iPad – post hype

The Apple iPad has been announced as many of you will be aware. It is a 9.7 inch tablet style device running a special build of the iPhone software. There are basically two models: a wifi-only version and a wifi/3G version. Both have 16, 32 and 64GB variations. The 3G version uses a microSIM (which can be handmade from a standard SIM if you are handy with a stanley knife!) and is unlocked to run on any carrier. It isn’t a 3G phone – it uses the 3G for mobile data.

The 140,000 applications in the Apple App Store mean that the iPad has one of the largest software libraries on the planet on launch. The screen of the iPad has a resolution of 1024×768 (the iPhone is 320×480) giving the ability to run the existing App Store applications in a standard size (floating in the middle of the screen) or in 2x mode – using a pixel double mode to zoom them up. With the iPad development kit, applications can be developed to use the extra screen size.

On the Apple website, there are some great movies which show the functionality of the iPad – and many of you will notice the differences in the built-in applications over the standard iPhone. For example, check out Mail and the Calendar applications. Apple also have iWork for the iPad which gives you a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation package.

So, will it be your main browsing machine? A recipe device mounted on the wall in your kitchen? Build it into your car for navigation, entertainment and music? Read books? Or a full time writing tablet using the optional keyboard dock?

We will give you a full review when our unit turns up in March.