Apple’s iPad made its television debut yesterday via a commercial that ran during the live broadcast of the 82nd Academy Awards. The ad gave the details to the iPad's 3 April 2010 launch date in the US. Pre-orders can be made as of this week Friday for the Wi-Fi models, as well as the 3G models that will be available in late April. Apple also stated that all iPad models will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK from late April. Other countries will have to wait till later in 2010 to get their hands on Apple's latest toy.
 
Wi-Fi models of the iPad will have a recommended retail price of $499 (about R3 700) for the 16 GB model, $599 (approx. R4 500) for the 32 GB version and $699 (just under R5 200) for the 64 GB model. The 3G models will retail for $629 (approx. R4 700) for the 16 GB version, $729 (about R5 400) for the 32 GB model and $829 (around R6 200) for the 64 GB version. It is fair to say that as one of the countries paying the most for Apple products, South Africans can expect to cough up more, but details of the international pricing for the iPad will only be released by Apple in April.
 
The iBooks app for the iPad, which includes Apple’s iBookstore, will be available as a free download from the App Store in the US, on the same day that the iPad will launch there. Other countries will follow suit later in the year.
 
“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”