iPad 2 will have a USB Port

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Rumors continue to swirl over Apple's 2nd generation iPad, and one Taiwanese newspaper says the 2nd generation iPad will be out in the first quarter of 2011, complete with video calling, two cameras, new display and touch technology, and a USB port to connect easily to other devices.

FaceTime is widely expected to make its way into the 2nd generation iPad, and if it doesn't, I'll be very surprised. A smaller physical footprint is in keeping with Apple's general upgrade strategy. Both the iPhone and the iPod touch continue to get a little bit smaller with each new case update. The Retina Display isn't as sure a bet, since it could be fairly pricey on the supply side to bring new resolution to the 7-inch screen, but Apple does seem quite committed to the technology. A 3-axis gyroscope is an obvious choice, since one already ships in both the iPhone 4 and latest generation iPod touch.

Basically, the only iPad 2 rumored feature without precedent among the rest of Apple's iOS devices is the iPad 2 USB port. From a UX perspective, obviously, it's a no brainer. You wouldn't have to get Apple's Camera Connection Kit to import photos from your digital camera, and in theory, you could use wired keyboards with the 2nd generation iPad, along with potentially many other hardware peripherals.

But iPad 2 USB port on the 2nd generation iPad has always made good sense from the perspective of the consumer, yet we've never seen it before. That's because Apple's dock connector has long been the only data-compatible port on any of Apple's iOS devices. It keeps the accessory ecosystem under control, and allows Apple greater say over how, with what, and for what purposes users can access their devices.

If Apple was going to introduce USB anywhere in its iOS lineup, the iPad 2 USB port would be the most likely suspect. That's because people use the Apple tablet more like they would a PC than a smartphone. A iPad 2 USB port that allows compatibility with more computer peripherals then makes sense, in terms of attracting more potential notebook buyers to the iPad 2 instead. Also, design-wise, there's much more real estate on the iPad's case edge than on the iPhone's or iPod touch's, so adding a port wouldn't be as much of a compromise for Steve Jobs' decidedly minimalist tastes.

I still think USB is a longshot, but if the USB makes sense anywhere in Apple's mobile lineup, iPad 2 USB port makes sense on the 2nd generation iPad. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for these iPad 2 rumors to come true, but they sound plausible enough, and worth keeping in the back of my mind.