Jobs shows up, unveils iPad 2

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO

Apple CEO Steve Jobs briefly emerged from his medical leave and walked on stage to a standing ovation Wednesday to unveil the second generation of the popular iPad. It comes with two cameras and will go on sale March 11 in the U.S.

Jobs looked frail as he appeared in his signature black mock turtleneck, blue jeans and wire-rimmed glasses.

“We’ve been working on this product for a while, and I just didn’t want to miss today,” Jobs told an audience that included bloggers and Apple enthusiasts. “Thank you for having me.”

The next-generation tablet computer is faster than the original iPad’s. As expected, it comes with two cameras for taking photos and video chatting. The battery life will be the same as the original — about 10 hours of usage or a month on standby.

The iPad 2 also is thinner — 8.8 millimeters, or about a third of an inch, instead of the current 13.4 millimeters.

“The new iPad 2 is actually thinner than your iPhone 4,” Jobs said.

The original iPad, which went on sale last April, was more popular than analysts anticipated. Apple sold 15 million in nine months.

The iPad initially was used for checking e-mail, surfing the Web and watching online video. But as the number of software applications — or “apps” — designed just for iPad grew, the tablet made itself at home in offices, shops, restaurants and countless other settings.

The rush for iPads sparked dozens of copycat touch-screen devices, but so far, none has broken into the mainstream consciousness the way the iPad has. In February, Motorola Mobility Inc.’s Xoom, the most promising challenger so far, went on sale. It runs a new version of Google Inc.’s Android software that was designed for tablets, not smart phones.

The new iPad will make it even harder for rivals to compete.

“Overall, the big message today is that Apple is offering a version 2 device while everyone else is still attempting to ship their first version 1 devices,” said Yankee Group analyst Carl Howe.

He said the iPad 2’s improvements are modest over the first one, but nonetheless it will stand out because there are more apps available.

Sarah Rotman Eps, a Forrester Research analyst, said iPads should make up at least 20 million of the 24.1 million tablet computers she expects people in the U.S. to buy this year.

Tablet computers existed long before the iPad, but it took Apple to build a device that made sense to consumers. Apple simplified the software, packed it in sleek, shiny hardware and sold it to a generation of gadget lovers who, most likely, already have a smart phone and a laptop that serve most of the same functions.

The new iPads will cost the same as the originals — $499 to $829, depending on storage space and whether or not they can connect to the Internet over a cellular network. Apple said there will be black and white versions, despite its problems getting the promised white iPhone 4 models to market. The first iPad came only in black. In the U.S., the iPad 2 will work on AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless.

A reporter who used a white iPad 2 immediately after the announcement found it noticeably thinner and more curvy. YouTube video loaded quickly using AT&T’s data service, and “Toy Story 3” played smoothly. Given its size, the iPad 2 appeared impractical for taking lots of photos, but both cameras will help with video chats — the front one to show the caller, and the back one to show what the caller is seeing.

Jobs also introduced a new accessory for the iPad that will let people connect the tablet to high-definition televisions, so they can watch videos up to 1080p in resolution on the bigger screen. The $39 part plugs into the iPad’s charging port and connects to an HDMI cable.

After its March 11 U.S. launch, the iPad 2 goes on sale March 25 in at least 26 other markets, including Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and other European countries.

Apple also introduced updates to the software that runs on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices. The company said the update would work on GSM-type iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 models; Verizon Wireless’ version uses a different technology.

The new system, iOS 4.3, includes support for FaceTime, Apple’s video-chat program. The company said people can now hold conversations between iPads, iPhones and Mac computers.