Detailed features of Apple iPad tablet PC

Apple iPad is going to hit the market in March. On January 27, 2010, Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, unveiled the device at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. For years, the media has been talking about Apple’s iPad tablet PC. Many thought that Apple would unveil the tablet PC in CES 2010 but that did not happen. Over the years, Apple established itself as a trendsetter in the tech industry. Its Apple iPhone, iPod, MacBook Air became a benchmark for other device makers. Over the years, many handset makers released handsets dubbed as “the iPhone Killer” but none of them could kill the iPhone. Now, the Apple iPad tablet is out and people are very much excited about the device.

Hardware specs:

• Height: 9.56 inches
• Width: 7.47 inches
• Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
• Weight: 1.5 pounds (Wi-Fi model); 1.6 pounds (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
• Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 chip.
• Display: 9.7-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen In-Plane Switching (IPS) display with multi-touch. It has a resolution of 1024 X 768 pixels at 132 pixels per inch (ppi). The display also has fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and supports multiple languages and characters simultaneously.
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor.
• Memory capacity: 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive.
• Wireless communication: The Wi-Fi only model comes with Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology and the Wi-Fi and 3G model supports- UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and 3G data plan sold separately.
• Audio frequency: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
• Audio formats: 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.
• 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)
• Language support: English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Russian.
• Keyboard language support: English (U.S.) English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian.
• Dictionary support: English (U.S.), English (UK), French, French (Canadian), French (Swiss), German, Japanese, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian
• Accessories: iPad, dock connector to USB cable, 10W USB Power Adapter and documentation, iPad keyboard dock, iPad case, iPad camera connection kit.
• I/O ports: Dock connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, built-in speaker

microphone, and SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only).

• Battery backup: Built-in 25 whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery provides backup for 10 hours.

Price and availability:

• The 16 GB Apple iPad tablet PC with Wi-Fi only model will cost $499.
• The 16 GB Apple iPad tablet PC with Wi-Fi+3G model will cost $629.
• The 32 GB Apple iPad tablet PC with Wi-Fi only model will cost $599.
• The 32 GB Apple iPad tablet PC with Wi-Fi+3G model will cost $729.
• The 64 GB Apple iPad tablet PC with Wi-Fi only model will cost $699.
• The 64 GB Apple iPad tablet PC with Wi-Fi+3G model will cost $829.

At the lower portion of the Apple iPad tablet’s webpage, you will see the following message:

Some features and applications are not available in all areas. Application availability and pricing are subject to change.

This device has not yet been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.

The Apple iPad tablet PC has not been “legally approved” by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This is not the first time, such a thing has happened. After announcing the Apple iPhone, it took six months for Apple to launch the iPhone. Wired.com reports:

.........Apple’s been through this before, with the launch of the first iPhone announced six months before it was available. And the “why?” is almost certainly to have kept as few people in the loop, and only those you could in some way control.

Apple has good reason to keep a government agency out of the advance loop, since somehow anything juicy is likely to see the light of day. Still, the FCC likes Apple right now, recently commending the company for reversing its policy against VOIP calling over AT&T’s 3G network, which allows the iPhone and iPad to be used as web phones.

While giving its approval to a standard electronic device, FCC checks out whether the device interferes with other wireless equipments operating “in an area of the spectrum allocated for something else, or emit too much radiation into the people using them.” FCC approved iPhone after a month of its announcement. The same thing will also happen to iPad if anything serious does not occur.

Apple also sent emails to its interested customers which say that some features and applications are not available in all areas and application availability and pricing are subject to change. This email reveals the fact that you would not get all applications based on where you live or the price of the service may vary according to your location. This includes the content oriented applications such as books, magazines, movies etc.

Apple removed iPad images from the official website:

Earlier, Paul Threatt, a web and graphic designer, who lives near Atlanta, filed a complaint against Apple tablet to FTC. He said that the promotional picture of Apple iPad, posted on Apple’s official website, showed that the device was displaying some portions of New York Times that requires Adobe Flash player. This anomaly was first reported by Apple Insider Blog. The good news is Apple removed those images. Aside from the images of the Apple, the first Apple iPad video also showed iPad supporting Adobe flash. Here is the clip:

Apple iPad Tablet: The Good, the bad and the Ugly

The tech industry is now divided over Apple iPad. According to some, the device is great and comes with great features and would become another game changer from Apple. Some say, it is not a game changer but a major catalyst that just gave a push to the concept of tablet PC. Another group of people are expressing their dissatisfaction over its lack of features, high price, AT&T service quality and data pricing.

I have been covering the Apple iPad tablet for the last couple of days. Here is another long article from me that will try to give you a bird’s eye view of the thoughts and ideas from different people about the possibilities, weaknesses, strength and future of Apple iPad tablet PC.

