LIVE Apple iPad coverage today
For updates via Twitter, follow @gussent.
Hit refresh every minute or so!
Whenever possible, BaltTech will be featuring live reports from the Web to participate in covering Apple's big event today, where the company is expected to unveil a new "tablet" computer. Other sources of info include Engadget and Gizmodo.
PLEASE HELP: I will be looking to feature (and embed) live streaming video OR audio of the Apple event in this blog, so you can watch it in real-time. So if you find such a feed, please shoot me a Tweet with the link at @gussent or leave in the comments. In the meantime, check out The Sun's Read Street blog for a live Twitter feed!Many thanks!
IF a tablet is announced today, here are some questions I'll have about it:
* How much will it cost?
* How does it interact with existing iPhone apps? (And does it run a version of the iPhone operating system?)
* What kind of e-book experience does it offer?
* What kind of gaming experience does it offer?
* Does it do live video-conferencing?
* How will the iTunes store change to accommodate it?
What other questions do you have about the device? Drop a note below.
Live blog updates:
1:00 pm... Huge applause
1:03 pm ... Steve Jobs... we have over 140 apps on app store and 3 billion downloads from users.
1:04 pm ... Jobs talks about huge revenue gains for apple in last quarter....
1:04pm... revenue from ipods, iphones, macbooks... "apple is a mobile devices company... that's what we do." Jobs.
1:05pm Jobs: Apple, by revenue is the largest mobile device maker in the world... (when you talk about mobile/portable in total)
1:06: Now let's get to the main event (jobs teasing the crowd... instead, takes crowd back to 1991 and the first powerbook, as the first modern laptop computer)
1:07 Is there room for another category of devices? Of course we thought of this question for years as well (brief outage
1:09: third category of device have to be better at gaming, e-media than a laptop or a smart phone... some people say 'that's a netbook.' the problem is that netbooks aren't better at anything... they're just cheap laptops. (big laughs)
1:10: We call it the iPad
1:11... it's the best browsing experience you've ever had... (it looks like a big fat iPhone, folks)
1:12: describes how to email... almost lifesize keyboard.. "it's a dream to type on."
1:12: iPad is an awesome way to enjoy your music collection... (Jobs running through the various applications...i.e. YouTube in high-def...)
1:13: Jobs making lots of comparisons and saying it's better navigation experience than a smaller smartphone (Leo Laporte's feed just fuzzed out)
1:14 Jobs shows how easy to easy to buy movie tickets with iPad ("grab the tablet that's in the kitchen...")
1:18: Jobs shows off closeup of the virtual keyboard
1:19: shows off how to manage photos on the iPad
1:20 (Editorial: So far, folks, I think we're about par for the course here. .. No huge surprises if you've been following the tablet rumor mill the last few weeks)
1:21: Built in ipod in the iPad... no surprise there. (Leo Laporte's audio feed is glitchy again)
1:22: Jobs showing off the calendar function
1:24: Jobs showing off Google Streetview and how to find restaurants (sushi in San Francisco, for example)
1:24: Showing off video now, i.e. Youtube in HD.
1:27: movies, tv shows, music videos [so far, this device is heavy on pushing iTunes and YouTube content]
1:28: ipad is half an inch thin and weighs 1.5 pounds. 9.7 inch display ("super high quality", Jobs says)
1:29: Jobs going over tech specs of the iPad [appears to be around same size as Amazon's Kindle DX]
1:30: wireless networking
1:30 Ten hours of battery life [commentator asks, are those Apple hours or real hours?]
1:31 Now talking about the Apps and the Apple Apps Store
1:32 New apple exec explains how the iPad can automatically increase the size of apps originally designed for iPhone so they can be used on the iPad
1:35 Editorial: will this iPad be an ergonomic nightmare for people who try to type with it?
1:40: [Experiencing some technical problems on the live feed]
1:40: Showing off the gaming experience on the iPad.
1:41 [Editorial: Listening to Leo Laporte's feed... I have to say, if Apple prices this at $999, I don't think it'll be a winner. Just my 2 cents]
1:42 NYTimes content looks really nice on the iPad.
1:44: Electronic Arts about to show off games on the iPad
1:48 Very cool racing game being demo'ed... [Game console makers may have something to fear from this portable device]
1:49 Now Major League Baseball will show off what it has to offer on the iPad
1:52... here we go: the ebook reader. Jobs makes direct comparison to Amazon Kindle ... new app is called iBooks. ("we're going to stand on their shoulders," Jobs said of Amazon.)
1:53: will have five of the largest publishers in the world supporting iBooks... "and we'll open up the floodgates for the rest of the publishers this afternoon."
1:55 Jobs explains how to navigate on the ebook pages...
1:56 "And that is iBooks..."
