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By RACHEL METZ and JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writers


      SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Apple CEO Steve Jobs briefly emerged from
his medical leave and walked on stage to standing ovation Wednesday
to unveil the second generation of the popular iPad, which will go
on sale March 11 in the U.S.


      Jobs looked frail as he appeared in his signature black mock
turtleneck, blue jeans and wire-rimmed glasses.


      "We've been working on this product for a while, and I just
didn't want to miss today," Jobs said. "Thank you for having
me."


      The next-generation tablet computer has a faster processor than
the original iPad's. As expected, it comes with two cameras for
taking photos and video chatting. The battery life will be the same
as the original - about 10 hours of usage and a month on standby.


      The iPad 2 is also thinner - 8.8 millimeters instead of the
current 13.4 millimeters.


      "The new iPad 2 is actually thinner than your iPhone 4," Jobs
said.


      The original iPad, which burst onto the scene last April, was
more popular than analysts imagined. Apple sold 15 million in nine
months.


      The iPad was used for checking e-mail, surfing the Web, watching
online video and other personal media tasks, but as the number of
small applications designed just for iPad grew, the tablet made
itself at home in offices, shops, restaurants and countless other
professional and hobbyist settings.


      The rush for iPads sparked dozens of copycat touch-screen
devices, but so far, none have broken into the mainstream
consciousness the way the iPad has. In February, Motorola Mobility
Inc.'s Xoom, the most promising challenger so far, went on sale. It
runs a new version of Google Inc.'s Android software that was
designed for tablets, not smart phones.


      Tablet computers existed long before the iPad, but it took Apple
to build a device that made sense to consumers. Apple simplified
the software, packed it in sleek, shiny hardware and sold it to a
generation of gadget lovers who, most likely, already have a smart
phone and a laptop that serve most of the same functions.


      The new iPads will cost the same as the originals - $499 to
$829, depending on storage space and whether or not they can
connect to the Internet over a cellular network. Apple said there
will be black and white versions, despite its problems getting the
promised white iPhone 4 models to market. The first iPad came only
in black. In the U.S., the iPad 2 will work on AT&T Inc. and
Verizon Wireless.


      Jobs also introduced a new accessory for the iPad that will let
people connect the tablet to high-definition televisions, so they
can watch videos up to 1080p in resolution on the bigger screen.
The $39 part plugs into the iPad's charging port and connects to an
HDMI cable.


      After its March 11 U.S. launch, the iPad 2 goes on sale March 25
in at least 26 other markets, including Mexico, New Zealand, Spain
and other European countries.


      Apple also introduced updates to the software that runs on the
iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices.


      The new system, iOS 4.3, includes support for FaceTime, Apple's
video-chat program. The company said people can now hold
conversations between iPads, iPhones and Mac computers.


      The update turns iPhones and iPads with 3G cellular connections
into personal Wi-Fi hotspots, so you can share the connection with
computers or other devices.


      The improved software also makes Apple's Safari Web browser run
faster.


      Apple also announced new software designed for the iPad,
including a $4.99 version of iMovie for video editing and a $4.99
version of GarageBand, its music recording and editing software.
GarageBand includes instruments that can be played by touching the
iPad 2's screen, and it can even sense whether you're tapping
quietly or banging on the "keys." People can start a project on
their Mac, then work on it later on the iPad 2.


      Jobs gave an update on the company's iBook business, saying
people downloaded more than 100 million tomes since the e-book
business launched last year. He also said Random House became the
last major publisher to agree to sell its titles in the iBookstore.


      Jobs announced in January that he would take a third leave of
absence to focus on his health. In the last decade, Jobs, 56, has
survived a rare but curable form of pancreatic cancer and undergone
a liver transplant.


      Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook has been running day-to-day
operations.


      In 2009, Jobs said in advance that he would take a six-month
medical leave; this time, the company did not specify when he would
return. The last time Jobs went on medical leave, marketing chief
Phil Schiller was the main presenter at product launch events.


      Shares of Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., rose
$1.66, or 0.5 percent, to $350.97 in afternoon trading Wednesday.


      AP Technology Writer Jessica Mintz in Seattle contributed to
this report.
      

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Apple CEO Steve Jobs briefly emerged from
his medical leave and walked on stage to standing ovation Wednesday
to unveil the second-generation of the popular iPad.

Apple's Jobs, on sick leave, appears at iPad event

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