Mark Tauschek, lead researcher, Info-Tech Research Group, said that the iPad could propel Apple into the corporate world beyond the recent progress made by iPhone. Bruce Francis, Vice President, Corporate Strategy of corporate strategy, Salesforce.com said that the iPad brings together two important trends: the use of business technology in consumer products and easy availability of high-speed connections. Now, business can push critical information out their to sales and field service teams and get back instant updates. The iPhone rewrote the rules on smartphones and the iPad will probably do the same for mobile computing. Lisa Kala, assistant dean for administration, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education, said that the iPad could find uses among educators and even more acceptance among students as a digital textbook. The color screen, Internet connection, and ultra-portability make it a natural fit for students who are used to getting information from PCs and it is more versatile than the Kindle. The ability to be multifunctional and portable and having the comfort of looking at something in one’s hands is very nice.

Doctors and nurses at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, adopted tablet PC in 2003 but they abandoned it for the devices were heavy with physical keyboards, short battery life, and poor quality screens. Now that Apple iPad is on the block, the doctors are rethinking of adopting tablet PC. Cheryl Reinking, Vice Chief of clinical operations at the hospital, said that the iPad is promising enough to reconsider the hospitals to move back to tablets. The device could be valuable for doctors moving around the hospital. It can be used in the operating room for quick documentation or in the lab. It can be used at the bedside to make notes or use it as a reference for medications.

Remember, Steve Sprang showcasing the popular “Brushes” application on the iPad at the “latest creation event”? That was just a sneak peek of how the iPad could also become a big mover and shaker in the arts and music circle. Ge Wang, co-founder, Smule, a popular music application developing company, said that the iPad could prompt a whole new class of music and production apps that utilizes larger touch-screen. Smule is now planning to build apps for the iPad which might include a digital guitar or harp or a DJ app or mixing program.

The Apple iPad will change of the publishing industry. Book and newspaper reading are two of the most prominent features of the Apple iPad. Many believe that the “tablet-styled newspapers” and magazines would persuade online readers to pay again for news. Rick Edmonds, a media business analyst at the Poynter Institute, is not so optimistic about the tablet PCs. He said that tablets still have a lot to prove but if the devices get better and they prove popular then newspaper might go for “tablet publications.” With the iPad there is some encouragement.

Negative aspects:

The naming of the Apple tablet PC made women feel awkward. Many women believe that the name, “iPad,” feels like some kind female hygiene product. Moreover, Fujitsu claimed that it released a wireless touchscreen device by that name in 2003. Interestingly, Fujitsu's trademark filing has not been approved yet as, MagTek, a California-based IT security specialist, filed an application earlier. Apple is expected to file its case to the U.S Patent Office opposing the trademark in February 2010. The Tech Herald reports:

Speaking with The New York Times after Apple’s official unveiling of the iPad on Wednesday, Fujitsu’s director of public relations Masahiro Yamane indicated that the Japanese computing giant has been selling iPad-branded hardware since 2002.

“It’s our understanding that the name is ours,” he commented. “Mobile is a keyword for Fujitsu’s iPad too. With the iPad, workers don’t have to keep running back to a computer. They have everything right at their fingertips.”

STMicro, a European chipmaker, also revealed an existing iPad trademark for its proprietary semiconductor technology. A Canadian underwear manufacturer also uses the name, “iPad,” to market is cleavage-enhancing bras.

Many think that the Apple tablet is just another concept tablet PC. There is nothing impressive about it. It is somewhere between netbook and smartphone. Many people will buy it for its touchscreen and carrying a device that can keep you connected to the Internet and play all media files at the same time.

Many are unhappy with the pricing scheme of Apple iPad tablet PC. Moreover, AT&T’s data plans were not liked by many. For a true multimedia device, the 250 MB data plan is not so good. The 16GB Apple costs $500. If you want 3G plan, you will have to pay $129 up front. So, the total price of the device becomes $629. Add with it $360 for paying $30 subscription fee per month and your total expense comes up to $989 plus tax. The 32 GB and 64 GB model will cost more. Instead, it would be better to go for $499 iPad with built in Wi-Fi.

Another big issue is the poor service quality of AT&T. AT&T has the best 3G Network coverage in the U.S. but it is already under huge pressure as iPhone subscribers consume lots of data. With the addition of Apple iPad tablet PC, the pressure further increased. Such demand would definitely drive up the bandwidth price sooner or later. This can become a blessing in disguise for Verizon Wireless, the major rival of AT&T. When there is too much pressure on one network and the price is high and quality of service goes down. Some subscribers will leave AT&T and sign up for Verizon. Hence, investing in cellular networks can become quite risky.

Another big complaint is that the device does not multitask. You can not listen to music and browse the newspaper or web at the same time.

Now, this might sound a bit awkward but a camera on the iPad tablet could have been very useful for video chatting (now that Apple lifted blocks on VoIP), tweeting Twitpics, and last but not least, taking big size photos.

The iPad does not support Flash player because Apple believe that allowing flash on the device would pose a security risk. This means, no Disney, Hulu, ESPN, Farmville, or JibJab or many flash based online games.

