ready for an oversized iPod Touch? here you go:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/27/apple-announcement-live-v_n_438659.html

Quote:

"So, gonna give you a little overview. It's very thin -- you can change the homescreen to whatever you want. What this device does is extraordinary. You can browse the web with it. It's the best web experience you've ever had."

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/?sort=newest&refresh=60

more:
Steve Jobs has called the comically name iPad the "third category" between smartphones and laptops.

You can use it to browse the web, play games and watch films.

Some specs:
9.7 inch- (25cm-) multi-touch display
1 GHz Apple processor
16-64 GB of flash memory
0.5in- (1.25cm) thick
Weighs 1.5lbs (0.7kgs)
Wi-fi and 3G connectivity

The firm has also done a deal with publishers including Penguin, Macmillian and Harper Collins to allow e-books to be downloaded directly to the device through a new iBook Store.
"You can download right onto your iPad," said Mr Jobs.

Battery life is about 10 hours.

iTunes is built in and you can download apps, same as on an iPhone.

The WiFi only models will go on sale in 60 days, the 3G models around 90 days because they require approval from carriers.

The iPad pricing starts at just $499 (this works out at about £300).

That's for a 16GB, non-3G model.

32GB $599 for and 64GB for $699 - and if you want a 3G model, it will cost an extra $130 - $629, $729, $829.


theres a live feed on current.com for those who care

confused as to whether you want to buy an ipad? follow this flow chart to see if you need one or not: http://cdn.thenextweb.com/shareables/files/2010/03/ipad-flowchart.jpg

i guess apple is not suffering in this economy. [no, i dont know the costs to manufacture these things, so i dont know exactly what their over/under was in terms of pure profit]

Quote:

iPad Sells 300,000 Units on Launch Day It's been a busy weekend for Apple, which launched the new iPad on Sunday. The company announced today that they sold some 300,000 units on the first day, and that new users subsequently downloaded 1 million apps and 250,000 eBooks. "It feels great to have the iPad launched into the world - it's going to be a game changer," said Apple CEO Steve Jobs. "iPad users, on average, downloaded more than three apps and close to one book within hours of unpacking their new iPad." The iPad launched with more than 700 games, many of them high-definition variations of the most popular iPhone games. New titles include Geometry Wars Touch, which was announced in the week leading up to launch. You can find our hands-on impressions here, along with a roundup of the most interesting launch titles. The Wi-Fi model is currently the only version on the market, with the 3G variation to hit later this month.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3178655

and of course Reggie has to talk smack:

Quote:

Fils-Aime Says iPad and iPhone Not "Viable" Game Platforms The iPad launch this weekend was met with fanfare from all reaches of the internet -- including our own corner of it. But despite its explosive entrance on the marketplace, Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime feels it doesn't carry much weight in the gaming sector. Kotaku reports that Fils-Aime was dismissive of the iPhone and iPad in recent comments made comparing the companies' business models. He said Apple "is not having an impact on Nintendo" in terms of hardware or software sales. "I've seen data that suggestions [sic] that while consumers are constantly downloading Apps, they play with them for a few times and then they are moving on to the next thing," Fils-Aime said. "Clearly it doesn't look like their platform is a viable profit platform for game development because so many of the games are free versus paid downloads." He also struck at the general length of iPhone games. "If our games represent a range between snacks of entertainment and full meals depending on the type of game, (Apple's) aren't even a mouthful, in terms of the gaming experience you get." He may have a point. Though the App Store shook up the games industry by providing a cheap, open platform, a 2009 survey showed that 85% of developers make less than $15,000. Even publishing giants like Ubisoft have sometimes shied away from the platform, pointing out that they would keep their iPhone development minimal since "it doesn't seem to be as profitable there as on other platforms."

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3178652