Apple today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds– thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just $499.
“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”
iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. Reading and sending email is fun and easy on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.
iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. The iTunes Store gives you access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.
Apple also introduced a new version of iWork for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages, Keynote and Numbers you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.
iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.
iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.
iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours. Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan
iPad comes in two versions–one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.
Continuing Apple’s dedication to designing and creating environmentally responsible products, each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free.
Apple today released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad, so developers can create amazing new applications designed to take advantage of iPad’s capabilities. The SDK includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac, and also lets developers create Universal Applications that run on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of US$499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, $699 for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch.
Find out more about iPad here.
Source: Apple Inc.
Well, it does have bluetooth – how do we know that the bt keyboard isn’t supported? I didn’t see that mentioned anywhere. Why are people assuming that it doesn’t support it?
I’m disappointed and before the knee jerkers embarrass themselves. I very very much wanted to like this, but I guess was expecting a bit more macbook and a bit less iPod Touch.
It just didn’t seem done.
A Phone is a personal device, no need for multiple profiles. What about this. I’d want it to sync to all 5 folks on my MobileMe Family plan.
What if I have an iPhone…or 3 as in my family. Should be able to tether on day one a drive 3G surfing from the AT&T;plan I’m already paying.
Back on the subject of syncing…wireless n…why no wireless syncing.
Why can’t my bluetooth keyboard be paired to it; do I really need another dedicated keyboard?
Sorry…It just doesn’t seem as well integrated into the ecosystem as was the iPhone. Granted, MobileMe blew up, but the iPhone’s place was perfectly niched.
Oh well…V2+ will get these things fixed.
Any mention of multi-user capability? It’d be nice to share …
Pretty cool work device for my needs. iWork and email is about all I need except for Publisher, but that isn’t very often.
Photogs would love this if we could use it with our Macs as a drawing tablet. Was hoping for more than a big iPod Touch
Here’s a creepy thought for you. It kinda makes sense that Michael Dell was also glued to his computer, reading the live blogs from the Apple event. kinda like a deer staring at the headlights of the Mack truck bearing down on him. Only this would be the headline ” Dell becomes roadkill. Run down by a Mac truck on the Information Super Highway!
Need an iChat cam, Bluetooth keyboard connection, and possibly more memory. When at least the first two arrive, I’ll get one.
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It has a bluetooth keyboard connection and a dock for a keyboard if you wish.. Also available is a case and connector for usb or card reader photo transfers. It’s all up on the Apple site..
@TrueBeliever,
Think the iPad already works with Bluetooth keyboards.
iMac killer?
Seems to me the casual computer user now has all their needs met with this device. People who use a computer for business might have many of their needs met as well. Seems like desktops might be relegated to people who need a ton of processing power and large screens, musicians, graphic artists, filmmakers… although I bet many of those needs will be met with this device as well.
This is also going to end the “sitting at the computer” thing for a lot of people, which I think is great. One of the things the iPhone did for me was to encourage me to go out more, why surf the web at home when I can do it at a cafe, or at the park? Makes life more pleasant. This device will just increase that mobility, and I can imagine it will have social ramifications too… small groups of people who don’t know each other huddled around an iPad for no reason other than it’s fun to do so.
Bad things: No USB. No iSight. No memory cards. No tethering to my iPhone. No Flash Player support. Doesn’t replace my iPhone or MacBook Pro, so I have three devices.
Good things: No Verizon (oh that cracks me up). Relatively low priced data service with no contracts. Nice looking. It replaces my Kindle (and I can read my books with my Kindle app). Nice price. Damn cool.
I’m undecided on buying it. But knowing that all you anti-ATT people talking up the rumors about Verizon is amusing.
Scroll down the page. Bluetooth keyboard is shown..
http://www.apple.com/ipad/design/
Doesn’t replace my iPhone or MacBook Pro, so I have three devices.
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That’s the whole point, from Apple’s perspective at least.
Come on…admit that this is a let down. Apple is now solely a mass consumer company..let’s say worse…merely a content delivery, multimedia conglomerate “gateway”…Sure there is billions to be made..BUT what happened to computing? Where is OSX (in some form)? This could have been a sys admin’s dream device. Now it’s just another product for the vacuous, drooling masses.
MDN=nadir
I’ve seen these kinds of comments before. It was when the iPhone launced. No-one could see what the device would do for the future of phones. This is basically the same. Wait and see what incredible software people will be building for this device. And i’m pretty sure multitasking will be here soon. Apple likes to tell us what to do with this device(just like the iPhone) and the iPad(lol) will be a KICK ASS device within the next year. This is only the beginning…
Apple just killed the Kindle and netbooks. $499 with no contract is unbelievable.
UPDATE: my sources say it works with a BlueTooth keyboard.
Everyone that is stating “no sale”, will be getting one sooner than they think. This thing is only going to get bigger. Now Apple has to viable movie and TV viewing devices, not counting the little ones. This thing will sell like pancakes, just like the iPod and the iPhone. It will eventually get the iSight camera. You can bet on this.
Well, it looks like the “geek trolls” have come out from under there rocks to proclaim doom and gloom, all because the iPad does not live up to some preconceived notion. These are the same people who went “boo-hoo” over every incarnation of the iPod, iMac, iPhone, etc. To these “trolls” all I can say is; “If jackass’s could fly, you would all be squadron leaders.”
…”are billions…” Christ, the iPwnd is making me more stupid by the moment.
I can see real estate agents using the iPad. We’ve had 3 come to our place over the past few months; all lugging a 15 to 17-in laptop to show us what’s available on the market. An iPad w/ 3G connectivity would be perfect..and light!.
After reading the specs I am going for the 3G model even if I never activate 3G. Got to be worth if for the GPS and compass. What a great screen in my golf cart with Golfshot program or in the RV with G-Map (that one does not need internet connect with its built in maps) Someone is bound to have mounting devices for them. I wonder how many apps it can hold, more than the iPhone I would guess. I have more than 200 and it would be nice to have them all available.
A great start, but needs much more for v2, including a camera, multitasking, and ability to input with an iStylus (or whatever). Should also have a deal with AT&T;to add to an existing iPhone account, say around an extra $20 a month, or at least allow tethering. I’m confident that Apple is already thinking ahead…this is just the initial release.
I love this thing. It’s like all the stuff we see on Scifi come to real life with this device. I can leave my laptop in the office, my desktop at home, and take this with me everywhere else. With so many web enabled apps to control your laptop/desktop remotely, the iPad is perfect to take with you everywhere, everyday!
I can see real estate agents using the iPad. We’ve had 3 come to our place over the past few months; all lugging a 15 to 17-in laptop to show us what’s available on the market. An iPad w/ 3G connectivity would be perfect..and light!.
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Except even to this day, realtor and MLS sites are Windows only..
Obviously, this device isn’t going to do everything one would hope it would. And that was by design. Steve Jobs doesn’t want it to cannibalize on iphone/itouch/Macbook sales.