Hardware

[icycalm]

http://www.apple.com/ipad/
http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/
http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)

Both of these specs are disappointing. Screen size should have been at least 3-4 inches larger, and resolution 720p. I mean, what the hell is the point of advertising that you can watch "HD movies", if the screen will not even allow the lowest HD resolution? Or is 480p supposed to be HD?

Other than that it sounds awesome, especially the whole "book reading" + "bookstore" deal:

Reading is a joy on iPad. Text looks crisp and bright. Pages turn with a flick. And you can buy new books from the iBookstore. Just download the free iBooks app to get started.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/ibooks.html

As for gaming, it's just another handheld device, which means it'll have just handheld games, i.e. mini-games. That's another reason I would have preferred say a 14" screen with 720p resolution. So that developers might take it seriously and develop some serious games for it.

But yeah. That's what the Surface will be for I guess, or whatever other device ends up fulfilling its promise one day.

[aaden]

Ars Technica did a damned 18-page review of the iPad. Lots of details and pictures, it's very nice.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/20 ... review.ars


As for the games on the iPad... well, there's this curiosity here...

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release ... 142283.htm

Ars Technica's review has some pages on games too:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/20 ... iew.ars/12
http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/20 ... iew.ars/13

[icycalm]

iPad 2 coming March 11.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Thinner and lighter, dual-core processor, two cameras, 1080p video out, 10-hour battery life and a seriously clever cover idea.

I am getting one of these.

[Bread]

iOS 7 will have game controller support. Unofficial controller cradle add-ons for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad already exist, but this will bring standardisation, and the same API is coming to OS X.

Alas, it doesn’t entail an Apple-crafted controller, only third-party licensed game controller support, and yes, iOS already has game controller support courtesy Bluetooth; the difference in iOS 7 involves Apple’s new developmental guidelines and an API that goes hand-in-glove with Apple-blessed products from gamepad-makers like Logitech and Moga. Word from sites like Pocket Gamer is that the new controllers should be available this fall, around the time iOS 7 hits.

controllers must enhance gameplay — they must not be required.

This link shows Apple's diagrams from their developer documentation:
http://techland.time.com/2013/06/17/app ... in-gaming/

Supposedly a photo of Logitech's controller:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57589 ... e-spotted/