1:57 [FYI: Gizmodo has some good, clear photos of the iPad over at: http://live.gizmodo.com/]
1:57: Jobs introduces updated iWork software productivity suite for the iPad
1:59 New versions of Keynote, Pages and Numbers software....
2:02 [Editorial: I'm not sure anyone was expecting Apple to configure iWork to work on the iPad....pleasant surprise? This device can also be used to do some productive work, too.]
2:06 Showing off how to use Pages to make spreadsheets.. [Aside: Imagine that: making spreadsheets with your fingers!]
2:10 $9.99 for each of the three iWork software apps... [Cheaper than I thought -gus]
2:12 Back to Jobs: syncing with iTunes.... 3G wireless data built in... Now what's it cost for data: U.S. Telecom typically charges $60 a month ... we 've got two awesome plans... first gives u 250 MB per month: just $14.99, or an unlimited plan for $29.99... AT&T providing the data .... No contract. you can cancel anytime....
2:23: Okay, folks, I'm stepping away from second-by-second blogging of the event... what do you think so far of the iPad?? Drop comments below!!
Leo LaPorte's live broadcast from the Apple event:
Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV
Live Videos by Ustream
First-person iPhone footage of the Apple event today:
Free video chat by Ustream
This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech
Categories: *NEWS*, Big Ideas, Gadgets, Gamers, Geeks, Media, West Coast, Wireless
Comments
Is this really gonna be live vid?! If so...AWESOME. All I hear right now is audio of someone using the computer! lol
Thanks in advance!
No OFFICIAL live vid... But, I'm hoping some people inside the event use their iPhones to livestream on UStream channels. I will embed them as I find here. -gs
Posted by: Kevin | January 27, 2010 11:48 AM
I think Leo Laporte may be doing some live streaming, check out live.twit.tv
Yep, I embedded Leo's stream up above. thanks! -gs
Posted by: Paul Capestany | January 27, 2010 12:04 PM
I have a laptop and a phone, I don't need nor want an "in between" device. No game changer this time around Mr. Jobs.
Posted by: Bill Banash | January 27, 2010 1:23 PM
It's a giant iPod touch. Very "meh".
Seriously, that's the best "new" thing Jobs could come up with?
Posted by: JD | January 27, 2010 1:37 PM
seriously, can we wait til it's over to pass judgment?
Posted by: rick | January 27, 2010 1:47 PM
Great blog! Awesome product! However, prices seem a little high for the Wifi + 3G model, considering I already have an iPhone. ATT & Apple could have worked on a much better discount for the 3G model IMHO.
Posted by: JP | January 27, 2010 2:28 PM
considering the kindle is what - $260 - with 2gb storage and not a whole lot more it seems like it's a hail of an ereader.
then ad the games, web browsing, etc., i think it works just fine. it's not overpriced by a lot (just a little). i like the cancel anytime 3g. just order it when you need it. works for me.
Posted by: rick | January 27, 2010 2:31 PM
Nice job. I think this is a fabulous new product. Great price! No contract! iLife & iWorks - all controlled by multitouch.
I've been Apple long time; (a User) - this is the best yet!
No blame BUT because we live in a world of corrosive and toxic media, insult politics (and disgruntled Windows users) but I'm sick of hearing from 'curmudgeons,' - they have a lot less to say then they think.
Your generation got it tough -- you have to allow yourself to express joy, wonder and hope all over again. It's okay to say: "Wow!"
Right after "Holy Bombshell"
Posted by: citizenbfk | January 27, 2010 2:43 PM
the commentators said it will kill the kindle...i disagree. I have a kindle and I think the reason its so nice is the display: the way it uses ink particles instead of a lcd screen which is very easy on the eyes. I never thought I could read a whole book on a computer screen but the way the kindle does it makes it possible. As far as I can tell the iPad is more like a regular laptop screen
Posted by: will | January 27, 2010 2:47 PM
How about viewing newspapers like The Baltimore Sun?
Posted by: CDoubleIPA | January 27, 2010 2:58 PM
thank's guys !
i watched for 2 hours strait...
hopefully it'll get here to Israel soon ;)
Posted by: dan | January 27, 2010 3:06 PM
instead of using the at&t plan, do you think that you could use bluetooth or internet teathering with an iPhone?
Posted by: Gus | January 27, 2010 4:18 PM
Considering I could get a decent laptop for this price and one of the "old" fold back touchscreens if I needed a tablet I'm not all that impressed. A giant iPhone isn't really innovation. If the thing ran osx instead of iPhone os, had a real hard drive not a measly 32gb and still had multi touch and app store, That would be worthwhile and worth the money. This, not for me. I am perfectally content with my pwned iPhone 3G. And when I go computer shopping in a few weeks the tablet won't be on my list.
Posted by: Pavja | January 27, 2010 8:03 PM