About Electronics

Electronista: Apple today introduced the iPad 2, its second-generation tablet. The device uses a new dual-core processor called the A5, said to be twice as fast as the A4. Graphics processing is said to be nine times faster, and the device has both front- and rear-facing cameras. The device is a third thinner than the original iPad at 8.8mm versus 13.4mm, which Apple notes is also thinner than the iPhone 4. This contributes to a smaller weight at 1.3 pounds versus 1.5.

The iPad 2 further gains a gyroscope, and forward- and rear-facing cameras, which among other things can be used for iMovie, FaceTime calls, and Photo Booth. Black and white colors will be available, and 3G versions of the tablet will support AT&T and Verizon. Battery life is rated the same as the iPad 1 at 10 hours. Uniquely, a special $39 cable will allow HDMI out at resolutions up to 1080p while still charging.

The iPad 2 ships to the US on March 11th. Beginning on the 25th reach will expand to a host of other countries, including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Wi-Fi and 3G tablets will continue to be available in the same capacities and at the same prices as predecessors, ranging from $499 for 16GB Wi-Fi through to $829 for 64GB 3G.

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BBC News: Apple is cashing in on the popularity of its iPhone and iPad to boost demand for its oldest product, the Macintosh.

The company announced that its popular app store for the iPhone and the iPad would soon be coming to its laptops.

It also launched a revamped MacBook Air at an event at its headquarters.

The computer is seen as a marriage of what Apple has learned from desktop computing and mobile devices. Like the iPad, the Air will have no hard drive and rely on flash memory.

Apple shares fall despite profits RIM counters Apple tablet jibes “It’s like nothing we’ve ever created before,” said Apple boss Steve Jobs.

“We see these as the next generation of MacBooks. We think all notebooks are going to be like this one day. We’ve been inspired by some of the work we have done on iOS and want to bring them back to the Mac,” said Mr Jobs.

Analysts said the laptop sends out a clear signal to the industry.

“This is a strong reminder to everyone out there that Apple is still in the PC business,” said Michael Gartenberg, research director with Gartner.

“They are still making a lot of money in the PC business and if anyone thinks they are getting out of that business given the money they are making they are very mistaken.”

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The new MacBook Air is 0.11 inches thick at its thinnest point. Apple said the computer’s battery life lets users surf the web for seven hours. In standby mode, the battery can last 30 days.

 The first Macintosh made its debut on 24 January 1984 In an overview, Apple said the Macintosh accounted for a third of the company’s revenue or $22bn in the fiscal year that has just ended.

They sold 13.7 million Macs last year, which is three times the sales they had in 2005. The firm also cited research figures that showed Apple now controls 20.7% of the US consumer market and accounts for one in every five computers sold.

“The Mac company, if it were a standalone company, and we have no plans to do that, would be 110 on the Fortune 500 list,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief technology officer.

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Apple also unveiled a new version of the Macintosh operating system, called Lion, to be released next summer.

The new OS builds on some of the features used in the firm’s iOS, which is currently used to power iPhones and iPads.

“Lion brings many of the best ideas from the iPad back to the Mac, plus some fresh new ones,” said Mr Jobs.

The company revealed that Macs will soon have an application store, mirroring the one that exists for its mobile devices.

A feature called launchpad will make it easy to organise and launch apps in the new version of the operating system. The App Store will be added to Macs, as a download, within 90 days.

FaceTime, which debuted on the iPhone 4 this summer, will also bring video-chatting to Macs.

Apple also updated its flagship software suite iLife. The new edition includes updates to iPhotos, iMovie and GarageBand.

The new iPhoto integrates more deeply with social networks, such as Facebook, allowing people to upload pictures directly from the software, as well as see comments that people have made on their photos.

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