Saint Steven Jobs has finally come down from the mountain top bearing Apple’s “magical and revolutionary” tablet device.
The iPad – which weighs just 1.5 pounds – is powered by Apple’s next- generation A4 system-on-a-chip and offers a relatively long battery life of up to 10 hours.
In addition, the iPad features a 9.7-inch, LED-backlit (IPS) multi-touch display with a ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle, as well as an “intelligent” soft keyboard.
The device also offers 12 native multi-touch applications that function in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction.
“[The] iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” explained Steve Jobs.
“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.”
According to Jobs, the iPad can be used for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games and reading e-books.
“[The] iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch,” said Jobs.
“[It] 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…iPad connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.”
Finally, Club Cupertino introduced its iBooks app for the iPad, which allows users to browse, buy and read books from major and independent publishers.
The iPad will be available in two versions – one with (802.11n) Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and (AT&T) 3G.
The WiFi iteration of the tablet is expected to ship in 60 days (March), while 3G+WiFi version will be available in 90 days (April).
Additional pricing information includes:
- Wifi+3G – $630 16GB, $730 32GB, $830 64GB.
- WiFi (only) – $500 16GB, $600 32GB, $700 64GB.
- Unlimited AT&T data plan for $30 a month, free use of AT&T WiFi hotspots, no contract cancel anytime.
