APPLE iPADS ITS POCKETS
Steve Jobs put the Internet in the palm of our hands when he unveiled the “unbelievably great†iPad on January 27, 2010, plugging the gap between laptops and smartphones. The 9.7-inch crystal screen display made the $499, 16-gigabyte device perfect for browsing the web, reading eBooks, watching movies and playing games. The Wi-Fi and 3G models of the iPad were let loose in April 2010, quickly becoming the fastest selling device ever with 3 million units sold within 80 days of its release, and eventually going on to move 4.5 million units per quarter. The second-generation iPad rolled out on March 11, 2011 33% thinner, 15% lighter and with a much faster CPU than its predecessor. The iPad 2 also came equipped with a front and rear camera for FaceTime video conferencing and moved 43 million units last year.
Early buzz for the third-generation iPad, which went on sale in 10 countries today, is overwhelmingly positive. Apple’s newest tablet is poised to break records with a projected 66 million units to be sold for 2012. The major additions are a higher resolution display, 4G wireless connectivity, longer battery life and a camera comparable with the iPhone 4S. Accounting for nearly 75% of worldwide media tablet sales last year, Apple is projected to rule the tablet market through 2015, carrying on its tradition of one-upping itself all while staying ahead of the competition.