Steve Jobs Answers Fans' Emails, Confirms Plans with iPad, iPhone, MacBooks

Several email replies to Apple fans signed Steve Jobs have emerged this week, all of which confirm some of Apple’s future plans regarding the iPad, the company’s line of MacBook computers, and other Apple offerings. Various sources report on the topic, one of which says that, "When a CEO personally responds to a consumer, you know you're getting the best service on the planet."

MacNN, MacRumors, and TUAW report that minor details of Apple’s plans have emerged through e-mail responses sent by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Answering to a fan wanting to know where the iPad would be sold, Jobs confirmed that the only places to buy the tablet device would initially be limited to Best Buy and Apple's online and retail stores. According to the former, "Other authorized resellers are being kept out of the loop, including even AT&T, which is the official carrier for the iPad 3G. Owners will instead have to sign up for 3G access via their device."

Jobs reportedly acknowledged to a TUAW reader that it would be possible to load documents on an iPad through iWork.com. The same function will allegedly be available through the iDisk feature of MobileMe, while both options will be paired with iTunes. The reader in question had asked if there was a way he could transfer his Google Docs to his iPad through iWork.com or iDisk. In a manner typical to the Apple CEO, Jobs' reply was, "Yes."

Answering to another Apple fan's questions, also a TUAW reader from what we gather, Jobs reportedly said that the iPhone was on track to receiving a universal inbox for e-mail. Reader Julio R. asked Jobs whether users could expect a universal mailbox on the iPhone at some point. The answer inadvertently came: "Yep." Currently, the iPhone can only check each account separately, while the updated Mail client is most likely to be included in the iPhone 4.0 firmware update, expected to arrive this summer.

Finally, Jobs said "not to worry" about the lack of a hardware refresh. The Apple CEO reportedly told this to another Apple fan (a MacRumors reader), who was eager to know whether Apple was concentrating all its efforts on the iPad, neglecting the computer segment. Since Apple last updated the MacBook line of computers last June, a revision is almost inevitable in the coming months.