NetbookTech

Forgot to mention that I published a review of the Apple iPad over at our sister website, Krunker.com. Enjoy!

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[Reprinted from Krunker.com]

Ending months of speculation, Apple officially announced the iPad device today at a special press event held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Let’s quickly go over the facts, features, and specifications about the new iPad. We’ll save our editorial comments for a later post.

We’ll start things off with what the iPad delivers.

The iPad is essentially a slate format computer measuring 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 inches and weighing a mere 1.5 pounds (tack on 0.1 pounds for the 3G model).

The device features a bright LED-backlit multi-touch-enabled 9.7 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768. Unfortunately this is not a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio display.

It has a built-in rechargeable battery with approximately 10 hours of battery life and in typical Apple fashion, it is NOT user-replaceable.

Inside, you’ll find a custom-built Apple processor (System-on-a-chip) clocked at 1GHz.  Storage wise, you’ll be able to choose from 3 options – 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB.

There will be two models consumers can choose from – a Wi-Fi model and a Wi-Fi + 3G model. Each model will have the above three storage options to choose from.

Prices for the Wi-Fi models are:

• 16GB – $499
• 32GB – $599
• 64GB – $699

Prices for the Wi-Fi + 3G models are:

• 16GB – $629
• 32GB – $729
• 64GB – $829

Yes, that means you’ll be paying a $130 dollar premium for the 3G data support (and on top of that you’ll need to purchase Mobile Broadband service too).

The iPad will feature several applications (12 in total) redesigned from the ground up to take advantage of the new device form factor. Some of the more interesting new apps include:

Mail:

Put the iPad in landscape orientation, and your mail will automatically shift to a split-screen view with incoming messages on the left and the current message on the right. Use a virtual soft keyboard to type out messages (the keyboard is nearly the size of a full-sized keyboard). If you want to view a single message by itself, rotate the iPad to portrait mode.

Photos:

Photo Albums are now displayed as stacks of photos. Tap or pinch to open up a stack and then flip through pictures using your fingers. Tap to zoom in or out, or watch a slideshow using the application.

YouTube:

YouTube UI has been redesigned and the iPad supports YouTube HD videos too.

iPod:

Yes, you’ll get the iPod with the iPad including all the features you’ve come to expect from the iPod.

iTunes:

Browse and buy music, TV shows, and podcasts, or buy and rent movies directly from the iPad.

App Store:

The iPad will run nearly all of the 140,000 apps currently found in the App Store. Existing apps can run centered on the display or full-sized taking up the entire display. There will also be apps designed specifically for the iPad’s form factor.

iBooks:

iBooks is a new free app from the App Store which you can use to buy books from the built-in iBookstore. Once you’ve purchase a book, it will be displayed on a virtual bookshelf. Double-tap to read the book.

Other new apps include Maps, Notes, Calendar, and Contacts. There’s also support for Spotlight Search on the iPad.

In addition, Apple announced a new version of iWork designed specifically for the iPad. You’ll be able to purchase Pages, Keynote, and Numbers directly from the App Store for $9.99 each.

Let’s now talk about the technical specifications for the iPad.

Display:

• 9.7 inch LED backlit glossy wide-screen multi-touch display with IPS technology
• 1024 x 768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

Storage:

• Choice of 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor:

• Custom-designed 1GHz Apple A4 processor (system on a chip) – this is a direct result of their PA-Semi acquisition from a few years back

Sensors:

• Accelerometer
• Ambient Light Sensor

Battery:

• Built-in (aka non-user replaceable) 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
• Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
• Charge via power adapter or USB connection to computer

Input/Output:

• Dock connector
• 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speakers
• Microphone
• SIM card tray (on the Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Connectivity:

There will be two iPad models – one with Wi-Fi and one with Wi-Fi + 3G support (to ship 30 days after the Wi-Fi model ships)

• Wi-Fi model comes with 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Wi-Fi + 3G model supports:

• UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
• 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Location-Aware Services:

• Wi-Fi
• Digital Compass
• Assisted GPS (on the Wi-Fi + 3G model only)
• Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Audio playback:

• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz20Hz
• 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

Video playback:

• 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)

Accessories for the iPad include:

iPad Keyboard Dock:

The iPad Keyboard Dock combines a full-sized keyboard with an iPad dock connector which means the iPad can also be charged while you’re using the keyboard. The dock has a rear 30 pin connector allowing you to connect the dock to a USB power adapter, a computer, or other accessories.

iPad Case:

iPad Dock:

Lets you dock and charge the iPad as well as connect the iPad to the outlet, a computer, and other accessories.

iPad Camera Connection Kit:

Allows you to import photos and videos either via a USB cable or via an SD card reader.

iPad USB Power Adapter:

Charge the iPad using an electrical outlet.

 

OK – so what’s not in the iPad:

• 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio display
• No built-in webcam
• HDMI support
• Adobe Flash support
• Multi-tasking

Now as for availability – the iPad is expected to be available in 60 days from today (a.k.a. approximately two months).

There you have it folks – the iPad facts.