Rumor: iPad 2 to have a flat back and wide-range speaker?

December 23, 2010 By Jeffrey Van Camp

Rumor time. A Japanese blog has uncovered what may be specs and release info for the next generation iPad.

In July, we ran a piece on what changes Apple should make to the iPad 2 and it looks like the company listened. Japanese blog MacOtakara (via AppleInsider) has uncovered some rumored specs and a render for the second generation iPad. While these are unverified, at best, the changes appear to make sense. Most notably, they contend that the next iPad will have the same 9.7 inch screen as the original, but its back will be “flat like an iPod Touch.” In addition, the lower right of the unit has a “wide-range speaker” and the unit may have two cameras, one front-facing.

These changes seem to correct most of the criticisms of the first iPad. Some complain that the round back isn’t practical for use on a hard surface. Also, get out those rulers because the new iPad will measure 239 mm by 186 mm, a reduction of about 3 mm from the current iPad (242.8 x 189.7). More interesting, the unit may ship in January or February, according to whoever leaked the info. This info is odd, since Apple usually sticks to its guns and releases sequel products about once every 12 months. The iPad debuted in April, 2010.

iPad owners: what do you think of the proposed changes or release date?

Showing 14 comments

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Abby at 7:01am 23rd December 2010 The round back is great. I hope that they don't change it. It's also stronger structurally. As for the cameras, I love FaceTime, so this addition would be great. A faster processor and Retina display would also be great.
jeu3er@outlook.com at 6:54am 23rd December 2010 It seems like Apple always wants to put out a new product and purposely leave something out. It's like they HATE their customers. The funny thing is, they Apple customers will never see that. They are too busy defending the amount of money they wasted. http://AppleHaters.blogspot.com
1. ruth at 7:15am 23rd December 2010 Apple leaves things out because they don't add them until they are 100% confident they can do it the best way possible. Sure they have had their hiccups but tell me one company that hasn't. You don't sell a million of something in a weekend by hating your customers or wasting money. Apple changed the portable music industry, portable phone industry, tablet computer industry.
josh at 6:44am 23rd December 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bcryQUuDwM
David at 6:38am 23rd December 2010 Are they saying the current iPad has some tiny phone like speaker(s) and no usb port? That's almost funny. Why does Apple make a good product then do dumb things like that? Kind of like them sticking to single button mice long after PC's were using 3-5. This is why I never buy Apple products. Heck even the iPods don't have the best sound quality or features available in mp3 players. ignorant consumers fall for the marketing hype and "cool" factor and often purchase inferior products, like Bose headphones, lol. Anyone every heard of Grado?
1. Russ at 7:03am 23rd December 2010 Wow! You seem to know everything.
2. Jim at 7:08am 23rd December 2010 You're really smart! You probably DO know it all.
AppleLover at 6:23am 23rd December 2010 A new IPAD is not necessarily worth the wait. I have an Iphone, 3Gs which is the "older" version that the new Iphone 4, and I am perfectly happy and don't care about the difference in pixels or the light on the camera, or whatever else is new about it. I rather like my rounded design rather than the squarish newer version phone. I would not have waited and cared about having the Iphone 4 over the Iphone 3, they both are great. I think the best thing the new IPAD could offer might be a lighter version, more akin to the MacBook Air (versus the MacBook Pro). I think that would be nice, but again, don't have to have it.
1. Baba O'Reilly at 6:34am 23rd December 2010 Nice to know I wasted time on this comment that said absolutely nothing.
  1. gollum at 7:19am 23rd December 2010 Actually it does make a good point: if you are thinking of getting an iPad, it may not be worth the wait for version 2. Personally I don't care for cameras, front-facing or not; and I keep my iPad in the Apple sleeve so it's stable when typing on a flat surface. I just got my dad an iPad for Xmas, and I could take it back now if I wanted to - but I won't bother.
2. o0ChaoS0o at 9:13am 23rd December 2010 Just admit you're poor and you can't afford new gadgets silly.
Thor48 at 6:17am 23rd December 2010 Bring it on ! New TECH is always cool. I think the rumored changes are great.
preddy at 6:16am 23rd December 2010 What about a USB port?