App developers welcome more powerful, slimmer iPad 2

Application developers have mostly welcomed Apple’s new iPad 2 device, saying the improved graphics speed and new hardware will make it easier to create more powerful programs and features.

The comments come just hours after Apple chief executive Steve Jobs took to the stage to announce the company’s latest gadget, in one of the most anticipated tech events of the year.

Akshay Kothari, chief executive of Alphonso Labs – the studio behind the Apple-endorsed Pulse RSS reader – says the new device seems to “hit all the marks”.

“The main thing I wanted to see in a new device is having it a little lighter. Overall, it seems to be within what was rumoured so they seem to be hitting all the right spots in that regard.”

Keith Ahern, chief executive of app studio MoGeneration, says the iPad is “redefining the way we think about computers”.

“This is an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary device, but we’re still very happy with it. We think they’re going to own this tablet space for years, and that’s because they simply have the best product out there.”

“You look at people who thought the Motorola Xoom was going to be good, and now some people are actually saying they’re not excited about it anymore.”

While Ahern says the ultimate test will be when users get their hands on the new device, and that may delay some sales for buyers who are on the fence, ultimately the market belongs to Apple as long as a legitimate competitor is missing.

“The demos look really good, the new apps look great, and this product simply beats all the competition out there.”

Australian app studio Firemint, creators of the best-selling apps Flight Control and Real Racing, said in a statement the new hardware would allow it to create more powerful apps and games.

“The 9x faster graphics, gyroscope and slimline form factor have us really excited. Real Racing 2 HD will absolutely shine on such powerful graphics hardware combined with our own rendering enhancements.”

“The gyroscope will also contribute to the smooth and intuitive handling as it adds another sensor input we can check against for added precision.”

Various app developers have also said the ability for the iPad 2 to output media at 1080p will provide a number of different possibilities.

Research firm Ovum principal analyst Adam Leach said in a research note that Apple is completely dominating the tablet space so far, even with Google gaining some ground.

“A majority of device vendors are looking to exploit Google’s latest version of the Android operating system, honeycomb, to deliver a user experience that can compete with Apple’s own iOS,” he says.

However, he notes that they are all a long way off, and at current rates Android won’t be catching up to Apple until 2015.

“Devices based on Google’s platforms will only overtake those based on Apple’s platform by 2015, when we forecast 36% and 35% market shares respectively, of a total market with shipments of approximately 150m units in 2015.

“This compares with Ovum’s estimate of 10% for Google and 90% for Apple at the end of 2010.”

So far, the reaction to the iPad 2 seems to be overwhelmingly positive, even though some developers say they would like to see some of the inclusions that were rumoured at one point or another – a retina screen, higher RAM and a USB port are just some of those.

But in its first hands-on experience, Engadget wrote the reduced size of the device makes it much easier and comfortable to handle.

“When you pick up the iPad 2, it is pretty incredible how much better it feels in your hands than the original iPad. I happened to bring my old iPad with me, so I pulled it out to compare. There is no comparison. The iPad 2 is much, much nicer to hold.”

Jim Dalrymple wrote on TechCrunch this morning that while some competitors point out the iPad 2’s deficiencies, saying it doesn’t have a high-quality camera or that it lacks hardware options, Apple still has the upper hand.

“It’s not just about the hardware. Apple delivers the whole experience that nobody else can. Jobs said yesterday that there are 65,000 apps on its App Store specifically designed for the iPad. That’s a lot of things you can do.”

“If you think Apple’s competitors are jumping for joy because the iPad 2 isn’t revolutionary, I believe you are wrong. I think they’re scared.”