Apple introduced the second generation iPad during an event today in San Francisco, Calif.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Company CEO Steve Jobs surprised the attendees by taking the stage to introduce the iPad 2 himself. Jobs has been off on medical leave since mid-January, leaving the day-to-day running of the company to Tim Cook.

The iPad 2 features a 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD screen, Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor, and two cameras. The device will have a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video.

A lot of people will also like the fact that the iPad will ship in black and white — something Apple hasn’t been able to do with the iPhones yet.

iPad 2 will also come with iOS 4.3, an upgrade to Apple’s mobile operating system. According to Apple, the new OS will feature a faster Safari Web browser; iTunes Home Sharing; enhancements to AirPlay; the choice to use the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute audio; and Personal Hotspot to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.

The iPad 2 will also come with a gyro for an enhanced gaming experience.

iPad 2 with Wi-Fi will be available on March 11 for $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, and $699 for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.

iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G compatible with the Verizon network will be available in the US only for $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.