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iPad 2 prediction wrap up

Now that the iPad 2 has been announced, following several rumors and predictions, we thought it would be a great idea to compile a prediction roundup into three categories: what came true, what could still be coming up, and what didn’t happen.

What came true:

-A few days prior to the iPad 2 event we exclusively reported the iPad 2 will have a white color option.

-Over a month ago we obtained an iPad 2 LCD which pointed to a thinner tablet with the same 1024 x 768 display as the original iPad. John Gruber also reported the iPad 2 will keep the 1024 x 768 screen resolution against many other reports to the contrary.

-All the way back in January we were first to report, with substantial evidence, that the iPad 2 will include two cameras in addition to a camera application. These SDK files also pointed to a 1024 x 768 display for the iPad 2 .

-Also in January we obtained screenshots of the iPad 2’s camera application.

– iLounge at the last minute reported on the magnetic enclosures that hold the cover in place.

-Following BGR‘s report that Photo Booth could be coming with the iPad 2, we confirmed the report with SDK evidence.

Back in January we found SDK evidence pointing to two cameras in the iPad 2: a front VGA video/image camera and a back 720P HD one megapixel camera. While Apple has not said the megapixel number for the back camera, their lack of comment on this could prove the one megapixel number to be true.

-About two weeks prior to the iPad 2 event we posted pictures of iPad 2 screen-protectors further pointing to a portrait facing camera.

What could be coming up:

-Following Apple’s experimentation with navigational gestures for the iPad, BGR reported that future iOS devices may lose their home buttons. Although this is yet to happen it theoretically could happen in future iOS device refreshes.

-We reported that Apple is currently working on a new social element for iOS called ‘Media Stream’. Although the evidence originally showed up in the iOS 4 SDK, we predicted the features would come in iOS 5 due to limited references in the SDK.

-MacRumors found a reference to ‘Find My Friends’ which may be related to a social network.  Also Patently Apple found “Places“, a trademark for a location based social network which would tie in here. OS 5 maybe?

-We also think there are some good chances that iOS 5 wil have new Voice, Mapping and Cloud features.

-Rumors from John Gruber and TechCrunch surfaced recently that we may see an iPad 3 later this year. Another report claimed this iPad 3 may be a jumbo 6 inch iPod touch. Apple has seemed to shoot down these rumors calling 2011 “the year of the iPad 2”.

Bloomberg reported the iPad 2 will feature NFC capability, which wasn’t announced (and unlikely hiding).  More likely for iPhone 5.

What didn’t happen:

-iPad 2 will have a Retina Display. Many reports incorrectly claimed the iPad 2 will feature a Retina Display.  Kevin Rose was probably the first to mention it.

Engadget reported iPad 2 will feature a super-high-resolution display, SD card slot, and a dual GSM/CDMA chip. The iPad 2 has a 1024 x 768 display, no SD card slot, and has separate models for GSM and CDMA chips. Engadget later said these were features scrapped late in production.

-AppleInsider incorrectly reported the iPad 2 will feature a three-megapixel camera, new battery features, and a display port. None of those predictions came true.

-AppleInsider also incorrectly reported that the iPad 2 will feature a SIM-card slot on the device’s top. This mystery port is actually a microphone.  They actually swung and missed twice on this, originally calling it a SD card slot.

-Following our spy shot of iPad 2 FaceTime debugging software, AppleInsider incorrectly reported that the iPad 2 will launch before the 2010 holiday season.

-Days before the iPad 2 event reports claimed the iPad 2 will feature a 1.2 GHz processor. The iPad 2 actually sports a dual-core 1 GHz A5 processor.

-We had heard a “late March” ship date for iPad 2 but iPads will be available on March 11th.

-Days prior to the iPad 2 event, some speculated that the iPad 2 might carry a Thunderbolt port (like the new MacBook Pros).

-The day before the iPad 2 event a site posted a fake Amazon listing claiming the iPad 2 will feature a Thunderbolt port, a 1.2 GHz processor, and a March 17th launch date.

Did we miss anything?

 

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