The iPad comes with a LED backlit In-Plane Switching (IPS) display which is not so power efficient like the OLED devices. To much movie watching or game playing will drain battery power. LED screens are also not good for the eyes compared to e-ink displays. Prolonged exposure to LED screen could even cause migraine-inducing. Wall Street Journal writer, Brett Arends, wrote an interesting thing about e-book readers and I also agree with him. Serious e-book readers do not want a "multifunctional device" with LED screen cause they grew up looking at computer screens and they are already pretty fed up of it. They just want to read normally by ambient light. More over ebook readers have longer battery life than iPad.

Apple has been severely criticized for the closed system of its App Store. An application will first be reviewed by officials of Apple. After being permitted, the application will be shown at the App Store. Developers can not create any porn applications or any other applications that infringe on Apple trademark. For this reason, many developers quit Apple. The Apple iPad tablet can run all the applications of the iPhone App Store and SDK for iPad applications development had been unveiled. The rule will be also be applied to iPad application developers.

The Apple iPad does not have USB drive. You will have to transfer files through dock connector. Users would have to pay extra to get a USB adapter on iPad tablet PC. Many tech journalists expressed their dissatisfaction over the absence of USB ports.

In-app advertising:

App Store application developers can make money by displaying ads in their applications. With the unveiling of Apple iPad tablet PC, Apple just opened up another new horizon for in-app advertising. In the beginning of 2010, news came out that Apple bought mobile advertising firm, Quattro. The acquisition is a clear indication that Apple does not want Google to run its mobile advertisement business. During its latest earnings call, Apple also made it clear. Andy Miller, who served as the Quattro Wireless CEO, was named VP of Mobile Advertising and he will directly answer to Steve Jobs.

AT&T struggles with increasing data traffic:

The day after iPad’s release, AT&T reported that it will invest $2 billion to improve its network in 2010 to keep with the rising demand of data from iPhone and iPad subscribers. During its 2009 fourth quarter earnings call, John Stankey, COO, AT&T, reported that his company is planning to spend somewhere between $18 billion and $19 billion in 2010 to upgrade its wireless and backhaul networks that connect the cell towers to AT&T's main network. The money that will be spent in 2010 is roughly $2 billion more than the company's 2008 investment.

AT&T will add 2,000 new cell sites and upgrade its existing cell sites. With the upgrade process completed, AT&T can easily switch to 4G wireless technology in future. AT&T will begin testing its 4G network using LTE in 2010. In 2011, it will commercially deploy 4G in selected areas and the number will further increase in 2012.

Quy Nguyen, CEO of Allyance Communications Networks, an AT&T partner in Irvine, California, said that AT&T had been aggressively upgrading its network, but still faces challenges from new applications that are coming to the app store every week which requires more bandwidth. Mr. Quy said that wireless infrastructure upgrade is a constant battle which is not only a big problem for AT&T but also for other network carriers as well. As soon as networks upgrade, more video, music and streaming applications come out and put even more pressure on the network.

Will iPad replace netbook or laptop?

This is another issue causing heated debate among tech industry people. I am not a tech savvy guy. I never seen a tablet PC. Still, whatever I have read about tablet PCs, I do not think they would be able to replace netbook or laptop so easily. Many tech industry people said that, tablet PCs are good for basic computing and internet browsing and I agree with them. You can not work long hours with tablet PCs. First, you would have to use one of your hands to hold the device meaning you can use one hand to input data. You can not type using one hand. Second, tablet PCs do not have any physical keyboard or mouse. Though Apple iPad tablet comes with a keyboard docking, imagine carrying the doc all the time with you. It does not remain an ultra-portable device then does it? Tablet PCs can not replace laptop or netbook. It will take another five-six years down the road.

What I think:

I really like the Apple iPad tablet. It is a sleek looking machine with a nice touchscreen. I also liked the keyboard docking port that allows the tablet PC to be used like regular PC or laptop device. It is a great device for watching movies, reading books and newspapers and playing games. The device also has an impressive battery life. Another edge the Apple iPad tablet has is the App Store. The iPhone/iPod App Store is the most successful app store in the world with a rich collection of applications. All the iPhone applications can run on iPad. Apple also unveiled an SDK to develop iPad apps. This will make a lot of difference between the Apple iPad and other tablets available in the market. No other, PC maker has such a big App store at their disposal. However, the battle is half won for Apple. There are still many issues that the company needs to address. First of all, the device's lack of multitasking is a big minus. Apple must work on increasing iPad's processing power. The HP Slate, displayed at the Microsoft keynote speech by Steve Ballmer in CES 2010, has superior processing capacity than Apple. Plus, it runs Windows OS, the most popular OS in the world. Another big problem is AT&T’s 3G capability. Currently, the iPhone users are not happy with AT&T’s 3G service. The network's existing 3G istructure can not handle the pressure of huge data downloaded by Apple iPhone subscribers. Apple iPhone users regularly stream live sports events and watch television shows that takes up lots of datas. The small number of iPhone users takes up majority of the data on AT&T's 3G network. With the addition of the Apple iPad, the pressure has further increased. If AT&T fails to cater the growing appetite of the iPad users, it will be a big disaster for the iPad tablet PC.

