Apple Refunding Recent iPad Buyers $100

Apple is refunding you back $100 if you've purchased an iPad before the March 2nd event where the iPad 2 was announced. No store credits, pure cash or credit card refunds will be handed out. You will need your receipt in order to get your $100 back if you've purchased your iPad at an Apple retail store and if you've purchased your iPad on Apple's online store, you will simply need to call in. Those of you who are overseas will get the same amount of refund back in your currency. This most likely only applies to purchases made from Apple and not retailers. 

Official Apple iPad 2 Accessories

Besides the new iPad 2, Apple released a few new accessories for the iPad 2. The three most notable accessories include the Smart Covers which double as a stand, a new iPad 2 Dock made specifically for the iPad 2 and a new Digital AV Adapter with a full HDMI output that supports full 1080p HD playback. Although the new Digital AV Adapter came out for the iPad 2, it will also be compatible with the current iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G and iPad. The iPad 2 will be the only one capable of outputting full 1080p while the rest will have to put with just 720p playback. In addition to HDMI out, you will also be able to charge your iPad, iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4G using the Digital AV Adapter while outputting content. 

You will have to wait until March 11 to get your hands on these new iPad 2 accessories though. The Smart Covers run for $39-69, the iPad 2 Dock $29 and the Digital AV Adapter will set you back $39 not including an HDMI cable. Now it's your turn 3rd parties!

iOS 4.3 Coming March 11

Alongside the iPad 2 being announced today, Steve Jobs with the help of Scott Forstall unveiled iOS 4.3 to the world. New features in the update include the Nitro Javscript engine from Safari on OS X to make browsing super sweet, new iTunes Home Sharing that lets you play content from iTunes to your iOS device over WiFi, new AirPlay features that we saw in the iOS 4.3 betas such as the ability for App Store apps to share audio and video. For the iPhone only, iOS 4.3 adds the personal hotspot feature but for only the GSM version and for the iPad it adds Photobooth and Facetime to take advantage of the new camera on the iPad 2. Oh and Apple is giving us choice of whether you want the switch on the side to be for locking the screen rotation or for it to be a mute switch.

iOS 4.3 will be a free download available on March 11 for the iPhone 4 (GSM), 3GS, iPod Touch 3rd and 4th gen and both iPad models.

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Apple's New Smart Covers For iPad 2

All new iPad, all new cases. Apple's iPad 2 brought an array of new colored cases this year opposed to the boring black iPad Case Apple released with the first iPad. The new Smart Covers by Apple are a totally new and unique way of how we look at cases for the iPad. The new Smart Covers provide even less protection than the older black iPad Case because of how they work. The Smart Covers are not really cases but covers for the front screen of the iPad 2 but they also double as a stand for typing and viewing movies. They work on magnets and attach to the iPad 2's screen quickly and easily. Not only do these Smart Covers protect your iPad 2's screen, they clean it as well because of the microfiber lining. 

So basically what you're getting using a Smart Cover is screen protection and no back protection. You do however get the ability to flip back the Smart Cover to immediately have a keyboard and FaceTime video stand. To see how this all works out, check out the Smart Cover page. In addition to all this colorfulness we've seen with the Bumper cases for the iPhone 4, the iPad 2 will automatically lock and go to sleep once it's covered by the Smart Cover and will instantly come back to life once you remove it. It's pretty genius. 

Apple did it again with perfect accessories for the iPad 2. You can choose from 10 total colors, 5 being made out of polyurethane (same as the original black iPad Case) and surprisingly enough, 5 leather colors. The poly Smart Covers are priced at $39 while the leather ones will set you back $69. Those are pretty pricey.

iMovie and Garage Band now on iPad

iMovie and Garageband are featured apps on iPhone and iTouch and also on OS X, but not yet on the iPad. With todays announcements Apple has said that they are brining iMovie and GarageBand to the iPad, which will be able to use the iPad 2's new A5 dual-core processor to its full potential. There are tons of features with iMovie, it has new themes, tweaked UI, and a home screen that looks like an old movie theater which shows previous project and theme templates. Gestures play a prominent role in editing the clips. Transitions are fully customizable, audio is also shown with full waveforms and able to include multitrack audio and import songs from iTunes. On Garageband the iPad studio has 8 different track recordings, 250+ loops and fully compatible with the Mac version. There are cool touch instruments like piano, synths, guitars and more. You can now plug-in a guitar and shred for real with virtual guitar amps and effects. When using the virtual instruments the harder you press on the screen the louder the instrument actually gets and plays a different sound. You are able to edit, with rearranging, trim, and edit it all from you finger tips. Both of these launch on March $11 for $5.

Verizon iPhone 4 Not getting iOS 4.3 Yet

On Apple's website where all the new information about iOS 4.3 it tells which devices iOS 4.3 is compatible with. Funny thing is the Verzion iPhone 4 is not listed under or even next to the iPhone section. It does have the iPhone 4 GSM Model but not the CDMA model. Even though the iOS 4.2.6 on the Verizon iPhone 4 has Personal Hotspot it does not have the new AirPlay Features or any of the Safari enhancements. I wonder what they will do.

iPad 2 Announced

Announced by Steve Jobs only moments ago, the sequal to the iPad has been announced, imaginatively named the iPad 2. The next baby to come out of Apple uses the all new A5 duel core processor with 9x faster graphics, there are front and back facing cameras, it is 2lb lighter now at 1.3 pounds, a 1/3 thinner at 8.8mm thick (which is thinner than the iPhone 4 by the way) and all in a brand new design with a white version that will ship on time! The iPad 2 will come in the same 16Gb, 32Gb and 64Gb models, all at the same price as the previous model and will ship on March 11.

There is the usual Apple accessories like a keyboard dock and USB/SD card dock connector that was available last year but we have some now we have some new ones. The first is a HDMI connector that can go straight to a TV which mirrors the iPad screen and exports in 1080p, which will be good for app demos and the like. The next new accessory for the iPad 2 is a new "case" called Smart Covers. It apparently adds no weight or bulk to the iPad while keeping it protected, the inner material is micro-fibre which will get rid of any fingerprints made while using the device and comes in either Polyurethane ($39) or Leather $69). But the coolest thing about these Smart Covers is that it uses magnets to wake and sleep the iPad when you open and close the case. Fancy!

But there is one missing chunk in this announcement. The lack of a Retina Display. Probably too costly for this iteration but I would of blown away every tablet on the market right now if it had that awesome screen.

So will you get one or is it just a pointless announcement?

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