The Verge has finally answered the question which has been making rounds around the blogosphere for past few days, as to how does Windows 8 tablet perform when compared to iPad 2. In the video below you can see Windows 8 consumer preview against the most popular tablet, the iPad 2. The Verge goes through basic gestures on the iPad’s home screen, like the basic 4 finger pinch, while showing Windows 8 is a little more gesture focused. Check it out:
Windows 8 features a new type of multitasking with side-by-side apps. While the gesture to get multitasking working looks a little confusing at first, once you get the hang of it, it looks pretty cool.
iOS 5 and Windows 8 share a few similarities, but the user experience is fundamentally different and informed by different interaction metaphors. You can see those detailed in the video below, and if you care to learn more about what else has changed under the Windows hood with version 8, feel free to peruse our comprehensive.
Going for uniformity, Windows 8 follows Windows Phone’s UI, having ‘live tiles’ on the home screen. The ’tiles’ let you launch apps that are pre-loaded with the device and downloaded from the Windows Marketplace. In the video below, you’ll notice things seem to be pretty smooth. The browser for instance seemed quick to load, but had a few missing items — like the ability to save images.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire was launched a few days back is being compared side by side with iPad 2 by iDownloadblog in the below video. iPad 2 beats Kindle Fire in many counts. Check it out:
This comparison is done by thisismynext.com. Post the launch of Amazon’s Kindle Fire, its very interesting to compare iPad 4 vs Fire. Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color is a more direct competitor, so its worthwhile to bring that into this comparison as well.
Amazon’s value proposition for the Fire comes from its vast, deep ecosystem and a highly-customized build of Android that CEO Jeff Bezos suggests will rock our world, so you don’t want to read too deeply into these numbers — particularly when the iPad starts at $300 more — but it’s something to keep in mind.
Here’s Apple’s latest TV ad for the iPad, entitled, ‘Now.’ iPad is now changing the way we do just about everything, from watching a newspaper to looking at the stars - Now, we can watch a newspaper. Listen to a magazine. Curl up with a movie, and see a phone call. Now, we can take a classroom anywhere. Hold an entire bookstore. And touch the stars. Because now, there’s this… Amazing
Finally Apple confirmed iPad 2 for India. Thank god, they changed their mind this time. You can go pick up iPad 2 from any Apple approved store in India from tomorrow, Friday the 29th 2011. Apart from India, the iPad 2 also goes on sale in Hong Kong, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE. The China launch will happen only on May 6.
Prices start from Rs.29,500 (or Rs.27,900) for the base Wi-Fi only 16GB version to Rs.46,900 for the Wi-Fi plus 3G 64 GB variant. The Smart Cover for the iPad 2 will be here as well. The polyurethane version is priced at Rs. 2,100 while the leather version will set you back by Rs. 3,800.
Finally iPad 2 is in India and will be officially be launched via @VijaySales by this weekend. VijaySales has finally confirmed that iPad 2 will be launch across their stores in India very soon. They are giving away pricing details via VijaySale store in Mumbai. You would anyways know about the features. For those who need more info, heres it - iPad 2 is lighter, thinner and faster than its predecessor. It includes dual cameras (rear and front) for Facetime and HD video recording at 720fps.
Earlier today, VijaySales tweeted this:
But minutes later, they re-updated their twitter with this:
But one thing is clear. The launch will surely happen by this weekend as earlier rumor. Great news guys. Hope they keep the price same. Cool news ). OnlyGizmos earlier confirmed about the availability of iPad 2 this weekend. However, their sources reported April 28 or 29 as the date for the official launch.
Apple new TV ad for new the new iPad 2 is just amazing. Introducing iPad 2. It’s everything we believe technology should be. Go tohttp://www.apple.com/ipad to learn more…
With iPad 2 generating crazy queues around US, the tablet market is definitely heating up. In a ChangeWave survey of 3,091 consumers conducted in February, 27% of respondents indicated plans to purchase a tablet in the future. Of that pool, 82% of them plan on purchasing an Apple iPad:
Neither the Motorola Xoom (4%) – which hadn’t been released yet at the time of the survey – nor the soon-to-be-released RIM/BlackBerry PlayBook (3%) have so far had a significant impact on iPad demand. Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy Tab (3%) has done little to date to slow the iPad’s momentum. It remains to be seen which of these tablet devices or other new entries in the market will be able to successfully compete. Each faces an uphill battle with the refreshed iPad 2 hitting the shelves on March 11. The survey results provide further insight into what they’re up against.
Importantly, the iPad’s satisfaction rating remains outstanding among owners – with 70% saying they’re Very Satisfied and 25% Somewhat Satisfied with the Apple tablet device.
Apples new tablet comes with 512 MB of LPDDR2 RAM. When compared to the original iPad this is a bump up of 256 MB RAM. With this iPad 2 users will experience immediate improvements in smoother browsing experience on Safari. And this will happen with iPhone 5 as well as we all know iPhone 5 will also sport A5 chip processors.