In the end, no matter what we say, the final verdict will be given by the consumers. Apple has not launched the iPad in the market yet. Previously, journalists panned the iPhone but they were proven wrong. True, that the iPad has its shortcomings; yes, it is pricey, yes, AT&T service sucks but things are never perfect in the first attempt in tech world. The first iPod released by Apple had many problems but the company quickly fixed them and changed the face of portable music industry. So, let us be patient and see how the Apple iPad tablet PC does after launch.

Related articles:

The Washington Post

Huffington Post

The Wall Street Journal

CNET News

San Francisco Chronicle

Channel Web

Apple iPad vs. HP Slate vs MSI tablet PC: which one is better?

Now that Apple iPad is out, it is obvious that people will start comparing the Apple iPad with other tablet devices.Here is a comparison between Apple iPad, HP Slate and MSI Tegra-based tablet PC.

The iPad comes with a 9.7 inch color IPS display with full capacitive multitouch, 1GHz ARM A4 chip, Wi-Fi, and 3G. It has three different memory capabilities ranging from 16GB-64GB. The device has 10 hour battery backup and 1 month standby time. The iPad comes with a new book reading software called iBook. The device has a keyboard docking which means you can use it like a regular laptop or desktop PC. But there are some weaknesses. First of all, it does not have multitasking capability. Second, it does not support Adobe flash. Third, AT&T will be providing 3G and Wi-Fi services for the device. Already subscribers are very much unhappy with AT&T’s poor 3G services.

The HP Slate tablet PC also created lots of buzz at the CES 2010. The device was showcased at Microsoft’s keynote speech by Steve Ballmer. Compared to the Apple iPad, the HP Slate has better OS on its side; the Windows 7 with multitouch capability. It can run all the desktop applications. The device has everything that the Apple iPad lacks. It multitasks and plays flash video. However, it will run on Intel Atom or more power hungry X86 processors. HP does not have a very bright track of producing tablet PC. Its earlier tablet PCs did not have a very good performance and were quite expensive. The company waited for some times for price of parts to come down. Here is a video clip released on January 26, 2009, where HP CTO Phil McKinney, talks about the tablet PC.

The MSI Tegra based tablet PC that was unveiled at CES 2010. Currently, it is referred as MSI Tegra 2 for using NVIDIA’s Tegra chips. The device will be fully unveiled at CEBIT in March 2010. It will have 1 Ghz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 MPCore processor which is more powerful than Apple’s ARM A4 chip and impressive battery backup. It will have a 10" touchscreen and 3G. Rumor has it that the device will have HDMI output and would cost around $500. If this proves to be true then Apple iPad has a real competitor in hand.

Now, the big question is which one will succeed? At this stage, it is not possible to say anything for they are not launched in the market. Apple iPad has a sleek design and packs some great features. However, its weaker chip and lack of multitasking makes it a poor choice for business professionals. For regular users, it is a good machine. Then there is the HP Slate tablet PC which is in every way an ideal machine for professionals. Finally, there is the MSI’s tablet PC whose name is not known yet. It packs some impressive features and if it costs $500, then the device will definitely become very popular in the U.S.

Related article:

Benzinga

All about Apple iPad tablet

People started to gather in front of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater from 9 am. At 10:01 am, Steve Jobs appeared on the stage. First he talked about Apple and its achievements. A few weeks ago, Apple sold its 250 millionth iPod. Apple also expanded its business aggressively. It currently has two hundred and eighty four stores. In the holiday quarter, Apple stores saw 50 million visitors. Steve talked about the new Apple store in NYC. The App Store is another big success story of Apple. Currently, Apple has a collection of more than 1,40,000 applications; the biggest among all the app stores. Few weeks ago, the Apple app store observed its three billionth app download. From a small company established in 1976, Apple became one of the top companies in the world with an annual revenue of $50.6 billion revenue. In the first quarter of 2010, the company observed a revenue of 15.6 billion. Though Apple is a PC producing company, it earned majority of its revenue from mobile devices like iPods and iPhones and then Mac computers. This also makes Apple a mobile company, larger than Sony, bigger than Samsung, and even bigger than Nokia, in terms of revenue.

After the introduction, Steve Jobs directly went to the main event and introduced the Apple iPad tablet PC. Finally, the device, which the entire world has been talking about years after years, is revealed. Steve Jobs said, "The iPad is the most advanced piece of tech that I've ever worked on at Apple." I do not know whether it is true or not but the Apple iPad tablet is a great device. It is larger than the iPhone but thinner and far better than iPhone. The Apple iPad tablet shares many features to those of the iPhone. For example, like the iPhone, the Apple iPad tablet has a slide to unlock the screen. It has similar web browsing features to those of the iPhone.

