– Camera updates: You’ll be able to launch directly into the camera app from the lock screen and use the volume hardware buttons to snap photos. There are also basic built-in editing features now, too, such as cropping, rotating and red-eye reduction.
– Mail: New features will include rich-text formatting (bold, underline, italicize, etc.), message flagging, and a revamped search function that scours the messages both on your device and on your e-mail server. The iPad version of Mail also includes the ability to split the keyboard into two halves for easier thumb typing as well.
– No computer needed: You’ll no longer need to connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer to activate it first. Updates to the operating system will be delivered over the air as well—no need to download them to iTunes and then synchronize your device to get new updates.
– Game Center: New features will include the ability to see friends of friends, and get recommendations for game downloads and new friends to connect with. You’ll also be able to download games from directly within Game Center, and there’s built-in support for turn-based games coming too.
– iMessage: Apple’s new iMessage app brings iPhone-like messaging features to iPad and iPod Touch users and adds a few new bells and whistles to boot. It’s compatible between all iOS devices and you’ll be able to see when someone’s typing you a reply as well. Everything’s encrypted, too.
– AirPlay mirroring: If you have an AirPlay-enabled device, such as Apple TV, hooked up to your television set, you’ll be able to see and use your entire iPad 2 interface on the big screen.
– Wireless iTunes synchronization: You’ll finally be able to synch the stuff on your phone with your computer over your Wi-Fi connection.
iCloud
“We’re going to demote the PC and Mac to just be a device. We’re going to move the hub, the center of your digital life, to the cloud,” said Steve Jobs.
Jobs then referred to Apple’s $99-per-year “MobileMe” service as “not our finest hour,” before adding, “But we learned a lot.”