Apple New Gadget

Finally, Steve Jobs announced the latest gadget - iPad (not iSlate), a much anticipated and discussed for months prior to it. The device has a 9.56" screen size, half inch thickness and weighs about 700g. Touchscreen and wifi enabled with a virtual keyboard.


Owners can use it to surf internet, to email, to watch video, to listen to music/songs, to note, to map, buy applications from apps store, as a photo frame, to game, calendaring and as an ebook reader ie to read books, magazines digitally.

One of the key functions, ie the ebook reader, supports video and allow authors/publishers to add new content as part of the ebook in full colour. Most of the current ebook reader devices are in black and white including those from Amazon and Sony. At the same time, Apple will be providing a iBook store to sell ebooks for it.

The challenge to me is the battery's life. The product is rich in features but could be pretty taxing on the power. However, it promises 10 hours of battery life per full charge. iPad comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB configuration and would be available in March/April 2010. Pricing ? US$499 for the 16GB model ie about S$700. Wow, not cheap.

Likely to be my first ebook reading device if the collection is rich and supports muilt-languages and formats. Meanwhile, will wait and see first. iPad or iPet :-)