And despite the fact that no one has created that "iPad killing" device, Apple still announced out an improved iPad 2 yesterday. With Android Honeycomb-enabled tablets like the Motorola Xoom right around the corner, it was definitely time for Apple to step up their game.
But did they maybe step up too much?
The iPad 2 does answer some of the complaints people had about the iPad, and does show marked improvement of its predecessor:
- The iPad 2 is 33% thinner, and only weighs 1.3 lbs.
- It sports a custom A5 dual-core system that should make it twice as fast (with graphics speeds up to 9 times faster)
- It features built-in front and rear cameras
- The iPad 2 also has a pretty cool magnetic case available.
- It's HDMI compatible.
However, those specs aside many tech bloggers are saying they're holding off. That's because even though the iPad was just announced yesterday, there's already rumors of an iPad 3 being released as early by the end of this year or early 2012.
Those tech pundits are claiming that the iPad 3 will address some of the issues that neither the iPad or iPad 2 addressed:
- No SD card slot available
- No USB port
- It lacks the Retina Screen that was such a big hit with the iPhone 4.
- No Gorilla Glass like most competing tablets.
So while it makes no sense to me why Apple would release the iPad 3 so soon after the iPad 2 (essentially cannibalizing the iPad 2 unless there's a steep price difference between the the iPad 2 and iPad 3), they have successfully refocused the tablet spotlight back on the original poster-boy for this emerging tech market.