Apple iPad 2 Event Coverage

In a few hours from now, it’ll all be over - no more mockups, not more leaks, just pure tranquility as Apple finally pulls the curtains, and lifts the cloth off its second-generation iPad… or whatever the company is planning to introduce today.

Held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ Novell Theater in San Francisco, California, the gathering will include select members of the tech media, as well as a number of key Apple executives, who are tasked with mesmerizing them into liveblogging the best product introduction the world has ever seen.

In addition to a virtually confirmed iPad 2 bearing dual cameras, a faster CPU, RAM, and a slimmer body, not much is known about the potential new announcements Apple is planning to make today.

Word on the street is that Cupertino is planning a revamp of its MobileMe service, a new social application for iOS fanatics, and perhaps even an iOS 5 preview to keep the flame burning until this summer’s iPhone 5 announcement.

Rumors and speculation about the event reached critical levels this week, when one source claimed to have heard that Steve Jobs, who is currently on medical leave of absence, would be the Apple exec to make the iPad 2 announcement.

The Apple CEO is likely still attending to his health, even though a second source went on record to corroborate the former’s claims.

The most likely to take the stage today is Apple Chief Operating Officer, Timothy Cook. Apple’s COO has been trusted in the past with taking over Jobs’ duties, and this time should be no different.

Apple’s SVP of iPhone Software, Scot Forstall, is also expected to make a live appearance today.

Speculation aside, the Apple’s iPad 2 event is set to begin in roughly two hours from now.

We will update this report with every major announcement coming from Apple.

Once the show begins, readers can refresh this page every once in a while to catch the latest updates.

Update 1

Apple's event kicks off!

The lights are dimmed, the media is asked to sit down (pictures soon to follow).

We're hearing it's crowded (more than usual, that is). Still hoping to see Steve Jobs on stage?

Apple executives Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, and Jonathan Ive have been spotted near the stage at Novell Theater. No sign of the world's favorite CEO.

To everyone's surprise, Steve Jobs is on stage! Standing ovation.

Steve says "We've been working on this product for a while, and I didn't want to miss it."

"We've got something great to announce today, but first some updates."

iBooks

Over 2500 publishers in the iBookstore Random House is bringing over 17k books Over 200 million Apple ID accounts

App Store

Paid out over $2 billion to devs Apple has shipped 100 million iPhones

iPad

"Today we're here to talk about Apple's third post-PC blockbuster product. That's how we think about these things," Steve says. "We started with the iPod, then we added the iPhone, and then the iPad. Every one has been a blockbuster."

"Many have said this is the most successful consumer product ever launched. Over 90% market share. Our competitors were flummoxed."

Apple plays an iPad (one) demo, showing off its various uses. For example, helping autistic children.

Demo ends with Apple's Phil Schiller saying 'This is just the beginning."

Update 2

Apple announces iPad 2!

Steve wonders whether 2011 will be the year of the copycats - "probably not," he says.

"...we haven't been resting on our laurels. Today we're going to introduce iPad 2."

- All new design - A5 dual-core processor - twice as fast, same low power as A4 - Up to 9x faster graphics - Dual cameras - Built-in gyroscope

iPad 2 also comes in White.

"It's really thin. And it comes in two colors. And we're shipping white from day one", Steve says.

Different iPad 2 models that work with both AT&T and Verizon.

Despite all the enhancements, iPad 2 retains the 10-hour battery life from its predecessor (and over a month of standby!)

Same prices as the original - starts at $499 for 16GB WIFI, ends at $829 for WIFI + 3G 64GB.

Ships March 11 in the US, March 25 in the rest of the world (major territories, as usual).

iPad 2-related announcements

HDMI-out cable ($39)

Smart Cover (leather $69, polyurethane $39)

Update 3

Apple SVP of iPhone Software, Scot Forstall takes the stage to announce iOS 4.3.

Increased Safari performance - Nitro JavaScript engine iTunes home sharing - get at all of your content directly over WiFi AirPlay improvements Preference for iPad switch - mute or rotation lock Personal Hotspot for the iPhone 4 Photo Booth for iPad FaceTime for iPad Out March 11 for iPad, iPhone (GSM), iPod touch (3rd and 4th gen)

Additional iOS 4.3 announcements

iMovie now available for

iPad

- precision editor - multitrack audio recording - new themes - AirPlay to Apple TV - Share your videos in HD - Universal app

(movie editing using iMove for iPad demoed)

Steve is back on stage.

iMovie for iPad will cost $4.99. Available March 11th as well.

GarageBand for iPad

- Touch instruments (Grand piano, organ, guitars, drums, bass) - Guitar amps and effects - 8 track recording and mixing - 250+ loops - Ability to email AAC file of a song - Projects are compatible with the Mac version of GarageBand

GarageBand also available on March 11th, also for just $4.99.

"We think 2011 is clearly the year of iPad 2," says Steve Jobs.

Apple plays the iPad 2 video.

Update 4

Steve comes back on stage to give the final speech (did we mention that he seems to be in really good shape?).

"It's in Apple's DNA that technology is not enough. It's tech married with the liberal arts and the humanities. Nowhere is that more true than in the post-PC products."

"The hardware and software need to intertwine more than they do on a PC. We think we're on the right path with this."

"I'd like the teams that worked on this to stand up. Give them a round of applause. And as always, I'd like to thank everyone's families. They support us and let us do what we need to do. They make it possible for us to work our Tails off."

And the event is a wrap!