蘋果發佈iPad2 喬布斯病假休養後首度公開露面

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs made a surprise appearance tonight for the launch of the second generation of the company's 'Jesus Tablet', the ipad 2.

The company's inspirational chief executive, who has been gravely ill in recent months was plainly very thin as he took to the stage in San Francisco.

However, he launched into a vigorous presentation, mocking Apple's rivals and the critics who had doubted the wisdom of launching the original iPad a year ago.

Since then the company has sold more than 15million of the tablet computers, despite a high price ranging from $499 to £829 (£400 to almost £700), while rivals have been racing to catch up.

Mr Jobs said: 'Today we're here to talk about Apple's third post-PC blockbuster product.

'That's how we think about these things. We started with the iPod, then we added the iPhone, and then the iPad. Every one has been a blockbuster.

'When we said the iPad was magical, people laughed at us. But it's turned out to be magical. And people questioned whether it was an "unbelievable" price - well ask our competitors.'

He said many now consider the iPad the most successful consumer product ever launched with a market share of more than 90per cent and a device that had left rivals 'flummoxed'.

However, he said the iPad 2 represents a major step forward with a 'completely new design'.

It is thinner, lighter and dramatically faster than the original, while it has cameras on the front and back for the first time to allow for video conferencing.

Mr Jobs said: 'What is iPad 2. What have we learned? It is an all new design. It's a completely new design. And it's dramatically faster.'

The improvements are built around a completely new computer chip it calls the A5 and a dual core processor, which is the sort of technology found in high performing lap-tops.

The graphics are said to be up to nine times faster than in the original iPad.

Despite the many enhancements, the new version is 33per cent thinner - at just 8.8mm, which makes it even slimmer than the latest iPhone 4.

相關中文報道來源新華網：

蘋果公司執行長喬布斯(Steve Jobs)2日意外在舊金山現身，發表新一代平板計算機iPad 2，新款產品不但更快、更輕、更薄，且配備前後攝影鏡頭。

喬布斯說：“我們研發這項產品花了不少時間，我不想錯過這個重大日子。”喬布斯顯得憔悴但活力充沛，他穿着招牌服裝--黑色高領套頭衫和牛仔褲登場。

今年1月因不明疾患請病假的喬布斯表示，新iPad 2的特色包括配備前後攝影鏡頭，能拍照和進行視訊交談，且較先前版本更薄。

iPad 2厚度僅8.8毫米，而第1代則厚13.4毫米。

喬布斯說：“新的iPad 2實際上較iPhone 4更薄。是顯著薄，不是薄一點，而是薄了1/3。”

新版iPad重量僅1.3磅，較原先版本1.5磅輕，將有黑白兩款機身。電池續航力與先前相同約10小時，待機時間達1個月。

喬布斯又說，iPad 2售價與先前相同，介於499美元至829美元。預定3月11日在美國上市，包括日本、法國和德國等另外26個國家則於3月25日推出。

喬布斯指出，iPad 2採用新款A5處理器，“速度顯着加快”。他說：“在這個裝置上圖像非常棒。”

蘋果也發表iPad的新配件，能讓使用者把此平板電腦與高畫質電視鏈接，方便在更大屏幕上觀賞分辨率達1080p的影片。