Apple's "iPad" Out In the Open

Reader oxide7 is one of the many to note that the heaviest speculation is mostly over (still waiting on the price, though) about Apple's anticipated new device (though there are surely plenty of questions about the device's hardware capabilities and the scope of its software and content marketplace): "At an event in San Francisco Apple released its anticipated iPad.'[It's] Way better than a laptop, way better then a phone. You can turn it any way you want. To see the whole page is phenomenal,' said Jobs." The (0.5") skinny: 1.5 lbs, multitouch, up to 64GB of flash, 9.7" screen, and a 1Ghz "Apple A4" chip (more about the A4 in Engadget's developing story). The iPad is closer in concept to an expanded iPhone (OS and all) than a miniaturized laptop, though it doesn't have quite as much connectivity as you might expect, with no 3G connection built in. (You'll have to make do with 802.11n, Bluetooth, and tethering.) Live coverage is ongoing at gdgt live, Engadget, and Gizmodo, as well as various others. Update by timothy, 19:58 GMT: Got the 3G part wrong; 3G is indeed an option. Prices run from $499 (16GB flash, WiFi but no 3G) to $829 (WiFi and 3G, 64GB flash). Should start shipping in 60 days (WiFi only), in 90 days for 3G. Surprsingly, no built-in camera.

New Ipad

[snmpkid]

How will that new iphone fit in my pocket? its 10" diagonally!

Taking Jobs at his word

[DoofusOfDeath]

"Way better than a laptop, way better then a phone."

So Apple is basically saying that we should stop buying MacBooks and iPhones?

iPad? Really?

[FSWKU]

What an unfortunate name. One could conceiveably think that Apple is delving into the untapped market of network-enabled feminine hygiene products... What was wrong with the oft-rumored "iSlate" moniker? Also, what's the PRICE on this thing?

Oblig

[fiannaFailMan]

No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.

Perfect!

[Anonymous Coward]

I was looking at the iPhone the other day and I was just thinking that it would be so much better if it didn't fit into any of my pockets.

iPhad

[ddebrito]

Phirst iPost!

Phenomenal

[amicusNYCL]

To see the whole page is phenomenal

I'm not sure "phenomenal" is the right term to describe "seeing a whole page". You would think that we've never been able to see a whole page before and that Steve Jobs is personally responsible for some entirely new experience.

I guess that's what they mean by the reality distortion field.

You can turn it any way you want.

Good god, you mean I can pick the thing up and actually turn it? I'm so excited I'm about to soil myself! Will Apple innovations never cease?

Re:New Ipad

[Hatta]

I'm just waiting for Apple to announce the new iPud. Is that an iPud in your pocket?

Watching the presentation live...

[Hamster Lover]

Watching the announcement live I was struck with just how absorbent the crowd was regarding iPad presentation. It's like this product has wings. I wonder how well the iPad will handle those heavy work flow days.

Re:Giant iPhone

[trash eighty]

It might be a normal iPhone but Steve has shrunk

Fantastic!

[diskofish]

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, can we move on now?

Re:Doesn't Create a Need

[flabordec]

The last time you saw a comment in /. speculating about the future of Apple's latest new thing was with the release of the iPod? You don't visit very often.

underpowered?

[commodoresloat]

It actually has a robust power source; it is powered almost entirely by the user's sense of self-importance.

Re:iPad? Really?

[Arthur Grumbine]

What an unfortunate name.

Just wait until Apple partners with Sprint next year and releases the WiMax iPad.

Re:No flash support

[MBGMorden]

No one really bitches about not having it on the phone, except the people who scream 'I'm not buying because it doesn't do flash!!'

So let me get this straight: No one is complaining about this, except for the people who are?

Thanks for the insight man. You have any ideas on how to solve this whole "economy" thing?

Re:Phenomenal

[chentiangemalc]

i have a couple of books around me - guess what? i can turn them anyway I want as well, AND see the whole page at the same time.

