Apple iPad

While visiting the Apple store this weekend I noticed all the advertisments for the new iPad. I first saw the unvailing in my PR class and I have to say I wasn't that impressed, to me it's just a bigger iPhone and who wants that?

So when I got back home I did a little bit of reading up on the press release and read about it on the Apple web page. Let me just say, it is much more than a big iPhone.

Some of the features include:

- Screen rotation lock: Apple has added a switch to the side of the iPad that locks the screen in either a vertical or horizontal position, no matter which way you turn it. This is sure to make using the iPad in bed or on the couch easier.

- ePub support through iTunes: Apple’s website now has a dedicated iBooks page that offers more information about the built-in e-reader and what formats it will support. If you already have DRM-free ePub titles,you can sync those books with the iPad using iTunes.

- VoiceOver Works with i-Books: Apple is integrating its VoiceOver technology into the entire device, including the i-books app. This means that blind or vision-impaired users can have the text read aloud. Sweet!

- Better video support: Apple didn’t highlight this feature, but on the Tech Specs page, we learn that the iPad will support more than just the standard Apple-approved video formats (*.mov, *.mp4, *.m4v) and will also support AVI and Motion JPEG. Apple has never supported AVI on its iPod/iPhone devices, so this is a great step.

- Share YouTube Videos on Facebook(): The YouTube page has an interesting note at the bottom — you can easily e-mail a YouTube() video to friends or share it on Facebook.

- Digital Camera Connector not available for pre-order: On the iPad’s Photos page, as well as in other photographs of the device itself, Apple notes an optional digital camera adapter that can be purchased to connect your digital camera to the iPad, using either a direct USB link or an SD card reader. However, as Macworld points out that adapter is not available for pre-order. Obviously the dongle is coming, but when and at what price is unknown. Macworld also notes that a similar adapter that was sold for the iPod Photo (heh, yeah, remember that? The red-headed stepchild of iPods that was quickly displaced by the far superior iPod Video()) for $29, which would jive with the prices of other iPad accessories that are available for pre-order. Personally, we’ll wait to see if Monoprice releases their own version of this product.


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Want one yet? Well you can now pre-order your iPad today at Apple.com :) ENJOY!!