As had been widely expected, Apple today unveiled its tablet computer, a device called the iPad. The company did not, however, announce any updates to its iPhone hardware or software.
It had been considered pretty unlikely that Apple would use today's event to announce a new iPhone handset, as the company typically announces new iPhone hardware in the spring. It was thought, though, that Apple might announce an updated version of its iPhone OS at today's event, but that did not happen, either.
What Apple did announce was the iPad, a handheld tablet that shares lots of similarities with the iPhone. The iPad is bigger than the iPhone -- its screen measures 9.7 inches diagonally, compared to the 3.5-inch screen on the iPhone -- but runs the same apps and the same iPhone operating system.
Because the iPad runs the iPhone OS, it would have made sense for Apple to update the software today. The current version, 3.2, has some limitations that could prove frustrating for iPad users. For one, it lacks true multi-tasking capabilities, so you can only run one app at a time. More of today's smartphones, including the Palm Pre, offer multi-tasking, so it would have been nice to see Apple add that feature to the iPhone OS.
Apple's iPad will be available in 60 days, so it is possible that Apple could update the iPhone OS before the device ships to consumers. But it seems unlikely that Apple would add a feature as noteworthy as multi-tasking in that time; if the iPad were going to support multi-tasking, Apple would have wanted to highlight that capability at today's event.
Image © Apple
Comments
It’s just apple’s style to not have the new firmware or feature set – this model still doesn’t have WiFi!
It’s obvious they’ve just pushed this one out so that they can compete with Kindle… They want to secure the sales of all the “I need it now cos it’s new” people.
They’ll bring out a new model in 6 months with WiFi, and all the opther extras that should have been in this model. They just want people to buy a second one when they come out with the features.
Take iPhone for example – 3g was already the ‘main’ network type used in Aus and US when the iPhone was released – and they had the 3G model ‘ready for production’ – they just wanted people to buy the GSM handset, and then again the 3G when it was released.
Both WiFi and 3G will be available. Don’t understand my tocayo’s comment to the contrary.