Test : Apple iPad 2

Like every week, so here is the test of the week and inevitably, it falls on the Apple iPad 2. We had a little twist on Friday with the test of Nintendo 3DS, but promised it tries to stall for Monday and thus remain steady.

Otherwise, to return to our sheep (Ah ah ah, who can understand), do we still need to present the iPad 2? Everyone has talked of 20h to blogs through Twitter, Facebook, your grandparents, we, etc ..., we have already said everything almost. On the other hand, one can not miss either, eh? So, well then it gets stuck too. Well, I do not do too many illusions about the trolls but I'm sure we can get to be constructive in the comments! C'Mon

Design

With pictures and other presentations during his posting here, I will briefly review the design. As you can see, it's thinner and smaller chouille. With its renewal, he has lost at least 80g on the scales. Quite honestly, to use the 80g will make no difference or very little. By cons, and that's where the Cupertino company has succeeded is the feeling that we gain in terms of weight. Indeed, the first time you take in hand, you really feel it is much lighter while the difference is only 80g. The thinness of the device is probably not foreign to us grasp this impression is because the better the shot. This is especially evident with the SmartCover. The grip has been revised and we must admit that it works. Note also the back straight, which results in not to swing the camera when he is on a flat surface.

According to the general design is a matter of taste. Now with a white version and a black version, needless to say that the black version is more class, cons for the white version, it can serve those who use an iPad for reading books. In drafting, it is pretty unanimous, one preferred design for the iPad 1, sharper and more modern somewhere, even if the finish is still flawless.

Regarding performance, the new Dual Core processor A5 does its job and makes the difference compared to a processor A4 is faster and more fluid in use everyday. Obviously, this does not show on current applications, but in general usage and optimized applications such as Real Racing 2 HD Infinity Blade, it's pretty obvious, it loads faster and it does not during the saccade Exit Thurs sometimes lag between orders and the game This is probably even more impressive when you leave Real Racing 2 HD 1080p on a big screen following his future update (see here). As long as you can plug in a controller in Bluetooth, you could have a nice portable console. If you want numbers, there are tools like Geekbench and after the different results gleaned from the web, we obtained an average score greater than 75% for 2 versus iPad iPad 1.

The screen and sound

Quick word to the screen that has won a passing LED backlight always with an IPS panel, which results in a better light and also a better contrast, especially in bright conditions. By cons, when the image is black or dark, we note two white lights at the bottom left of the screen, not very aesthetic. Although in normal condition, we will ignore these two lights, it's still annoying! For colors, I have not done any measurements or other but it seems rather homogeneous. Regarding the speaker, and although I found it better with a more clear and more powerful. Of course, nothing beats the real headphones or speakers but for the multimedia internet, not bad at all.

The AFN and Visio

One of the criticisms of the iPad 1, was his lack of video camera, and although Apple has listened somewhere since you now find a camera and a video camera. We regret the fact that Apple have been a little stingy on the performance of these NPC.
Indeed, the camera only offers a video resolution VGA screen and a 9.7 ", it shows right away with that FaceTime uses the screen in its entirety! On the other hand, it is used to this kind of resolution for the video camera so we'll do with it, even if we would have liked even that of the 1.3 megapixels.

What about the camera that lets you record video in 720p but provides a sensor with a lower resolution than the screen first (Photo of 960 × 720 1024 × cons 768). I invite you to view photos on Flickr to get an idea of ​​the poor quality of the sensor, especially in low light.

Anyway, as I can understand the usefulness of the video camera, as the NPC, I remain skeptical. In fact, I do not see myself taking pictures or videos with an iPad at arm's length above the beast is still 600g, which is not nothing. It's like using a laptop to take pictures, it's a bit nawak, right?

In talking with a reporter, he talked to me the idea of ​​being able to catch for a note taking. Even then, it must be adequate tool because the software integrated note-taking does not even allow, and then I think I'll go faster with another digital camera to take photos and iPad 2 take notes at the same time. In this regard, Evernote has been updated with the release of the iPad 2 to allow just taking pictures for a note taking. But beyond this specific case, I do not think the NPC is really necessary. I would, ultimately, preferred a video camera with greater resolution and no camera at all.

The new integrated applications

With the video camera, needless to say that now exists in version FaceTime iPad. Nothing to add from the versions iPhone, iPod touch, or Mac OSX, it works the same way. For cons, the limited resolution makes it has big pixels on the screen because it is necessarily the full screen.Besides, it also hosts Photobooth, a small application that lets you take pictures of you and to apply various effects. I will advise you of the coup as an application rather IncrediBooth much more fun. A quick note on applications such as Mail and Safari that benefit from the increased RAM to store more in memory and therefore recover more quickly.

Autonomy

Well, for autonomy, Apple had the right formula with iPad first name since found a similar independence from easy up to ten minutes. Now it's actually based on your usage. If you play a lot, needless to say that the battery will take a hit, though less than the iPad 1. But in general, no worries on that side! Moreover, these are the games that really uses the most. In my everyday use, a video in 480p than fifty minutes. AVI was 6% less autonomy so it goes!

HDMI output

Needless to say that it will pass through a dock adapter / HDMI to 39 €. Once passed to the credit union, the joys of replication screen and frankly, it works well for both the video than anything else. And as things are pretty well made with a hefty price tag, the adapter works with other devices iOS last generation, finally after the presentation because I have not managed to run the adapter with an iPhone 4. Also, I remind you that this replication video format for now so 4 / 3 it will be on your external display. But when you know that Real Racing 2 HD arrives (see HERE) soon with 1080p output, it makes you wonder about the possibilities, albeit competition is already possible.

The SmartCover

With iPad 2, Apple unveiled the SmartCover, a screen protector of the most astute. Indeed, binding to the manner of a MagSafe plug on the side of the iPad 2, it has more of a magnet that will ensure the iPad status when it is on the device. Similarly, when you raise the SmartCover, it will turn the iPad. Clever. Open type, it will protect your screen from scratches. By cons, you will not be protected from the dust that will also tend to follow grooves / folds than anything else, all on your screen of course. As the design, needless to say that the back of the iPad 2 will not be protected.
Besides, I can only congratulate Apple for inventing the folding SmartCover since it will provide support for the iPad 2, nothing to say, it's super smart. In addition, if you fold in half and you just put it in the back of the camera, it provides a better grip of the device. For the latter, I do not know if it's done on purpose but it works really well with games that require you to take the iPad 2 as a controller. In small least we would have liked a magnet on the back of the iPad to hold SmartCover precisely when it is back. And since Apple is an accessory, it has a price, 39 € for the normal versions and 69 € for the leather version ... Yes, this is a business to Apple itself.

Conclusion

So needless to remind you that the iPad 2 is an evolution of the iPad, first name. Apple has kept an honest and fair price, which is not worse. We can always rail against the rigidity of the OS, the system closed around iTunes does not support the flash, etc. ..., we must admit that this also works with the public. Obviously, until a revolution, Apple has upgraded its iPad for it at the technical level of its competitors.

If you do not iPad and you expect this new iPad 2 to change the pitch then you can go, you will not be disappointed. For those who already have an iPad, unless you really need the video and you're a big player on IOS, you can go your way. For those who hesitates with a tablet Android, Blackberry WebOS or Tablet, you already know what is iOS with more and less. And when I see the new user interfaces that happen, to keep iOS only benefit the ecosystem already complete and mature.