Will we always remember where we were the day that Apple changed the course of human history with the iPad?
I followed the event from a computer in Boston. Apple (natch) didn’t do the reasonable thing and live-stream the event so I followed the live blogging services of the Wall Street Journal. There were no shortage of outlets providing live blog feeds but I chose to follow the Journal on the assumption they’d be less fawning than the rest of the fanboy tech media.
So here’s what Apple has come up with: the iPad.
Steve Jobs described it as an “intimate” half-inch thick Web device with 9.7-inch screen for watching TV and movies, playing music and games. It looks like a large iPod Touch in that it has the same singular home button and virtual keyboard. The touchscreen has multitouch sensors.
It’s pre-loaded with apps, photo browsing software with iPhoto, iTunes, etc, and Google Maps. Web sites are displayed in full, not a mobile version, although the Journal notes that a demo of The New York Times website didn’t appear to support Flash. The iPad supports high definition video.
It has Apple custom silicon, offers from 16-32 gigabytes of flash storage, supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and, Apple claims, 10 hours of battery life. (File that one under “we’ll believe it when we see it.”)
Connectivity and Pricing
Every iPad will have Wi-Fi, but only specific models will have 3G. Two wireless plans: one for $14.99 for up to 250 MB and an unlimited data plan for $29.99. The Wi-Fi-only iPads will not require a contract (hooray!) and the service will be provided by AT&T. All 3G models will be unlocked, so customers can use it with virtually any carrier.
Prices start at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model and will rise to $829 for the 3G model, which will ship in 90 days.
My assessment is that most users will not be satisfied with a mobile device that only provides Wi-Fi connectivity, and that most everyone will want the more expensive 3G model. $829 strikes me as being expensive enough to be out of the mainstream.
Software
Apple is today releasing an update to its iPhone software development kit that supports the iPad. Scott Forstall, senior VP of iPhone software, says he expects “another gold rush” for app developers.
No doubt.
The New York Times demonstrated an app that shows video running alongside news articles.
The iPad will run all iPhone applications at their original or double the resolution. (Smart move. Reviewers have noted the Motorola Droid’s superior screen resolution). Developers will have to re-write apps to run at full-screen dimensions.
A rep from a company called Brushes demo’ed a painting app, dragging fingers across the screen to create “art.” It supports in-app playback of the painting so you can see the creation process. “Imagine what an art student could do with this,” says the Brushes guy. (Art student? I’m thinking about what my four year-old could do with it.)
A few other companies demo’ed apps that make use of the large screen and accelerometer.
eBooks
Jobs lauded Amazon for pioneering the category and says Apple will “stand on their shoulders” while building on the functionality.
Apple’s iBookstore is fully integrated. HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster, Penguin, Macmillan, Hachette are the first five book publishers on board. Once purchased, a book appears on a virtual bookshelf. Jobs describes iPad as great for popular ebook reader for popular books and textbooks. (Jury’s still out on whether students will bite, depending on price tag.)
There is nothing particularly groundbreaking about the ebook store or reader.
Apple has gotten creative with how users will navigate around its iWork productivity suite. One demonstration featured multi-touch movements to manipulate Keynote slides.
To accommodate those who need to do a lot of typing, Apple showed a keyboard dock that charges and lets you type at the same time. The keyboard slides into the iPad so it has the look of a small desktop.
Lisa
