iPad 2

5 Lessons the iPad 2 Could Learn From the PlayBook

Cody Lee ∙ April 23, 2011

The BlackBerry PlayBook launched last week to some mixed reviews. The latest formidable iPad competitor to enter the market has certainly heard its fair share of criticism. There's very few usable applications and the operating system isn't consistent.

Although the tablet doesn't offer any kind of threat to the iPad 2 in terms of market share at this point, I hope the folks over at Apple are taking notes. There are a few things that the juggernaut could learn from the rookie tablet.

1. Flash Video

You knew it was coming, so we'll get it out of the way first. Flash. Although I've never seen Flash work properly on a mobile device, the BlackBerry PlayBook plays back Flash videos effortlessly. While I admit I probably don't encounter many problems by not having Flash these days, it'd be nice to have access to Flash-based Videos.

2. Screen Resolution

Believe it or not, those folks over at Research In Motion, known for not being on the cutting edge of technology, produced a brighter and sharper screen than the iPad 2. I'd like to see Apple increase the next iPad's screen resolution substantially. Retina anyone?

3. Worthy Native Web Browser

While a wealth of 3rd party apps make up for the features Safari lacks, they don't have the ability to be the default browser. If you open a link from an email or application, you're tossed right back into Safari. The PlayBook's web browser, on the other hand, has tabbed windows and an easy way to manage them. The Safari multi-page browsing system works nice on the iPhone, but the iPad could use a different design.

4. Stereo Speakers

So the iPad is touted as a great portable media device that allows you to play games and watch movies, but the mono speaker is so last year. The PlayBook comes with stereo speakers and sounds amazing. I've always felt Apple's iDevice products could use better quality speakers, but I'm sure they just assume accessory makers fill that void.

5. Phone Pairing Capabilities

With the PlayBook, you're able to tether your BlackBerry smartphone and access all of your information in real time. I know it's also flawed in this area by not providing native PlayBook Calendar and Contact apps, but it would be nice if the iPhone shared this feature. Imagine not having to use a 3rd party application to transfer pictures from your iPhone to your iPad.

So there you have it, a few things that the BlackBerry PlayBook did right. Obviously RIM's tablet is in its early stages and the iPad 2 is clearly winning the tablet war. Hopefully though, we'll see some of the missing features listed above, in the next iteration of Apple's tablet.

FindOne Helps you Track Down iPad 2s

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 12, 2019

By now, we've reported on several different places to get yourself one of Apple's new tablets. Though availability has been fairly scarce, several retail stores including RadioShack and Toys R' Us have received late shipments of the iPad 2.

If for some reason you still haven't gotten your hands on the popular device, there's an app for that. Popular iDevice blog TiPb posted an interesting find today of an application called FindOne.

It works by querying various superstore databases to find iPad 2 product availability within the users given zip code. If an iPad 2 is available, the store's phone number and address get displayed.

You can even narrow your search to match the exact model you are looking for. Options include storage size and which wireless service you want built in, if any.

That said, there is a bit of a downside. Currently the application only works with Walmart and Target retail chains, but Best Buy and Toys R' Us compatibility are said to be on the way.

Folks still searching for an iPad 2 may find this application useful. It works on all iDevices and is a free download from iTunes.

Has everyone gotten their iPad 2s?

Toys R’ Us and Best Buy iPad 2 Promotion

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 6, 2017

If you haven't been able to snag an iPad 2 just yet, pay attention. It looks like the rumors we heard about Toys R' Us becoming an iPad 2 retailer soon were spot on.

The Toys R' Us website is spreading the word that the toy store chain now has iPad 2 stock at many of its retail stores. It appears to just be specific locations, not completely nationwide. I also couldn't find a way to order online.

That wasn't the only retail chain gossip that seems to have materialized. MacRumors is reporting that Best Buy featured its rumored iPad 2 promotion in today's sales ads.

For those that don't recall, Best Buy was accused of withholding stock for sales purposes, then later revealed that they were holding onto local iPad 2s for an upcoming promotion.

