14 DAY TRIAL // A solid, tangible iPad 2 mockup or prototype has emerged via a Japanese blog which promotes pictures of the item in question taken from multiple different angles, showing the design particularities.
One of those is, of course, the entire enclosure - noticeably thinner and seemingly more robust than the one found on current-generation iPads.
It’s also a 3G model, from what we can see, with the back-facing camera placed to the top left side of the device.
According to the blog responsible for the images, an SD card slot is present on the device, and no USB, despite previous rumors saying there would be one present on the device.
Laid on its back with its screen turned on, the purported iPad 2 looks more like an actual prototype of the device scheduled to debut next week, rather than a simple mockup.
From where we stand, the screen looks lit up and ready for multi-touching.
A front facing camera, this time placed in the middle of the iPad’s upper side, can also be seen.
This sensor would theoretically support FaceTime calls and photography-centric apps, like Photo Booth.
Shown next to an original Apple iPad, the iPad 2 would be a tad smaller in both length and width.
Sitting on its face, the alleged second-generation Apple tablet reveals a speaker grill on the lower left side of its back shell.
Speaking of which, the back case appears to be made from anything but aluminum. Perhaps Apple finally found some use for that Liquidmetal.
All in all, it won’t be long before we get a glimpse of the real thing.
As avid Softpedia readers should well know, Apple has announced an invitation-only event for select members of the media, indicating that 2011 is the year of iPad 2.
Artwork accompanying the invitations suggests Wednesday, March 2, 2011 is the official launch date of the much-hyped device.
