When the original iPad was launched the heaviest criticism it received was that it was principally a content consumption device, suited for web browsing, reading, listening to music, playing games and watching videos. The iPad was not suited for serious work; you were more or less limited to just writing emails and short documents.
Smart applications, such as Brushes and SketchBook, pushed the envelope and allowed creative individuals to produce amazing works of art on the iPad but offerings were still limited.
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You can count pretty much all the rumors we’ve reported as verified. The iPad 2 is now a reality and shipping on March 11th to the US and on March 25th to more than 26 other countries.
The next generation, iPad 2 will have:
- New faster A5 chip: Dual-core processors, up to 2x faster CPU, up to 9x faster graphics
- Dual cameras (front and back) and new software supporting the cameras (Photo Booth and FaceTime with some pretty heavy conferencing power, 9 live video streams at once!).
- Gyroscope, as in the latest iPhone and iPod Touch.
- 34% thinner at just 8.8mm thick (from 13.4mm). It’s thinner than the iPhone 4 (9.3mm).
- 13% lighter at 1.3lbs (from 1.5lbs).
- Same 10 hour battery life.
- Same starting price, $499 for the 16GB WiFi only model.
It will be shipping in two colors, black and white, from day one, and there will be models available for both AT&T and Verizon.
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It’s been almost three months since this e-reader / tablet landed on our doorstep and I’ve already spent several hours of quality time with it. Barnes & Noble has taken a different approach with its second e-reader device, donning the Nook Color with a full 7-inch color touchscreen and doing away with E-Ink. Despite this move, unsurprisingly, the Nook Color is still a book centric device out of the box.
This review of the Nook Color centers on its suitability as an e-reader device. Despite this I must note that the Nook Color has great potential as a full-fledged tablet and, the never-tiring Android hacking community has really embraced the Nook Color and continues daily to unlock its potential. A follow-up review will be posted soon that will look into the Nook Color as a tablet.
Moving right along, I must say from the kick-off that B&N has created a really great e-reading device that is a pleasure to take everywhere, hold and use and is offering it at a very attractive price, $249. However the Nook Color is not without frustrations and the software experience is still rough around the edges; with each over-the-air update, however, bringing it closer to perfection. Despite these, it still might not be the device for everyone, and we will try to convey both the shortcomings together with the benefits of this device. Hopefully by the end of this lengthy review you should get an idea if this is the right device for you. So read on to find out.
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