“After having sold 15 million [iPads] in nine months last year, Apple has now refined its design with the introduction of the iPad 2,” Jacqui Cheng reports for Ars Technica.
“The iPad is now particularly attractive to new buyers—moreso than the original was. Apple has a better idea now of what the market wants and has made a move on what it thinks are the most important elements: size/weight, cameras (even if they aren’t the best), and overall performance,” Cheng reports. “The current device feels more refined than the original in almost every way, and it strives to offer a premium tablet experience via iOS.
“We were able to use the iPad 2 with WiFi on, e-mail checking in the background, and about 50 percent brightness nonstop for just about 12 hours (more like 11 hours and 58 minutes, for nitpickers in the crowd),” Cheng reports. “This was with video playing fullscreen for most of the time, with the occasional interruption to surf the Web, read an e-book, or do some benchmarks, and we didn’t let the screen turn off once during this entire period of time.”
“The iPad 2 has a significant increase in floating point performance vs. its predecessor. This was really pounded home by the LINPACK tests which showed the iPad 2 besting its predecessor with a 292% (~3x) improvement. We ran this rest on the Motorola Xoom running Android 3.0 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab running 2.2. The iPad 2 shows a surprising 336% improvement over the Motorola Xoom on its NIVIDIA Tegra 2 platform and a 724% increase over the Samsung Galaxy Tab’s 1GHz “Hummingbird ARM” processor.”
Much, much more in the full review – recommended – here.
Hmm – maybe I will keep my iPad 1 if its still faster than the competition!
I’m keeping my iPad1, as the Nitro version of Safari really is much faster. Garageband works well and now TimeWarner has a free app that sends HD tv to my iPad. Much better than my Sling app. I love that new functionality is constantly coming to the iPad for little to no cost.
TimeWarner app only work on your home’s local WiFi if the WiFi is the TimeWarner provided unit.
Yes, that is correct:
If you’re using your Airport Extreme or another WiFi router in between your TimeWarner WiFi cable modem and your iPad, the app will not work for you. Hopefully they’ll update the app soon to make it work with what’s likely to be quite a common setup.
We have added that info to our article here.
The Time Warner app only works if you are a TWC subscriber and on your home network. So Slingbox is safe for now.
LOL- Xoom Xoom Xoom
More impressive are the iPad 1 numbers compared to a dual core Tegra. Shows what custom hardware/software integration can accomplish.
But… But…. Consumer Reports says there is no increase…. LOL
And who could argue with CR’s battery of torture tests?
“While performing routine tasks such as Web browsing and e-mail in our tests, we didn’t notice any significant speed improvement.”
Suck on that, LINPACK!!!
Oh Chrissy, your so funny and smart, I wish I could hold you…
(((((scary phsyco music playing in the background))))
Yes… This Ars Technica guys must be lying. After all Consumer Reports have the better labs.
What a joke CR is.
Shit happens, all the time®.
Speed tests attenuate when Consumer Reports’ people hold iPad 2.
Obviously it is not possible to “recommend”.
Consumer Reports: While performing routine tasks such cashing our checks from Samsung, Motorola, and Google, we didn’t notice any significant speed improvements for iPad 2 over the original iPad.
Good one
I’m surprised MDN didn’t mention that Ars listed no Flash support under “The Ugly” section. Because, you know, we have so many examples of Flash mobile working well.
I don’t what to believe anymore, common sense or consumer reports.
Common sense, hands down. You’re welcome. 🙂
“big-performance-gains-in-a-slimmer-package”
Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that…..
Tastes great! Less filling!
A proper review of the iPad2 , maybe this should be email to CR to show them how things are really done in the real world and not in there fantasy land.
“What?!? You callin’ me a liar?!?” — Consumer Rear-ports
100% is a doubling (2x); 200% is 3x. Therefore, ~300% is 4x, as 161 is about 4x 40.
Take that Consumer Reports. Stick to reviewing blenders.
Better forward this article to Consumer Reports, since they don’t get it.
Regarding the Adobe Flash issue, which Ars Technica continues to harp upon, the ball is ENTIRELY in Adobe’s court. Either Adobe fix Flash or Flash dies. That is the future not matter what mobile gadget you are using. The current version of mobile Flash is crap. Anyone using Flash on a Mobile device is NOT happy with it.
So please Adobe! Get over it and get to work NOW. If you want to save Flash, you have to do it entirely yourself. No one is going to put up with Flash chewing up their CPU and battery. That’s the fact. It’s not an Apple issue. It’s an Adobe issue.