Review of Apple iPad Features

Last month, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the eagerly awaited Apple tablet. Called iPad, the much-talked about Apple gadget has plenty of surprises. A walk through the device, however, shows that the iPad is not without its oversights. While it is truly a powerful innovation, it is still a mix-bag of hits and misses.

Apple iPad: A Hybrid, Multimedia Device

As it is based on the iPhone OS, the iPad offers users broad set of functions, drawing ideas that is more interested in becoming a more portable version of netbooks than becoming a dedicated ereader. In addition to reading, the iPad can do 14,000 other things. It display HD and YouTube videos, send and read emails, play games, view maps and show street directions, surf the web, and more

Best iPad Features

Here are the top 5 things that the iPad does really well.

• Good looks, ultra wide screen. Closely resembling the Apple iPod in physical appearance, the iPad oozes with a lot of sex appeal. . 9.7-inch screen means more images and text lines per page, and more comfortable viewing of books, magazines, newspapers, and videos. Combine wide screen display with color support, and glossy spreads (with their in-line videos and full-color photos), graphic novels, and comics find the perfect portable electronic medium in the iPad.
• 1GHz A4 Processor.With a processor speed more than twice the capacity of typical ereaders, the iPad makes zooming, auto-orientation, streaming of videos, and turning of pages a snap.
• Built-in bookstore. The Apple iBookStore comes with realistic-looking bookshelves complete with titles. Like the Kindle, books come with reviews and downloadable samples. Partner publications include Simon & Schuster, MacMillan, Hachete, HarperCollins, and Penguin.
• Touch-capacitive screen. As with the iPod, users can open books, browse the web, or watch videos with a simple tap, swipe, or jab of the finger. Since the screen is multi-capacitive, users are not restricted to use of stylus.
• Extra large onboard storage. iPad models will come with a 16, 32, and 64GB flash storage. Kindle 2 and most ereaders have 2 GB or less

Missing Features from the iPad

The iPad is a powerful and dynamic device, but it still lacks some capabilities.

• Multitasking. With a 1GB horsepower, it’s astonishing that the iPad is unable to run multiple windows at the same time.
• USB and HDMI Ports. The iPad has a 30-pin dock connector, but lacks USB and HDMI connectivity. Having to use separate USB and audio cables makes things of the device a bit messy.
• Adobe Flash support. Like other Mac devices, the iPad cannot load Flash videos or browse Flash sites.
• Free 3G. iPad offers models with 3G connectivity. Compared to the Kindle and the Nook, however, users have to pay $130 more to get it.
• Camera and built-in phone. As the iPad is based on the iPhone OS, one would expect to get all iPhone applications out of the box. For a device designed to be a jack-of-all-trades, it’s a bit disappointing that the iPad will have no videos and photos on the go, no video chatting and conferencing.

The iPad will retail with a price tag starting at $499. Can the Apple tablet's support for 14,000 applications convince consumers to overlook the few features it lacks? Every one will have to wait until March to see

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