Well its been a little over 24hrs since it’s announcement, giving me 24hrs to get my thoughts together on what I think of the overall products. My initial impression as with any new gadget is - I have to have that. Then the more I though about it I thought, meh – I don’t really need it, I’ll just wait for the new iPhone. Much of the internet is flooded with talks of how Apple delivered and underwhelming product with people screaming left and right ‘no flash support’, ‘no camera’, ‘ugly bezel’, saying that netbooks can do a better job than iPad. This nonsense has been going on since its announcement. Now I may agree on many aspects people are arguing but there is so much potential in this device. First of all I want to start off and say that this thing is not even out yet! Apple has 60 59 days to make changes in both the hardware and software level. The device had yet to been submitted for FCC approval in order to avoid leaks common on many products. A complaint I’ve seen about iPad is the price. When looking at the Amazon Kindle DX, a device that features a 9.7″ (same size as iPad) eInk display, it retails for $489. A whole Hamilton cheaper than iPad. Clearly when someone is asked which they would prefer, I could guarantee iPad would win almost every time. iPhone OS will soon be due for an upgrade, which iPad runs. With the competition heating up from Android, we have yet to see what Apple has up their sleeves to maintain their leader position. There is no doubt there will be plenty of new features that will make people fall in love over again with their iDevice (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad). I’d like to think the iPad will be just like the first iPhone, introduced in January with a later release. iPhone OS 1.0 sucked. Everything found on it has long been around on other smartphones. I’ll go even further to say that a Windows Mobile devices or Blackberry could do far much more than iPhone could, there were no additional applications. What was the solution? The jailbreak community. The jailbreak community is single handily responsible for what the iPhone is today. At the time of iPhone’s release, it was the only way to add additional applications. iPhone OS 2.0 brought many new features, the key one being the App Store – a game changer. The success of the App Store has everyone racing, trying to catch up with Apple much as they did when the iPod was introduced. Now with the new iPhone SDK out with the support of iPad we will soon see potential in this device within the next 59 days. Here is when we will see iPad specific device, showing off it’s true potential. Probably the biggest complaint I’ve seen is “…menamenamena-it-has-a-1ghz-processor-but-not-multitasking?”. Obviously Apple knows this, it will come, if not leave it to the jailbreak community. I’m sure the key feature we will see in iPhone OS 4.0 is the ability to multitask. I currently run a jailbreak app called ‘Backgrounder’ on my 3G S to run ‘Slacker Radio’ or any application for that matter, in the background. If Apple does not enable it, which they will, the jailbreak community will. It’s only a matter of time until we see new features and applications that will make everyone want iPad just as they did with iPod and iPhone.
So my final impression on iPad is – Yes, I will buy it as soon as it is release. My next questions is whether or not to get the WiFi only model or WiFi + 3G. I’m leaning towards WiFi + 3G because I just want to whip it out and jump online with out having to fumble with WiFi. Although, I would be happy with the WiFi only model since you can pretty much get WiFi at most places now and I can turn my iPhone into a router with MyFi, another jailbreak app.

Yes, Steve Jobs just broke news of Apple’s new 9.7″ IPS multi-touch display device – iPad. iPad runs a special custom Apple system-on-chip known simply as – Apple A4. It’s good to see Apple finally putting that P.A. Semi acquisition into good use. 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB will be offered at $499, $599, and $699, in addition to a 3G modem for an extra $130 on top. AT&T will be the sole provider of the 3G services advalible on iPad starting at $14.99 a month for 250mb or $29.99 if you opt for unlimited data. The contract free device will indeed be unlocked out of the box but is using a micro SIM instead of your traditional SIM found in most existing devices GSM devices. iPad will run just about every iPhone app advalible outside the box. A few things currently being critize about iPad is the lack of front or rear facing camera, Flash support in Safari, and the need for adapters in order to transfer images from a digital camera to the device. More after the break.

Plans for this weekend include visting Alex in Bloomington and skiing Paoli Peaks for the first time.