The Apple iPad was showcased on January 27th amid vast multimedia hype.  The details of this product are already available and the first favourable critiques are coming in.

The innovation is fantastic and predictably the iPad has been described as a vast iPhone.  The screen consists of a huge 9.7″ LCD display with more than one sleep and volume buttons on the edges.  The iPad is very thin at just 1/2 an inch deep – similar to the iPhone itself.

The iPad functions very like the iPhone.  You slide to unlock the tablet and the screen contains the common Apple apps – Safari, Mail, iPod, iTunes and Youtube among many others.

The iPad will be able to operate all the existing iPhone apps as well as the numerous iPad particular apps that are certain to to swamp the market.  You will be able to run all the iPhone applications on it in either full screen or at the resolution you would commonly use for the iPhone.

The iPad represents the latest in Multi-Touch technology but using a screen far bigger than touch screen users have ever seen before.  Furthermore, the iPad is far thinner and lighter than any laptop.  This is Apple’s effort to enter and seize the e-reader marketplace and on initial impression the iPad may well put up a big challenge to the market place authority of Amazon’s Kindle, in particular for the casual reader of magazines and more glossy texts.  It remains uncertain whether the lightweight and more portable Kindle will continue to command the market for small paperback book readers.  Many have hailed the iPad as the gadget that will unify all variants of media and it is certain that all the important media companies are eager to get a seat at the iPad party.

Concurrent with the launch of the iPad, Apple showcased three recognized iPad accessories.  Clearly it won’t take long before accessory makers like Griffin and Belkin start to put out their adaptations of keyboards, docks and cases.

iPad Keyboard Dock

huge like a regular docking station, it will recharge the iPad.  You will also be able to use it to link up with your Mac, and provides an sound connector to link up your iPad to a normal stereo.  USD69.00

iPad Dock

If you are happy with the onscreen keyboard, you can simply purchase a regular docking station.  A regular dock offers the corresponding characteristics – the power to sync, an audio jack and 30-pin connector, and charging capabilities, but doesn’t include a keyboard.  $29

iPad Case

iPad Case provides a triangular kickstand that props the tablet up at easy angles — vertical for viewing movies, and inclined for typing. While it appears like leather, it’s actually made from a smooth, flexible microfiber material.  Cases are one of the most popular accessories, and you’ll be drowning in options way before the device actually starts shipping.  $39

Specs

- 1 GHz Apple A4 chip
- 16 – 64 GB of Flash storage
- Bluetooth 2.1
- 802.11n
- 10 hours of battery life
- Speaker, microphone and 30-pin connector
- Fully multi-touch
- 9.7 inch IPS LED backlit LCD
- Half an inch thick
- 3G UMTS/HSPDA and GSM/EDGE data (optional)
- Assisted GPS and Digital Compass (3G version only)
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- VGA out support or AV out via dock connector and converter cable

As is to be expected of each Apple product, the iPad looks impressive and with a price opening at $499 it will surely be the must have gadget of the year.