Live On Stage: Steve Jobs Showcases Thinner, Lighter, Faster iPad 2

Back On The iPad

Returning from a health-imposed exile, STEVE JOBS walked onstage at APPLE's new product showcase in SAN FRANCISCO. After the standing ovation dissipated, he began his show-and-tell on the next generation of the iPAD.

In describing the iPAD2, JOBS asserted that the new version is "dramatically faster" due to dual-core processors. Graphics will be nine times faster, while using the same power as the processor from the first iPAD.

As predicted, the new iPAD will have two video cameras. -- rear and front-facing -- as well as a gyroscope. What's more, the new version is 33% thinner at 8.8mm, which is thinner than the iPHONE 4. They've also made it lighter, from 1.5 lbs down to 1.3 lbs.

TheiPAD 2, which comes in white or black,  goes on sale MARCH 11th. Prices are $499 (16GB), $599 (32 GB)  and $699 (64 GB) for the Wi-Fi version, and $629, $729 and $829 for the Wi-Fi + 3G version. You can get all the specs here.

Meanwhile, prices for the original iPAD dropped $100 to around $349.

Apparently, WALL STREET was more than a casual observer to the showcase. JOBS' mere appearance goosed APPLE's stock by .5%. Ninety minutes later, the stock price was .79% higher at $351 and change, up over $2.50 a share.

You can read some live-blogging at CNET NEWS, among other places.

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