iPad 2: Thunderbolt Port Is Apple's Secret Weapon?With Thunderbolt (Intel’s Light Peak technology) reportedly "exclusive" to Apple devices up until 2012, we can be certain that both Intel and Apple will like to maximize the usage of the technology before the next revolutionary option comes along. While the Thunderbolt feature is already pegged for the New MacBook Pro, there is one other Apple product that is due for a refresh and could certainly use it.
Thunderbolt for iPad 2?
Apple iPad, the top selling tablet on the market at the moment is due for a refresh (iPad 2) and is expected to launch in April, following Apple's predictable annual cycle refreshes. Thunderbolt, which offers high-speed connectivity with 10GBs of input-output capacity, can fire out a HD in just 30 seconds. Furthermore, Forbes reports that, "the connector is also thin enough to fit on increasingly slim devices... That could be the perfect fit for the tablet computer Apple will almost surely introduce next week: the iPad 2."
As more tablets continue to hit the market with multiple ports (e.g. Android Honeycomb Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, LG Optimus Pad, BlackBerry PlayBook, HP TouchPad), the iPad and its lack of standard ports like USB and HDMI may pose to be a problem. Throwing in a Thunderbolt port with the iPad 2 may help level the playing field once again.
Apple's "exclusivity" on Thunderbolt: While the Light Peak technology isn't technically exclusive to Apple, Intel's PR have told Engadget that they are "currently targeting an early 2012 launch for Thunderbolt with other OEMs", giving the Cupertino-based company a huge headstart.
