Apple unveiled its new iPad yesterday, an iPhone OS-based slate tablet computer capable of running “almost all” of the apps available in the App Store, as well as new apps tailored specifically for the device.
Jan 28, 2010 |
As the new iPad was announced by Apple today during the live Apple press conference in San Francisco, it was made known that one of the programs that the iPad comes with is iBooks, which will enable iPad users to buy, download and read books electronically. Immediately, Internet went into a heated discussion over whether iPad will kill Amazon's e-reader Kindle. Right now, it seems the net is divided into those who think Kindle will be subdued by iPad and those who think Kindle will survive. Here's a simple feature-by-feature comparison chart just to make things easier.
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Amazon Kindle
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Apple iPad |
| Display |
E-ink display. Kindle 2 is 6 inches diagonally; Kindle DX is 9.7 inches diagonally. Not a touch screen.
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9.7-inch LED (IPS) backlit display. Supports multi-touch. |
| Hardware |
Kindle 2 is 10.2 ounces, Kindle DX is 18.9 ounces. Both are 0.36 inch thick, have navigation buttons, a toggle, 3.5mm headset jack, and a keyboard.
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1.5 pounds, 0.5 inch thick, has a Home button, volume controls, a screen lock slide switch, and a 3.5mm headset jack. |
| Store |
Amazon Kindle Store. Books are in Amazon's Kindle format.
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iBooks store. Books are in the open ePub format. |
| Features |
Able to subscribe to magazines and newspapers. Rudimentary Web browser, PDF reader, and 3G.
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More than just an ebook reader. Has access to iTunes App Store, Safari browser, email, media player, games, and more. Has Bluetooth and WiFi. 3G in some models. |
| Battery life |
4 days with wireless, 10 days without wireless
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10 hours use, 1 month standby |
| Connectivity |
3G with AT&T.
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Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G with AT&T |
| Price |
Kindle 2 is $259; Kindle DX is $489. 3G is included./td> |
iPads with WiFi only are $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB. iPads with WiFi and 3G are $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, and $829 for 64GB. 3G data costs $15 a month for 250MB and $30 a month for unlimited. |
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Apple founder Steve Jobs said: "Now Amazon has done a great job of pioneering this... we're going to stand on their shoulders for this. Our new app is called iBooks." Whether Apple's New Product will make eReaders obsolete or not is still in the wonder.
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