#YAY: Happy #iPad 2 Day!!

YYAYYYY!!! Today's the day of the big iPad 2 announcement! Er, at least, it should be. We never know what's up with Apple ... sneaky lil nerds they are. Here's a quick look at what we know, and what we think we know courtesy of Yahoo!

Per Yahoo: We're just a few short hours away from getting our first look at the long-awaited, next-generation iPad—or that's what we're expecting, at least.

Indeed, with all the leaks, rumors, and wild guesses we've been hearing in the past months about the next iPad, it's easy to forget that Apple hasn't even officially announced the thing yet, much less doled out any details or pictures.

Since we still have a little time to kill before Apple ends the suspense (the iPad event is slated for 10 a.m. PT Wednesday), let's go ahead and summarize what we know, what we think we know, and—most importantly—what we definitely don't know about the iPad 2.

What we know

The original iPad is still the only iPad, for now: Like I just said, Apple has yet to announce, acknowledge, make veiled references to, or even hint at a new iPad. Well … strike that: during Apple's most recent quarterly earnings call, Apple COO Tim Cook told analysts (who'd been asking about competition from impending Android-based tablets) that "we're not sitting still" in terms of the tablet market, a remark that may qualify as a vague hint.

Apple is set to hold an iPad-related event: The invitations went out last week, with an image showing a Mac OS calendar page peeled back to reveal an iPad peeking out from behind. The caption: "Come see what 2011 will be the year of." So yes—the writing's on the wall, but the invite stops short of saying "come meet the iPad 2" or anything like that.

Last but not least, we know that ... uh ... : If we're only talking about things we definitely know about the next iPad ... well, strictly speaking, we don't know much more than what I just outlined above.

What we don't know

What it'll be called: Everyone's been calling the next iPad the "iPad 2," and there's even a new (and likely fan-generated) rendering of the next-generation tablet floating around with the "iPad 2" name stamped on the back. But as far as I know, no one's come out and reported that the iPad 2 will, in fact, be called the iPad 2. Apple's been known to throw curve balls when it comes to naming its next-gen products (like, for example, the iPhone 3G and 3GS), so I wouldn't put all my eggs in the "iPad 2" basket.

How much internal storage it'll have: Will we get an iPad 2 model with 128GB of built-in flash storage, or will the largest next-gen iPad still top out at 64GB? Hard to say. There have been scattered reports of iPad 2 mockups with "128GB" etched onto the back, but that may be more a case of wishful thinking than a concrete clue. I predict the priciest iPad will still offer "just" 64GB of flash storage (which still costs a premium compared to conventional disc-based hard drives), but that's only a guess on my part.

How much it will cost: Apple is in the habit of marking its next-generation products with the same price as the previous generation, and there's no reason to believe that Cupertino will change course with the iPad 2. Again, though, we've yet to hear any reliable rumors about pricing. (For the record, the current iPad costs anywhere from $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only version to $829 for the 64GB 3G iPad.)

When it will ship: Conventional wisdom initially had it that the new iPad would probably hit stores about a month or so after being announced, but now there's talk the iPad 2 might be available immediately. Maybe so, but personally, I'm hedging my bets until Apple serves up the official line.

What we think we know

Slimmer profile, less heft: Just about everyone seems to agree that the redesigned iPad will be "smaller" and "lighter" than its predecessor, complete with a flatter back and tapered edges. Indeed, chatter about a slimmed-down iPad 2 shell has been so consistent (not to mention a logical progression for the iPad line) that I'd be shocked if it didn't come to pass.

A camera, or two: Another consistent iPad 2 rumor has it that Apple will fix one of the biggest criticisms of the original iPad—namely, the lack of a camera. A recent Wall Street Journal story claimed that the new iPad will have "at least" one camera in front for FaceTime video chat, and there have been countless sightings of purported iPad 2 cases with strategically placed holes in back for a second, rear-facing lens. While there still seems to be some lingering doubt about a second camera, a front-facing lens is pretty much a no-brainer, particularly since each and every iPad competitor out there has one.

Same-resolution display: The hot rumor back in December had it that the iPad 2 would arrive with a sharper, 2,048-by-1,536 pixel display, good for a "retina"-style screen similar to the one on the iPhone 4. But the latest word and some leaked spy shots have poured cold water on the buzz, and it's now looking almost certain that the revamped iPad display will come with a 1,024-by-768-resolution display, same as the original. Oh well. (Don't worry; recent chatter has it that the iPad 3—yes, 3—might get the retina-display treatment.)

Faster, beefier processor: "Dual-core" is the gotta-have spec when it comes to this year's hottest smartphones and gadgets, and the iPad 2 is no exception. Most believe the revamped tablet will get an updated, dual-core version of Apple's A4 "system-on-a-chip," complete with 512MB of RAM (double the 256MB RAM in the original iPad) and some seriously souped-up graphics capabilities.

Better speaker: The new iPad is reportedly in line for an improved, "wide-ranged" speaker, with the more prominent speaker grille said to be sitting right where the current three-hole speaker on the first iPad lives. Or so they say.

