So last night Steve Jobs took to the Apple Event stage in San Francisco to announce possibly the most hyped device since the iPhone, the “Apple iPad” has now been made official. After many months of rumours, news, gossip, speculation and just good ol’ hype the Apple iPad is now the latest world storming gadget from Apple industries.
So the real question now is what is the Apple iPad and what is it for?
Tech wise the iPad is a 9.7-inch, 0.5-inch thin tablet shaped a device with a 9.7-inch, 0.5-inch thin tablet sporting a 1024×768 full HD multitouch screen, a 802.11n Wi-Fi and 3G connected (on the more expensive models), a-GPS, digital compass, 3.5mm audio jack, accelerometer, Speaker, microphone, 1 GHz Apple processor, 16, 32 or 64 GB of flash memory, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and all bought together by a new(ish) OS that is similar to the iPod touch and iPhone.
Steve Jobs
The iPad will also support the current and new Apps from the Apple app store and many app’s will be able to be transferred between the Apple devices and to make up for the difference in size, the iPad will be able to double up the pixels so you can use your app in full screen.
One of the biggest selling points is the web browsing functions of the iPad, with its large colour screen, integrated multitouch operation and a new drop down menus in-window it makes web browsing easier to see and navigate. Once again incorporating many of the features as the iPhone OS the iPad also has the ability to use either the onscreen keyboard or if you prefer the real thing a keyboard docking accessory will be available so you can prop up your unit and use it similar to a standard PC.
Another big new feature will be the iBook eReader functions incorporated into the device. iBook, which comes with its own iBook Store (very similar to iTunes) and will be controlled by pinching and swiping the multitouch screen to change the font size, page turning and zooming.
So that’s what it does do…. but as a device of this magnitude we also need to look at what it doesn’t do: The iPhone OS implementation means that the iPad still cannot mukti task Apps and features meaning you will need to close your Web browser to play a game. The iPad is also lacking in any Flash support for web browsing so don’t expect any flash websites to open on the iPad.
And no camera….. none whatsoever.
Price wise the iPad is looking pretty good with 6 model variations to be available; A 16gb, 32GD and a 64GB version then with the options for 3G on each of the models ensures you can get the correct iPad for your needs. The 16GB non 3G iPad will start at $499 in the States (or roughly £300 here) with the price going all the way up to $829 (Around £500) for the 64GB, 3G model the iPad seems a pretty reasonable price. But with UK prices yet to be confirmed and a wait till June for the UK release date (the US will get the iPad in just 2 months time) things certainly may change depending on the demand.
So all in all it was a big day for apple but maybe a bit of a disappointment for the fevered Bloggers and industry people who had done so much to promote the next Great gadget. But as with all things Apple the first release is only the start and we can count on them to continually bring out Innovative updates over the coming years.
Plus we have until June to wait till we can get our grubby hands on one so until then we at the Gadgethelpline.com will keep our ears and eyes open for updates.
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Tags: 16gb, 32gb, 3G, 64GB, announced, Apple, GPS, iPhone, ipod, iSlate, mac, OS, PC ipad, released, Tablet, Wi-Fi
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