iPad (1st generation)
The first-generation iPad (/ˈaɪpæd/; EYE-pad) (retrospectively referred to unofficially as the iPad 1 or original iPad) is a tablet computer designed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the first device in the iPad lineup of tablet computers. The device features an Apple A4 SoC, a 9.7 in (250 mm) touchscreen display,[7] and, on certain variants, the capability of accessing cellular networks. Using the iOS operating system, the iPad can play music, send and receive email and browse the web. Other functions, which include the ability to play games and access references, GPS navigation software and social network services can be enabled by downloading apps.
This article is about the first generation of iPad released in 2010. For the series of tablets made by Apple Inc, see iPad.Developer
1st
- United States
- Chile
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Spain
- Italy
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Australia
- Japan
- Canada
- France
- Austria
- Belgium
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- China
- Russia
$499
March 2, 2011
15 million
Original: iPhone OS 3.2
Last: iOS 5.1.1, released May 7, 2012
256 MB DDR RAM[4]
16, 32 or 64 GB flash memory[2]
Multi-touch screen, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, digital compass[2]
9.56 in (243 mm) (h)
7.47 in (190 mm) (w)
0.50 in (13 mm) (d)[2]
Wi-Fi: 1.5 lb (680 g)
Wi-Fi + 3G: 1.6 lb (730 g)[2]
iPad at the Wayback Machine (archived May 26, 2010)
The device was announced and unveiled on January 27, 2010, by Apple founder Steve Jobs at an Apple press event. On April 3, 2010, the Wi-Fi variant of the device was released in the United States, followed by the release of the "Wi-Fi + 3G" variant on April 30. On May 28, 2010, it was released in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The device received positive reviews from various technology blogs and publications. Reviewers praised the device for its wide range of capabilities and labeled it as a competitor to laptops and netbooks. Some aspects were criticized, including the closed nature of the operating system and the lack of support for the Adobe Flash multimedia format. During the first 80 days, 3 million iPads were sold. By the launch of the iPad 2, Apple had sold more than 15 million iPads.
On March 2, 2011, the first generation iPad was discontinued following Apple's announcement of the iPad 2. Remaining stock of the first iPad were temporarily available from Apple at reduced price.[8][9]
Features[edit]
Software[edit]
The iPad originally shipped with IPhone OS 3.2. On September 1, 2010, it was announced the iPad would get iOS 4.2 by November 2010;[37] to fulfill this, Apple released IOS 4.2.1 to the public on November 22.[38] It comes with several applications, including Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, IPod, iTunes Store, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, and Contacts.[39] Several are improved versions of applications developed for the iPhone or Mac.
The iPad syncs with iTunes on a Mac or Windows PC.[16] Apple ported its iWork suite from the Mac to the iPad, and sells pared-down versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps in the App Store.[40] Although the iPad isn't designed to replace a mobile phone, a user can use a wired headset or the built-in speaker and microphone to place phone calls over Wi-Fi or 3G using a VoIP application.[41]
On October 12, 2011, iOS 5 was released to various iOS devices, including the first-generation iPad, and was downloadable through iTunes.[42] The update was reported to contain hundreds of new features and tweaks, including Twitter integration, Notification Center and iMessage, which is a feature that allows users to send messages or multimedia files to other users on iOS or OS X, the operating system for Apple computers.[43] iCloud, an iOS app and Apple-provided internet storage service which allows users to sync and backup their user data and settings to/from other devices, was also made available through this update.[44] On June 11, 2012, it was announced that iOS 6 would not be available for the first-generation iPad, making IOS 5.1.1 the final operating system officially available for the device.[45][46]
Reception[edit]
Critical reception[edit]
Media reaction to the announcement of the device and the device itself was mixed. The media noted that thousands of people queued on the first day of sale in a number of countries with many of those who waited claiming that "it was worth it."[54][55]
Walt Mossberg (of The Wall Street Journal) wrote, "It's about the software, stupid", meaning hardware features and build are less important to the iPad's success than software and user interface, his first impressions of which were largely positive. Mossberg also called the price "modest" for a device of its capabilities, and praised the ten-hour battery life.[56] Others, including PC Advisor and the Sydney Morning Herald, wrote that the iPad would also compete with proliferating netbooks, most of which use Microsoft Windows.[57][58] The base model's price of US$499 (equivalent to $697 in 2023) was lower than pre-release estimates by Wall Street analysts, and Apple's competitors, all of whom were expecting a much higher entry price point.[59][60][61]
The media also praised the quantity of applications, as well as the bookstore and other media applications.[62][63] In contrast, some sources, including the BBC, criticized the iPad for being a closed system and mentioned that the iPad faces competition from Android-based tablets.[54] However, at the time of the first-generation iPad's launch, Yahoo! News noted that the Android tablet OS, known as "Honeycomb", was not open source and has fewer apps available for it than for the iPad,;[64] although later Google released the source code for Honeycomb.[65] The Independent criticized the iPad for not being as readable in bright light as paper but praised it for being able to store large quantities of books.[62] After its UK release, The Daily Telegraph said the iPad's lack of Adobe Flash support was "annoying".[66]
The iPad was selected by Time magazine as one of the 50 Best Inventions of the Year 2010,[67] while Popular Science chose it as the top gadget[68] behind the overall "Best of What's New 2010" winner Groasis Waterboxx.[69]
Commercial reception[edit]
300,000 iPads were sold on their first day of availability.[70] By May 3, 2010, Apple had sold a million iPads;[71] this was just half the time it took Apple to sell the same number of original iPhones.[72] After passing the one million mark, they continued selling rapidly, reaching 3 million sales after 80 days.[73] During the financial conference call on October 18, 2010, Steve Jobs announced that Apple had sold more iPads than Macs for the fiscal quarter.[74] In total, Apple sold more than 15 million first-generation iPads prior to the launch of the iPad 2[75] – more than all other tablet PCs combined since the iPad's release,[76] and reaching 75% of tablet PC sales at the end of 2010.[77]
Criticism[edit]
CNET criticized the iPad for its apparent lack of wireless sync, which other portable devices such as Microsoft's Zune have had for a number of years.[78]
Walt Mossberg called it a "pretty close" laptop killer.[79] David Pogue of The New York Times wrote a "dual" review, one part for technology-minded people, and the other part for non-technology-minded people. In the former section, he notes that a laptop offers more features for a cheaper price than the iPad. In his review for the latter audience, however, he claims that if his readers like the concept of the device and can understand what its intended uses are, then they will enjoy using the device.[80] PC Magazine's Tim Gideon wrote, "you have yourself a winner" that "will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape."[81] Michael Arrington of TechCrunch said, "the iPad beats even my most optimistic expectations. This is a new category of device. But it also will replace laptops for many people."[82] PC World criticized the iPad's file sharing and printing abilities,[83] and ArsTechnica critically noted that sharing files with a computer is "one of our least favorite parts of the iPad experience."[84]
The lack of Adobe Flash support was criticized with The Daily Telegraph saying that the iPad's lack of Adobe Flash support was "annoying."[85]