Apple released its new iPad today — complete with the signature show and surprise of Apple events. The surprises came early on, even from the opening second as Steve Jobs took the stage, despite his well-publicized medical leave of absence as of a few weeks ago. There were some late rumors claiming just such a surprise, but even they expected him to make only a brief appearance. Instead, Steve took the helm for the duration of the event.

Now, on to the iPad 2. Here are my favorite points of the day:

• GarageBand for the iPad!
• and iMovie.
• 1080p HDMI output through new adapter (side note: the website claims this also works with the iPhone 4).
• Now also in white!
• Significantly thinner, sleeker and sexier.
• Dual Core A5 Processor - almost double the speed of iPad 1.
• Cameras & Gyro, though these were no big surprise.

The hardware itself is beautiful, and makes some delightful improvements over iPad generation 1. But, my favorite announcement of the day definitely has to have been the GarageBand introduction. It seems to me like this was the way GarageBand was meant to be experienced from the beginning. Clicking notes into the software with a mouse has always been cumbersome, but on screen, digital instruments look like a dream come true, and a perfect adaptation of a lot of other handy instrument apps that have been available from third parties for a while now.

White is interesting. I've always had this stigma that white Apple devices are more effeminate. Unless there's no other choice, like the white iMac G4, which is still my favorite computer of all time — and I never even owned one. But something about the white iPad is also appealing. Maybe it is simply because it's the first white iOS device since the iPhone 4 White Paint Plague of 2010. This trim may very well become iconic. Nevertheless, a bright white bezel around a screen is distracting, and I can't even imagine trying to watch a movie with the white bezel shouting at me the whole time.

Now for a few short misgivings to offset the praise. Firstly, Apple doesn't seem to be very forthcoming with camera specs. The Apple rumor community has been huffing and puffing the last few weeks over rumors that the iPad was going to include the same measly sub-2 megapixel camera found in the iPod Touch versus the robust 5 megapixels found in the iPhone 4. The only language they care to repeat on their website is that it shoots video in 720p, which coincidentally is the same language they use when describing the iPod Touch's camera. My instinct says that the camera is indeed that of the iPod. Secondly, the keyboard/dock combo accessory seems to have already been dumped. Now, customers will be forced to buy the separate dock and bluetooth keyboard, which lacks the special iPad-specific keys — and it's more expensive to buy both. Lastly, I want to pre-order it now. I don't respond well to forced patience. Nine entire days.

Despite these qualms, and the rumored launch of the Retina-display-endowed iPad 3 in September, I think an iPad will finally make its way into my hands on March 11th.