Like Toys R' Us though, it seems Best Buy also has a limited amount of inventory. Engadget has gotten their hands on an employee bulletin that mentions the promotion :

"The iPad 2 will be featured on the front cover of the April 17 ad, and because of this, the reserve system will be turned back on" ... "Corporate Support Teams know that many stores won't be in the optimal situation to handle customers' requests"

The document goes on to say that multiple stores are quoting a minimum of 3 units per model of the device, but that is only at select locations.

If this round of shipments is anything like the last, they are going to go quickly. It appears that if you have been looking to get an iPad 2, today would be a great day to do it.

Have you gotten your iPad 2 yet? What do you think of it?

iPad Rocking U.S. PC Market

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 24, 2017

We talked last month about the problems that popular PC maker, Acer, was having hitting sales forecasts. The main issue seemed to be that the emerging, easy-to-use tablet market has been seriously appealing to consumers who are looking to replace older PCs.

Tablets are extremely portable, and aren't plagued by previous mobile device flaws like bad battery, poor performance, and small screens. An entry level iPad also costs the same amount as your typical entry level laptop or computer, so affordability isn't an issue.

The tablet revolution, which has been spearheaded almost single-handidly by Apple's iPad line, has certainly taken PC makers by surprise. According to the IDC, several major PC brands have seen a drop in sales this year as the iPad 2 continues to flourish around the globe.

In fact, Toshiba is the only company that has posted growth this year out of all of the PC manufacturers. Acer seems to have suffered the biggest drop in sales, as the company saw a drop off of nearly 40% in the first quarter of this year versus 2010.

The struggling PC manufacturer seems be having serious problems adapting to the major shifts in technology the industry has seen over the recent years. Although they do have tablets on the way, the are almost destined to become lost in the ever-growing stack of Android-toting tablets.

Are PC makers going to be forced to take a more Apple-like approach to compete with them head-on? Should they look to design and build both hardware and software in house? I don't know, but as Apple has proven time and time again, innovation seems to be the key to success in this industry. and everyone else seems to be playing catch up.

What do you think? What will PC makers need to do to compete in a post-PC era?

[BGR]

iOS 4.3.2 Goes Live, Fixes iPad 2. Jailbreakers Beware!

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

We reported a few days ago that iOS 4.3.2 would be released within the week. Well it looks like BGR's sources were right on the money. The latest version of the firmware went live today and was said to fix multiple issues.

It corrects a known FaceTime glitch for the iPhone, but more importantly appears to correct the 3G connectivity issue with Verizon iPad 2s. The problem had been plaguing Verizon iPad 2 adopters for nearly a month.

What's also interesting is that the update also lists that it contains the latest security updates. Jailbreakers should beware of updating to any new iOS software without official word from the Dev Team or Chronic Dev.

These guys need to test the current jailbreak with the new software to make sure everything still works. It's very possible that Apple patched the exploits that made the jailbreak work.

A re-tweet by Comex today said "So 4.3.2 was originally built the same day @i0nic's untether was released .... what can we conclude from this info?"

If you have an iPad 2, there is no jailbreak available, so you can update if you want. However I only recommend that you do so if you need the fix for 3G connectivity, otherwise you could endanger yourself of not being eligible for a future jailbreak.

If you have an iPad 1 and are jailbroken or are planning to be, stay away from this new firmware until we receive official word that it's compatible. Stay tuned and we'll keep you updated on the latest iPad jailbreak news.

Were you experiencing the Verizon iPad 2 glitch? Did 4.3.2 fix it?

More iPad 2 Jailbreak Updates

Cody Lee ∙ April 13, 2011

Some people believe that media outlets misinterpreted tweets from p0sixninja the other day, stating that he and the Chronic Dev team were almost done with an iPad 2 jailbreak. Even MuscleNerd sent a message out on Twitter, trying to stop the hype.

"Despite recent rumors, the only iPad 2 JB close to reality is Comex, patience please."

His message came in light of dozens of tech blogs (including us) reporting that the Chronic Dev team was getting close to finishing an iPad 2 jailbreak. The new Apple tablet has been out almost a month now and iDevice hackers have yet to produce a viable solution to jailbreak it.

