14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has started airing the first iPad advertisement. Available now in the iPad gallery on Apple’s website, the commercial also aired during the Oscars, people familiar with the matter say. Steve Jobs was present at the 82nd edition of the Academy Awards, on Sunday, March 7, 2010, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, sources can also confirm.
Featuring a song from The Blue Van’s portfolio (There Goes My Love), the iPad commercial is an Apple-typical slideshow-style spot in which various device capabilities are showcased. The Mac maker emphasizes the intuitiveness of the multi-touch interface typical to the iPhone OS. The iPad runs an enhanced version of the software, allowing users to take advantage of the increased screen real estate.
Also showcased in the commercial is the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore. It will allow customers to buy and read books on any Apple portable, and will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster. An iPad-optimized iWork suite is also available with the device. The commercial shows how a user can effortlessly create beautiful slideshows / presentations, by dragging items in and out with their fingers.
As Apple confirmed last week, the device isn’t on track for the originally planned launch date, but it isn’t delayed much either. Available in the US on April 3rd, the WiFi-only model will ship in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB configurations, retailing for $499, $599, and $699, respectively. According to the announcement, the Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for $629, $729, and $829 with identical storage options, plus 3G networking capabilities.
Other territories will get the tablet device, in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G form, in late April. Apple names the following territories as being on track to receive shipments: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The company is yet to confirm international pricing will be announced in April, but does mention that the iPad will ship in additional countries later this year.