The iPad FAQ: Get Answers To Your Burning iPad Questions

1. What Is it?
   
   The iPad is an tablet/slate class device that was launched by Apple on the 27th of January 2010. It is running the iPhone OS and has the basic industrial design signatures of the iPhone. It is more powerful than the iPhone 3GS and has a large capacitive touchscreen. It is meant to be a companion device meant mainly for content consumption and light content creation.
2. What Are The Key Hardware Features?
   * 1GHz Apple A4 Processor
   * 9.7Inch capacitive touchscreen
   * LED Backlit IPS LCD Display for great viewing angles (much better than all other LCD screens)
   * WiFi (802.11n)
   * 3G+AGPS (Only On WiFi+3G models, see chart below for models)
   * 16GB-64GB flash Storage (model dependent)
   * Accelerometer with Compass (so you never confuse which north is. Or which way the ground is, for that matter)
   * 10 Hours Battery life, 140 hours contiguous music playback
   * 1.5 Pounds, 0.5″ thick. 
3. Isn’t It Just A Big iPhone?
   Even though they share the OS and the design — the iPad will differ from the iPhone in terms of user experience. The apps developed for the large screen especially are going to significantly different from what is developed specially for the iPhone. This will become more apparent when you get to hold on in your hand and try it out.
4. What Can I Do On it?
   
   Since this is meant to be a content consumption device, the main target are those consumers who want something thin, light and well-designed to read their eBooks, surf the web, do social networking, watch movies, listen to music and some light content creation tasks like blogging and using web apps. You can also create spreadsheets, presentations and documents using the new touch-based iWork suite. The main focus still remains on the consumption of content. The large touchscreen also opens the way for apps like the fingerpainting iPhone App — Brushes — to be more creative. Musical possibilities are also there — score sheet replacement/on-the-fly editor, MIDI controller, etc. Bright, full color screen makes it great for its task.
   Also, the iBooks app and the iBook Store eBook store allows you to purchase and read eBooks on the iPad. The rest of the content you can purchase from the iTunes Store as usual. Unmodified iPhones Apps are supported out of the box.
5. What Can I NOT Do On it?
   It cannot handle heavy content creation work like heavy photo or video editing. This is not meant to replace your workflow but is meant to compliment it. Light video editing like trimming and light photo editing is still a possibility thanks to the powerful processor but anything beyond that is a no no. No heavy audio applications possibilities either. You cannot read it under direct sunlight and the battery won’t last you for days. Those are the current trade off for the full-color display. It won’t replace OS X (Or Windows 7) and Apple doesn’t want it to.
6. Why Doesn’t It Support Flash
   There are several reasons cited for this, far too many to mention in short in this FAQ. The main argument that Apple gives is the protection og the user experience and some people are of the opinion that the device will become unusable if made to run flash. Please refer to this post for a detailed list.
7. How Fast/Responsive Is it?
   
   It is hard to tell at this point because other than the invitees who were launching event, not has touched one so far. However, judging by the reactions of those who got hands on time and the videos they have put up — the UI is very smooth and extremely responsive. Logically — the iPhone OS is a very well-designed mobile OS and it was already very responsive on the iPhone 3GS which reportedly has a processor clocked around 630MHz. Since the same OS is now running on a 1GHz processor, it is expected to run faster. However, a larger display requires more graphics power. But the A4 chip from Apple seems to be able to handle that. Expect a smooth response and experience.
8. How Much Storage Will I get?
   Storage varies between 16GB to 64GB with 32GB in the middle. Flash storage in all cases.
9. How Much Do I Have To Pay For It/What Are the Models/When are they shipping?
   Please refer to the chart from the keynote for all the available units and their prices. The WiFi-only models will ship in 2 months from now. The WiFi+3G models need FCC approval and hence will be shipped later, about 3 months from now.
   
10. How Much Will I Have To Pay For the eBooks On iBooks?
    According to an interview of Steve Jobs by Walt Mossberg (AKA Uncle Mossy), the prices of eBooks on Amazon and on the iBooks Store will be the same. Everybody’s assuming that that will mean eBooks on the iPad will be $9.99. However, Steve also said that publishers are not happy with Amazon and that might mean they will hike prices and cause it to be the same one both platforms.
11. Is It Really Unlocked?
    Yes, it is officially unlocked. However, it is uses a new kind of SIM called micro-sim. It is a new standard developed by the European bodies to fit into smaller devices. VZW, T-Mobile and the others don’t have the micro-SIM cards yet. A&T has it and has an offer for you if you buy the iPad.
12. Is There A Bundled Data Plan?
    AT&T has a (data) plan for you and even though you will have to sign a contract , you can get out of it at any time. Hence, it is not unlocked and you can change any time. Plan A for the iPad is $14.99 per month for 250MB of data usage. Plan B gives you unlimited data for $29.99. Whether this unlimited is AT&T’s ’5GB’ unlimited or truly unlimited, I don’t know yet. Whatever it is, I feel sorry for their 3G network. To hedge that, they are offering iPad owners free access to their WiFi hotspots across the country. You can, for example, use your iPad at Starbucks outlets and piggyback on their WiFi for free. AT&T to iPad users “Please, oh please leave our 3G network alone. Look, we will give you free WiFi, just please leave it alone!” *extremely pathetic sad face*
13. What Is A MicroSim?
    The Micro-SIM or the 3FF (3rd Form Factor) SIM is a new kind of GSM SIM card that is smaller than the currently used mini-SIM cards that you are familiar with at the moment. It has been developed to fit within smaller devices like the iPad. By small I mean a device inside which saving space more important than almost everything else. Please read this Wikipedia article for all the details. (May the info Gods bless Wikipedia’s community created soul).
14. When Will The iPad Be Available Internationally?
    The current estimate is around May-June but it gets later the farther east you move (with the exception of Japan may be, just saying). The main delay is caused by the need to a) make content deals with your national content providers (without which the iPad is not all that lucrative) and b) acquisition of the iPad trademark in the countries where it is held by someone else (so that Apple can sell the iPad in that country without getting sued out of the game). If you are any more east than UK (which is kinda in the artificial center), expect it late June to anytime in July at the earliest.

More questions? Ask them here or @shailpik on twitter. Your questions will be answered wherever you ask them plus important ones will be added to this post as updates (with credits of course! Have you name up on Otaku Gadgets!)

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