Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers Apple's latest mobile marvel (see article below), and a ton of LegalTech-related product announcements. Don't miss the next issue.
The Legal Pad Reinvented?
What lies between a smartphone and a laptop? Apple attempted to answer this question today at a closely-watched press event. Everyone knew Apple would announce a tablet, but what would it look like and what would it do?
iPad … in One Sentence
Announced today, Apple's iPad is a multi-touch tablet computer based on the iPhone operating system.
The Killer Feature
New operating systems need third-party applications or else they usually fail. The iPad runs a new operating system, but because of its iPhone OS roots, it can run most iPhone applications either at the original size in a black box or in full screen mode (expect some fuzziness).
Apple hopes this ability to run the existing 140,000 apps in its App Store will help sell iPads while developers begin working on apps designed specifically for the iPad.
As you would expect, the iPad will ship with a number of native apps created by Apple, including Calendar, Contacts, iPod, Mail, Maps, Photos, Safari, and YouTube. Apple will separately sell a trio of productivity apps — Keynote (presentations), Pages (word processor), and Numbers (spreadsheet) — for $9.99 each.
Other Notable Features
Measuring 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 inches thick and and weighing 1.5 pounds, the iPad sports a 9.7 inch multi-touch, LED-backlit glossy screen. Apple designed its own CPU for the iPad — the 1 GHz Apple A4. The iPad offers 10 hours of battery life.
Like the iPhone, the iPad features a software keyboard that appears when needed. However, unlike the iPhone, Apple will sell an optional external keyboard ($69) that plugs into the iPad's dock connector.
Thanks to the accelerometer, you can hold the iPad in any position and the screen will re-orient. Other hardware features include an ambient light sensor, VGA out (requires an adapter), Bluetooth, a speaker, and switches for home, power, mute, and volume.
As with the iPhone and iPod touch, you can access the App Store and iTunes from the iPad. In addition, you can purchase books from the iPad-only iBooks app, which is essentially an electronic bookstore.
What Else Should You Know?
Apple will offer two models of the iPad — WiFi only or WiFi and 3G with the 3G data provided by AT&T in the United States. The WiFi model will sell for $499 (16 GB), $599 (32 GB), and $699 (64 GB). The three 3G models cost $130 more each respectively. AT&T will offer 3G service without a contract for $14.99/month (250 MB) and $29.99/month (unlimited). The iPad ships in March. Learn more about the iPad.
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So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
