Tell-It-Like-It-Is: Apple Unveils New Tablet Computer

9:08am UK, Thursday January 28, 2010

Adam Arnold, Sky News Online

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has unveiled his new touchscreen computer called the iPad.

He said it was a "revolutionary" product that was between a laptop computer and a smartphone and was "awesome" for watching films and TV shows.
The device will be available to buy worldwide from late March, with prices starting from $499 (£308) for the 16GB model, Apple said.
But the Wi-Fi and 3G models of the iPad will cost about a fifth more, and will be delivered in the US and "selected countries" in April.
Speaking at a news conference in San Francisco, Mr Jobs said: "We want to kick off 2010 by introducing a truly magical and revolutionary product.
"All of us use laptops and smartphones now.
"The question has arisen lately - is there room for a third category of device in the middle, something between the laptop and the smartphone?"
And then, to a round of applause, he showed off the new iPad, which has an on-screen keyboard, is half an inch thick (1.3cm) and weighs 1.5lb (0.7kg).

A Look At Apple’s New iPad

Mr Jobs said the device, which has a 25cm colour screen, is "so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smartphone."
Dressed in his trademark blue jeans and black turtleneck, Mr Jobs demonstrated some of the features of the iPad.
He said they include browsing the internet, playing games, listening to music and watching high-definition video.
"We've got movies, videos, TV shows," the chief executive added.
"We have been able to achieve 10 hours of battery life," he said. "I can take a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo and watch video the whole way on one charge."

A Closer Look At Apple’s Evolution

The 32GB model is set to cost $599 (£370) and $699 (£431) for the 64GB model.
An Apple statement added: "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."
Website Mashable reported the iPad: "Can be held in any direction you want. It looks like a giant iPod."
Also at the event, Mr Jobs announced the launch of an online bookstore dubbed "iBooks" for the iPad and is set to take on Amazon's Kindle device.
"We've got five of the biggest publishers in the world supporting us and will open the floodgates for the rest of the publishers starting this afternoon," Mr Jobs went on.
Earlier in the day, Sky News revealed that an official prototype of the device has been used by a UK design company to develop software.

Brandwidth were given the device to help them develop applications for Guinness World Records using some of the confirmed software features.

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Comments to the story

Too big to be truly portable and too small to be a usable laptop. A total waste of time and I predict it will flop big time.
Posted By :David Report This
i think its a great technological advance. i suspect the people who bemoan it are those stuck in the dark ages or those with no money to afford one. I can afford it and I have 3 lap tops and 3 descktops.
Its just a big expensive I pod with no where near enough memory
and will eat power like a Russian submarie.
I was really sorry to see Steve jobs in such a rough state,rally sad

Posted By :GMKOMD Report This
If it is half as good as the iphone, then it will be great! I would buy one of these over a laptop anytime.What I am laughing about though is all the muppets who were bleating yesterday morning that it was a fake.

Posted By :Jon Report This