Apple unveils iPad 2 and iOS 4.3 update

Apple has unveiled a more powerful iPad 2 today, with a faster processor, thinner design and front and back video cameras. However, some features that Apple fans had been expecting did not materialise.

Available from 11 March in the US and 25 March in the UK and Europe, the iPad 2 runs on a new dual-core A5 processor chip, which Apple said delivers twice the CPU performance but up to nine times the graphics performance of the original iPad.

Also added as expected are front and rear video cameras which support Apple's FaceTime video calling application, and a gyroscope like the iPhone 4.

The new iPad is a third thinner than the old model at just 8.8mm, and is also lighter at 590g. However, it is claimed to have the same 10-hour battery life.

As with the original iPad line-up, the iPad 2 comes in Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and 3G versions, each with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage. The prices for these remain the same as for the original iPad.

The new model will be available for US customers on Verizon and AT&T from day one, and in black and white case options.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs was in ebullient mood at the launch event in San Francisco, disparagingly saying that rival tablets had yet to even catch up with the first iPad.

"We really think that 2011 will be the year of iPad 2," he said.

However, the new model will disappoint many potential buyers, as Apple did not mention USB ports or SD Card slots, two features that many enthusiasts had been hoping to see.

Apple announced a new HDMI cable accessory, and a new Smart Cover that replaces the case of the original iPad. The Smart Cover just covers the screen, but folds into a triangular tube that doubles as a stand for the device. It attaches via a magnetic clasp that automatically aligns the cover over the screen.

Apple also disclosed a new iOS version 4 for the iPad 2, adding a number of improvements, including improved web performance in Safari using the Nitro JavaScript engine from OS X, a personal hotspot feature that lets the iPad share its 3G connection via Wi-Fi, and iTunes home sharing.