Immediately after Jobs finished announcing the iPad 2, I had a few minutes to play with one and I'm impressed. It's thinner, lighter and faster and with two cameras it's the first practical mobile device for shooting, editing and posting video.
The new iPad, which will ship on March 11th, is 1/3 thinner and now is 1.3 pounds down from 1.5 pounds.Black and white versions, shipping white from day one. Models work with Verizon and AT&T 3G from day one.
Jobs also announced a "smart cover' that attaches to the device via magnets. It wakes up the iPad when you open it and it has a lining that cleans the screen when you open and close it.
IOS 4.3
Apple also announced a new version of the operating system for iPads and IPhones. IOS 4.3 supports turning an iPhone 4 into a Wi-Fi hotspot. Also lets you stream media from computers to iPad and iPhone.
iPad will now have Facetime and Photo Booth.
iMovie and GarageBand for iPad
iMovie for the iPad makes enormous sense, making it practical to shoot, edit and upload video from the field.
GarageBand has smart instruments that respond to how you pound the virtual keys or strum the strings. The harder you press on a piano key, for example, the louder the note, just like a real piano.
iMovie and GarageBand will cost $4.99 each and be in the App Store on March 11th.