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Specs
- CPU: Apple's custom 1GHz A4 SOC, manufactured by Samsung. And we can tell you, it's blazingly fast.
- Display: 9.7-inch, 1024 x 786 (132 PPI), LED backlit IPS with capacitive touch and oleophobic coating.
- Storage: The iPad will come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB variations.
- RAM: No word on this from Apple (just like with the iPhone and iPod touch). We assume it's more than the iPhone 3GS's 256MB, but we won't know for sure till we see a full breakdown.
- Wireless: The devices comes standard with 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1. You can also purchase a version which has 3G connectivity (UMTS / HSDPA 850, 1900, 2100MHz and GSM / EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz). Sorry everyone, AT&T only here in the US -- and if you're thinking about using your iPhone SIM, think again. The iPad uses new micro SIMs.
- Other sensors: The iPad has a digital compass, there's AGPS on-board in the 3G version, and both versions have an accelerometer and ambient light sensor.
- Ports / input / output: Headphone jack, 30-pin dock connector, built-in microphone, built-in speaker.
- Battery life: Apple claims "up to" 10 hours web surfing on WiFi, listening to music, or watching video, and over a month on standby.
- Dimensions: height: 9.56-inches, width: 7.47-inches, depth: 0.5-inches, weight: 1.5 pounds (1.6 for the 3G model).
Hardware
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In your hands, you can definitely feel the 1.5 pounds of weight the iPad carries. It's not super heavy, but it has a healthy solidness to it. The aluminum is welcoming to touch and hold, though the glass (as you would imagine) is a magnet for smudges. Just expect to be wiping this thing clean a lot. One handed operation is definitely the name of the game for the iPad unless you're sitting, so expect to be holding it with one hand while navigating with the other. When you're seated, it's clear Apple has two use cases in mind: on the lap, or on a table. Both work easily enough, though it's going to take some getting used to when it comes to typing.
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Software
There's no phone or SMS functionality on this device, and no iChat, though the iPad can run "almost" (Steve's words) all of the 140,000 apps made for the iPhone and iPod touch. It does this in two ways; the first is by running a regular sized version of the app in the center of the screen, and the second way is by scaling up the application so it fills the screen. The effect looks good on games, though seems a little silly on applications such as Facebook.
The iPad has a new keyboard that spans the length of the device (both in landscape and portrait) which looks similar to a standard QWERTY keyboard, and it also has a number of contextual keyboards which pop up for different uses (such as a data entry, where you want a numeric keypad).
If you're wondering about notifications, we have yet to see how they work. Whether or not they'll be pop-ups as on the iPhone remains to be seen. Other non-changes include multitasking, meaning... multitasking is also out as of now. You can only run one app at a time here (though like the iPhone, we assume Apple will make allowances for iPod functionality, Safari, and mail).
The company showed off a few early third-party demos at the launch event, including games from Gameloft and EA, and a new version of the popular Brushes application which is currently available on the iPhone. The New York Times was also on hand to show its native application for the device, which boasts a number of features specifically catered to the iPad's screen real estate. Apple also demonstrated its new iPad-specific suite of iWork apps, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. All were rebuilt entirely for use on this device, and will be available at launch for $9.99 apiece.
What it's like to use
It's the apps that are really different. For instance, in mail you now have a view of your message list and your current email in one look -- if you switch to portrait, you get just a message view with a drop down menu for your list. The calendar app is completely different, coming off more like a date book than just a grid of days or list. We didn't get a lot of time to play with it, but it looks far more robust than its iPhone counterpart. Apple's new ebook app -- iBooks -- is one of the more visually impressive pieces of software on the device, giving you handsomely animated page turns, along with display settings and search functionally accessible through a contextual menu. The iBooks app also uses a handsome (though awfully familiar) bookshelf motif which allows you to navigate your collection.
As we said before, the Store apps now share more functionality with their desktop big brothers. When you're looking at music or apps, you can call up a pop-over display that gives you a snapshot of info. It's a great UI change that we hope makes it to some iPhone apps. Instead of the common in-one-screen-out-to-another use that you're familiar with, this provides a much more contextual and speedy solution. Similarly, many apps involve top-and-hold functions to access deeper functionality -- akin to a contextual right click.
Applications like Safari and maps utilize the previously mentioned drop-down menus, but also take advantage of Apple's pinch zooming functionality. Obviously getting around in these two applications will feel very familiar, but it should be noted that Apple hasn't really added any additional gestures, such as being able to rotate the map you're looking at (something we've seen on the Surface, and seems to make sense here). Safari works just as you'd expect it, even the tabs are handled with separate "cards," though it does add drop-downs for the bookmarks and share options. Oh, and another thing about Safari -- there's still no Flash support here, so if you were expecting to enjoy your favorite NBC programs or watch HD Vimeo content while lounging around your apartment, you're out of luck.
