Apple Media Event: Live iPad coverage

by Stevie Smith - Jan 27 2010, 17:05

It's been a long time coming, but today's the day. Hopefully the next hour or so will see Jobs & Co. finally whipping the covers off the much talked about iPad, iSlate, iTablet... or whatever it's bloomin' called. Keep it with The Tech Herald for blow-by-blow coverage of the San Francisco press event.

Updates from the 'Latest Creation' address to follow:

Steve Jobs takes to the stage to thundering applause. Of course, Apple isn't about to launch into the unveiling without first indulging in a little self-congratulation, so it's no surprise that Jobs promptly starts waxing lyrical about the company's revenue and position in the mobile device market. This is all build up to the big reveal.

Touching on old whispers suggesting Apple was to follow trend by developing a Netbook computer, Jobs explains that such pennywise hardware isn't "better at anything" and amounts to little more than being a cheap notebook alternative. Apple fans deserve something better. Here it comes.

Dump the iSlate and iTablet name, Apple's tablet computer is officially called the iPad (as revealed by iPhone developer Stand Alone, Inc. earlier this week).

As expected, the iPad looks not unlike an extremely large iPhone or iPod Touch... though it's clearly still hugely portable as far as on-the-go computing is concerned.

The technology rumour mill appears to have largely hit Apple's device on the head when it comes to its related features and functions:

*9.7-inch IPS display

*Full capacitive multi-touch interface

*Landscape and portrait view shifting

*Same bezel design and Home button as the iPhone

*Web browsing capability - full screen viewing, not scaled mobile version

*Virtual keyboard (landscape)

*On-board access and support for Apple iTunes and App Store

*Includes built-in iPod platform

*Film and TV playback can be viewed in either landscape or portrait

*A slender 0.5-inch profile and a weight of just 1.5 lbs

*Newly released iPhone SDK also provides support for iPad development

In terms of hardware hidden beneath the hood, the iPad is powered by a 1GHz custom Apple chip that Jobs refers to only as "the A4". Apparently the most advanced processor Apple has ever produced, the A4 is a single platform designed to handle processing, graphics, and the i/o memory controller.

As is Apple's way when it comes to data storage, the iPad will be available in gigabyte sizes of 16, 32, or 64. Storage in solid state (SSD) of course.

Other aspects include 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, an integrated accelerometer, up to 10 hours of battery life (that's good news), a month of standby time, and 30 days of untouched sleep time.

Keen to score points for being green, Apple highlights an iPad Environmental Checklist that sees the ultra-portable tablet hailed for being arsenic-free, BFR-free, Mercury-free, PVC-free and highly recyclable. Filthy tree huggers. 

Jobs also reveals a new service called iBooks, which will see Apple standing on the shoulders of online retailer Amazon concerning the "pioneering" functionality of its Kindle electronic reader.

Sporting an interface identical to iTunes, iBooks enables the downloading of a wealth of digital publications to the iPad and is supported by major publishing houses Penguin, Simon & Schuster, MacMillan, Hachette and Harper Collins. Books are available for purchase immediately in the ePub format. Text books will also be forthcoming (suggesting iPad use in the classroom?).

Described as "a breakthrough deal" with AT&T (groan), the iPad will be available with a variety of monthly data plans, which include a $14.99 USD plan for up to 250MBs and a $29.99 USD plan for unlimited data usage. Both plans include free use of AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots.

Wow, get this series of disclosures for a press event doozy:

All iPads will have Wi-Fi connectivity and models supporting 3G are also on the way; ALL of the 3G iPads will be unlocked (use GSM microSIMs); no contracts will be required; all data plans are pre-paid and can be activated directly through the device; and customers can cancel at any time. Also, international data plans will be in place by June or July of this year.

Snazzy accessories include a basic dock for watching multimedia at home or running presentations, and there's also a sexy iPad keyboard dock that essentially turns the touch-screen portable into a mini desktop.

So here comes the finale -- large intake of breath -- the purchase prices for the respective iPad models.

Crikey! So much for those analyst estimates placing the device between $700 USD and $1,000 USD.

The base 16GB model with Wi-Fi will cost $499 USD (look out Netbooks everywhere), while the 32GB version will cost $599 USD and the 64GB option carries a price of $699 USD. We. Officially. Want. One. And, when factoring in Wi-Fi and 3G functionality, respective prices jump to $629 USD, $729 USD and $829 USD.

According to a clearly proud Jobs, the Wi-Fi models will be shipping by April, while the Wi-Fi/3G devices are expected to start appearing towards the end of May.

So, was the iPad worth waiting for? We certainly think so. Expect bedlam outside your local Apple Store when this badboy hits retail at the end of spring. It's going to be insane, mark our words.

 

 

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