It also offers smooth scrolling. However, neither Jobs nor the Apple folks who appeared on the stage talked about the device’s multitasking capability or phone call capability. At the show, Steve Jobs also introduced three new applications for the Apple iPad tablet PC. These applications compatible with Mac versions and easily connect to projectors each of the applications will cost $9.99

Hardware specs:

• Width: 0.5 inches thin
• Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Display: 9.7 inch IPS display with full capacitive multitouch
• Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 chip
• Internal memory: There are three options: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.
• Wireless communication: Wi-Fi 802.11n; Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR
• Audio: The Apple iPad tablet has speaker, microphone and 30-pin connector.
• Keyboard: The device has a large onscreen QWERTY keyboard.
• Accelerometer: Yes.
• Compass: Yes
• Battery life: The device has 10 hours of battery life.
• Standby time: More than one month of standby time. Jobs said that he could take a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo and watch video the whole time.
• Synchronization: Just like the Apple iPhone, the iPad tablet syncs over USB.

Email: Dropdown in the mail interface. It has a great email interface left column contains message list and full message on the right.

Watching photos and movies: You can look at photo albums, flick through them, share them and do so many things. You can also enjoy YouTube in HD.

Calendar: Just like the iPhone you can check out calendar and months.

iTunes store: The Apple iPad tablet comes with a built-in iTunes store. You can sample music, buy songs. The interface has modals that pop over to give you extra information about the album.

Third party applications: Scott Forstall talked about third party applications on the Apple iPad tablet PC. The Apple iPad tablet will run all the iPhone apps. All the apps of the App store have been re-written to run on the Apple iPad tablet. Moving between small screen and full screen is not a problem at all. You just buy the app, download it and VOILA! So app developers, What are you waiting for?

Gaming: News reports said that Apple has been trying to pitch the iPad tablet as an ideal gaming device. Well, the company lived up to its promise. Apple brought in some game developers to create games for the Apple iPad tablet at their head quarters. Some developers came to the stage and showed the device’s gaming prowess. Mark Hickery from Gameloft, came in and played FPS Nova. The graphics is standard. The user can setup his own controls and new gestures to play games. The tablet has touch enabled controls. The iPad version of Nova will be shipped later this year. Scott Forstall played n OpenGLS and it looked great on the device. Travis Boatman from Electronic Arts appeared on the stage. He showed the NFS Shift on the tablet.

Newspaper reading: Another major feature of the Apple iPad tablet was news paper reading. In the beginning, Steve Jobs browsed web versions National Geographic. Scott Forstall, showed the New York Times on the tablet. There is drop down context menus. You can resize the page with pinch. Another great feature is that there is embedded video inside the newspaper page.

Live Sports streaming: Many Apple users did live streaming of their favorite sports on iPhone. The iPad tablet also has the live sport streaming facility. Chad Evans from MLB.com appeared at the event and showed how the iPad tablet can live stream games and it is just another reason for Apple lovers to go and grab this device.

Book reading: The Apple iPad tablet features a book reading application called the iBook. Apple inked deals with major publishers including Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins publishers, Macmillan and Hachett Book Group. The iBook has a bookshelf. From there, users can directly download books into their iPad tablets. The overall design of the iBook is very similar to that of the iTunes music store. It has modal pop-overs that appear. The pages look and read nicely. You can turn the page slowly and change the fonts according to your choice. The store uses e-Pub formats.

Price: The Apple iPad tablet PC will become available in three different capacities. The 16GB Apple iPad tablet PC will cost $500. The 32 GB version will cost $700. Finally, there is the 64GB version that would cost $700. All iPad 3G models are unlocked and they come with GSM microSIMs. The device will come in Wi-Fi and 3G and activating them would cost extra bucks.

Data plan: Once again Apple teamed up with AT&T and came with two new data plans. Both are prepaid. For 250 MB of data, users would have to pay $14.99 per month. The unlimited data plan would cost $29.99 per month. Users would have free access to AT&T hot spots. Jobs told reporters that the international deals will come out in June or July.

Final cost and availability: With Wi-Fi and 3G services activated the 16 GB Apple iPad would cost $629; the 32GB Apple iPad tablet would cost $729; and the 64GB Apple iPad tablet would cost $899. The Apple iPads with Wi-Fi only capability will be shipped in 60 days and the 3G models will be shipped in 90 days.

Accessories: You will get a docking station. There is also the keyboard dock. Yes, you will have a physical keyboard with the Apple iPad tablet PC. Finally, there is a case to keep and carry the device.

Related articles:

Engadget

CNET

PC World

iPad battery Life is Really Useful

I have to say that Apple has defeated all the expectations by providing excellent batter life for its iPad. Standar battery life is 10 hours and more than a month standby time. Both are superb. iPad is mainly for browsing Internet and reading ebooks and people love to them when they are outside of home. When I am in my home, I can do both of them with my computer or laptop. However, when I am in bed or in a bus, train or plain then I need an iPad.

In these moments, battery life is very crucial. 10 hours is excellent for any work. Now, when you will go for a long plane flight then you wont feel bored and instead you can enjoy your favorite movies and browse Internet. So, life will not be bored from now if you have one of these.

With iPad, Apple is surely going to rock the tablet PC market segment. Now, other manufacturers will be under pressure to compete with Apple. What amazed me is that Apple could keep the project as secret and did a lot of research and development and at last could come up with something exceptional. There is no doubt that iPad will become the market leader when it hits the market. It is going to become another killer gadget like iPod or iPhone. 

