ABC7 Tech Blog

Apple's DNA

Jobs is saying it's embedded in the company's DNA that technology is not enough.  It has to intersect with liberal arts.  Competitors are rushing into the tablet market, thinking it's a PC.  He says that is not the right approach.  These are post-PC devices that are easier to use than a PC and more intuitive than a PC, Jobs says.  "We think we're on the right track," he says.  He think Apple stands to be competitive in this market.

He's now asking people from Apple who worked on the iPad 2 to stand for applause.  He's also thanking their families who make it possible "to work our tails off to make these products."

Jobs is wrapping up.  Apparently no "one more thing."  

Event is over.  Live blog over. Thanks for joining us.

Remember, we'll have more later today online at www.abc7news.com and on ABC7 News at 5 and 6.

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Recapping

Jobs is back on stage to recap all the features of the new iPad 2.  Once this event is over, we'll be moving to a separate room where we'll have a chance to touch and try out the new tablet.  

He's now rolling a video that shows off all the new features.  

 

Event Still Going

The event is still going on.  We keep wondering if Jobs will have a "...one more thing" surprise for us.  They are spending a lot of time demonstrating Garage Band.  

On ABC7 News at 11 AM

Look for first video of Steve Jobs appearing at the Apple event this morning.  We'll have it on ABC7 News at 11 AM, just a couple minutes from now.  We'll have more on ABC7 News at 5 and 6 tonight.  

 

"It Blows My Mind"

"It blows my mind," Steve Jobs just said on stage.  He's referring to the 1.3 pound weight of the iPad and the iMovie app.  

He's now talking about Garage Band for the iPad.  Touch instruments, guitar amps and effects, 8 track recording and mixing, 250+ loops, email AAC file of your song, and compatible with Mac computers so you can start on one device and keep working on another.  

Xander Soren, who does music marketing, is on stage now to demonstrate Garage Band for iPad.  

New App's

iMovie for iPad.  Jobs is announcing this desktop/notebook app will run on the iPad 2, giving users the opportunity to edit and create movies and edit sound.  

 

Questions

While Forstall is demonstrating FaceTime, one has to raise questions whether Steve Jobs today took a break from his medical leave, or whether he is ending his medical leave.  When he announced he was taking leave in January, there was no mention made about how long he'd be away.  

Jobs is back on stage now.  He's going to introduce two new app's.  

 

Other stuff

Polyurethane cases cost $39; leather smart cases cost $69.

Now he's announcing iOS 4.3, a new version of the Apple operating system.  Scott Forstall is now on stage.  He says 4.3 speeds up Safari browser performance.  Allows iTunes home sharing with the iPad 2.  AirPlay improvements.  

PhotoBooth is coming to the iPad.  It's a fun photo app existing on Mac computers.  The faster A5 chip allows it to be used on the iPad 2.  

FaceTime is now on the iPad 2.  

 

Cool accessories

HDMI video out - so you can hook up to flat panel screens.  Accesssory cable available that does this.  Mirrors video output from the iPad onto a flat panel.  Up to 1080p resolution.  Works with all apps.  Anything you can see on an iPad screen is what you will see on your HD set.  $39 

(Jobs isn't skipping a beat.  He is as animated and enthusiastic as he has ever been.  He is the penultimate promoter of all things Apple.)

He's now announcing a new smart cover that is less bulky and less weight.  Magnets grap and auto-align it.  It has a micro-fiber lining that cleans the screen.  Wakes up iPad when opened; automatically puts it to sleep when closed.  Comes in polyurethane or leather.  Easy to remove or change.

He's playing a video now to show off the smart covers.

 

Still more details

Same 10 hour battery life as the original iPad.  That's over a month of standby.  Competitors have less battery life, according to Jobs.

Starting price is $499 -- same as current iPad -- but with all the new features and new design.  

Jobs just delcared 2011 the Year of the iPad 2.

Shipping on March 11 - a week from this Friday.  

March 25 - available in 26 other countries