iPad
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The iPad is a tablet computer developed by Apple Inc. Announced on January 27, 2010, it is positioned in a category between a smartphone and a laptop computer.[8]
Similar in functionality to the smaller, less powerful iPhone or iPod touch, it runs a modified version of the same operating system (iPhone OS),[9][10] with a user interface redesigned to take advantage of the larger screen.[11] The iPad has a 9.7-inch (25 cm) LED backlit multi-touch display, 16 to 64 gigabytes (GB) of flash memory, Bluetooth, and a 30-pin dock connector to sync with iTunes and connect wired accessories.[3] Two models have been announced: one with 802.11n Wi-Fi and one with 802.11n Wi-Fi and 3G (which can connect to HSDPA cellular networks), and Assisted GPS. Both models may be purchased with three different storage capacities.[3]
As Apple's first device to use its iBookstore service and companion iBooks ebook reading application, the iPad has been compared with Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook.Contents
- 1 History
- 2 Availability
- 3 Hardware
- 3.1 Input and output
- 3.2 Controls
- 3.3 Battery replacement program
- 3.4 Optional accessories
- 4 Software
- 5 Books and magazines
- 6 Reception
- 6.1 Reaction to the announcement
- 6.2 Expected features
- 6.3 Digital rights
- 6.4 Product name
- 6.5 Reviews
- 7 See also
- 8 References
- 9 External links
- 10 Related Items
History
Apple's first tablet computer was the Newton MessagePad 100,[15][16] introduced in 1993, which led to the creation of the ARM6 processor core with Acorn Computers. Apple also developed a prototype PowerBook Duo-based tablet, the PenLite, but did not sell it to avoid hurting MessagePad sales.[17] Apple released several more Newton-based PDAs, and discontinued the last, the MessagePad 2100, in 1998.
Apple reentered the mobile-computing market in 2007 with the iPhone. Smaller than the iPad but featuring a camera and mobile phone, it pioneered the multitouch interface of iPhone OS. By late 2009, the iPad's release had been rumored for several months; iSlate and iTablet were among speculated names.[18] The iPad was announced on January 27, 2010, at an Apple press conference at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.[3][19]
Three days later, at the 52nd Grammy Awards, Stephen Colbert used an iPad in announcing the nominees.[20]
Availability
Apple began taking pre-orders for the iPad from U.S. customers on March 12, 2010.[2][21] The iPad went on sale in the U.S. on April 3[2][22] for the Wi-Fi version and the Wi-Fi + 3G version will be released at the end of April. Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G iPad models will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.[2][23] 3G service will be provided in the U.S. by AT&T and sold with two prepaid contract-free data plan options: one for unlimited data and the other for 250 MB/month at half the price.[24][25] The plans will be activated on the iPad itself and can be canceled at any time.[26]
Hardware
| Model | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi + 3G |
|---|---|---|
| Announce date | January 27, 2010[3] | |
| Release date | April 3, 2010[2] | Late April 2010[3] |
| Display size | 4:3 aspect ratio, 9.7 inch diagonal (20×15 cm) | |
| Display technology | IPS LCD, LED backlight | |
| Graphics | 1024×768 px (XGA), 132 ppi, 720p video | |
| Processor | 1 GHz Apple A4 SoC[6] | |
| Storage | Flash–16, 32, 64 GB | |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi (802.11abgn), Bluetooth (2.1, EDR) | |
| Cellular | No | HSDPA (micro-SIM) |
| Geolocation | Skyhook Wireless | Assisted GPS |
| Sensors | acceleration, ambient light, direction | |
| Operating system | iPhone OS 3.2[4] | |
| Battery | Built-in Lithium-ion polymer battery; 25 W·h (10 h video, 140 h music, 1-month standby) | |
| Weight | 1.5 lb (680 g) | 1.6 lb (730 g) |
| Dimensions | 9.56 in (24.3 cm) × 7.47 in (19.0 cm) × 0.5 in (1.3 cm) | |
| Controls | Home, sleep, screen rotation lock, volume, multi-touch screen | |
Input and output
The iPad has a fairly minimal selection of external ports: a dock connector for general input and output, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a speaker, and a microphone.[5]
Controls
The iPad and its iPhone-based OS are controlled using the multi-touch touchscreen that takes up most of the device's front side.[5] The iPad also has external buttons for sleep, screen rotation lock, and controlling the volume, as well as a button to return to the home screen.[5] It also has an accelerometer (for motion sensitivity) and a digital magnetic compass.[5] Unlike the iPod, the iPad supports a screen rotation of any angle (in increments of 90°)[27], essentially meaning that the device functionally has no "up" or "down" no matter how the device is held—from the perspective of the user, only the position of the home button changes. The switch that was originally used to mute the device was replaced just before the device's release by a button that locks the device's screen rotation, which was reportedly intended to improve the device's ease-of-use when lying down.[28]
