On January 27, 2010, Apple announced a tablet computer known as the iPad. The iPad is positioned as a device something in between a smartphone and a laptop computer, but better than either of those for many everyday purposes.
The iPad has a large 9.7 inch touchscreen, a high-performance Apple processor, and is able to wirelessly access the Internet. Apple believes this makes it ideally suited to entertainment uses and consuming media, ranging from surfing websites, to playing games, to watching books, to reading books and magazines.
This intention was highlighted at Apple's launch event as Steve Jobs sat relaxed on a couch, and flipped through each of these leisure activities, calling the iPad a "magical and revolutionary device".http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1001q3f8hhr/event/index.html
Technically the iPad is in many ways like a much larger and faster version of the iPhone or iPod Touch. It uses the iPhone operating system, and Apple says it will be able to run "almost all" of the 140,000 existing apps for those devices. However as the iPad uses a custom Apple processor, known as the A4, it will be able to run much faster than the other devices, despite the need to support a far larger touchscreen.
Physically the iPad weighs about 1.5 pounds, is about half an inch thick, and roughly 9.5 by 7.5 inches in size. This makes it similar in size and shape to a moderate sized book, though of greater weight. Apple claim that the battery will last for 10 hours of heavy use, though this has yet to be independently verified.http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
The iPad is offered in six versions, which differ in storage capacity and connectivity. Versions which connect to the Internet using wi-fi start from $499 for a 16GB model and go up to $699 for 64GB. There are also be three models which offer connectivity via 3G phone networks as well as wi-fi. These range in cost from $629 for 16GB up to $829 for 64GB. Actually using the phone networks will also entail a carrier charge, although this does not entail any long-term contracts, and can be used month by month as needed. These are US prices, international prices for the iPad can vary considerably.http://www.apple.com/ipad/pricing/<r/ref>
Apple Official iPad Video
Apple's detailed promotional video for the iPad.
This featues iPad's desginer and other senior people at Apple describing why they think it's a revolutionary product, while going through all of its features and many applications.
Among other things the iPad is shown being used for browsing the web, reading and writing email, watching a movie, and downloading and reading ebooks from Apple's new iBooks store.
Featured Video - Steve Jobs Announces the iPad
On January 27th 2010, at a special event in San Francisco, Steve Jobs introduced the long-awaited Apple tablet computer, which is named the iPad.
This short sequence shows Jobs introducing the device, explaining its uses, and enthusing over its potential. In typical Steve Jobs style he claims with passion that it is "magical and revolutionary" and says it provides "an incredible web-browsing experience" like "holding the Internet in your hand".
Official iTablet Photo
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
iPad has a 9.7" touchscreen and weighs 1.5 lbs.
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Fact:
Uses the same operating system as iPhone and runs iPhone apps
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Fact:
Internet connectivitiy using wi-fi, plus 3G in more expensive models
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Fact:
US prices start at $499 for a 16GB wi-fi model
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Fact:
UK prices start at £429 for 16GB wi-fi model
