Apple's latest tech gadget, the iPad, made an impressive debut at its coming out party. This slate-style tablet has unique capabilities that set it apart from the current crop of eReaders and netbooks.
Photo App
Courtesy of Apple
Using what appears to be a new version of the iPhone OS, the iPad can run any existing iPhone application, giving it an installed base of over 140,000 apps right out of the gate. Of course, Apple provides its own set of applications with the iPad, and they truly show off its capabilities.
Designed as an Internet-savvy multimedia device, the iPad blurs many lines and effectively creates a new product category, something Apple loves to do. The iPad provides the following applications and capabilities:
Safari for web browsing: Using multi-touch gestures you can easily scroll, click links, and pinch to zoom.
Mail: iPad Mail will work with just about any standard mail account, including Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, and of course MobileMe.
Photos: The Photo app uses stacks to display albums. Tap a stack and the album of images opens up for you to sort through or view as a slide show. You can even use the iPad as a digital photo frame.
iPod: Of course the iPad has a music player, and with the large screen of the iPad, you will find all your music is just a touch away.
iTunes: The iTunes Store is built-in, including the ability to browse and buy music, buy or rent videos, and preview songs.
Video: Play back H.264 High Def movies and TV shows at up to 720p.
YouTube: A new YouTube app organizes your favorite videos; you can even watch HD versions.
Maps: High-resolution satellite, terrain, and street views. Search for locations then tap to display the route.
Notes: Note taking is a breeze using the onscreen keyboard. And since the keyboard is larger than the one used in the iPhone, it's easer for those of us with large hands to use.
Calendar: Keep all your appointments, meetings, and events close at hand. You can also display multiple calendars at once, just the thing to keep track of personal and work commitments.
Contacts: The contact application is what Apple should have designed for the Mac. This contact app is larger, makes it easier to search and find contacts, and is a pleasure on the eyes.
Spotlight Search: System-wide search capabilities modeled after the Spotlight search function on the Mac.
The App Store: The App Store is built-in, and why not? The iPad will run the 140,000 applications already written for the iPhone. New iPad apps are only a short time away, as demonstrated at the launch event.
Not included, but demonstrated by Apple, was a version of iWorks for the iPad. All of the iWork apps are available: Pages, the word processor, Numbers, the spreadsheet, and Keynote, the presentation application. Apple says it will offer each iWork app separately for $9.99.
So, what do you think? Will you be buying one?
The ipad looks great I am glad I held off buying a netbook. However I am interested in finding out if flash with run in safari and support video formats.
No doubt there will be jailbreaks out soon, but I’d much rather keep it factory .
Does the iPad have a built-in camera, speakers and mic for Skyping?
I’m not impressed. At http://www.tabletportal.com they called it a Giant iPod Touch. And it looks it’s just that. Too bad. Could have been so much more. Well, I hoped for more. But gonna get one anyway