Apple to launh iPad in April

Apple has announced that its new product, iPad, will be available in the US markets early next month  for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.

Beginning next week from 12 March,  customers in the US can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple's online store or reserve a Wi-Fi model , at an Apple retail store.

''iPad is something completely new,'' said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. ''We're excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.''

Starting at just $499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks, among others. The iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds - thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook - and delivers a battery life of up to 10 hours.

iPad's Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. users can read and send email on iPad's large screen and almost full-size ''soft'' keyboard or import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organised as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad's elegant slideshows.

iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook you downloaded from Apple's new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.