Named iPad, the new device is described by Apple CEO Steve Jobs as a "third category" of devices, a do-everything media gadget, that can literally do everything; but stands somewhere at the middle of a smartphone and laptop. Jobs also mentioned that the new device will also be pitched as an e-book reader and gave hints that Amazon’s Kindle will be its competition.
To make the category distinction more clear, Apple priced iPad much lower at $499, than what analysts had predicted.
Image: Apple iPad
iPad details and related info:
1) 9.7-inch touchscreen tablet (looks like a large iPhone)
2) Half-inch thick
3) 1.5-pound in weight
4) Features Apple's own processor (1 GHertz Apple A4 Chip)
5) 10 hours battery life
6) Runs a version of the iPhone's operating system
7) Can use nearly all of the 140,000 apps currently available for the iPhone
8) Apple to introduce a new iBook electronic reader service that will compete with Amazon.com Inc's Kindle
9) Basic version (16 gigabytes of storage) priced at $499 (analysts had expected to be up to $1,000): An extra $130 is needed to equip the iPad with third-generation (3G) wireless capability. Higher-capacity models will range for $599 and $699
10) iPad will start selling around late March 2010
11) AT&T to offer two monthly data plans for the iPad, a limited one for $14.99 and an unlimited one for $29.99