iPad 2 tablet launched by Apple's Steve Jobs

 Apple chief executive Steve Jobs and software vice president Steve Forstall unveil the company's follow up to the iPad tablet computer 

Apple has launched the second generation of its iPad tablet computer at an event in San Francisco.

The company said the machine featured a faster processor, improved graphics, and front and rear cameras.
Apple has led the industry in sales of tablet devices since the launch of the first iPad in April 2010.
However, it has been losing market share to a raft of rival devices from manufacturers such as HP and Samsung.
The event was hosted by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave from the company since January.
It had been widely speculated that he would not appear owing to his ill health.
Mr Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004.
Speaking on stage, he said: "We have been working on this product for a while and I just didn't want to miss today."

In numbers: tablet computers

• 15 million - number of iPads sold since 2010 (source: Apple)
• 75% - Apple's share of the tablet market in December 2010 (source: Strategy Analytics)
• 64 million - predicted global sales of tablet computers in 2011 (source: Gartner)
• 82 - Number of new tablets launched at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (source: CCS Insight)

Up until September 2010, Apple iPads accounted for 95% of tablet computer sales, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.

By the end of 2010, that figure had fallen to 75%, said Strategy Analytics.
The loss of share was down to the arrival of scores of new tablet devices, mainly based on Google's open-source Android system.
Other platforms have also begun to appear, including Microsoft's Windows 7 and HP's WebOS.
Ovum analyst Adam Leach predicted a two-horse race in the tablet market over the coming year.
"The platform dominance of Apple and Google will continue through 2011 and beyond," said Mr Leach.
"However, devices based on Google's platforms will only overtake those based on Apple's platform by 2015, when we forecast 36% and 35% market shares respectively," he added.