iPad - It's official!

It's official - Apple's tablet is called the iPad ...

Check out the iPad image gallery!

OK, now that Apple's iPad event is over, it's time to take a closer look at the device.

• It's a tablet with a 9.7 inch multi-touch capable LED-backlit screen uses IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology, which will give a 178-degree viewing angle
• Device looks like a bit iPhone/iPod touch
• Height: 9.56 inches (242.8 mm) | Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm) | Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
• Weight:1.5 pounds (.68 kg) Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds (.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model
• Based on iPhone OS (so that means no background apps)
• It's powered by a 1GHz Apple A4 chip (need to know more about this)
• Comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, and both available as WiFi/cable only, and WiFi/cable/3G
• Pricing is as follow: WiFi only: 16GB: $499 | 32GB: $599 | 64GB: $699 WiFi + 3G: 16GB: $629 | 32GB: $729 | 64GB: $829
• Solid-state storage
• 3G carrier is AT&T (boo!) - 250MB data per month: $14.99, unlimited $29.99, no contract, can cancel at any time
• All 3G models are unlocked and use new GSM micro SIM cards
• 10 hour battery life, over a month of standby
• All iPhone/iPod touch apps shoukd "run out of the box" and scale using pixel doubling
• No camera
• Availablility: 60 days worldwide (WiFi models)

Thoughts, concerns and full tech spec -->

Thoughts ...  

OK, I'm not Apple fanboy, but I think that the iPad is an idea that has legs. Let me explain:

• The device is sexy, something that you expect from an Apple product
• The entry price is super-sweet at $499, making Amazon's Kindle and B&N's Nook not only look like Flintstones tech, but expensive Flintstones tech
• Compatibility with current iPhone apps was a good idea because it prevents fragmentation on the platform
• I'm kinda concerned that Apple didn't manage to come up with a UI that would do away with a physical keyboard. That's worrying. However, Apple's not only already managed to sell a device with a sub-par UI (iPhone), the dock/keyboard means that you've got a choice
• This is going to put serious pressure on the higher-priced netbooks simpley because the $499 price point opens up Apple ownership to a huge new market segment
• Bespoke iWork apps for the iPad is a killer idea. Streamlines Mac/iPad integration. Price per app ($9.99) is spot on

Concerns:

• The name. The jokes started within seconds of the name being announced, and #iTampon was a Twitter trending topic before #iPad was. And there's a ready-made joke for it based on a Mad TV stetch from 2007. 
• Data carrier is AT&T ... more pressure on a network that's already on its knees in some places already
• 250MB for $14.99 plan seems generous, but start downloading YouTube or streaming video from iTunes and it's nothing
• Battery life at 10 hours isn't that special
• Usability of the on-screen keyboard
• Still no Flash support - Apple and Adobe need to get their act together, Flash is critical to a good web user experience, especially for content creators/consumers
• That the device is one big iTunes lock-in for customers - apps, ebooks, subscriptions to newspapers and magazines

Tech Specs:

Height: 9.56 inches (242.8 mm) | Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm) | Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm) Weight:1.5 pounds (.68 kg) Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds (.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi) Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Dock connector 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack Built-in speakers Microphone SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Accelerometer Ambient light sensor

Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz) Data only2 Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Location: Wi-Fi, digital compass, assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model), cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV User-configurable maximum volume limit

Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Arsenic-free display glass BFR-free Mercury-free LCD display PVC-free Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure

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