it quite a deal. Apple?s iPad2 was earlier priced at R29,500.
There are other advantages with the device. Its backside illumination allows you to take great photos in low-light conditions and a new video image stabilisation feature removes the bumps and shakes typically seen when filming with a hand-held device, Apple says.
Equipped with its latest mobile operating system, iOS 5.1, the new iPad has a number of new features and enhancements including: a redesigned Camera app with video stabilisation technology; the ability to delete photos from Photo Stream; and Personal Hotspot. The operating system also works in sync with iCloud. The real good thing is when content changes on one of your devices, your other devices are updated automatically.
The new iPad also supports dictation. Instead of typing, one can tap the microphone icon on the keyboard, then communicate as the iPad lends its ear. iPad can then convert your words into text. Pretty cool. Dictation also works with third-party apps, so you can update your Facebook status, or Tweet.
?With the introduction of iPhoto, we?ve brought the entire suite of iLife apps to iOS and users are going to love it,? said Philip Schiller, Apple?s senior vice president of worldwide marketing. ?Whether brushing an effect onto a photo, shooting a movie trailer or jamming with friends to record a song, iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand let you make amazing creations on iPad and iPhone,? he added, while announcing the new version of the device last week.
With the new Jam Session feature in GarageBand, you can invite up to three of your friends to get together and wirelessly connect the iOS devices to play and record as a group. Looks like Apple is determined to push the boundaries of fun here.
Samsung Galaxy Tab, now, has new worries to address as the price drop will surely haunt the South Korean technology giant. Apple is at it again.