Apple iPad2 3G

The first thing you will notice about the Apple iPad 2 3G is that it is thinner and lighter than its predecessor and it is also faster.

Those are the only differences, basically it is the same. So in this world of awesome Android tablets can the iPad 2 3G stand its ground? Not only is the iPad 2 thinner, lighter and faster, but best of all it is cheaper than its predecessor. This model will be 30 pounds cheaper than the original iPad.

What We Like

Apple apparently wanted to keep the iPad 2 simple, so this tablet is as easy to use as an iPhone , only bigger. A single button located below the screen will bring you back to the home screen and you simply need to press an icon on the main screen to run your apps and features.

The LED backlit multi touch screen is still the same as the original iPad, however, now the the screen is framed in glossy white or black. The back is the same on both the black and the white models; it is a brushed aluminum with the Apple logo.

When it comes to hardware and control, the front panel offers a front facing VGA camera as well as a rear facing HD video camera that can also capture still images. Don’t expect to take great photos in low light. You can however adjust the brightness by moving your finger around the screen until you achieve the correct brightness. When shooting stills with the rear facing camera you can tap the screen to use the digital zoom, however, the more you zoom the grainier your pictures will be. There is no zoom option for the video camera.

The iPad 2 still offers the usual features like Maps, notes, YouTube, calendar, contacts, videos, App store, Game Center, iTunes, Safari, settings, iPod, mail, FindMyiPad and iBooks. For some reason you have to download iBooks  but its free and easy to do. Basically, the iPod music and video experiences are still the same. The iPod menu resembles iTunes on your PC, more than iTunes on the iPod. Videos, photos and album artwork all look fantastic on the large screen. Unfortunately, you still don’t get ear buds in the box, when an item cost this much money, you would think they would be included.

What We Don't Like

Apple really hasn’t done much to improve the iOS. Yes, they do incremental updates, but these can be few and far between and also frustrating. They really did nothing to improve or refresh the iOS. Apple has to remember that they are no longer the only tablet on the market today. Widgets, notifications and multi-tasking all need to be refreshed.

There are a couple of things about the Apple iPad 2 3G that we didn’t like. For one thing the tablet seems to take forever to charge, also you need to rely on a PC link to iTunes for your updates and backups. And unfortunately, still no ear buds and still no Flash.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Apple iPad 2 3G is thinner, lighter and faster, but without Flash support maybe an Android device is a better choice.