Check out the video comparing iPad and iPad 2 by TiPb, tab to tab on the original iPad, Safari often has to re-load each visited sited because there’s not enough RAM to save the state into memory. On the iPad 2, however, each tab is saved into memory and does not require a site refresh. And also the scrolling on the iPad 2 is noticeably faster than on the iPad 1. Pretty cool stuff:
I am going to share the entire iPad 2 launch event shared by Macrumors in brief. This will cover almost everything that was discussed by Steve Jobs last evening. It was an awesome event putting and end to that crazy 6 weeks to live shit circulated by news papers all around the world. Thanks Steve for showing up and looking healthy
Quick Event Updates
- Steve Jobs on stage to standing ovation. “We have something great to announce today, and I didn’t want to miss it.”
- iBooks: Over 100 million books downloaded, and today we’re adding Random House with 17,000 books. Now over 2,500 publishers in the iBookstore.
- Just crossed 200 million iTunes Store accounts…can be used in three stores: iTunes, App Store, iBookstore.
- Over $2 billion paid out to App Store developers.
- Recently shipped 100 millionth iPhone.
- 2010 was the year of the iPad. Sold almost 15 million of them in just nine months. $9.5 billion in revenue…we’ve never had a product get off to that fast of a start. Over 90% market share, and competitors flummoxed.
- Today we’re introducing iPad 2. All-new design…not tweaked, not marginal improvements.
- New chip: The Apple A5. Dual-core, up to 2x faster. Graphics up to 9x faster. Same low power as A4. First dual-core tablet to ship in volume.
- Front- and rear-facing cameras, built-in gyroscope, 33% thinner than iPad 1. 8.8 mm vs. 13.4 mm. Also lighter…moves from 1.5 lbs to 1.3 lbs.
- Two colors: black and white. White is shipping from day one. Models for AT&T and Verizon, available from day one. Same 10-hour battery life.
- Same price points, same capacities. Starts at $499, and five of the six models are below competitors’ entry-level pricing (Motorola Xoom) of $799.
- Ships March 11th in the U.S., 26 more countries on March 25th.
- HDMI mirrored video out from dock connector…$39 adapter provides up to 1080p for all apps while allowing charging.
- Smart Covers. We did a case for the original iPad, but thought we could do better…it’s not a case, but a cover. Bends around and acts as a typing stand. Automatically wakes iPad when opened, sleeps iPad when closed. Magnetic. Polyurethane ($39) or leather ($69) in assorted colors (five of each), easy removal.
- iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3. Significantly faster Safari. JavaScript 2x faster.
- iTunes home sharing…access all music, movies, and TV shows on your home computer from your iOS device, wirelessly over Wi-Fi.
- AirPlay improvements: Built-in slideshow options for photos, Third-party apps and websites can now do video and audio.
- iPad switch now can be used for mute or rotation.
- Personal hotspot: iPhone 4 only…share 3G connection via Wi-Fi to other devices.
- Showing video of smart cover.
- New software. Since the iPad now has cameras, we’ve added Photo Booth. iPad 2 can serve up nine live video streams to preview effects.
- FaceTime. Works between two iPads, between iPad and iPhone/iPod touch, and between iPad and Mac.
- Demoing iPad FaceTime call.
- iOS 4.3 free download on March 11th.
- Jobs back on stage with two more apps to show off. We like doing apps because it gives us perspective and can set the bar for other developers.
- iMovie for iPad. Precision editor, multitrack audio recording, AirPlay, universal app.
- Randy Ubillos on stage to give demo. Much more useful on iPad with larger screen size. Can record directly into timeline from the camera. Full multitouch control. Major audio improvements: Sound effects, three audio tracks plus background, etc. New themes. Sharing to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, CNN iReport, iTunes.
- $4.99, available in App Store March 11th.
- Jobs back on stage and wrapping up. Once again talking about marrying technology with the humanities. Looking forward to the post-PC era where hardware and software need to intertwine even more. We think we’re on the right path and will be competitive.
When ever there is a live event at Apple, I go to one website, Engadget. And today Apple is going to talk about the super success with iOS devices, and about iPad sales and then the big one – introduction of iPad 2. Be there by 10AMPST(1PM EST), or follow Engadget’s liveblogging event on this page.
If you want to follow along with the action, tune into this URL right here at the times below tomorrow. Just make sure you’ve got the popcorn and sodas ready — this is going to be a fun one.
08:00AM – Hawaii 10:00AM – Pacific 11:00AM – Mountain 12:00PM – Central 01:00PM – Eastern 06:00PM – London 07:00PM – Paris 09:00PM – Moscow 11:30PM – Mumbai 03:00AM – Tokyo (March 3rd) 05:00AM – Sydney (March 3rd)
The rumors have come true. Apple will indeed launch iPad 2 on the March 2. Press invites to a special media event on March 2nd at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco has been sent out. “Come see what 2011 will be all about,” says the invite. The event starts at 10:00 am. This is the same venue Apple traditionally uses to introduce products.
9to5Mac got some interesting pictures of the venue getting dressed for the March 2nd launch as well. Check it out:
