Apple announces iPad tablet computer -- 'far better at some key tasks'

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs didn't ascend the stage sporting a robe and full beard to announce the most anticipated tablet since Moses'. But the crowd at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco received the introduction of the iPad with a roar of thunderous applause.

Perhaps the worst-kept secret since, well, the iPhone, the iPad is a 9.7-inch touch-screen computer, starting at $499 and available in March. It resembles an oversize iPod Touch.

"We want to kick off 2010 by introducing a truly magical and revolutionary new product," Jobs said early on to ease the throngs of technology journalists and analysts who knew what was coming.

After a brief onstage run-through of the features, Jobs plopped down on a black leather couch to demonstrate how you might use the device at home. Grab the iPad off the kitchen table and browse the Web or buy movie tickets.

The iPad stands as the middle ground between a full-blown laptop computer and an iPhone.

"It's so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone," Jobs said.

The iPad contains Apple's App Store, so the 140,000 or so applications already available for the iPhone and iPod Touch will run on the tablet -- scaled up to fit the bigger screen.

The iPad has a 10-hour battery life, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and comes in versions that hold 16 gigabytes, 32 gigabytes and 64 gigabytes. They cost $499, $599 and $699, respectively.

"We want to put this in the hands of lots of people," Jobs said. "We have met our cost goals."

Separate versions that support AT&T 3G wireless Internet cost $629, $729 and $829 for 16 gigabytes, 32 gigabytes and 64 gigabytes, respectively. Customers can sign up for AT&T's 3G without a contract. A 250-megabyte-per-month plan (that's not very much data) costs $14.99, and unlimited Internet access costs $29.99. Subscribers also get access to AT&T's Wi-Fi hot spots, including Starbucks.

A software development kit will be available to software makers today to design apps specifically for the iPad. Some developers have already begun revising their software for the larger screen and more powerful processor.

Apple has revised its own software that ships with the device. The iPad version of iTunes resembles a hybrid between the desktop version and the one on the iPhone. The calendar has big text and buttons. YouTube supports high-definition video.

Apple also showed off a version of its iWork software -- a competitor to Microsoft Office -- built for a touch screen. It includes Keynote, Pages and Numbers -- the Apple equivalents of PowerPoint, Word and Excel, respectively. Each costs $9.99 and can be downloaded from the App Store.

"Watching one is nothing like getting one in your hands," Jobs said after a demo.

The device is half an inch deep and 1.5 pounds -- "that's thinner and lighter than any netbook." Earlier, Jobs lambasted netbooks, those tiny, inexpensive laptops that have become so popular recently.

"Is there room for a third device?" Jobs said before introducing the gadget. "Now, some people have thought, that's a netbook. The problem is, netbooks aren't better at anything. ... They're slow. They have low-quality displays."

Like an iPhone, users input data by touching an on-screen keyboard. A keyboard accessory with a dock turns the iPad into a sort of laptop. And a case that acts as a stand -- to watch video without holding the device -- will also be available.

Jobs says the iPad is better than laptops and phones (and yeah, netbooks) for consuming video, music, Web browsing and reading e-books (no e-paper, though, so it's not as easy on the eyes as a Kindle).

[Updated 10:41 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 11:42 a.m.: Added more information based on an in-progress announcement.]

-- Mark Milian

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Photo credit: Tony Avelar / Bloomberg

Comments

[hectorartm]

And people are excited of this product? Wow. Shows you that everyone just loves to follow the crowd. There's nothing new here, except it's a bigger iPod Touch. Sad.

[RBMjr]

"Intimate"?!

[Ash]

So, really, it's a Netbook that'll cost £1000~.

Gotta' love Apple.

[mike]

no flash what a joke Jobs. I love my iphone and have had one since day one, but all they did was blow up the ipod or iphone. Nothing new, its not open to do what you want on it, and you can't essentially use it like you do an iMac. I know that's not what it was developed for, but I can tell you no one is going to run out to buy this.

[Greg]

The tablet will do more than simply revolutionize gaming, it will change the way we consume much of our information. New web resources like online fitness tools are perfectly suited for the tablet. The information on Holosfitness.com is idea for the tablet's large screen, mobile nature, and internet connectivity. Since Holosfitness.com and other online tools have workout information, workout tracking, video demonstration of workouts, and more, the tablet really has the potential to change fitness and health.

[Apple User]

How much is it going to cost and when will it be available?

[Arie]

Doesn't sound revolutionary or that exciting, the iPad name seems weak.

Who wants a giant Pad? Oh wait giant iPod?

One thing this can do is kill the ugly Kindle and create a new gaming device :)

[Darragh]

Looks cool and 10 hours battery life isn't bad. I wonder if it will run more high performance applications?

[Bad Planning]

Seriously! I mean. Is this what the rocket-scientists in the Apple corporation can come up with? I'm not amazed because it's an oversized Ipod...

