Apple IPAD

Laidback · #1 01-27-2010, 01:30 PM

Apple Puts an End to Tablet Rumors With IPad
by PCworld

As had been widely expected, Apple released a tablet device Wednesday. But the details of the new device--called the iPad--and its price tag may have caught some Apple observers by surprise.

The iPad falls between a laptop and smartphone, according to Apple, with the device capable of doing many of the same things an iPhone can but on a larger, 9.7-inch LCD screen. The tablet is a half-inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds, and comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities.

The 16GB model starts at $499, with the 32GB iPad available for $599 and the 64GB configuration costing $699. Those models will include Wi-Fi connectivity; Apple will also offer 3G-equipped iPads for $130 more.

Look for the iPad to begin shipping in 60 days, with 3G models to follow a month later.

The iPad will feature apps built specifically for Apple's tablet device, including an iPad-made version of Apple's iWork productivity suite. All of the iWork apps on the iPad launch to a library of documents that allow you to tap on the document you want to open. An on-screen keyboard appears when you need to type text.

Each iWork for iPad app will cost $10 each and will be available for download from the App Store.

Another app built specifically for the iPad is iBooks--Apple's e-reader app. It will let users read e-books directly on the iPad; they'll also be able to buy books, ranging in price from $8 to $15, from Apple's new iBook Store.

Many iPhone and iPod touch apps will be able to run on the iPad as well. To that end, Apple updated is iPhone software development kit with iPad support, so that developers can update their apps for the new device.

Hands-on, first impressions
By Jacqui Cheng arstechnica.com
Apple revealed its new iPad Tablet today, and we've got photos from the live event and from our hands-on with the new device. For pictures of our hands-on, check out page two.

iPad Hands On

The press was given a few moments with one of the new Apple iPads and we tried to put it through as many paces as we could in the limited amount of time we were given. What follows are the photos we were able to take and a quick list of facts we know about the device from our session.

There is no camera on the iPad.
There's no way to lock the screen into landscape or portrait mode. Some apps lock the screen (like on the iPhone) but there's no universal way to lock the screen as you might on a Kindle or Nook.
The landscape and portrait switching works in all 4 orientations, so you could read upside down if you liked.
There's a sleep/wake button on the top, just like an iPhone. Also, there is a headphone jack and a speaker on the top (and one speaker on the bottom).
There is a volume rocker switch on the side, just like the iPhone. You can also silent the device.
No brightness controls outside of the system preferences, just like on the iPhone.
You can use any bluetooth keyboard you want, instead of Apple's keyboard dock. You could use the case/stand with your existing bluetooth keyboard.
You cannot use a bluetooth mouse, however.
The screen resolution is 1024x768 (4:3).
It can play 720p movies from iTunes.
The case itself is some crazy soft rubbery microfiber material that no Apple rep could or would identify.
The case/stand is $39.
The case is very flat and solid like a Kindle case, but you can use it to prop the iPad up into a triangle so you can watch movies or use it like a laptop.
The keyboard dock is $69 and the normal dock is $39.
The browser is like Safari on the iPhone but it has toolbar favorites like on the Mac.
It's much easier to click and navigate on the iPad than on an iPhone, just by virtue of it being larger.
Size/weight is very comparable to a Kindle DX, which is twice as heavy as a Kindle 2.
Leave any more questions you might have in the comments and we'll be rounding up our coverage at some point in the future with as much information as we can find.