Apple iPad

Today, Apple unveiled it’s latest gotta have device… The Apple iPad. This device features a 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology.

It comes in multiple pricing configurations, based on storage capacity, and whether you choose Wi-Fi only, or the Wi-Fi + 3G model. Prices range from a low of $499, to a high of $829.

At the unveiling of the device, Steve Jobs said,

“When we set out to develop the iPad, we not only had very ambitious technical goals and user interface goals, but we had a very aggressive price goal. “We want to put this in the hands of a lot of people… At $499, a lot of people can afford an iPad.”

Unlimited data is going to be be available from AT&T for $29.99 without the need for any contract.

The iPad screen resolution is going to be 1024×768. This is good news for us web developers in that we probably won’t have to do anything to our websites to make them display properly on the iPad. That’s really good news!

One great feature of the new iPad is that it will run regular iPhone applications, without having to modify the code. They will generally either be centered in the middle of the screen, or enlarged to full screen mode. Also, developers are going to have an updated SDK that includes an iPad simulator, so they can begin to design applications specifically for the new iPad device.

There is even a new program available called iBooks, which is an e-reader program. It allows you to view virtual books in black and white or full color. So far, there are five publishers already set to provide books for this device: Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, MacMillan, Penguin, and Hachette.

Is the new iPad going to replace the Amazon Kindle or the Barnes & Noble nook as the new high-end E-book reader? My guess is yes, but only time will tell.

For more information on the new iPad, check out the Apple website.