The iPad 2 brings updates to the device’s hardware, as well as major improvements to the software. In addition to being powered by a dual-core processor, iOS 4.3 ups the ante with feature additions and software upgrades. Safari now uses the Nitro JavaScript engine. There have also been updates to the AirPlay feature, addition of iTunes home sharing, and iPhone 4 now does personal hotspot.
Photo Booth / Facetime
The iPad 2′s powerful new processor allows you to view real-time previews of various effects in Photo Booth. Manipulate the effects simply by touching the screen. Facetime, definitely one of the primary features many have been looking for, lets you video conference between two iPads, between an iPad and an iPhone, or between an iPad and a Mac.
Photo Booth and Facetime are both built into iOS 4.3, but there are a couple of other apps of note.
iMovie
With the added power of the iPad, iMovie shines as a precision video editor. Features include:
- Multitrack audio recording
- New themes
- AirPlay to AppleTV
- Share videos in HD
- 50 sound effects included
- Easy sharing with YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and more
GarageBand
Exciting for the musicians out there, GarageBand includes touch instruments (grand piano, organ, guitars, drums, bass.) So is perfect for the people that play instruments such as a portable keyboard piano, of course, you can still plug in a guitar to get at the amps and effects. You also get 250+ loops and 8 track recording and mixing. Because of the built-in accelerometer, you can play with dynamics. This mean the iPad can tell how hard you press a key on the touch keyboard, for instance, and change the sound accordingly.
The iPad 2 will practically play the instruments for you, if you like. The feature is called Smart Play and makes sure you don’t hit an incorrect note. It will also literally play the instrument for you. The price for this advanced piece of music software on the iPad 2 is $4.99. I’m Android all day long, but I might consider an iPad for GarageBand alone.
Both apps are $4.99 and available March 11th.
via Engadget