By Glenn Letham
Expert Author
Article Date: 2010-01-29
Yes, the iPad.. I'm not kidding, they called it a flipping "iPad"… check out this video for a first look… am I crazy or does it look like a giant iPhone? With a name like iPad you can just imaging the jokes that are flying around the Geek-o-Sphere!
Yes indeed, today in San Fran Apple unveiled what most people were expecting, although under a very odd name… enter the iPad - yes indeed, iPad, and the jokes about the name are rampant on the web as you can expect! Jokes aside, the 9.7 inch touch screen device looks oddly exactly like a giant iPhone. Apparently the device has been designed to fill a gap between the iPod touch and iPhone and its MacBook line of laptop computers… I see it as a cool way to use your favorite iPhone apps, browse the web while on the couch or as a handy e-book reader. Apparently the data plan will be handled by AT&T (yes there's been many groans about this) and also "apparently" an "unlimited" data plan yet to be verified, (I'll believe that when I see it) will be around $29 per month from AT&T - sorry but I doubt that rumor! Look for the iPad to come on strong as a favorite, new, media viewing device (books, photos, videos, games) although I am very skeptical about the so-called unlimited data plan offer! The reason, just the other day I walked into AT&T with a Nokia Booklet 3G and wondered about pricing. The reps were clueless, had no idea what the device was, almost laughed when I used the term "unlimited data" and commented how unlimited data almost non-existent and becoming a problem due to the heavy data usage by iPhone users and other smartphones… I have to wonder how on earth they will ever have enough pipe for the iPad?? See the official PR and Specs HERE
HOT Specs:
up to 10 hrs battery life
runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone
iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch
two versions-one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G
Apple today released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad
Pricing… iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model.
Comments About the Author: Anything Geospatial: Tracking developments affecting GIS, geospatial technologies, location-based services, mapping, google earth and google maps. Published by the creator and editor of GISuser.com & LBSzone.com
