On Saturday April 1, Apple launched the new iPad in San Francisco and revealed a sneak peak of the iPhone OS 4 just a few days later.
Apple sold more than 300,000 iPads on Saturday's launch, with many high-profile Australians flying to the US to purchase the new device before its release in Australia later this year. Australians present at the launch included Peter Wells from Australian Fulltime Casual podcast, APC online editor Dan Warne and Damian Damjanovski from BMF marketing.
The iPad tablet-style is one of Apple's most innovative devices and is a cross between the iPod touch, a MacBook and the iPhone. It runs on the iPhone OS and offers all of Apple's popular applications for surfing the net, email, maps, photos, music, video and YouTube.
The iPad is a small computer-like device that is the size of a magazine (19w x 24.3h x 1.27d) and weighs just 680 grams. It is touted as the most celebrated Apple device for 2010.
Review sites are buzzing with iPad reviews. Cnet claims the iPad is 'an elegant and affordable supergadget' with Bluetooth, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Movie rentals, 10 hours of battery life, optional 3G wireless and access to Apple's fantastic App Store.
Other blogs have cited some initial problems with the iPad, including temperamental Wi-Fi signals, lack of video facilities, overheating and the operating system does not allow multitasking.
With the iPad set to arrive in Australia by late April, Optus, Telstra and Vodafone are already keen to carry the Wi-Fi and 3G iPad.
Apple sparked further interest this week by announcing the arrival of iPhone OS 4 just days after the iPad launch. Apple has been tight lipped about the new iPhone's capabilities, but claims the iPhone OS 4 gives a 'sneak peek at the next generation of iPhone OS software'. MacTalk, Australia's Apple forum, suspect this might mean the iPhone OS 4 will be equipped with long-awaited multi-tasking facilities but no one knows for sure.
Apple fans in Australia don't have long to wait. Both the iPad and the iPhone OS 4 are set to be released within the year so stay tuned for more exciting Apple news!