Interesting New and Digital Media News/Facts

iPad2 tablet unveiled by Steve Jobs:

Apple boss Steve Jobs has returned from indefinite sick leave to declare 2011 "the year of the iPad2".

Mr Jobs is on medical leave from the company and there was much speculation over whether he would take centre stage at the highly-anticipated launch of the new tablet.

Describing the iPad2 design as "completely new", Mr Jobs made a 30-minute presentation at the YBCA Theatre in San Francisco, which was broadcast live via video link in London.

Calling the new device "beautiful", he said: "We think 2011 is clearly going to be the year of iPad2. It is going to be everywhere in the month of March."

Despite rumours that the iPad2 may come in a smaller size, the new tablet will keep its original dimensions. It does, however, boast a sleeker and slimmer design than its predecessor, measuring 33% less in thickness.

Mr Jobs said: "One of the most startling things about the iPad2 is it is dramatically thinner. It feels totally different."

It will also be lighter, weighing in at 1.3lb, 0.2lb lighter than the iPad1. "You can just pick this thing up, it almost floats," Mr Jobs said.

The tablet will be available in both black and white rather than its previous single-colour design. The iPad2 will also be faster than its predecessor, with a new dual processor making it twice as quick and nine times faster in its graphics performance.

Mr Jobs put rumours of a price increase to rest, revealing that the tablet can be purchased in the US for the same price as the iPad1. "We are going to keep the same exact prices as the current iPad but you get a dramatically improved product," Mr Jobs said.

Among other new accessories, the sleek redesign of the iPad cover raised eyebrows. With a magnetic grasp attaching to the tablet, the cover provides a book-like front to the iPad and comes in 10 colours.

Links:
http://tech.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=156334389 (HOTMAIL NEWS)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12620077 (BBC NEWS ONLINE)
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30 million Facebook users in UK:

The number of Facebook accounts held in the UK has reached 30 million, around half the population of the country.

The milestone is an increase of four million from the number of registered UK users last July.

Vice president of Facebook Europe Joanna Shields told a conference in London that the company was "really excited" about now having 30 million active users, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Facebook, which was founded by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, has more than 500 million active users around the world, meaning those users who have logged in during the past 30 days.

Half of the website's users log in on any given day, with a total of more than 700 billion minutes spent a month on the site - the equivalent of 1.3 million years. The average user has 130 friends and will create 90 items of content every month.

The website employs more than 2,000 people and can even now claim to be Oscar-nominated, following the critical acclaim for The Social Network, a film about Facebook.

Link:
http://tech.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=156334649 (HOTMAIL NEWS)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/03/facebook-has-30million-uk-users-115875-22962276/ (MIRROR ONLINE)