Price of Apple iPad tablet

Apple iPad tablet has finally been revealed by Steve Jobs in San Francisco. The thin device has a great skin. It is just like the Apple iPhone only bigger, larger and more powerful with better interfaces and more application choices.

The price of the device was also announced at the event. The Apple iPad tablet PC will become available in three different capacities. The 16GB Apple iPad tablet PC will cost $500. The 32 GB version will cost $700. Finally, there is the 64GB version that would cost $700. The device will come in Wi-Fi and 3G and activating them would cost extra bucks. For 250 MB of data, users would have to pay $14.99 per month. The unlimited data plan would cost $29.99 per month.Users would have free access to AT&T hot spots. Yes, AT&T will be providing 3G and Wi-Fi services to Apple iPad tablet but there would be no contracts.

Everything will be prepaid. All iPad 3G models are unlocked and they come with GSM microSIMs. Jobs told reporters that the international deals will come out in June or July. With Wi-Fi and 3G services activated the 16 GB Apple iPad would cost $629; the 32GB Apple iPad tablet would cost $729; and the 64GB Apple iPad tablet would cost $899. The Apple iPads with Wi-Fi only capability will be shipped in 60 days and the 3G models will be shipped in 90 days. You will also get some accessories along with Apple iPad tablet. First, there is a docking station. There is also the keyboard dock. Yes, you will have a physical keyboard with the Apple iPad tablet PC. Finally, there is a case to keep and carry the device.

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Slippery Brick

30 things about Apple iPad tablet PC

The big event is only hours away. It is believed that Apple will unveil its much talked about Apple iPad tablet PC. Apple so far did not give out any details of the device but many news reports came out talking about the various features of the tablet. Many websites and research firms event conducted survey on people what features they would like to see on the device. Here are some of the major features widely mentioned to be found on the Apple iPad tablet PC. Here are some of the major features of Apple iPad tablet PC:

• Wireless connectivity
• Sync across multiple device
• Operates like a computer
• Built in camera
• iPhone apps compatibility
• Ability to watch TV
• Wireless connectivity
• Virtual keyboard
• Multiplayer functionality
• Multitouch capability
• e-book reader

1. Regarding wireless connection of the device, news reports say that Apple is in talks with Verizon and AT&T. This means that the tablet will have both GSM and CDMA network support.

2. If Apple iSlate tablet comes on AT&T, it will be under lots of pressure. Already, the iPhone users take up larger portion of its 3G services. It is now planning to expand its 3G coverage but Apple’s iSlate tablet PC would put further pressure on the carriers’ existing network.

3. On the contrary, if Verizon becomes successful, then it would be another big blow to AT&T’s image.

4. If the Apple tablet comes with Wi-Fi, then it would have to be subsidized by some carriers. Otherwise, the price of the device plus the Wi-Fi subscription will make the device more expensive.

5. On the eve of the launch event, Gizmodo reported that the Apple tablet will feature a proximity sensing multitouch screen. Here is a picture:

6. iLounge reported that Apple iSlate tablet PC will have two dock connectors allowing the tablet to be docked in either landscape or portrait orientation.

7. Apple tablet’s size is another big issue. It can not be carried in pocket meaning, one will have to hold it in his/her hand all the time. If accidentally, the device slips off your hand then you will have a dual-screen tablet PC.

8. It is said that Apple tablet PC will come with a virtual keyboard as an input device. This makes the device a tough sale because many people would find it problematic to use.

9. Another big feature of Apple tablet PC is its e-book reading capability. Apple is said to have contacted with some of the top book publishers to make their titles available on its tablet PC.

10. The device is said to come with a color screen. If all this proves to be true then Amazon’s Kindle is up for a major challenge.

11. Apple’s iSlate tablet PC will also serve as a major entertainment device where people can watch movies and their favorite TV shows.

12. Already, Apple’s iTunes sell television shows and movies. It is said that Apple talked with some major TV networks to make their popular shows available on demand for a monthly subscription fee.

13. Battery is another big issue. If one device is going to do so many things that means it requires lots of battery power. It is not sure whether, the Apple iSlate tablet PC will come with a fixed battery or removable battery.

14. Gaming is one market where Apple failed to succeed. Currently, gaming applications make up a significant portion of application at the Apple App Store. Apple is now looking forward to make its tablet PC popular among gamers. The company also invited many game journalists and game developers at the event.

15. Price of the device is another big issue. It is widely speculated that the device would cost aroudn $1000. It will cost more than iPods. Toni Sacconaghi, an analyst from, Bernstein Research, predicts that the device would sell for at least $750. He believes that carriers would not subsidize the device for it would put more pressure on their current networks. Even if it comes with unlimited data offerings, it will be very much expensive. According to the latest report of Engadget, the device would cost $800 on contract with Verizon and $1000 when it would arrive in the market in March.

16. Steve Jobs is known for making great presentations. Well, this upcoming presentation is very important because Mr. Jobs have to convince the customers and investors that Apple tablet would fulfill their needs and more. Michael Obuchowski, Chief Investment Officer, First Empire Asset Management Inc., said that tablet PC devices are not very popular in the mass market. They are special purpose devices. Steve Jobs has a big task ahead of him for he has to make a convincing pitch to consumers, developers and publishers who earlier failed to embrace the device. He believes that Apple needs to deliver “Shock and Awe.”

