Apple Unveils iPad Tablet

Apple has unveiled its long-anticipated tablet computer, the iPad, at prices ranging from $499 to $829.

With a 9.7in (24cm) multi-touch screen, the device looks rather like an oversized iPhone or iPod Touch. It is half an inch thin and weighs 680 grams.

It can surf the web using the Safari browser, use Google Maps and connect to the iTunes store to buy and play songs and video. It can run all applications written for the iPhone, scaling the image up to fill its larger display, or new ones designed for the device.

Apple also unveiled iBooks, an iTunes-like online store for purchasing ebooks to be read on the iPad, and customised versions of its iWork office applications. A number of on-screen keyboards can be used to input text or numbers.

The iPad uses a 1GHz processor and has between 16GB and 64GB of flash memory storage. Apple claims 10 hours of battery life, or a month in standby mode. It can connect to 802.11n wireless networks, and has Bluetooth built-in.

Three of the six models can connect to 3G mobile phone networks, but these cost $130 more than the equivalent WiFi only models.

In the US Apple has struck two pay-as-you-go deals with the AT&T network, giving 250MB of data per month for $15 or unlimited access for $30. Both are without contract and can be activated on the device. No contract-based prices were announced for the 3G models.

The iPad will start shipping in 60 days in the US, with an international release in summer.