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| Apple unveils iPad tablet device | Apple unveils iPad tablet device |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Apple has put an end to weeks of speculation by unveiling its tablet PC, which it has called the iPad. | Apple has put an end to weeks of speculation by unveiling its tablet PC, which it has called the iPad. |
| Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive unveiled the touchscreen device at an event in San Francisco. | Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive unveiled the touchscreen device at an event in San Francisco. |
| Mr Jobs described the tablet, which will cost between $499 and $829 in the US, as a "third category" between smartphones and laptops. | Mr Jobs described the tablet, which will cost between $499 and $829 in the US, as a "third category" between smartphones and laptops. |
| The device, which looks like a large iPhone, can be used to watch films, play games and browse the web. | The device, which looks like a large iPhone, can be used to watch films, play games and browse the web. |
| The firm has also done a deal with publishers including Penguin, Macmillian and Harper Collins to allow e-books to be downloaded directly to the device through a new iBook Store. | The firm has also done a deal with publishers including Penguin, Macmillian and Harper Collins to allow e-books to be downloaded directly to the device through a new iBook Store. |
| "You can download right onto your iPad," said Mr Jobs. | "You can download right onto your iPad," said Mr Jobs. |
| He also showed off magazines and newspapers on the device. | He also showed off magazines and newspapers on the device. |
| 'Gold rush' | 'Gold rush' |
| He told an audience of journalists, analysts and industry peers that the device lets people "hold the whole web in your hands". | He told an audience of journalists, analysts and industry peers that the device lets people "hold the whole web in your hands". |
| "What this device does is extraordinary. It is the best browsing experience you have ever had," he said. | "What this device does is extraordinary. It is the best browsing experience you have ever had," he said. |
| ANALYSIS Rory Cellan-Jones, Technology Correspondent Steve Jobs has fulfilled most of the expectations generated in the months of hype and speculation leading up to this launch. | ANALYSIS Rory Cellan-Jones, Technology Correspondent Steve Jobs has fulfilled most of the expectations generated in the months of hype and speculation leading up to this launch. |
| The iPad is in effect a giant iPhone which can do just about everything the phone can do but may provide a better way of watching video or playing games. | The iPad is in effect a giant iPhone which can do just about everything the phone can do but may provide a better way of watching video or playing games. |
| The most interesting aspect is the launch of iBooks, the online book store with which Apple hopes to revolutionise publishing world just as iTunes transformed the music industry. | The most interesting aspect is the launch of iBooks, the online book store with which Apple hopes to revolutionise publishing world just as iTunes transformed the music industry. |
| That could spell trouble for Amazon's Kindle and other e-readers. | That could spell trouble for Amazon's Kindle and other e-readers. |
| But the big question is whether Steve Jobs is right in thinking there's a yawning gap between smartphones and netbooks which the iPad will fill. | But the big question is whether Steve Jobs is right in thinking there's a yawning gap between smartphones and netbooks which the iPad will fill. |
| It's not entirely clear that a huge number of people - apart from dedicated early adopters - who are desperate for yet another device. | It's not entirely clear that a huge number of people - apart from dedicated early adopters - who are desperate for yet another device. |
| The device has a 9.7-inch multi-touch display, allowing people to type directly on to the screen, as well as manipulate pictures and move control the action in games with their fingers. | The device has a 9.7-inch multi-touch display, allowing people to type directly on to the screen, as well as manipulate pictures and move control the action in games with their fingers. |
| Apple claim it has a battery life of 10 hours. | Apple claim it has a battery life of 10 hours. |
| It comes preloaded with twelve applications - essentially multi-touch versions of existing Mac software such as iPhoto. | It comes preloaded with twelve applications - essentially multi-touch versions of existing Mac software such as iPhoto. |
| However, owners can also download third party apps - both specially designed for the iPad and those already available for the iPhone. People with both can synchronise their apps between the two devices. | However, owners can also download third party apps - both specially designed for the iPad and those already available for the iPhone. People with both can synchronise their apps between the two devices. |
| "We think it's going to be a whole other gold rush for developers," said Scott Forstall, who runs Apple's app division. | "We think it's going to be a whole other gold rush for developers," said Scott Forstall, who runs Apple's app division. |
| Apple revealed that more than 3bn apps have been downloaded from its App store. | Apple revealed that more than 3bn apps have been downloaded from its App store. |
| The New York Times showed off its app for the iPad, which recreates the look and feel of the newspaper but allows it to have new features, such as video. | The New York Times showed off its app for the iPad, which recreates the look and feel of the newspaper but allows it to have new features, such as video. |
| "We're pioneering the next version of digital journalism," said Martin Nisenholtz, a senior executive at the newspaper. | "We're pioneering the next version of digital journalism," said Martin Nisenholtz, a senior executive at the newspaper. |
| It also includes the firm's iTunes software built in, allowing people to purchase songs and movies straight to the device. | It also includes the firm's iTunes software built in, allowing people to purchase songs and movies straight to the device. |
| 'Cheap laptops' | 'Cheap laptops' |
| It is not the first touchscreen tablet computer on the market. Earlier this month, manufactures such as Dell and HP showed off devices at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. | |
| Some industry experts have questioned the need for another category of device, alongside laptops, smartphones and netbooks. | Some industry experts have questioned the need for another category of device, alongside laptops, smartphones and netbooks. |
| Analyst firm CCSInsight said that it remained "sceptical" of the market. It described the iPad as "a supersize iPod Touch that would get little interest if not from Apple". | Analyst firm CCSInsight said that it remained "sceptical" of the market. It described the iPad as "a supersize iPod Touch that would get little interest if not from Apple". |
| Mr Jobs dismissed netbooks as "just cheap laptops". | |
| iPAD SPECIFICATIONS 9.7 inch- (25cm-) multi-touch display1 GHz Apple processor16-64 GB of flash memory0.5in- (1.25cm) thickWeighs 1.5lbs (0.7kgs) Wi-fi and 3G connectivity Apple iPad tablet: Your comments | iPAD SPECIFICATIONS 9.7 inch- (25cm-) multi-touch display1 GHz Apple processor16-64 GB of flash memory0.5in- (1.25cm) thickWeighs 1.5lbs (0.7kgs) Wi-fi and 3G connectivity Apple iPad tablet: Your comments |
| "Netbooks aren't better at anything - they're slow and have low quality displays," he told the audience. | "Netbooks aren't better at anything - they're slow and have low quality displays," he told the audience. |
| "They're not a third category device, but we have something that we think is." | "They're not a third category device, but we have something that we think is." |
| The cheapest iPad, which will come with 16GB of flash memory and wi-fi will cost $499. The most expensive version, with 64GB of storage and the ability to connect via a mobile 3G signal, will cost $829. | |
| Users will also have to also a monthly subscription for 3G connectivity. | |
| CCSInsight said the high cost would put it "beyond most consumers". | CCSInsight said the high cost would put it "beyond most consumers". |
| Mr Jobs said that he hoped to have international prices in place in June or July. | Mr Jobs said that he hoped to have international prices in place in June or July. |
| However, all the 3G models are unlocked, meaning they will work with any network. | |
| The launch puts to rest months of speculation and rumour in the blogosphere. | The launch puts to rest months of speculation and rumour in the blogosphere. |
| Apple - famous for its secrecy - had remained silent in the run up to the launch, unwilling to release any details publicly. | Apple - famous for its secrecy - had remained silent in the run up to the launch, unwilling to release any details publicly. |