Typing on the iPad can be a little difficult. Holding it in your lap is fairly easy, but as you can see in our video up above, when it's flat on its back on a table, it tends to move around a bit given that it's curved. If you're holding the device in portrait mode, it's possible (though not that easy) to type with your thumbs, but you're more likely to be hunting and pecking with a single hand (unless you have some large paws). Luckily, when it comes to holding it, Apple provides that large bezel around the side, so you're not actually touching the screen when you're gripping it. If you're interested in handwriting recognition or stylus input -- you're out of luck. From what we can tell there's no handwriting recognition here besides the Asian character input, and Apple certainly isn't selling a stylus accessory for this device. The company seems to be sure that the way to go with the iPad is keyboard-only input. Hell, they'll even sell you an external keyboard!
Overall, this isn't a sea-change experience. If you know the iPhone and iPod touch, you know this device... and that's how Apple wants it. However, we're not ruling out the possibility that between now and the launch date Apple won't include some new functionality with this thing -- as said earlier, the weather and stock apps are conspicuously missing, which gives rise to the possibility that Apple may have a widget concept in mind here. We're hoping the company decides to expand on some of this at least -- particularly when it comes to running more than one app at a time, because we don't think the use cases shown off are super compelling for most users at this point.
Partnerships
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Pricing and availability / data plans
Here's the breakdown for cost on the hardware alone:
- WiFi, 16GB: $499
- WiFi, 32GB: $599
- WiFi, 64GB: $699
- 3G, WiFi, 16GB: $629
- 3G, WiFi, 32GB: $729
- 3G, WiFi, 64GB: $829
Launch day specifics
Pre-orders are actually the primary way people are going to end up with iPads on launch day. Unfortunately, if you haven't pre-ordered by the time you're reading this, it's already too late. As of right now, new orders for the iPad won't be fulfilled until April 12th, and we can imagine that getting pushed back further, the longer you wait. Want a iPad with built-in 3G? You're going to have to wait even longer, with Apple saying "late April" to current pre-orderers. Folks who have their name in for a WiFi iPad for Saturday can score the machine one of two ways:
- Shipping: From what we can tell, there are all sorts of iPads already in the US, but Apple and UPS are doing some fudging around with what they're telling us package tracking-wise. Orders that were hours ago listed as residing in Kentucky are now just saying that they've been scanned in Shenzhen. Either way, if you have a scheduled Saturday delivery, we're guessing you're getting an iPad on Saturday.
- Pickup: If you chose the Apple Store pick-up option for your pre-order, there's much less confusion: just walk into your chosen Apple Store at 9AM and grab one. Only thing you have to remember is to get there before 3PM, or you'll lose your hold on a unit and it will be sold on a first-come first-served basis.
Meanwhile, some Best Buy stores will also be getting iPads. If your Best Buy has a dedicated Apple section within it, chances are it will be getting some quantity of iPads, but we'd call ahead just to be sure. It's a gamble: Best Buys will have much less attention line-wise, but also we're guessing they'll have dramatically less iPad stock, so play your line-waiting cards wisely. %Gallery-84044%
Accessories
The camera connection kit and keyboard dock are slated to ship "late April," just like those 3G iPads, Apple's iPad case is at "mid April," and the basic iPad dock / dock connector to VGA adapter will both hit April 3rd. 10W USB power adapter? Not until May. What's unclear is which of these, if any, will be available at retail Apple Stores at launch. We'd assume the Dock and Dock Connector will make the cut, but with the general populace's love of buying cases when they pick up iPhones, it would seem a little silly for Apple not to have the iPad Case in stock on launch day. We suppose we'll find out soon enough.
Wrap-up
Those issues aside, the combination of beautiful hardware and elegant software is undeniable, and what Apple may have lacked in imagination, the legion of iPhone developers certainly will not. The possibilities for this device are huge, and we have no doubt that devs around the globe will take full advantage of that -- just as they have on the iPhone and iPod touch. We also won't rule out the possibility that Apple itself isn't done tinkering here; there could very well be surprises lying in store for us before that launch date arrives. A two month window is no small matter. Regardless, it's clear that Apple has taken the ball and is running with it when it comes to touch based computing -- the only question is whether they can barrel this thing into the endzone.