what is Ipad the magic tablet
Mr Jobs said the device would be used for browsing the web, sharing photos, reading eBooks and watching movies.
However, technology pundits were quick to ask how revolutionary the iPad really was, and more pertinently, who will want to buy one.
Respected blogger MG Siegler from TechCrunch said: 'Is it a must have? The quick and dirty answer is: for many people, right now, no.
'Unlike the iPhone, which filled an already well-established need, there is no existing need the iPad fills.'
Rhi Morgan at T3 magazine agreed. He said: 'I can’t see anybody who needs a laptop buying an iPad, and I can’t see people using it as a smartphone either.'
Apple will have a steep hill to climb with their tablet by trying to open what has been up till now a niche market. Microsoft's 2001 tablet failed to catch on and many analysts fear the iPad could run into the same problems.
What is more the operation of the iPad is virtually identical to the iPhone and iTouch.
Gene Munster from Piper Jaffray said: 'The gadget is a premium mobile device, not a computer; as such we see some iPod Touch buyers stepping up to the iPad, but consumers looking for an affordable portable computer will likely stick with the MacBook line up.'
At first glance, the iPad with its touchscreen looks like a bigger and more square version of the iTouch and iPhone, which has sold millions around the globe.
The WiFi version will go on sale worldwide in two months time, with the 3G version following a month later. Apple has not yet revealed their UK mobile carrier partners. The iPhone is currently available through O2, Orange and Vodaphone.
Prices will start at $499 (£308) in the US but British Apple fans will have to wait longer to find out the UK price - although it is likely to be far higher.
The iPad will have a Wi-Fi connection to the internet, while some higher spec versions will also link to the web via the 3G mobile phone network.This will allow users to download video, music, books and newspapers while on the go rather than being tied down to Wi-Fi internet hot spots in the home or town centres.
Mr Jobs demonstrated the device with images of newspapers and books.
The company believes that, in future, people will read their magazines and newspapers on an iPad screen rather than traditional newsprint.
The device will go head to head with electronic book devices such as Amazon's Kindle and similar products from Sony and British firm Interead.
Each device would be able to download and carry around a virtual library of thousands of books.
The iPad connects to the internet via a wi-fi link to a home PC or the wi-fi hot spots found in town centres. A second higher spec version has the added benefit of connecting to the web via the mobile phone network.
There are three memory levels - 16gigabyte, 32gb or 64gb - under each of these two formats.
Users who want to connect to the web via the 3G mobile phone network will pay a monthly fee on a pay-as-you-go basis.
However, others have highlighted the similarity between the iPad and its predecessor the iPhone.
The iPad name has also raised some eyebrows amid complaints it was not as impressive as the iSlate or iTablet, which many people had speculated would be chosen.
Apple may also run into some problems with Fujitsu Ltd., who filed a trademark application for the name 'iPad' in 2003, according to the Web site of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Apple now has until February 28 to submit evidence to the Patent and Trademark Office that is it the rightful owner of the iPad name in the U.S. The company has already filed successful applications to hold the trademark in Canada, Europe and Hong Kong.
Mr Jobs, who appeared in his trademark jeans and black turtleneck, demonstrated the device live on stage, browsing YouTube, Google maps, its built-in iTunes store and even played Disney's Pixar's animated film Up.
Mr Jobs said: 'We want to kick of 2010 by introducing a magical and revolutionary product.
'It's so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone.
The device is half an inch thick, making it thinner than any netbook, and weighs 1.5pounds(680g) while the screen is 9.7inches across the diagonal.
Mr Jobs said: 'We've been able to achieve 10 hours of battery life. I can take a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo and watch video the whole time. And it has over a month of standby time.'
Mr Jobs said: 'We think we've got the goods. We think we've done it. Another thing we're excited about is that there's already 75m people who know how to use this because of how many iPhones and iPod touches we've shipped.
'It's very thin - you can change the homescreen to whatever you want. What this device does is extraordinary. You can browse the web with it. It's the best web experience you've ever had.'
In terms of software, the iPad has a built-in internet browser and iTunes store allowing the downloading of music, TV shows and blockbuster movies such as Star Trek or Up.
People will also be able to download any of the hundreds of applications developed for the iPhone and iTouch.
Conclusion: The magic tablet needs to multitask. And accept USB drives. No microSD cards. And that hasnt HDMI-out and it would at least come with a WebCam. This is probably missing feature that people find the most jarring. While it was expected the iPad to have more features, developed with its own processor, no intel inside,While the A4 is, no doubt, zippy, the iPad still lacks the ability to multitask, just like the
Comments