Apple today announced that its revolutionary iPad will be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.
Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.
“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”
Starting at just US$499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook — and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.
iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. You can read and send email on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard or import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.
The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. Developers are already creating exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.
The new iBooks app for iPad includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile product. The iBookstore will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster.
The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 12 million songs, over 55,000 TV episodes and over 8,500 films including over 2,500 in high definition. 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 will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB.
The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.
iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year.
The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store in the US on April 3, with additional countries added later this year.
MacDailyNews Note: In the press release accompanying the iPad’s unveiling, Apple had stated: “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.
Source: Apple Inc.
I just noticed on the Apple web page for the iPad that they say the FCC still hasn’t authorized the device. Yet they’re confirming the release dates…
“I’m confused on the 3G version. Can one buy one, but not activate the 3G at purchase. Maybe come back later and do it?”
@SaleenDriver: Yes — Apple says: “3G data plan sold separately.” …So until you buy a 3G data plan, you can use the WiFi to connect.
@Rich Cam Apple
Brilliant Ideas. The Motion Picture industry would buy them by the tens of thousands for shooters.
f that dl meyer guy he sucks so much
Well, for people outside the US, Apple promised WiFi model in late March. Now it’s late April for both models.
So, they will be 1 month late with the WiFi model outside the US.
If they are shipping the iPads from the far east then it’s totally feasible that the shipping schedule has delayed the release by a few days.
Most shipping companies are currently in trouble (see Maersk as one example) and they have all extended their voyages and are stopping at every possible port en route to maximise their cargo hold. For example, the schedule for my latest shipment of 950kg from UK to Singapore has gone from 22 days to 37 days, due to the ship stopping at an extra 17 ports to pickup anything they can to make a profit.
Sometimes even Apple gets affected by this economic downturn.
Patience is a virtue.
@Percy Veer
The 3G access will be something that you can pre-pay through the iPad itself, it’s not something you buy in-store from what I understand.
I will be ordering an iPad, but will not be selling my Kindle DX. However, when the eyestrain from reading books on your iPad bothers you badly enough, I might sell you my Kindle (1G) at full price.
Apple wouldn’t have missed its late March ship date if February hadn’t been so short!
3 days delay might be a supply chain issue but I doubt it. I suspect it has more to do with marketing considerations. It eases the decision making process about picking up a 1st day product if no work is missed. Weekends are slow newsdays so they can expect better coverage and less of a pounce from the press over any hiccups.
Wah! Apple missed their iPad launch target by three days.
Wah! Apple has betrayed its loyal followers. Wah!
STFU! From where I am from, we won’t be getting the iPad for another three to four months.
Screw you and your sense of entitlement!
@ Progressive Agent Provocateur
I currently read all day on my laptop and my iPhone without suffering this “eyestrain”. The iPad’s screen is supposedly even a better technology for reading than those 2 devices. What is it I’m supposed to be afraid of again? Bunch of hooey all this e ink garbage, IMO. How many people have to stare at CRTs all day still? Just wondering………
Too bad you can’t photograph the line of people waiting to pre-order the iPad. I’ll be waiting in that one.
And how old are you?
@Jim
I believe they will fly the iPads to US. They are pretty light you know.
The Canadian web stie is now saying late April! By then there’ll and upgrade or reduced pricing. Maybe both.
It’s so amazing to me when people talk about “the mac faithful” and how they are obedient zombies who do whatever Apple tells them to do without thought or complaint.
That’s so untrue.
As Roughlydrafted.com put it, “Mac users are, as a group, unsatisfiable whiners.”
THAT’S the truth.
So yeah, we’ll see whining about the 3-day delay on iPads. Because, far from being slaves to Apple, the “fans” are Apple’s biggest complainers, who can never, ever be satisfied.
I’m sending my wife to the US to pick one up . It will delivered by the online Store to a friend’s house.
Never had to do that before but I’m doing something time critical that requires an iPad.
I would probaly be the worst APPL investor, unless I just bought and held for retirement.
Why the big jump today
For those in Toronto who don’t need 3G, join me in pre-ordering on March 12th for pick up at Walden Galleria in Buffalo, and then in the drive down early morning of April 3rd. No need to wait the extra four weeks for Canada to get them. I’ll be popping into the Albright-Knox Museum while I’m there too.
Seriously, great news. I’m getting two 64GB models.
Where do you live Chano?
@ Rich Cam Apple
You’re speaking my language. I dream of these sorts of things at night.
@ Progressive Agent Provocateur
“And how old are you?”
What does that have to do with anything? Because you’re old you don’t need to look at computer monitors all day? The Kindle may be easy on the eyes, but can you do your job on your Kindle? Can you get your email on it?
I spend as much time looking at computer monitors as I do at dead-tree books, and my eyes tire of each at about the same rate.
@ chano
@ Hotinplaya
Looks like we might need to set up an iPad smuggling cartel. I wish I could afford to go back to Mexico to help you out!
“…more intimate, intuitive and fun…” as opposed to “the funnest”, but good to see Apple using proper English at least.