After much anticipation and speculation, Apple Inc. today finally unveiled its tablet computer, the Apple iPad (see more pictures). Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the device at an invite-only press event in San Francisco.
The iPad is only a half of an inch thick and weighs just 1.5-lbs. It is powered by a 1GHz Apple A4 processor and will come in three flavors: 16, 32, or 64GB sizes. The 16GB version will retail for $499, the 32GB for $599, and the 64GB version for $699. The 3G version will cost an additional $130 per model.
Other features include an accelerometer, WiFi, Bluetooth, among other features. It operates on the same operating system as the iPhone and does run applications from the app store.
Mr. Jobs said today there is enough space for an intermediary device between PC computers and mobile devices. He said at the event, “It is the best browsing experience you’ve ever had, its phenomenal,” and went on to say, “[the iPad is] way better than a laptop, way better than a smartphone,”
Apple also announced the availability of an updated iPhone OS SDK for developers to develop applications specifically designed for the bigger display of the iPad. The iPad can currently run app store applications on a double-pixel basis for full-screen, or in a smaller window for better clarity since the current applications are not designed for larger resolutions.
Interestingly, the iPad also has mobile phone functionality. There is a micro-SIM card slot ready for you to insert your telecom SIM card to use the iPad as a phone. Apple is selling all iPads unlocked so that they could be used with any telecom.
Analysts expected the device to center around media, more specifically towards eBooks. According to screen shots released by Apple, it appears the iPad has newly designed applications, such as the YouTube and iBook apps pictured below to really make the device all about media. Users will be able to purchase media, including eBooks and HD movies from iTunes. Apple has also announced an iPad optimized iWork app will be released, too.
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AT&T is offering unlimited 3G data for the iPad for $29.99 per month, or 250MB of data for $14.99 per month, both contract-free. Activations are handled directly from the iPad, allowing you to easily activate and deactivate your mobile 3G service anytime you want.
The non-3G iPads will all be available in 60-days from now, with the 3G versions becoming available in 90-days.
The iPad is really just what many had expected, essentially, a bigger iPhone with app improvements. Few expected the device to run OS X applications, but unfortunately, that was simply not the case.
It is difficult to currently predict future expected earnings generated from the iPad, simply because many people have mixed feelings about the device. Some argue the price is too high for a device that simply mainly runs iPhone apps and because it lacks features such as GPS already found on the iPhone. The truth is, we’ll just have to let some time go by until we can actually use it, that we, we can better understand its true value.
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Questions? Write to Chris V at chris@business2press.com
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January 27th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
I would NOT buy this for many reasons:
1) I do not want a bigger iPhone that I can't put in my pocket
2) There is not sufficient value to warrant the price
3) Safari iPhone works perfectly fine and if I'm not mistaken the iPad has the same browser
4) Probably can't jailbreak it for a while
Glad I didn't put my money into Apple stock (like most people probably did) thinking the stock was going to skyrocket from this thing, it seems to me it's just a fail…unless there's more we are not being told.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:44 am
I might buy it, as the Kindle looks kind of dull…
But price really is a barrier.
February 14th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
What the hell. All they did is make a larger IPod touch and IPhone. I would rather have it in my pocket, thats half of the selling point. This is POINTLESS my IPhone works 100 times better than that thing could ever!
February 14th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
what makes you think there isn't anything more that they're not currently telling us? i bet there's more….Apple just isn't that stupid
February 17th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
all of you, shut up and by me one
February 20th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Great job the Apple did here ! I will definetly buy this and try it … and I'm quite sure I'll liked it !
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:27 pm
you don't need to jailbreak it, it's being sold unlocked!
and it's prime purpose is not that of a phone but of a laptop.
this is a touchscreen notebook! it's amazing, to say the least!
March 9th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
i will be getting one to use as a phone…thats what bluetooth headsets are for people… just keep the ipad in a bag. perfect for me as I carry a backpack almost everywhere.
March 15th, 2010 at 8:14 am
He means he wants to be able to use custom applications.
It doesn't multitask, but there's an app for iphone that let's you. Or least store it in memory.
When it says it's unlocked it means that you can use any telecom provider not you can use apps made from somebody who isn't approved by apple.
it's a touchscreen device, not a notebook, notebooks have more power behind it. This does what it wants. Be mobile, but has some functionality of a notebook.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Finally technology i can carry easily in my backpack. No more headaches from squinting to see applications, text, movies.etc… No more headaches thank you!
April 3rd, 2010 at 5:16 pm
call 911, see if you can hear the reply
April 16th, 2010 at 10:26 am
idiots, it's not a phone, this article is wrong.
May 21st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I might buy it if it was also a phone because using a larger keyboard would be much better for typing faster and really using it as a business tool not a toy.. but only if it was able to be used as a phone along with all the other things it can do……..
May 21st, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Doesn't the fact of lack of flash support also serve as a barrier to buying it?
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August 2nd, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Pre order for April 3rd has already closed. But all the Apple store are having some iPads for walk ins. So if you don't mind waiting in line, you can try your luck. Most probably you will get one.
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August 12th, 2010 at 12:28 am
Even if it doesn't have a telephone connection, iPhone was designed to be represent the VoIP phones technology through SDK, an application for iPhone. This SDK was updated for iPhone to allow VoIP to accept other calls from the 3G networks. There aren't many differences between an iPhone and an iPad. In other words, after three years, the guys from Apple took the same technology and put it into a bigger device, that's more expensive and less comfortable.
August 12th, 2010 at 7:28 am
Even if it doesn’t have a telephone connection, iPhone was designed to be represent the VoIP phones technology through SDK, an application for iPhone. This SDK was updated for iPhone to allow VoIP to accept other calls from the 3G networks. There aren’t many differences between an iPhone and an iPad. In other words, after three years, the guys from Apple took the same technology and put it into a bigger device, that’s more expensive and less comfortable. n
August 25th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Voip was supposed to design an application so that iPad users could phone anyone using their tablet? Perhaps I’m not understanding what you’re saying here… nLilia Gephardt @ Custom serversn