iPad

After announcing release of the iPad back in late January, Apple finally set a release for the device. Here is the scoop:

iPad Release Date Update
• The Wi-Fi model will start selling the US on 4/3/2010.
• 3G/Wi-Fi model will be available at the end of April 2010.
• Preordering: Starts on 3/12/2010 (both models, US only).
• Location: Preorders will be taken at the Apple store or online at Apple.com
• 3G dataplan w/ATT starts at fifteen bucks for 250MB – the unlimited plan is thirty bucks.
• No word on the Rest of the World Dates (see the post below on the UK blurb)

Prep the checkbook folks…

More on the anticipated release date, this time via SF Examiner:

• The product will be demoed to the iStore sales folks on 3/10
• Sales personel will start iPad training program on 3/10
• Apple is targeting 3/26 as the release date
• 3G model release may be pushed to May
• Full force marketing attack starts on 3/15
• Marketing will focus on e-Book features
• Early birds will get a gift with purchase

Read more about it in Arnold Kim’s article here (Examiner).

There is a rumor that Apple will start talking preoders for the iPad deliveries on 2/25 (this should not be confused with an official release date which can be defined as a date the first iPad units will be shipped or physically sold).

You’ll remember that this is almost 5 weeks sooner than the initial WIFI model March shipping date I blogged about back in January

The preordering process would be limited to customers in the USA (the article also has a blurb on a supply chain pressures that Apple might be facing with such a short release window).

Take this info with a grain of salt as this is just one in a long chain of speculations revolving around the potential iPad release date.

Source: http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/02/20/ipad.would.get.advance.sales.feb.25/

On Release Date:

This one is going to be short (we may have to revisit this if the release date slips):

1. iPad Wi-Fi models Release Date: Shipping in late March.
2. iPad 3G models Release Date: Shipping in April.

Anyhow, that’s what is currently posted at the homepage (http://www.apple.com/ipad/) – stay tuned – I’ll be tracking this and posting as we learn specifics about iPad availability on Amazon and Best Buy (please comment and post info on specific retailers if you have it available. You can contact me via the link in the main meny.)

The Wall Street Journal has this for us (1/5/10):

1. Calls the device iSlate.
2. Cites 10 and 11 inch touchscreens.
3. March Release Date

If you have access to WSJ you can take a look at the whole article here.

Here is a couple of new developments in the news arena (no news on the release date though – see blod italic below) as it relates to the upcoming Apple tablet (We are not disputing that it’s coming, right?):

I’ll start with an awkward one, apparently Conde Nast is prepping for distributing content on the device even though there are no confirmed specs of any kind yet. This leads me to believe that CN’s R&D department has waaaay too much time on their hands (or, is this a freaking joke, please enlighten me). Anyhow CN’s concept video shows Wired’s iTablet app complete with kick ass turbo-super-tuper interactive graphics. We can see some well as the scrolling text, they did not forget flip-pages, page orientation switching (landscape/portrait) and some other wow stuff. Anyhow, check it out here:  Wired First on iPad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLc-8gT2eKg&feature=player_embedded)

Let’s continue combing the news: DigiTimes reports on 19 Nov 2009 that Apple tablet PC reportedly delayed until second half of 2010, with OLED model now included. I have no subscription to DigiTimes but they do claim that the tablet screen is to be delivered by LG. Tony Smith back at Reg Hardware has a nice write up on this twist here: iPad Screen by LG (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/11/19/apple_ipad_iupdate/)

The next story comes via Pocket Lint and it deals with a couple of recently filed patents (http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/29513/apple-tablet-appears-in-patent-filing ) – I am not sure if this is for real or is someone f-ing with us, but apparently there is a patent filed regarding the upcoming apple tabled so if you want to check it out and figure out for yourself follow the link posted above. Anyhow, the lint offers several pics, tech drawings, etc – nothing to write home about yet it’s enough to write about on this lovely blog.

OK, let’s continue: A short 8500 miles or, if you prefer the metric system, 13500 kilometers, from Palo Alto in a bay that hosts the city of Singapore, Creative Labs has recently held a conference and the almighty Willie Png,  the corporate strategist, told us that Creative will be entering the e-book reader competition. EpiZenTer reports some news on C’s upcoming tablet (http://www.epizenter.net/comment.php?comment.news.503) that the company is negotiating exclusive deals with the local publishers – and we’ll see how this one is gonna pan out. Reg Hardware mac section (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/11/03/creative_back_with_media_tablet/) claims that the device is going sport a color screen, so no e-ink (bye, bye battery life) will be bleeding from the Creative devices. Interesting stuff, interesting stuff…

For the end I saved a quick quiz – let’s figure out what “500 американских долларов” means… I took the phrase from this Russian post with a nice pic of iPad: http://www.hwp.ru/news/Reliz_planshetnika_ot_Apple_perenesen__73369/

See if this helps at all: google.ru lookup

As always, please send me any good news or articles and I’ll publish it.