Exclusive: Apple iPad 2 Event Set for March 2

February 22, 2011 at 10:00 am PT

To those who care intensely about this kind of stuff–which would be pretty much everyone in the tech ecosystem–Apple will hold its much-anticipated event on March 2, where the tech giant seems poised to unveil a new version of its hugely successful iPad, according to multiple sources.

As in, iPad 2! Or, as BoomTown is now officially nicknaming it: iPad Too!

Analysts expect the iPad 2 to be thinner than its predecessor and feature an improved display, as well as front-facing camera and Facetime video chat support. And some reports suggest it will be powered by one of Qualcomm’s multimode chips and will run on both GSM and CDMA-based networks around the world.

In its last earnings calls, Apple said it had sold nearly 15 million iPads, since it went on sale last spring.

This is a very big deal, although Apple will be facing increased competition with the launch of a passel of tablets coming from numerous manufacturers, most of which are using the Honeycomb version of Google’s Android mobile operating system.

According to several sources close to the situation, the Wednesday date in a little more than a week is firm and will take place in San Francisco, the scene of many such Apple events.

In that case, the venue is likely to be the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

It’s not clear when Apple will begin sending out its famous invites for the gathering, but I am guessing soon, in order to get the Apple faithful to the proper level of froth.

(The image above is from one of my favorite previous save-the-dates.)

Now that this date is confirmed–at least by me!–the next round of speculation will be around whether Apple CEO Steve Jobs will appear or not. Sources said he is considering it.

He is currently on leave to deal with ongoing health issues, although has been sighted all around Silicon Valley at various places. In addition, Jobs sat right next to President Barack Obama at a high-profile meet-the-tech-moguls dinner in the area last week.

In other words: Let the media frenzy begin!

Tagged with: Android, Apple, Barack Obama, BoomTown, California, camera, CDMA, Chat, chip, competition, digital, dinner, earnings, ecosystem, event, FaceTime, gathering, Google, GSM, hardware, Honeycomb, Internet, iPad, iPad 2, Kara Swisher, network, operating system, Qualcomm, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs, tablet, venue, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

comments so far. Add yours.

http://twitter.com/SoZziii SoZzi McOre

Holy s&*% can’t wait!!! Damn, I hope I can afford it.
http://francojtorres.wordpress.com Franco J. Torres

Our comments can hardly fit on this narrow blog post. Come on allthingsd, you can afford a wider wordpress theme. Can’t you?
http://twitter.com/BenjaminZAMayo Benjamin Mayo

Well, this is sorta a rumour. March 2nd could easily come and go with no announcement; this post doesn’t guarantee it will happen.
http://twitter.com/lemieuxd David Lemieux

What boggles my mind is how little competition the iPad has in the 10″ space. OK, so… add a camera (front only, back seems useless to most), faster processor (from 1ghz to 2ghz), leave storage as is since already better than most, quad the central memory (256m-1G). Battery already better than most. Add a 399$ model with iPad 1 specs but with 8G-WiFi only.
Voila! More than enough to remove most of the positives offered by others AND with a real history of success the others have yet to prove.
Anonymous

Disagree. Sure, Apple fans care, but so do Apple competitors, app developers, SaaS companies, gaming companies, content publishers, media companies, chip companies, screen manufacturers, ISPs etc etc etc.

(In other words, everyone in tech, except for you. Though, you did click on the link to this story, read it, and kill time commenting. You must care a little…).
Anonymous

Man I really hope it has a USB port on it. That would be really nice!
Anonymous

What a putz.
The iPad that’s been out for a year now “can’t compete” with devices that are still not out from Rim and Droid?
Back to school for you kiddo.

Also, where would these “innovators” be if they weren’t riding on the coattails of Google. They don’t even have to make an OS and they still mess it up.

Not a fanboy, just know good products when I see them.
Anonymous

RIM? You mean the company that proclaims their non-existent device superior to the iPad, all the while having just announced the third generation and not having shipped a single unit yet?

Yeah, RIM. Tell us another one.
Anonymous

It’s called touch!
Anonymous

Mine has a USB port. Did your fall off? Reconnect your camera adapter kit and you’ll have it. They is even a company that makes an external drive for the iPad now.

Seriously, most likely the new iPad2 will have a better solution. But please spare us the legacy ports that are about to be completely obsoleted by USB 3 and Light Peak (which Intel is announcing on Thursday).
Anonymous

Cost of the new ipad?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7GBQTKT6I223WMQBATLKALS2K4 Laura

I think a great way to announce the new ipad and it’s features, including a camera would be for Steve to “Facetime” call into the event.
http://twitter.com/jad714 Joshua Davis

APPL is big on the tag cloud at Phil’s Stock World and for good reason. Can’t wait to check this out.
http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk online shopping uk

I am sure its the iPad 2. I am interested in hearing about the announcement and getting the true facts about the release! Today I have been reading about problems with production and a delayed release of the iPad2?
http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/ Discount Shop

Wooh iPad 2!! Better be good! I really hope that it has at least a 5 or 8mp camera flash player and USB3.
http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/ Discount Shop

Wooh iPad 2!! Better be good! I really hope that it has at least a 5 or 8mp camera flash player and USB3.
http://www.hdflvplayer.net/ Thiaghu

“we don’t do rumors at atd.”- Kara, you are trust worthy, i have seen many of your post, its really good! Thanks for the information on Apple iPad 2 event, i’m awaiting it :)
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AV5AWH6LCO3O62DFQWWFQGKZPQ Peter

Such, I have now
Will buy one with the same
At last it comes. I have waited so long.
http://indtechie.com Sidharth Dassani

This article is not half as interesting as the twattle (twitter battle) that followed this between MG & Kara. I even had the popcorn out but it ended too soon
http://www.couponcodes4u.com promotional codes

Will think about it when time comes.
http://www.facebook.com/Potstickerz John Hassen

But we don’t necessarily know that…
Anonymous

http://link.brightcove.com/ser.....8649645001
Anonymous

Looks like you were right!!!
http://www.mobileoswars.co.za Chadwin Solomon

I can see it now every blog every tech site will be owned by apple as millions of websites and blogs post and post and post these words Apple ïPad 2″ let the media frenzy begin and the apple profits boom. http://www.mobiloswars.co.za
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=659608043 Robert Shepard

nor do we NOT necessarily know that
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AMVODSNJGDFPGKLTVXYTBPLQFE microdot

Will it run Flash, have an expandable memory, have a replaceable battery? If not then it’s just another Apple cash cow.
http://rraines.com Robert Raines

Looking forward to ending the rumor mill and actually seeing the device…
http://appleslut.com Apple Slut

Don’t believe everything you read.
Anonymous

Shut up, stock is manipulated everyday.
http://www.facebook.com/derek.corcoran Derek Corcoran

My 2 cents
1. Add a front camera (key!)
2. Add extra DRAM memory.
3. Drop the weight (think of eBooks – uncomfortable when using for extended periods)
3. Add external memory storage slot (SD)
4. Move to LED display.

(I bought a first gen iPad and still love it)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000012605921 Charlie Koczalski

Can we watch this live or on the Apple website?