Hasta La Gadget!

A customer plays with an iPad on display at an Apple store. Photo: Bryan Derballa/Wired.com

Apple has been unusually indiscreet about what it plans to unveil this week: the next iPad.

In invitations e-mailed to press last week, Apple attached an image of a calendar page peeled back to reveal the corner of an iPad. We get the picture.

But what about the next iPad, and what else can we realistically expect from the March 2 event? Here’s a quick rundown of what Apple is likely to introduce Wednesday.

iPad 2

The iPad 2 is probably going to be a modest upgrade from the current tablet. Credible reports suggest that major changes include a faster processor, more RAM, a front-facing camera for video chat, and a thinner and lighter overall design.

There’s been a bit of debate surrounding the iPad 2’s display. Some have bet on the iPad 2 gaining a high-resolution display that Apple could call the “retina” display, similar to the iPhone 4’s screen.

However, well-sourced Apple blogger John Gruber insists the next iPad will have the same resolution as the current one, or 1,024×768 pixels. A super high-res display would probably be cost-prohibitive today, Gruber argues, due not only to the cost of the display, but also because of the amount of RAM required for such high-res graphics.

That’s a reasonable analysis, because it’s probably a high priority for Apple to retain the iPad’s $500 starting price, which competitors are failing to match. A higher-res display would more realistically come in a later-generation iPad when costs for both screen technology and memory come down.

Like the current iPad, we can expect the iPad 2 to be bundled with 3G options for both Verizon and AT&T subscribers. We don’t expect a 4G iPad until the faster 4G networks are more ubiquitous.

iOS 4.3

The latest version of iOS for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch has been in beta for a few months, and Apple on Wednesday will likely announce an official release date for the upgrade.

New features seen so far in iOS 4.3 include improvements to interface elements, wireless hotspot support for AT&T iPhones and new multitouch gestures for controlling the iPad.

The new multitouch gestures for iPad are by far the most interesting new feature, but Apple has already told developers that it was only providing gestures as a preview to collect feedback on how they should work; the feature will not go live in iOS 4.3.

App Demos

Every iOS hardware event has been packed with app and game demos to show off new hardware and software features, so expect lots of these on Wednesday.

MobileMe Reboots?

There continues to be speculation about Apple rebooting its paid MobileMe service to have more seamless online integration. The Wall Street Journal suggests the service this year will become a free “locker” for photos, music and videos to reduce the need for devices to carry a lot of  memory. Furthering this speculation, MacRumors points out that Apple has discontinued sales of MobileMe both online and in retail stores.

However, we have doubts a new MobileMe will go live Wednesday, as Apple said in a recent investor meeting that its new data center for managing cloud services will not be open until spring to support MobileMe and iTunes.

We assumed everyone knew Apple’s stock earphones are only slightly better quality than holding a speakerphone up to your ear, but nobody told the buyers at the OC Concept Store.

If you’re spending extra on HD, you’re wasting money on pixels you really don’t need. Of course, there’s an exception to every rule…

Originally posted at iPad Atlas

It’s been over a year since Sony introduced the world’s first 16.41 megapixel CMOS sensor for cellphones (pictured at right), but the company’s now finally back with another entrant in the megapxiel race: a 17.7 megapixel sensor. This one delivers more than just a higher resolution, though, as it’s also Sony’s first sensor with a bandwidth of 34.8Gbps (or about five times faster than previous CMOS sensors), which promises to allow for 120 fps video at full resolution — assuming the phone’s processor and storage are able to keep up, of course. What’s more, the new sensor is also said to boast some improved consumption and, according to Nikkei, it seems that Sony is planning to use it in digital cameras in addition to cellphones, although there’s no word as to when either of those will be available.

Sony touts high-speed 17.7 megapixel CMOS sensor for cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DirecTV customers can now interact with the service from an iPad. The company’s iPad app is available in Apple’s App Store for free to any DirecTV customer.

Originally posted at The Digital Home