The Apple iPad was revealed to the world on 27 January 2010. It is a tablet computer with similar functionality to the iPhone and iPod touch. It runs on the same iPhone operating system as these devices, but has a much larger screen and is intended for users who want to read ebooks and web pages comfortably.

The iPad has a 25cm backlit touch screen, a 1 Ghz processor and between 16 and 64 GB of memory. It can connect to other devices with Bluetooth and its dock connector, and it comes with Wi-Fi, 3G or Assisted GPS internet access. Headphones can be connected to the iPad, and it has a microphone and speaker. Battery life is 10 hours. There is no camera, which has troubled some critics. The iPad comes with a selection of software including iTunes, Safari and the new iBooks program for downloading ebooks. Additional programs are available from the App Store.

The iPad has been criticized as pointless and as too much of a compromise: it is too large to compete with the pocket-sized smartphones and it lacks the capabilities of a proper laptop. Others have pointed out that the iPad is ideal for people who don’t need a powerful, portable computer. Many people never use their laptops to their full potential; they just look at a few websites, send some emails and watch a few films. The iPad could be the perfect device for the casual user who needs something easy and intuitive to use and doesn’t need all the extra capabilities of a laptop.

The iPad is intended as a device part way between a laptop and a smartphone. It is designed for media consumption, whether it is music, video, ebooks, the internet or other written texts. The iPad, along with other ebook readers, has the potential to play a major role in the evolution of publishing and the print media. Harper Collins, Conde Nast and the Associated Press have all shown an interest in the iPad as a way of selling their products directly to the reader.