Apple announced the iPad tablet device, featuring a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 display and 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB capacities. Carrying a custom 1 GHz "Apple A4" chip, the iPad weighs in at 1.5 pounds and is .5-inch thin.

In terms of standard connectivity, the iPad offers Wi-Fi (802.11n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, with 3G models also offering cellular data connectivity. All iPad models have an accelerometer, compass, speakers, a microphone, and a 30-pin dock connector. The iPad also offers a claimed 10 hours of battery life for viewing video, with 1 month of standby battery life.

Models with 3G will be unlocked and will be able to use GSM micro SIMs. In the U.S., AT&T will offer two data plan options $14.99 for up to 250 MB per month and $29.99 per month for unlimited data. No contract is required for either option, and free access to AT&T's Wi-Fi hot spots is included. Data packages for iPad users outside of the U.S. will by in place by June.

Multiple demos showed unmodified iPhone apps working on the iPad at original resolution and scaled up to take advantage of the iPad's increased screen real estate. According to Scott Forstall during his time on stage, the iPad can run "virtually every" app without modification, with an on-screen button to scale an app's resolution up and down as desired. iPhone users will not need to re-purchase apps to load them onto an iPad.

Apple has announced a mayor event on January 27 2010. The rumor is the long awaited Tablet Mac or iSlate or whatever name Apple will use.

Sources in a position to know tell me Apple (AAPL) is indeed planning a media event later this month at which it will announce a major new product. The gathering is to be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, a space Apple often uses for media events like these. According to other sources, it will occur on Wednesday Jan. 27, not Tuesday Jan. 26, as had been rumored.

I will be posting updates to my spanish Mac related website www.macnotas.com.

New October 2009 iMac

As expected Apple updated it's iMac, Mac Mini and the Macbook laptop line on Tuesday morning.

The new iMac now in 21.5" and 27". The 21.5" model is now 1920x1080 16:9 wide screen resolution, the 27" model is 2560x1440 resolution with 1000:1 contrast ratio gives you more vibrant colors and blacker blacks.

Quad-core power.

The available quad-core Intel Core i5 or Core i7 “Nehalem” processor in the 27-inch iMac puts four processing cores on one die, so data doesn’t have to travel far to get from core to core. This boosts application performance up to 2x over the previous-generation iMac. And unlike systems that connect memory to the processor through a separate controller, these quad-core processors connect memory directly to the processor, improving memory bandwidth up to 2.5x.

New October 2009 Macbook

Durable unibody enclosure.

A mere 1.08 inches thin and even lighter at 4.7 pounds, the sleek new MacBook cuts a slim profile on any desk (or in any backpack or briefcase). It features a new seamless, more durable unibody enclosure with rounded contours that make it easy to pick up and slide into and out of your bag. And it’s made of rugged polycarbonate that withstands the rough and tumble of everyday life — at school, at work, or while traveling. Even the bottom of the new MacBook feels different. Covering its entire surface is a nonslip material that keeps your MacBook right where you put it, whether on a desk, table, or airplane tray.

Quality screen time.

MacBook now features an LED-backlit 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display for an even more spectacular viewing experience. Documents, videos, photos, and games look incredibly sharp and detailed. The LED backlighting delivers stunning colors and instant full-screen brightness the moment you open the lid. And its 1280-by-800 pixel resolution offers an outstanding balance of luminous color and easy readability in a perfectly portable size.

 

Following AT&T's announcement that it will now allow iPhone Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services over its mobile network, Apple and VoIP provider Skype have issued public statements reacting to today's announcement.

Apple welcomed the announcement. "We are very happy that AT&T is now supporting VOIP applications," said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. "We will be amending our developer agreements to get VOIP apps on the App Store and in customers' hands as soon as possible."

We are expecting an upgrade to the iMac and Mac Mini line from Apple around mid October 2009.