Battery replacement program
The iPad uses a lithium-ion polymer battery that loses capacity over time. The battery is not designed to be user-replaceable. Apple will replace an iPad that does not hold an electrical charge for a fee of US$99. However, unlike the battery replacement program for iPhones and iPods, Apple will replace the iPad itself with a refurbished iPad.[29][30]
Optional accessories
Apple will sell several iPad accessories, including:[5]
- Keyboard Dock with hardware keyboard, 30-pin connector, and audio jack
- Case which can be used to stand the iPad in various positions
- Dock with 30-pin connector and audio jack
- Dock Connector to VGA Adapter for external monitor or projector
- Camera Connection Kit including a USB Type A connector adapter and an SD card reader, for transferring photos and videos
- USB Power Adapter with 2A (10W)
Software
Like the iPhone, with which it shares a development environment (iPhone SDK, or software development kit, version 3.2 beta onwards),[4] the iPad will only run software downloaded from Apple's App Store.[31] The iPad will run almost all third-party iPhone applications, displaying them at iPhone size or enlarging them to fill the iPad's screen.[32] Developers may also create or modify apps to take advantage of the iPad's features.[33] At least 1,000 new iPad apps will be available at launch.[34]
The iPad will come with these applications: Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, YouTube, iPod, iTunes Store, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Contacts, and Spotlight.[35] The iPad syncs with iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC.[3] Apple ported its iWork suite from the Mac to the iPad, and will sell the Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps in the App Store.[3] Although the iPad is not designed to replace a cellphone, a user can pair it with a Bluetooth headset and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or 3G using a VoIP application.[36]
Books and magazines
The iPad will include the iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore.[37] For the iPad launch on April 3, 2010, the iBookstore will be available only in the United States.[3][2][35]. Several major book publishers including Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have committed to publishing books for the iPad.[38]
In February 2010, Condé Nast said it would sell iPad subscriptions for its GQ, Vanity Fair and Wired magazines by June.[39] In April 2010, The New York Times announced it will begin publishing daily on the iPad.[40]
Reception
Reaction to the announcement
Media reaction to the iPad announcement was mixed. Walt Mossberg wrote, "It's about the software, stupid", meaning hardware features and build are less important to the iPad's success than software and user interface, his first impressions of which were largely positive. Mossberg also called the price "modest" for a device of its capabilities, and praised the ten-hour battery life.[41] Others, including PC Advisor and The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote that the iPad would also compete with proliferating netbooks, most of which use Microsoft Windows.[42][43] The base model's $499 price was lower than pre-release estimates by the tech press, Wall Street analysts, and Apple's competitors, all of whom were expecting a much higher entry price point.[10][44][45]
Yair Reiner said the iPad will compete against e-book devices such as the Barnes & Noble nook and the Amazon Kindle while offering 70% of revenue to publishers, the same arrangement afforded developers on the Apple App Store.[46] Notably, a week before the iPad's expected release, the Amazon Kindle store increased publishers' revenue share to 70% as well.[47]
Several days after the unveiling, Stephen Fry said people must use the iPad to truly appreciate its purpose and quality and commented that common criticisms of the device fall away after use. Fry noted the iPad's speed and responsiveness, the intuitive interface and the richness and detail of the display.[48]
Expected features
CNET and Gizmodo have listed features that are missing from the iPad that they believe customers expect, including a camera for video chat, Adobe Flash support, a widescreen aspect ratio, the ability to multitask (run more than one application at once), and a more flexible wired-data port than the iPod dock connector.[31][49] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Gizmodo noted that the iPad will only officially support installing software from the App Store.[31][50] CNET also criticised the iPad for its apparent lack of wireless sync which other portable devices such as Microsoft's Zune have had for a number of years. At the moment there is no independent proof the iPad lacks this feature, and the built-in iTunes app should be able to download from the internet as well.[51]
