iPad 2

Shipping times for the iPad 2 are down to 1-2 weeks on the Apple Store online. This may better than 4-6 weeks for consumers, however the extended delays experienced since the iPad 2 was launched have caused analysts to reduce their Apple sales forecasts. IHS iSuppli now expects Apple to deliver 39.7 million units including all iPad models in 2011.

Their previous estimate was over nine percent higher at 43.7 million units. Other analysts aren't as optimistic. JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch both reduced their annual estimates slightly however the forecasts are much lower, coming in at 27.3 million and 26.4 million units respectively.

For those who have complained that the iPad is "just a toy" the latest retailer to carry Apple's tablet will bring a chuckle. Toys R Us has jumped on the bandwagon and now offers the iPad 2 at select stores nationwide, along with iPad cases and accessories. The complete list of Toys R Us stores carrying the iPad 2 is available online, however this is no guarantee that the product will be in stock.

Apple still lists a 2-3 week shipping time for the iPad 2 when purchased online in the Apple Store. Toys R Us joins retailers Best Buy, Radio Shack, Target and Walmart along with wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon in offering the tablet computer.

Consumer Reports looked at 10 of the top tablets on the market and this time Apple won big. The iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (32G) model came in first place when considering 17 criteria across the different tablets. Many features are universal to all the models tested, including touch screens, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The news is a refreshing change of pace for Apple after the magazine refused to recommend the iPhone 4 over antenna issues. Battery life was one area with huge differences, with the iPad 2 clocking over 12 hours of video play time. In contrast, the bottom rated Archos 70 Internet Tablet only lasted 3.8 hours on the same task.

Radio Shack is the latest retailer to offer Apple's iPad 2 and launches the device today at 500 stores nationwide. Pricing will be identical to Apple and other retailers including Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Target. The company plans to announce which stores have the iPad 2 in stock online.

Those interested in purchasing an iPad 2 at Radio Shack can also call their local stores to see if the device is in stock. Supplies are limited and roughly 2,000 Radio Shack locations will not have the tablet initially. Apple just launched the iPad 2 internationally and lists shipping times of 3-4 weeks on the Apple Store online.

Millions of iPad 2 units are already in the hands of consumers, and Apple's tablet is set to launch in several additional countries starting tomorrow. As with any product, sometimes users face manufacturing issues or other problems.

For the most part, the iPad 2 has received outstanding reviews and demand continues to exceed supply across the country. Some unlucky users have experienced problems, although Apple is quick to respond thanks to the Apple Care warranty included with iPad 2 purchase.

Some iPad owners might not be aware that the original model has a microphone built-in right next to the headphone jack. Both the 3G and Wi-Fi only models have a little mic hole in the same place on the iPad's metal top. Now that the next generation iPad 2 is designed for use with Apple's FaceTime video chat software, the internal microphone is getting some more attention.

Tests have indicated the iPad 2 Wi-Fi only model captures higher quality audio than its 3G-enabled cousins. Pictured above, the two microphones were tested by iLounge in their comprehensive iPad 2 review.

The iPad 2 is in short supply and Apple is shipping tablets as quickly as possible. With hundreds of thousands of units already in the hands of consumers, some unlucky iPad 2 users have experienced problems on the display. Some of these issues have been seen before, such as yellowing while adhesive dries and dead pixels.

Pictured above is a new problem reported by some iPad 2 owners experiencing backlight bleeding on the edges of the screen. This photo was posted at iSource, showing a large light bleed from the edge of the LCD panel to the left of the home button. Smaller light leaks can be seen on the left edge of the iPad 2 bezel.

Apple is having a hard time keeping the iPad 2 in stock as lines continue to form outside of retail stores and shipping times for online orders are pushed back. Some Apple stores received additional shipments this morning, only to have them sell out in a matter of hours.

Shipping times for online orders of the iPad 2 on the Apple website have been extended to 4-5 weeks. In contrast, accessories such as the Digital AV Adapter and some colors of the Smart Cover ship in three days or less. Apple originally estimated shipping times of 3-5 days, however within hours of the launch on March 11 the company had revised times to 2-3 weeks.