No SD card: An SD (or microSD) card slot on the next iPad would allow for easy memory expansion and speedy photo uploading. It's a nice idea, but early buzz on Apple adding an SD card slot to the iPad has given way to near-universal agreement that it won't actually happen. Bummer.

No 4G support: Not on Verizon Wireless, at least, according to the Wall Street Journal, which adds that the 3G version of the iPad 2 will be available through AT&T and Verizon but not Sprint or T-Mobile.

I'm always the last to get new technology. For reals, I like to watch all the other peeps figure out all the kinks before I do. Being the first to have anything has never interested in me. I just like things that make my life easier. And OMMMMGGGG I love my iPad. Way to re-invent paper Steve Jobs!

#sigh

Words of Wisdom with Unkie Steve Jobs ...

Almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Words of Wisdom with Steve Jobs ...

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life... Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow you heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Don't buy Verizon #iPhone??

Hmmmmm looky looky the article I just came across on Gizmodo. Gotta admit, they do make some very valid points. READ!

The day that Verizon gets the iPhone will be remembered as glorious by everybody who's dropped 12 calls in a row, been taunted by meaningless signal bars and just plain had a miserable AT&T experience. But they shouldn't buy one.

Let's keep in mind what Apple—or rather, Verizon—is announcing, precisely. A new carrier for the iPhone 4. That's it. Not a new product. That's why Apple is ceding the stage to Verizon. If it was a truly new product, Apple would do all the talking.

Apple will announce a new iPhone in June, as they have every year since 2008. It'll go on sale later that month, or in early July, as it has every year. That's six months from now. And it'll be better than the iPhone 4 in some tangible way. Maybe not on the order of the leap from the 3GS to the iPhone 4, but it'll have something new to offer. And everybody will want it, because that's how things seem to work with Apple: There's just enough new to make whatever Apple product you've currently got in your hand feel deficient in some way.

But the people who just bought on an iPhone 4 with Verizon will be locked into new 2-year contracts. Their new phones, though maybe better at holding calls better than their AT&T counterparts, will still be old news just a few months after birth. And what if the iPhone does the same thing to Verizon it did to AT&T? Let everybody else be an early adopter.

It's possible that Verizon will come up with some crazy deal to make its warmed-over iPhone 4 undeniably tempting—unlimited data is a start—like selling it for half-price. But the only deal you should consider is one that'll let you upgrade to the next iPhone almost immediately, like a one-year contract. I wouldn't count on anything too wild, though, because Verizon is the most conservative carrier of the four—it's got the best combined network and hardware position now, and it knows it. Remember? It's Verizon who passed up the iPhone in the first place, not the other way around.

It's virtually guaranteed that the next iPhone will come to AT&T and Verizon at the same time (there might be some gap, but it will likely be small—after all, Apple doesn't want to hose their 100 million potential new customers). So if you're on Verizon, itching to the pull the trigger, do yourself a favor. Just wait. You've held on for years. What's a few more months?

I'm pretty stoked for the announcement ... but I agree, I wouldn't go breaking contracts if you're on AT&T and what not until Apple does their announcement in June. All of this to be honest with you just makes my head spin. I don't have an iPhone. I am a DIE HARD mac head owning my macbook pro, ipod touch, ipad, even kick it old school with my green screen mini ... but I also worked in sales for Verizon back in the day, and have had their service since 94. Literally, it was pac-bell at the time ... and my parentals made my bro and I have a cell phone to reach us when we were at the mall. So lame ... hated it. I dunno, I'm stickin with my Droid for now. I need it for my OWLE to be able to enhance the livestreaming that I do, and the rest is just kinda meh. I'm the last one to rush out and get something when it is released. I'm a 2.0 kinda gal, I like to let other people figure out the kinks and problems first. Won't see me getting one when the announcement is made. But stoked either way! Go Verizon and Apple for makin whoopie!! So hot ...

#drool

Plane Passenger Punched Teen Who Refused to Switch Off #iPhone

(NewsCore) - Police in Boise, Idaho, arrested a man who punched a teenager in the arm for refusing to turn off his iPhone during a flight from Las Vegas, local media reported Wednesday.

Passengers on the flight said the dispute began as flight attendants announced the final approach to land late Tuesday and instructed passengers to turn off cell phones and electronic items, according to KBOI2.com.

The 15-year-old -- who was listening to music and playing games on his iPhone at the time -- did not respond to the flight attendants' request.

Witnesses said the man, named as Russell Miller, became angry and struck the teenager.

Lieutenant Kent Lipple of Boise police said after the fight the pilots radioed the air traffic control tower at Boise airport and requested officers to be waiting upon landing.

"He punched him so hard there was a mark on the teen's arm. That gave us probable cause to believe the reports from the other passengers," Lipple added.

Miller was charged with one count of misdemeanor battery. He was booked into Ada County jail.

Someone didn't feel pretty today ...



#getagrip