Re:price?

[Anonymous Coward]

Wireless. More space than a Nomad. Lame.

Apple iPad... on MadTV

[Brazilian Geek]

Just this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1BUH9eXy18 [youtube.com]

Re:Fantastic!

[e2d2]

Slow down speedy, we have to take a shit on it first. Then we move on.

*yawn*

[0xdeadbeef]

No WiMAX. Same storage as an iPod. Lame.

time to put "i" names out to pasture

[logicassasin]

I mean, really though... they couldn't come up with a better name??? iPad sounds like digital Kotex...

Re:Phenomenal

[CannonballHead]

Yes, but those books only cost $15, whereas this will cost many hundreds more than that... which just proves that Apple's solution is better.

Re:What is the point?

[syousef]

It's more than just an iPod touch that won't fit in your pocket...it's also an underpowered netbook with no keyboard. It's the worst of both worlds!

Steve Jobs will be releasing the new iPants in the next couple of months. The iPants have iPockets that will fit an iPad. If you don't own a pair you won't be iCool anymore, so better save up those iPennies.

Apple has always released crippled products and insisted that they were superior. You had to wait till iPhone 3.0 to have MMS and buy a 3rd party app (not available at release) to record video. These are things that have been standard in phones for 5 years. Apple's genius is not the product, it's the marketing which seems to catch out every wannabe geek and fashion victim.

Re:No flash support

[Trails]

Yes! If by "future" you mean "marginal enhancements to a decade old spec, solving problems that have already been fixed, and still isn't done yet, let alone supported" then yes, future indeed. I'm thoroughly prepared to have my mind blown by it, on the five example pages w3c will eventually put out. Phenomenal.

Re:Doesn't Create a Need

[noidentity]

There is Apple's market. Pretty slim, eh? I don't see many sales in the future of iPod.

~LoudMusic

And that, my friends, is why the Post Anonymously checkbox exists.

Re:iPad? Really?

[kungfugleek]

Predicted by MadTV years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1BUH9eXy18 [youtube.com]

Re:No flash support

[Larry Lightbulb]

And if it had wheels you could drive it around. It's not replacing notebooks, it's something different.

yes for example

[commodoresloat]

That Divinyls song from the 90s, "iTouch Myself"

Re:No flash support

[Mongoose Disciple]

I rather have Apple kill Flash.

If you're going to wish for something unrealistic and beyond their power, at least shoot for world peace.

No stylus eh?

[mikael_j]

I see nothing about stylus support, guess I won't be buying one then.

It would have been a perfect device with stylus support, now it's just not for me (although I do see a lot of possibilities for others).

/Mikael

Re:Doesn't Create a Need

[Anonymous Coward]

I think this may be a shot across the bow of netbooks

It's a naval term - you shoot in front of a ship as a warning to stop/change course, the implication being that the next shot won't miss. A shot across the bough would merely leaf you defenceless...

Re:Taking Jobs at his word--misquoted

[DoofusOfDeath]

It was actually "way more intimate than a laptop, way better than a phone"--which makes sense.

So it's some kind of fancy vibrator?

Re:No flash support

[gobbo]

people in black turtlenecks watch movies, not network TV

Re:Is that an OLED screen?

[Anonymous Coward]

I heard there is a bug that causes blurriness, but they plan on fixing it with an iPatch.

The iPad nano is available too

[kindbud]

Check it out. [apple.com]

Re:What is the point?

[Captain Splendid]

I want to put the mp3 on my iPhone so I can listen to it later, maybe in the car on the way home. But I can't. My iPhone is paired to my Mac at home, and if I want to put an MP3 on while I am at work, iTunes insists on erasing the device first. (It doesn't do this for some data, like contacts, which sync at home & work with no problem.)

Have him email it to you. Or FTP it somewhere. There's plenty of ways to get things on your iphone/touch without syncing.