It would of been SUPER if this new device captures HD television and users are able to record it on the tablet. E

[Robert Tolchin]

A waste of technology. There is nothing new here, just a bigger version of what already exists. Reading an ebook will give you a headache on this thing because it does not have epaper. God has spoken and all that came out was a large belch.

[Chad]

Everyone's an expert. If you don't like the product, don't buy one. Can't we be optimistic about this and hope that it actually helps to save the periodicals?

[alexdeuce]

To release this product without 3/4G connectivity and only 32gig of memory was a brilliant display of arrogance. This puts them a year behind the Skiff Reader and planed launches by Microsoft. Complete stupidity on Apples Part. IMHO; they just took a hit to their brand name. I am going to wait for the Skiff reader and my iphone.

[CornerJ]

And there's the feminine version, the "Maxi-Pad."

Seriously, I see a limited market for this (and I'm an avid user of the iPhone). Nobody will replace their laptop with this. And you can't really haul this around like a netbook. And it's certainly not an iPhone replacement.

But the advances they make in touchscreen technology, and the media/gaming areas could lead to interesting future spinoff products. This is a marketing blunder that could yet have future benefits.

[Industry Wag]

Just watch this video:

http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

You will quickly realize how obsolete this "iPad" technology has become. Jobs is so yesterday.

[Lionel Rolfe]

The iPad looks like a winner. Microsoft might as well close up shop now.

[toby hall]

"more intimate than an Iphone"?? what the hell does Jobs do with his iphone?? it's this sort of nonsense language and overhype that makes me buy any brand BUT Apple!
Yawn!

[Tom]

I don't think I agree it will do video, music and the internet better than a laptop. It has no mouse, you have to hold it, the screen is smaller and laptops invariably have faster CPUs and GPUs, plus a hell of a lot more storage. So what in the heck is he talking about? Who wants to watch a video peering down at their knees, or hunched over a table? And how in the world would you game with it, smearing your paws all over it???
No thanks.

[VOR_19]

I've heard it said that you can measure your success by the number of doubters and naysayers you have, there is a direct correlation. What I find amusing is the iPad has just been revealed and people hate it already, without even testing it out. We have yet to see what it truly does, but people are complaining about it already. Instead of focusing on what it does, they're already stuck on what it doesn't do. I guess that's the gift and the curse of being #1...we all know that HP, Dell, etc --are just going to run right out and trace over apples idea, adding a tweak here and a tweak there...and all of the PC lovers will think it's the greatest thing in the world b/c it isn't Apple. Apple must be doing something right!

[James]

Hummm . . .Lets see . . .My 4 year old Fugitsu does everything this overpriced toy does, and it runs Win Tablet XP, a full operating system, standard programs. Buy an APple Tablet computer?? No thanks. I've had my tablet for FOUR YEARS! As an Aside, how long before these are discounted (devalued) to $199 and then $99. No way Apple, I'm not drinking your EXPENSIVE COOLAid.

[CommonSense]

It seems pretty cool - although I'll never exchange paper books for digital, I can see how textbooks might be worthwhile to throw on that thing.

My question though is how to hold it. Seriously.

The iTouch I have fits in my pocket, or I can carry it in my hand. It's a good fit. But if you have something that slick surfaced, and that thin, what's to say you aren't reading something, and it just slides out and crashes to the floor on you.

There's not much information on what it's capable of - if it has a stripped down version of Leopard that can run basic office apps, or you can run some CAD/sketch applications, the artist/worker in me might find it more useful to have than an itouch, and less expensive to lose like my macbook.

Either way, that thing is screaming for a "Don't Panic" wallpaper. It is Ford Prefect's Guide.

[TRL]

No USB port. No card slot. No HDMI port. Proprietary everything: camera adapter, video cable, keyboard and charger. Nice. Doesn't really sound like the "best way to experience the web, email, photos, and video. Hands down." to me. You get that experience sitting in a comfy chair at a desk with a 22 inch HD monitor and a kick ass machine. Sounds more like they really could have made it a lot better. Laptops come with all those things included, and for far less. Plus they have storage, ethernet jacks, card slots, expansion slots, and upgradable hardware.

This is nothing more than a really expensive toy.

[Ted]

Here's the specs:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

[steven]

This thing is a joke. It's literally an over-sized iPod touch. It looks awkward to hold; you're basically limited to hunching over on a desk to type two-handed, or cradle it with one arm and peck away at a huge virtual keyboard with the other. Sure, accessories will come later on down the road that situate the iPad for a more realistic computing experience... but why not spend the same $500 on a device with 10x the capacity and 100x the functionality? A netbook-sized screen and no flash for the safari browser? Give me a break.

[Tara]

Apple products/spinoffs & innovations are head and shoulders above anything out there, and everyone knows it. The disgruntled comments must come from Dell/Windows users.

[My Social Relevance]

Also, a glaring omission is a camera for video chat or taking pictures. lame. i'm a huge fan of apple but how could they miss this? i guess i'll get v.2 of the ipad.