Meet the Apple iPad!
Apple (AAPL) finally unveiled its tablet computer, and it’s actually looking a lot better better than I expected.
In terms of new new stuff, there’s an app called iBooks, which does what you’d think it would: it lets you buy books through the app store. There’s also a new mobile version of iWork, for those who think doing spreadsheets on a touch screen sounds fun – I think a mobile iLife would have been a much better choice.
There will be six versions of the iPad. Apple is releasing wi-fi and 3G + wi-fi capable models with 16, 32, or 64 gigabytes of storage. $499 gets you 16 gigs and wi-fi only, while $829 64 gigs with both wi-fi and 3G data access.
So the price to get in is very attractive. However, I think six versions of the same products sounds like something Microsoft (MSFT) would do. And AT&T (T) customers should not be happy that the iPad is here to further clog up their 3G network. And there are some things missing – like a camera, a USB port, an SD card slot.
At the end of the day, a smartphone or notebook just make more sense for most people – the iPad is an impressive piece of hardware in search of a market.
But who knows? I can’t wait to see the June quarter numbers – I want to see how this baby does.
And there’s another ancillary benefit to the iPad, even if it doesn’t do huge numbers – it makes those Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) tablet computers running Windows 7 look like crap, and it’s hogging all the attention! Amazon.com (AMZN) should also be worried, because if the iPad is readable in all kinds of light, the Kindle just does not compare well, especially since the cheapest iPad is just $30 more than the high-end Kindle.
Anyway, here are the full tech specs:
Display
- 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
Wireless and Cellular
Wi-Fi model
- Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
Wi-Fi + 3G model
- 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)
In the Box
- iPad
- Dock connector to USB cable
- 10W Power Adapter
- Documentation
Environmental Status Report
iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
- Arsenic-free display glass
- BFR-free
- Mercury-free LCD display
- PVC-free
- Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
Capacity3
- 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive
Processor
- 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
Sensors
- Accelerometer
- Ambient light sensor
Audio Playback
- 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
TV and Video
- 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
Mail attachment support
- 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)
Languages
- Language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian
- Keyboard support for English (US) English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian
- Dictionary support for English (US), English (UK), French, French (Canadian), French (Swiss), German, Japanese, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting, Pinyin), Russian
Accessibility
- Support for playback of closed-captioned content
- VoiceOver screen reader
- Full-screen zoom magnification
- White on black
- Mono audio
Battery and Power4
- 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
Input and Output
- Dock connector
- 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
- Built-in speakers
- Microphone
- SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)
External buttons and controls
- On/Off, Sleep/wake
- Mute
- Volume up/down
- Home
Mac system requirements
- Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
- Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
- iTunes 9.0 or later
- iTunes Store account
- Internet access
Windows system requirements
- PC with USB 2.0 port
- Windows 7, Windows Vista; Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
- iTunes 9.0 or later
- iTunes Store account
- Internet access
Environmental requirements
- Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
- Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
- Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
- Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
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