Apple has finally unveiled its latest creation, the iPad, at its much anticipated event in San Francisco.
As expected, iPad is a tablet device that enables users to browse the web, check emails, play games and movies, as well as access both the App Store and iTunes.
Described by Steve Jobs as "much more intimate than a laptop, and so much more capable than a smartphone," iPad pricing will start at $499, the most expensive 3G 64 GB model coming in at $829.
iPad is just 0.5 inches thin, weighing 1.5 pounds, with a 9.7 inch IPS display, an accelerometer, compass, and full capacitance multi-touch controls.
Apple also revealed that the device is powered by its own custom chip the 1GHz A4 - an ARM Cortex-A9 CPU combined with an ARM Mali 40 graphics chip.
It will have a 10 hour battery life and up to a month in standby mode.
Six models will be available in all, the base 16GB $499 unit topped up with 32GB ($599) and 64GB ($699) variants, the option of built in 3G functionality adding a further $130 to the tab.
The 3G-less models will be the first to launch in 60 days time (end of March), 3G units hitting retail a further 30 days later, in late April.
All models will ship with what Jobs proclaimed as "the latest in wireless", coming with 802.11n wi-fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.
Impressively, iPad can run all iPhone apps unmodified, out of the box. Giving the device complete access to the App Store's back catalogue at launch, Jobs added that iPad can "pixel double and run the apps full screen."
This will be supported in the new iPhone SDK, which is available now.
New apps are also a priority. Jobs stated that Apple has also enhanced the iPhone SDK to support development for the iPad as well.
Apple used the event to stress that iPad has been designed to fill an integral gap in the market, Jobs having opened by stating that it has to be "better at key tasks" - such as browsing the web, playing games or listening to music than either a mobile or netbook in order to survive.
However, just like iPhone, iPad will ship without Flash support for its browser a key component in most web games. No built in camera was mentioned, either.
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
News
3 hours, 20 minutes ago
Square Enix warns of "extraordinary losses" ahead of upcoming financial report
News
6 hours, 8 minutes ago
PocketGamer.biz Podcast - GameFounders' Kadri Harma on unlocking the MENA games market
Feature
6 hours, 50 minutes ago
Hear MORE from the experts - eight MORE fabulous fireside chats from PGC London 2024
Feature
Apr 29th, 2024
King’s Paula Ingvar: a games industry journey from "I’m not worthy!" to Candy Crush Soda’s VP of product
Events
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2024 | Middle East | May 1st |
The MENA Games Industry Awards 2024 | Middle East | May 2nd |
GameDev Atlantic 2024 | May 4th | |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 7th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Popular Stories
News
Apr 23rd, 2024
Supercell’s Squad Busters soft launches today with over 100,000 Google Play downloads
News
Apr 25th, 2024