Ain't that sweet?
After days of excruciating “will they, won’t they” speculation, Apple have finally issued a press release confirming that the launch of the iPad 2 is most certainly on for this Friday. Pre-orders will begin via the Apple Store at 3am and – joy of joys – prices have dropped to lower than the pre-GST-rise levels set when the original iPad launched last year. Keep reading for the full press release from Apple.
iPad 2 Arrives in 25 More Countries This Friday
Available in Hong Kong, Korea & Singapore in AprilNEW ZEALAND, Auckland—23 March 2011—Apple® today announced that iPad® 2, the second-generation of its third post-PC device, will go on sale in 25 additional countries this Friday 25 March. iPad 2 will be available at select Apple Authorised Resellers at 5 p.m. local time, and online through the Apple Store® (www.apple.co.nz) beginning at 3 a.m. Apple today also announced that all models of iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April.
“While competitors are still struggling to catch up with our first iPad, we’ve changed the game again with iPad 2,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re experiencing amazing demand for iPad 2 in the US, and customers around the world have told us they can’t wait to get their hands on it. We appreciate everyone’s patience and we are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone.”
iPad 2 features an entirely new design that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, while maintaining the same stunning 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen. iPad 2 features Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics and now includes two cameras, a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime® and Photo Booth®, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video, bringing the innovative FaceTime feature to iPad users for the first time. Though it is thinner, lighter, faster and packed with new features, iPad 2 still delivers up to 10 hours of battery life* that users have come to expect.
Pricing & Availability
iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK on 25 March.In New Zealand, iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available for a recommended retail price (RRP) of NZ$799 inc GST for the 16GB model, NZ$949 inc GST for the 32GB model, NZ$1,099 inc GST the 64GB model. iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for a RRP of NZ$998 inc GST for the 16GB model, NZ$1,149 inc GST for the 32GB model and NZ$1,289 inc GST for the 64GB model.
iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April, and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced at a later date.
iMovie® and GarageBand® for iPad apps are available for NZ$6.49 inc GST each from the App Store℠ on iPad or www.itunes.co.nz/appstore. The Smart Cover is available in a range of colours in vibrant polyurethane for NZ$69 inc GST or rich leather for NZ$119 inc GST.
*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has re-invented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.
So… are you buying one? Is there even any point in queuing up anywhere now that you can secure your purchase in the wee hours? What isn’t immediately evident from this information is whether shipping is going to be quick or take several weeks like it is in the US right now. When the iPhone 4 launched online in New Zealand there was a 3-4 week shipping delay so this could well be the case for the iPad 2, but only time will tell.
Will be most interested to find out who the ‘select Apple Authorised Resellers’ are, other than Yoobee Newmarket. If anyone catches word of this then please post here. I’ll do likewise.
(Satch has made 44 comments)
I suspect the 3am ordering will come with a 4-5 week shipment so you weigh up securing it then and waiting, or waiting in line on the day but limited stock. Unsure, guess it depends where the stock is shipped from (I assume it’s same place as US but could be wrong) I know one thing, I WILL be at the comp 2:59am
(camtab has made 480 comments)
Nice one, I’m keen. I almost died waiting for my iPhone4 to arrive, so I’ll probably try to get to Yoobee on Friday afternoon.
(Chris K has made 37 comments)
Ill be out of Town away from town and traveling to Wellington that day.
Looks like I had better pre order before I go then
(Psychrn has made 131 comments)
Their was no queues with the iPad 1.
I worry now with the servicing of Apple when purchased in NZ as my experience with my iPhone was not great, up to a 2 week wait. If I had purchased on line I would have had a new replacement phone the same day. MM does not have loan phones (which sucks) Vodafone would not loan me a phone as I purchased my iphone at a MM store, so Apple purchased a cheap phone for me while I waited for my new iPhone replacement to arrive at MM North Shore. Apple could not believe the bad service from MM and Vodafone.
Apple OPEN an Apple owned store IN NZ PLEASE
(kiwiadventure has made 66 comments)
i was wondering whether someone can please confirm when the ipad 2 will be released?
I was going to camp outside for the night until 9am store opening at jb hi fi, however if they go on sale at 5pm, obviously that would be a huge waste of time for me.
(N0_NAM3 has made 4 comments)
@ camtab:
I would pre-order @ 3am and then queue at a shop. If the shop gets it, cancel the pre-order.
@ Steve: Yeah that was my plan
Once again the “notify me” option on the Apple site has failed as surely this would be the time to email us all and tell us the times and dates of availability. Thanks to Iphonewzealand, we are in the know (i know it was a press release but I will give you guys the props)
(camtab has made 480 comments)
So any news if any retailers (that are left standing) in Christchurch selling them?
(kevinnz has made 8 comments)
DSE are saying that a store in Riccarton are selling Apple products on Twitter in response to someone asking if any ChCh stores will be selling the iPad 2. But they are not answering that question outright which is frustrating.
I’m in Auckland and want to know who here (other than Yoobee Newmarket) will be selling, specifically in the city centre.
(Satch has made 44 comments)
Hmm. Time to wait and see if any shops in CHCH actually sell it!
(nullafy has made 18 comments)
Does anyone know where will the ipad 2s be sold in Wellington?~
(N0_NAM3 has made 4 comments)
N0_NAM3 wrote:
Friday 25th March. 3am online orders will commence. In store will be Friday 25th March commencing at 5pm.
Online delivery times and which stores will be stocking them is unknown.
(Paul has made 337 comments)
N0_NAM3 wrote:
How about you read the very article you left a comment on. All the details are there.
(Satch has made 44 comments)
I’ll be placing an online order at 3am. I ‘may’ see if anyone is selling them later in the day – but given that I’m in Christchurch, finding someone who is may be challenging – as will be getting there if anyone is!
(jhkoning has made 13 comments)
there is currently an imbargo on talking about it for retailers.
(kazuya has made 7 comments)
Kinda crazy really, this whole retailer secrecy thing.
(jhkoning has made 13 comments)
I rang DSE and they rang HQ who were told by Apple they are not allowed to say anything. And they also said they would maybe get leftovers from yoobee.. But thats just speculation.
(Nordy has made 46 comments)
@ Satch: First rule of Apple retail NDA: don’t talk about iPad 2. Second rule of Apple retail NDA: Don’t talk about iPad 2
(Daniel Burgess has made 613 comments)
Kinda really annoying, I am tempted to take friday off but tbh, the secrecy makes me reluctant.
(Nordy has made 46 comments)