While we aren't sure of Comex's latest jailbreak status, it appears that MuscleNerd was wrong about the Chronic Dev team's progress. p0sixninja tweeted yesterday,

"A lot of progress has been made in the past few days, but we're still working on dumping iPad 2 BootROOM."

Although he mentions that there is no ETA, he does mention that his iPad 2 has already been jailbroken, and gives a shout out to Comex for all of the help.

A Twitter follower asked p0sixninja if he and Comex were working together, to which he replied

"That's up in the air right now. We'll see how things progress between me and @MuscleNerd in the next few days."

It doesn't matter who finishes first, I just hope we see a jailbreak solution for the iPad 2 before Apple releases iOS 4.3.2. For those unaware, Apple patched Comex's original iPad 2 exploit in iOS 4.3.1, delaying a jailbreak solution for the new tablet for a month (and counting). As always, we'll keep you updated on the latest iPad 2 news.

What do you think, are we getting close to an iPad 2 jailbreak?

iPad 2 Demand Up 40% From Its Predecessor

Cody Lee ∙ April 13, 2011

RBC Capital Markets' Mike Abramsky issued a new report today sharing his expectations for Apple's quarterly earnings report next week. The analyst is predicting that the Cupertino company will handily beat market expectations.

Abramsky's looking for Apple to post a revenue of $24 billion and an earnings per share of $5.75 for last quarter. The boost in revenue is said to be a product of strong iPhone 4 and iPad sales.The note also included results from an interesting survey of over 2000 consumers.

Of those polled, 28% said that they were "very likely" or "somewhat likely" to purchase the latest version of Apple's tablet. That's 40% higher than their previous polling in May of 2010, where respondents were questioned in a similar fashion about the original iPad.

The research also revealed a survey of potential iPad 2 purchasers before it launched. The poll showed that out of customers who were planning to purchase a 3G model, 46% wanted Verizon service.

Abramsky's report should not only please investors but help eradicate rumors of a 2011 iPad 3 launch. Apple is making too much money on its current iPad 2 model to even think of shipping an update this year.

What do you think?

[MacRumors]

Want Glasses-Free 3D on Your iPad 2?

Cody Lee ∙ April 11, 2011

We've shown you some pretty sweet iPad 2 hacks recently, but this one takes the cake. A couple of guys from the EHCI Research Group have managed to create basic 3D graphics on the iPad 2, using the front facing camera. Confused yet?

The technology is called head tracking, and has become fairly common verbiage among tech websites. Essentially your head movements can be captured and turned into commands for applications or controls for games.

These guys obviously didn't get the memo. They have decided to use head tracking to present 3D graphics on Apple's latest tablet. Their software uses the front facing camera to judge your position in relation to the iPad, and then it manipulates the graphics accordingly.

We track the head of the user with the front facing camera in order to create a glasses-free monocular 3D display. Such spatially-aware mobile display enables to improve the possibilities of interaction. It does not use the accelerometers and relies only on the front camera.

Still not impressed? You've got to check out the video below. Although many critics have brushed 3D technology off like a passing trend, companies like Nintendo are starting to take it seriously. But do we really need it in the iPad? If nothing else, this has to be one of the coolest non-jailbreak hacks I've seen.

It's currently just a tech demo, and has yet to be decided if/how it would be implemented in user software.

Would you want 3D graphics for your iPad 2?

[macstories]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBQQEcfkHoE

iOS 4.3.2 Update Should Fix Verizon iPad 2 3G Problems

Cody Lee ∙ April 11, 2011

We reported a few days ago on a developing story about the Verizon iPad 2. It seemed as though some iPad models, with the Verizon 3G service built in, have been having issues connecting to Verizon's network.

If you are one of the ones suffering from the problematic tablet, perk up. Popular tech site BGR has gotten their hands on the latest version of iOS, and has some great news for Verizon iPad users.

One of our Apple sources has just let us know that Apple's iOS 4.3.2, due within the next week or so, will fix the issues we've been hearing about with some Verizon iPad 2 models.

The site goes on to say that the new update should also fix a couple of FaceTime and WebKit vulnerabilities. But the good news is, it sounds like a fix is on the way for all of the folks struggling with 3G connectivity woes.