While CNN and Wired News criticized the lack of a webcam, they defended other omissions, including Flash: "Who needs Flash, anyway? YouTube and Vimeo have both switched to H.264 for video streaming, and the rest of the world of Flash is painful to use." Of multitasking, they said that "it will not matter at all to the target user", as its absence is responsible for "a large part of that ten-hour battery life." Of the aspect ratio: "16:9 ratio in [portrait mode] would look oddly tall and skinny ... [4:3 is] a compromise, and a good one." Of a USB port: "The iPad is meant to be an easy-to-use appliance, not an all-purpose computer. A USB port would mean installing drivers for printers, scanners and anything else you might hook up."[52][53]
Tech reporter Leo Laporte offered a mixed initial review, praising the iPad's speed but panning the lack of a camera, video output, USB or FireWire ports, and the inability to run multiple applications at the same time, specifically the inability to run a chat application along with other applications.[54] He also mentioned the device's "locked down", closed nature, noting that some at the announcement protested Apple's "full control" of the software. He concluded that the iPad should be viewed as an "appliance" for media consumers, not really a computer in the traditional sense.
Digital rights
Digital rights advocates, including the Free Software Foundation, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and computer engineer and activist Brewster Kahle, have criticized the iPad for its digital rights restrictions, which forbids users to install software unless it has been approved by Apple. At issue are restrictions imposed by the iPad's design, namely DRM intended to lock purchased media to Apple's platform, the development model requiring a non-disclosure agreement and paid subscription to develop for the iPad, the centralized approval process for apps, as well as Apple's general control and lockdown of the platform itself, and that such centralized control could stifle software innovation. Of particular concern is the ability for Apple (or any other authority that can persuade Apple) to remotely disable or delete apps, media, or data on the iPad at will.[55][56][57]
Product name
Like the iPhone, the iPad shares its name with existing products. The most publicized is the Fujitsu iPAD, a mobile multi-functional device sold to retailers to help clerks verify prices, check inventory, and close sales. The Japanese company Fujitsu introduced the iPAD in 2002, and the following year applied for the trademark, but the firm found the mark was already owned by Mag-Tek. Fujitsu's trademark application was listed as "abandoned" in April 2009, and the ownership of the mark is unclear. Fujitsu consulted attorneys over what, if any, action it may take.[58][59] On March 17, 2010 the Fujitsu IPAD U.S. trademark was transferred to Apple.[60]
In the first days after the iPad's announcement, some media and many online commenters criticized the name "iPad", noting its similarity to "pad", the common name for a sanitary napkin.[61][62][63][64] Shortly after the launch announcement, the hashtag "iTampon" became the number-two trending topic on the social networking site Twitter.[63][65] The New York Times noted that "iPad" sounds like "iPod" in various regional accents, including Bostonian and the Irish accent.[66]
Reviews
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In contrast to the initial mixed reaction to Apple's announcement of the iPad, the critical reception by reviewers who have been able to spend an extended period of time with the device has been generally positive. Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal called it a "pretty close" laptop killer.[67] In his review of the device, David Pogue of The New York Times wrote a "dual" review, one part for technology-minded people, and the other part for non-technology-minded people. In the former section, he notes that it is cheaper to get more features in a laptop for a cheaper price than the iPad. In his review for the latter audience, however, he claims that if his readers like the concept of the device and can understand what its intended uses are, then they will enjoy using the device.[68] Ed Baig of USA Today bluntly states that the iPad "is a winner".[69] Andy Ihnatko of the Chicago Sun-Times calls the iPad "one of the best computers ever".[70] PC Magazine also praised the iPad; Tim Gideon's review said, "you have yourself a winner" that "will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape."[71] Michael Arrington of TechCrunch said, "the iPad beats even my most optimistic expectations. This is a new category of device. But it also will replace laptops for many people." [72]
See also
- Comparison of e-book readers
- Comparison of portable media players
- List of iPhone OS devices
- Micro-Sim use by cell phone carriers
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