Apple has finally announced that April 3rd will be the official release date for their new iPad.
According to the release, the Wi-Fi models of the iPad will be available starting April 3, with the Wi-Fi and 3G models rolled out by late April. Starting on March 12, U.S. customers can pre-order the device. The device will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April. Pricing has remained the same, with the basic Wi-Fi enabled model starting at $499. Pricing is as follows: $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.
The iPad will debut with 12 apps specially designed for it including Apple’s iBookstore, which isn’t expected to be compatible with the other e-books already on the marketplace. In keeping with Steve Jobs’ distaste for Adobe’s Flash, that feature will be left out. Apple said most of the 150,000 applications available for its iPhone will also be available for the iPad – including our own eController and HTA (Home Theater Assistant) Apps.
Apple iPad
Tags: iPad
Apple’s iPad announcement comes just days after Randall Stephenson (AT&T’s CEO) said that he believes the Wi-Fi-only version of Apple’s iPad will outsell the 3G-capable model. Stephenson believes that “a lot of people” likely won’t want to pay for another 3G subscription. BTW, according to initial information, AT&T’s 3G data plans for the iPad will cost $14.99 for 250 megabytes of monthly data or $29.99 for unlimited data. ~ f
I hear that Apple stores, AT&T, and BestBuy are the only ones getting iPads on the first pass. Feel left out? Makes you think the folks at Apple are tongue in cheek > they praise the “enthusiast” but cater to those who could care less about them.
Heard any more on iPad availability? I hear Apple, the $200 billion dollar machine, is just that, “a machine.” BestBuy, Walmart, these are Apple’s contemporaries. No more enthusiast… just customers. The magic is fading.
Guys… I am your biggest fan. Why no response? Waiting…
TigerMan, you press me for a response that must be answered politically. To answer your question > we (eLifespaces) will NOT be able to sell the iPads on the day of its release. Simply put, we are not adequately able to address the voluminous demand from the initial wave. The initial purchasers will be the “plug & play” stereotypes.
The eLifespaces business model is more niche oriented than low-cost provider. Unlike the mass merchandisers, we will be able to evolve the iPad’s functions & features set to nothing comparable that is available today on the mass market.
Case and point > AppleTV. To this date, we are convinced that the “market” (and even the corporate AppleTV stores along with mass merchandisers, BestBuy, etc.) simply just “don’t get it.” This is a product that is NOT a computer peripheral; yet, that is how it is sold by others.
The initial waive of iPads will be similarly addressed by that same distribution channel. Be patient, we (and the other Apple enthusiast) will get our opportunity.
Thank you for responding. I am sure I’ll learn the ways of these business politicts soon enough. As a follow up point, I went online and reserved my iPad for pickup at the Apple Store on the release date.
Ordered one myself. Our plans are to use the device to beta test the new iPad apps we are developing in the eController line.
I was talking a look at the ipad on Apple.com and I found out that the Applecare section for the ipad only said it is only 2 years. Does anyone know why is not lasting 3 years like every other Apple product? Ok, well the iphone/ipods now says it is 2 years too on the Applecare. When did they all change to 2 years and not 3?
Applecare for the computers extends the warranty to 3 yrs, however, other devices like the iPod, iPhone or even the Apple TV only carry a 2 yr warranty extension. Since the iPad runs the same mobile OS as the iPhone, it is classified with the mobile devices like the iPod/iPhone rather than with the computers, therefore it carries the same Applecare warranty as those devices. It is still a very good idea to purchase the Applecare with your iPad if you are thinking of getting one.