Apple introduced the iPad Tablet (See all news)

Apple finally unveiled their latest creation, the much-anticipated iPad. The device is a tablet computer with a touch screen display capable of browsing the web, showing movies, play video games and even view e-books. The iPad is slightly smaller than a sheet of regular paper, just one-half inch thick, and weighs 1.5 pounds and a little over 1.6 with the optional 3G modem built-in.

"We want to kick off 2010 by introducing a truly magical and evolutionary product today," said Chief Executive Steve Jobs during the launching event in San Francisco. "In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks," Jobs added. "We think we've got the goods. We think we've done it."

The iPad lets users surf the Web, send emails, download and listen to music and videos in iTunes, and even read ebooks from major publishers using its iBooks application. One of the best things with the Apple’s iPad so far is its full compatibility with the iPhone apps. No modifications are needed to be made for apps to run on it as the device will automatically upscale them to its native resolution. Apple have also released a new iPhone SDK that let’s developers tweak the apps for the iPad.

"We think it's going to be a whole 'nother gold rush for developers as they build applications for the iPad," said Scott Forstall, an iPhone software executive.

On the inside, Apple managed to impress again. The device uses an Apple-designed chip that runs at 1GHz and its being used to manage everything: processing, graphics, and I/O. The system has between 16 and 64GB of memory, contains Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with EDR wireless connectivity, comes with a built-in speaker, microphone, and also contains Apple's already familiar accelerometers such as, ambient light sensors, and digital compass with assisted GPS technologies.

iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games, like on the iPhone. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard.

Apple promised the first iPad units will ship in 60 days, with 3G models taking another month. Prices range from $499 for the most basic model to $829 for 64GB of memory and 3G support. AT&T will be offering special data plans, for $15 a month users will be getting 250 MB worth of network data, while unlimited network data comes for $30. Both plans will benefit of free AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots access.