New Apple iPad 2 to Challenge Blackberry PlayBook with Same Release Date

In late 2010, attention across the technology industry was already beginning to turn toward the next generation of Apple's tablet. Early reports suggested that a second-generation iPad could arrive during the first half of 2011, putting Apple directly into a new round of competition with devices such as Research In Motion's BlackBerry PlayBook.

At the time, reports attributed to sources in the Asian electronics supply chain suggested an April or May 2011 launch window. That timeframe was particularly interesting because the BlackBerry PlayBook was also preparing to enter the tablet market, creating the possibility of a direct confrontation between two very different approaches to mobile computing.

Early iPad 2 Feature Reports

Several features were being discussed before Apple's official announcement. Among the most frequently mentioned possibilities were front and rear cameras, improved video calling support, a gyroscope and upgrades to the display and internal hardware.

Cameras were one of the most believable additions. Apple's FaceTime platform had already become an important part of the company's mobile strategy, so bringing video calling to the iPad appeared to be a natural development.

Other reports were more speculative. A higher-resolution display was widely discussed, while some reports went further and suggested that Apple might add more conventional external connectivity for transferring documents, movies and photographs.

Why the BlackBerry PlayBook Mattered

The tablet market was expanding quickly. Apple's original iPad had established a new mainstream category, but manufacturers including Samsung and Research In Motion were preparing competing products designed to challenge Apple's early lead.

The BlackBerry PlayBook represented one of the most closely watched alternatives. Its smaller form factor, multitasking-focused software and connection to the established BlackBerry ecosystem gave RIM a particularly strong story for corporate and professional customers.

This made the potential timing of the iPad 2 especially significant. A newer iPad arriving around the same period would give Apple an opportunity to answer competitors with upgraded hardware while maintaining the momentum of its growing tablet platform.

Apple, RIM and the 2011 Tablet Battle

From the perspective of late 2010, the next year looked set to become one of the most competitive periods yet for tablets. Apple had brand recognition and a rapidly expanding application ecosystem, while BlackBerry entered the category with a strong reputation among business users.

Samsung and other manufacturers were also expanding their own tablet ranges, making the market far less predictable than it had been when the first iPad launched.

Much of the discussion surrounding the iPad 2 therefore focused not only on individual specifications but on whether Apple's second-generation device could preserve its early advantage as competitors introduced new screen sizes, operating systems and hardware designs.

Looking Back at the Rumours

Technology reporting before a major product launch often combines reliable supply-chain information with features that are still being tested, changed or misunderstood. The reports surrounding the iPad 2 were no exception.

Some early expectations accurately anticipated the direction Apple would take, particularly the addition of cameras and a faster generation of hardware. Other predictions did not appear exactly as originally described.

That makes these early reports an interesting snapshot of the tablet industry at the end of 2010, when the iPad was still relatively new and companies including Apple, BlackBerry and Samsung were competing to define what a modern tablet should be.