“The amount of free advertising that Apple has received for the new iPad is worth hundreds of millions of dollars over the last 48 hours alone,” Jason Schwarz writes for TheStreet.com.

“The product, which goes on sale in the U.S. Saturday, is the subject of in-depth coverage by CNBC, Fox News, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and practically every local news station and newspaper around the world,” Schwarz writes. “And don’t forget the prime-time product placement in ABC’s Modern Family as well as a cameo in the most memorable Jay-Z moment at the 2010 Oscars.”

Schwarz reports, “If there was any question as to whether or not Apple had reached a tipping point of critical mass those doubts have been removed. All of this free advertising leads to one conclusion: The iPad is going to thrash all sales estimates.”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "James W." for the heads up.]