iPad Fever Hits America

Starting at $499 and available for purchase in about 60 days, the iPad may be Apple's next big hit.  (FoxNews)

Apple's newest gizmo -- CEO Steve Jobs, pictured, gushed, calling it "our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price" -- is a multipurpose multimedia device. (AP)

In design, the tablet looks like an oversized iPhone or iPod Touch, although that analogy implies similar functionality: Apple clearly has more planned for the new tablet.  (AP)

Many journalists, focusing on the bright splashes of color in the invitation Apple sent out to journalists, speculated that Apple's new device will focus on content creation. A new application for the iPad, called Brushes, plays into that. The art browser and painting application lets anyone become Picasso, yet that's hardly the wealth of video, photo, and word processing tools some speculated would exist at launch. (AP)

Since iTunes already sells television shows and movies, playing those shows on the iPad's 9.7-inch multi-touch screen is a no-brainer. The experience looks super smooth, and apple clams the device will have a 10-hour battery life.  (AP)

The screen certainly looks great, though Apple never cited the screen's resolution. But will there be a video-subscription service? And will we be able to buy individual TV shows, directly from the iPad? Apple didn't answer all of our questions. (AP)

Apple is<b> </b>concentrating heavily on the gaming market, a space the company has never broken into effectively. Current ads for the iPod Touch emphasize the device's utility in the gaming market. And gaming will be a big component of the iPad.  (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Apple is<b> </b>concentrating heavily on the gaming market, a space the company has never broken into effectively. Current ads for the iPod Touch emphasize the device's utility in the gaming market. And gaming will be a big component of the iPad.  (AP )

The iPad has an 802.11n chip that supports the latest wireless Internet connection. But some models will sell with 3G Internet connections as well, meaning users will be able to connect to the Web wherever they are.  (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Apple spent a long time touting the functions of its productivity suite iWork. Vice president Phil Schiller came on stage to discuss the suite, which includes an editing program, a spreadsheet app, and more. "It's the most beautiful word processor you've ever used," Schiller told the assembled crowd. Each app will sell for $9.99. (AP)

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During the iPad launch event, Steve Jobs demonstrates movie playback on the tablet device with a clip from the latest "Star Trek" film. (Gizmodo)

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Jonathan Ive, the Apple legend himself (and the senior vice president of their simplistic design) awaits Steve Jobs' announcement on the elusive Apple tablet.   

Will it be named the iTablet or iSlate?  None of these people know quite yet -- but Apple's newest gizmo is expected to be a multipurpose multimedia device allowing users to watch films, play computer games and surf the Web while on the move. (Gizmodo)

Crowds build outside the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. No facts have been confirmed about Apple's new device. The company is notorious for keeping the details of its products secret before launch, refusing even to admit that a tablet is in the works.  (Gizmodo)

Although Apple has been silent publicly about its new gadget, analysts believe it will be billed as a way to watch videos, surf the Web, play games and read electronic books. (Gizmodo)