17. Last Holiday quarter was the most profitable quarter in Apple’s history. Thanks to its strong iPhone and Macintosh computer sales. The company’s share prices also rocketed. On January 26, 2010, share prices of Apple went up $9.24 to $212.32.

18. Apple will have to overcome consumers’ reluctuance to adopt tablets. Tablet PCs have been in the market since the 1990s but they are not very much popular. The device does not have a physical keyboard. One has to rely on pens or touchscreens for input. They account for less than one percent of the PC market according to Gartner Inc.

19. The tablet hype might not pushed Apple’s shareprices but Barnes & Noble’s share prices soared after news came out that the U.S. bookstore chain outlet signed a deal with Apple. Share prices of B&N increased 13.35% to $19.70. Under the reported deal, B&N will have a built-in bookstore giving access to millions of titles. If this is true, the Apple tablet will pose a major threat to Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader.

20. Recently, Engadget published some pictures that are supposed to be the pictures of the Apple iSlate tablet PC. From the picture, it looks like the tablet is bolted down to a tablet. The device in the picture has a big screen with Wi-Fi icon and a cell-service indicator. Engadget was also tipped that the device will have a ten inch screen. It looks like a larger iPhone with an aluminum back like the MacBook. The device is codenamed “K48.” Here is how the Apple iPad tablet PC looks like-

21. As per the e-book business, Apple told publishers to keep the price of their bestsellers at either $12.99 or $14.00. It told the publishers to keep the price of fewer books at $9.99. From each book sold on Apple tablet, Apple will take out 30% of the revenue. Though Apple model allows publishers to set the price of their books, under Apple’s business model, publishers will make less profit. For this reason, many publishers did not show much interest to sign up with Apple.

22. On the contrary, online book retail giant, Amazon.com had been intrigued with Apple’s entrance in the e-book industry and its business model. Amazon held a series of meetings in New York with publishers and it is opposed to Apple’s pricing model. Amazon though controls the pricing of the books, it offers fifty percent of the coverprice to the publishers. However, Amazon’s $9.99 pricing policy leaves them a small share of profit.

23. McGraw-Hill CEO, Terry McGraw, said that the tablet will run a version of the iPhone’s operating system. He was the first person to officially admit that the tablet exists.

24. Apple iTablet is considered to be the most obvious name of the device but Amtek’s have products by that name in the market since 2006.

25. Another name that came up and I always use in my writing is the iSlate. It came up in some trademark and domain name filings

26. The least likely name of the device is iPad. Few years earlier, Fujitsu had a Windows CE based iPad handheld device by that name. When USPTO published the application for review Apple filed an opposition. It said that the name “iPad” sounds too much like “iPod.”

27. The New York Time’s Bill Keller mentioned this name, “the impending Apple slate.”

28. Panic founder, Cabel Sesser, twitted the name “Canvas” after Apple issued its invitation.

29. Apple tablet’s form factor is another major challenge for the device. Many experts say that the tablet serves very well as a reading and web browsing device but if you want to work it for long hours, it will not be ideal because it does not have a real keyboard. If you are watching movie or television you will not feel comfortable because you will have to hold the device in your hands all the time unless Apple provides some kind of stand.

30. Yesterday, I wrote an article talking about which sites would give live coverage of the event. Today, I found some more websites that will be providing live coverage. Huffington Post will give live covergage of the event. Visit this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tanja-aitamurto/apple-announcement-live-b_b_437447.html

31. IT PRO will provide live updates of Apple event. Visit the following link:

http://www.itpro.co.uk/619780/live-blogging-apples-tablet-announcement

You can also get their Twitter feed. Visit the following link:

http://www.twitter.com/itpro

32. PC World will be providing live coverage of the event: http://www.pcworld.com/article/187396/live_update_apple_event.html

33. CNET News reported that Apple tablet might feature chips made by its subsidiary PA Semi. In 2008, Apple bought chipmaker, PA Semi.

34. Another came out that the Apple tablet might sport OLED display. However, this was not accepted by many because the production process of OLED are very complex and takes lots of time plus they would cost more. OLED displays are becoming more prevalent in smart phones. Ars Technica, contacted with with OLED Association Managing Director Barry Young. Mr. Young said that mass producing OLED screens to meet Apple’s needs is not possible at the moment.

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Apple iSlate tablet PC Live Updates Information

The Apple’s big event is coming close. It will unvei its iSlate tablet PC on January 27, 2010 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater. The YBCA is a contemporary arts center located in Yerba Buena Gardens. The center features visual art, performance, and various film festivals by local, national and international film makers. The center has two landmark buildings where the programs are held througout the year- the Galleries and Forum by Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki and Theater by American architect James Stewart Polshek. Apple Inc. has often used the venue to arrange launch event of its new products.