Re:No flash support

[ClosedSource]

The youtube experience:

1) Try to find the show. If you can't find it you're SOL

2) Find show part 1. Move closer to the monitor to recognize the characters.

3) Find show part 2. Oops wrong part 2, this one has a gap.

4) Find show part 3. Shit there is no part 3, you're SOL.

Re:Watching the presentation live...

[peterprior]

Well it is bleeding edge hardware....

Re:What is the point?

[Anonymous Coward]

http://imgur.com/uWIDR

Re:What is the point?

[Xamusk]

Isn't this just a big expensive iPod touch now?

Depends on how you spin it. I look at it as an eBook reader with an awesome web browser, GPS, WiFi, 3G, local storage, a MP3 player and access to the thousands of apps in the app store. Which, personally, is exactly what I've been waiting for to hit the market to handle my eBook and casual browsing needs. I'm sure I'm not alone here.

Oh, you were waiting for a Nokia N900?

Re:The iPad is a Platform

[Reformed Lurker]

Mod poster up. My wife, who thinks I sound like Charlie Brown's teacher when I mention technical terms (like "mouse") abosolutely loves the iPhone she got in November, and constantly finds ways to use it whenever she can - without needing my help. She'll eat this iPad up. It's people like her who will make this a success. Easy to use; fits their needs. Their target market is not slashdot (except to entice developers to get on-board).

Re:What the hell

[Adult film producer]

No worries.. the chinese knockoff will be available on ebay for $199 in a year.

Re:Extra things you'll need

[PopeRatzo]

But for actual work? Forget it.

It's not meant for work.

It's a social signifier, meant for being seen pretending to read the Infinite Jest ebook in an overpriced caffeine boutique.

It's how a certain segment of the population can identify one another without having to expose their tattoos of improperly-used Chinese characters.

Think of the iPad as the tech version of eyebrow jewelery.

Re:Taking Jobs at his word

[proslack]

Which would be paraphrased as "Less screen space than a laptop and much bulkier than a phone." A phone for trolls or a laptop for dwarves...in other words, a device with great sales potential in Middle Earth.

Re:No flash support

[elrous0]

No, we watch FILMS! "Movies" are for the unwashed masses.

Fin

Re:What is the point?

[elrous0]

One of these days Steve Jobs is going to stand up on stage and literally offer up a big turd with a button on it. He's going to call it the "iFece," and make vague promises about it bringing "synergy," changing the world, and revolutionizing the way we think of turds. And on the day it goes on sale, a million Macheads will stand in line in the rain outside Apple stores across America to pay $1000 for one.

My review - it will never be a success...

[Darth Snowshoe]

This thing is very flat, and it's possible it could very easily get lost in my cluttered apartment. It has on odd name that could be hard to spell, with a capital later that is placed in an unorthodox location. It has somewhat sharp edges which could present a danger to very clumsy people. Also, it's utility is going to be limited for people who are blind, deaf and also have no fingers or toes. Additionally, it won't work very well for people living underwater. In places that are very hot, like Venus, or the Sun, its durability is questionable and its battery life would be compromised. It could present a choking hazard to very large people or hungry bears. A palette full of them could easily crush someone. It would probably explode in a microwave oven. Honestly, I have to wonder what Steve Jobs was thinking when he designed this! No thanks, Steve, what are you, trying to kill me?

Re:No flash support

[hondo77]

Movies are for the masses. Films are watched by poseurs. We watch cinéma.

Re:No flash support

[Volguus Zildrohar]

We are not talking about your sex life, sir.

Re:Extra things you'll need

[Verminator]

Dear Europe:

You win.

You're better, and we suck.

We're closing up shop.

Sincerely,
The United States of America

P.S. You can now stop all shipments to us of your pricey cars and kitchen appliances.

Re:No flash support

[rockout]

I'm suddenly reminded of something about wireless nomads, and the word "lame", but I can't quite put my finger on it.....