Apple Tablet confirmed as the iPad and priced at $499

Richard Goodwin

Apple has announced its tablet device, which is now officially known as the iPad.

All the online rumours were correct in asserting that Apple would announce the iPad today. However, one surprise to come from the event is the price, which is a lot lower than many experts expected.

The iPad is priced at starting from $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB and $699 for the 64GB device. However, users’ wishing to have 3G connectivity will have to pay $130 for the privildge, which is a bit rich - it’s free in the iPhone after all.

Specs wise, the iPad weighs in at just 1.5 pounds, has a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen IPS LCD display and runs a custom 1GHz Apple "A4" chip developed by the P.A. Semi team.

The iPad also features a 30-pin Dock connector, a speaker, a microphone, Bluetooth, and 802.11n WiFi, as well as an accelerometer and a compass, according to Engadget.

Like the iPhone, iTunes takes center stage at the core of the device allowing users’ to sync it seamlessly with their MacBooks.

The iPad will additionally run iPhone apps, but Apple is confident there will be a plethora of dedicated iPad apps available very shortly - see our story from yesterday.

According to reports, every iPad is unlocked and comes with a GSM Micro-SIM card, which will enable users’ to take it to foreign countries.

Apple confirmed that the Wi-Fi only model will ship in 60 days and the 3G version in 90.