Apple started sending invitations to media people from January 18, 2010. The invitation says “Come, see our latest creation.” It is widely believed that Apple will unveil its much talked about tablet PC at the event. The device will sport either a 7-inch or 10-inch screen and multi-touch facility. It will be a multipurpose device used to read books, newspapers and magazines. At the same time, people would be able to browse the net, watch movies, play games, download and watch videos. Recently, various news reports came out saying Apple is in talks with reputed publishers including New York Times Inc., Harper Collins, Mc-Graw Hills and others over making their contents available on its device. Unlike Amazon that controls all the content of its Kindle e-book reader, Apple will allow publishers to fix the price of their contents which made the Apple tablet more enticing to the publisher industry. The tablet can also serve as a text-book reader for the students. A huge debate had been going on over the tablet sporting a camera. Some say it will come with a web-camera featuring facial recognition technology. Analysts are also divided over what type of OS it will sport- Mac OS X or iPhone OS. Another big issue is the pricing of the device. People are saying that it would be a priced at $1000 but some say it would be lower than that. An RBC Capital Markets Analysts predicted that the device’s price would severely affect its sales in the market. Apple's tablet PC is expected to be available both on Verizon and AT&T.

Mr. Steve Jobs, the founder and CEO of Apple, will deliver will deliver keynote speech at the event. There will be also some other Apple executives. As it was mentioned in the invitation, “Come see our latest creation” so every body is speculating that there will be more than one product. Already, I mentioned the Apple tablet PC known as iSlate. For the last couple of years, tech sites have been covering news reports on this device. However, Apple never gave out any information about the tablet PC. All the reports about the device are rumors and speculations.

In addition, Apple will unveil iPhone OS 4.0 with new SDK and Apple iPhone 4G at the show. According to the news report published by Boy Genius Report, the iPhone OS 4.0 provides capability to multitasking. It will be only available on the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. The iPhone OS 4.0 comes with “many graphical and UI changes” which makes the OS very easy and efficient.

Apple might unveil a web-based iTunes at the event. Last year in December, Apple acquied music streaming service, Lala. This comes as a indication of the company’s focus on developing a web-based iTunes using Lala's system.

Apple will also unveil the latest version of its popular multimedia application, iLife, that will come with its tablet PC. Rumor of a new Apple iMac with 22 inch touchscreen surfaced. Many believe that in this event, Apple will showcase the new iMac.

If you are one of the devoted Apple fans then you might be searching which sites are providing live coverage of the event. If you are not sure when is the time, here is a link that gives the time in different countries when people can see the live event:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?day=27&month=1&year=2010&hour=10&min=0&sec=0&p1=256

Thanks to live streaming, many people will be able to watch the event sitting at their homes. Here is a list of websites that will give live coverage of Apple January 27^th event in San Francisco.

Ubergizmo: A popular techsite, Ubergizmo, will give live coverage of the event. For more information, visit this links: http://live.ubergizmo.com/

Engadget: Another reputed techsite, Engadget, will give live coverage of the event. Many websites even gave link to Engadget’s live coverage page. Here is the link to the page of engadget: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/

MacWorld: MacWorld UK website will provide live coverage of the show. Here is the link: http://www.macworld.co.uk/mac/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=28419

The US website will also provide live update. Here is the link: http://www.macworld.com/article/145805/2010/01/apple_event.html

MacLife: MacLife will provide live coverage of the show. Here is the link where you can get live coverage: http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apples_latest_creation_event_live_blog

If you miss the coverage, you can receive Twitter feed from MacLife. Here is the link:

http://twitter.com/maclife

Erictric: Another reputed website, Erictric, said that it will provide live coverage of the event but I could not find any separate page on the blog where it will cover the event. It posted an entry saying it will cover the entire event. Here is the link:

http://erictric.com/erictric-news/apple-tablet-event-coverage-information

Gizmodo: Gizmodo liveblog will cover the Apple event. Here is the link where you can get all the information on the event: http://live.gizmodo.com/

MacRumors: MacRumors is one of the most reliable news sources on all the products from Apple. The website has been covering extensively on Apple tablet PC. It will also provide live coverage of the Jan 27^th Apple event. Here is the link: http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/24/january-2010-media-event-spoiler-free-keynote-stream/

You can also subscribe to MacRumors twitter feed: http://twitter.com/macrumors

http://twitter.com/MacRumorsRSS

gdgtlive: This website will also be giving live coverage of the show. You can get the live coverage on this link: http://live.gdgt.com/2010/01/27/live-apple-come-see-our-latest-creation-tablet-event-coverage/

Appleblog: The AppleBlog will also provide live coverage of the San Francisco event. You can get the live coverage through the blog or their twitter feed. Here are the links:

http://theappleblog.com/2010/01/26/live-coverage-of-apples-january-27-media-event/

http://thepapleblog.com/live

http://twitter.com/theappleblog

Twitter: The popular social networking site will also be giving live coverage of the Apple “latest Creation” event.

TechLand: This blog will also provide live coverage of the Apple event. Here are the links:

http://techland.com/2010/01/18/apple-event-confirmed-for-january-27/

http://techland.com/

Related article:

PC World

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