b2b news - As analysts and insiders predicted, Apple Inc. did indeed unveil its new tablet computer today. Called the iPad, the tablet will start at $499, far below the $1000 price tag analysts expected.
The iPad, which looks like a giant iPhone, was dubbed "so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone." by CEO Steve Jobs.
The long awaited gadget has a 9.7-inch touch screen, is a half-inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds and comes with 16, 32 or 64 gigabytes of flash memory storage. The basic iPad models will cost $499, $599 and $699, depending on the storage size.
All models have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity built in. Jobs said the device has a battery that lasts 10 hours and can sit for a month on standby without needing a charge.
Apple will also sell a version with pay-as-you-go data plans from AT&T, but only in the U.S. Two tiers of data plans will be available without contracts: $14.99 per month for 250 megabytes of data, or $29.99 for unlimited data usage.
The 3G models wil cost slightly more than the Wi-Fi models — $629, $729 and $829, depending on the amount of memory. The Wi-Fi version will be available worldwide in March, and the 3G version for the U.S. in April. Apple has not disclosed any details about possible international cellular data
Job demonstrated Wednesday how the iPad is used for surfing the internet with Apple's Safari browser. He typed an e-mail using an on-screen keyboard and flipped through photo albums by flicking his finger across the screen, much like how one would operate an iPhone. He also showed off a new electronic book store, putting the iPad in competition with Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle and other e-book readers.
Jobs boasted that the iPad will also be better for playing games and watching video than either a laptop or a smart phone. The iPad comes with software including a calendar, maps, a video player and iPod software for playing music, all of which appear to have been slightly redesigned to take advantage of the iPad's bigger screen.
Tablet computers have been around for nearly a decade, with little success. Jobs acknowledged Apple will have its work cut out in order to convince consumers who already have smart phones and laptops that they need this gadget.
"In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks," Jobs said. "We think we've got the goods. We think we've done it."
Applications designed for the iPhone can also run on the iPad. Apple is also releasing updated tools for software developers to help them build iPhone and iPad programs.
"We think it's going to be a whole 'nother gold rush for developers as they build applications for the iPad," said Scott Forstall, an iPhone software executive.
The long awaited gadget has a 9.7-inch touch screen, is a half-inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds and comes with 16, 32 or 64 gigabytes of flash memory storage. The basic iPad models will cost $499, $599 and $699, depending on the storage size.
All models have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity built in. Jobs said the device has a battery that lasts 10 hours and can sit for a month on standby without needing a charge.
Apple will also sell a version with pay-as-you-go data plans from AT&T, but only in the U.S. Two tiers of data plans will be available without contracts: $14.99 per month for 250 megabytes of data, or $29.99 for unlimited data usage.
The 3G models wil cost slightly more than the Wi-Fi models — $629, $729 and $829, depending on the amount of memory. The Wi-Fi version will be available worldwide in March, and the 3G version for the U.S. in April. Apple has not disclosed any details about possible international cellular data
Job demonstrated Wednesday how the iPad is used for surfing the internet with Apple's Safari browser. He typed an e-mail using an on-screen keyboard and flipped through photo albums by flicking his finger across the screen, much like how one would operate an iPhone. He also showed off a new electronic book store, putting the iPad in competition with Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle and other e-book readers.
Jobs boasted that the iPad will also be better for playing games and watching video than either a laptop or a smart phone. The iPad comes with software including a calendar, maps, a video player and iPod software for playing music, all of which appear to have been slightly redesigned to take advantage of the iPad's bigger screen.
Tablet computers have been around for nearly a decade, with little success. Jobs acknowledged Apple will have its work cut out in order to convince consumers who already have smart phones and laptops that they need this gadget.
"In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks," Jobs said. "We think we've got the goods. We think we've done it."
Applications designed for the iPhone can also run on the iPad. Apple is also releasing updated tools for software developers to help them build iPhone and iPad programs.
"We think it's going to be a whole 'nother gold rush for developers as they build applications for the iPad," said Scott Forstall, an iPhone software executive.
Watch the iPad demo at http://www.apple.com/ipad/