What I'm wondering is if an iPad 2 jailbreak is on the way, will Comex and participating parties wait until after 4.3.2 goes live before releasing anything?

If you remember Comex had previously found an exploit for the iPad 2, but the glitch was patched by Apple in the iOS 4.3.1 update. We will let you know as soon as we have more information.

Hopefully this doesn't delay the iPad 2 jailbreak anymore than it already is, what do you think?

iPad 2 Jailbreak Release Coming Soon!

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

If you have jailbroken your iDevice before, you should recognize the name Chronic Dev. Much like the notorious iPhone Dev Team, Chronic Dev plays a large part in the jailbreaking community.

Their software, GreenPois0n, made jailbreaking as easy as plugging in your device to a computer.

Although they've been relatively quiet lately, it appears they plan to come back in a big way. Chronic Dev team member Joshua Hill, aka @p0sixninja, mentioned on Twitter yesterday that his team was focused on finishing their iPad 2 jailbreak.

Since a jailbreaking solution has yet to become available for the iPad 2, this is pretty big news. The 4.3.1 exploit released last Sunday by the Dev Team does not work on Apple's latest tablet, and there has been no word from Comex on his current progress.

When will the iPad 2 jailbreak be finished? @p0sixninja tells a Twitter follower that they are in early stages, and jokes that progress depends on which way the winds blowing. Since he uses the word "finishing" in his early Tweet, I have to assume he was just kidding.

Tech site Redmond Pie believes the iPad 2 jailbreak will be packaged in with the new version of GreenPois0n, which is expected to be released soon and work on all iDevices.

Keep checking back and we will keep you updated on the latest iPad 2 jailbreak news.

Anyone dying to jailbreak their iPad 2?

Apple Admits to Problems With Verizon iPad 2

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 26, 2016

A complaint posted on an Apple forum back on March 15th has been getting a lot of attention over the last couple of days. The thread is about a customer's issue with his iPad 2 3G not connecting to Verizon's network.

Since its inception, hundreds of users have turned out to add their names to the list of affected units. All of them citing the exact same issues, and trying to offer each other home grown fixes.

One commenter writes:

"Add my name to the list. I've had problems after waiting to turn on my cellular service for a week. Tried to activate today and had all sorts of trouble getting the cellular service to come on..."

He ends the posting with:

"I paid too much for this kind of garbage."

I believe his feelings are shared throughout the forum, as the only known fix right now is to leave the iPad 2's 3G data service on all the time.

Otherwise users are reporting that they are having to wait anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours for their 3G service to activate after it's been shut off.

After weeks of replacing defective units, Apple has broken the silence. The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Apple admits knowledge of the Verizon iPad 2 glitch and is looking into it.

The article states that an Apple spokeswoman claimed that a "small number" of Verizon iPad 2 customers have been experiencing connectivity problems. She said that Apple is aware of the issue and is investigating it. She wouldn't give The Journal the number of iPads effected or a release date for the patch.

But if you have a Verizon iPad 2 and are experiencing these issues, hang in there. Given the amount of media attention this glitch has received, Apple should be pushing out a fix in no time. We'll let you know as soon as it's available.

Have you been experiencing this issue on your Verizon iPad 2?

Toys R' Us to Begin Selling the iPad 2 Next Month?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

The iPad 2 has been quite the success story. The device that had to live up to the name "magical," continues to do so with analysts predicting iPad 2 sales beyond 40 million units.

It appears like Apple is looking to meet the high expectations by making the device available almost anywhere. The iPad 2 has been sold in several retail chains so far, such as Target and Walmart. It even turned up at RadioShack late last month.

Now Apple could be looking to target a younger demographic by offering the iPad 2 at Toys R' Us retail stores across the country. ModMyi is reporting that they received a tip a few days ago from a Toys R' Us employee that the chain had been training its entire staff on the device.

The employee even sent the blog a picture (see below) of the iPad 2 training material as proof. The move would certainly be a logical one on Apple's part. Toys R' Us already sells iPod products, this would be a way for Apple to market their tablet to a different audience.

As the iPad 2 story continues, we will keep you updated on the latest place to buy the popular tablet, as we all await a jailbreak solution.

Have you snagged your iPad 2 yet?