Launch of Apple's new products (3-4 times in a year) seem to be an experience of sorts, something akin to its products.
As invites were sent out, the buzz had already started that Apple is all set to launch the new iPad. The launch this time was special for the fact that the CEO, Mr Tim Cook, had to take the stage from Steve Jobs – a hard act to follow.
Started with numbers
Seven minutes into the event and Mr Cook was introduced to the audience. As usual he started with numbers telling the audience that Apple sold 315 million iOS devices through the end of 2011, which includes iPhones, iPads and the iPod Touch.
Further, Apple sold 62 million iOS devices in the fourth quarter, has 585,000 applications in the App Store and is all set to launch Siri in Japan.
Next came the announcement on Apple TV that will automatically sync with photos taken on your iPhone, and now supports 1080p HD and other movie-related features.
The build-up continued as the crowd waited for the announcement that was most anticipated. Twenty four minutes into the event saw the announcement of the much-awaited new iPad, which includes retina display as one of its key features. It has a resolution of 2048 x 1536, which includes 3.1 million pixels and features an A5X quad core graphics chip.
The new iPad also comes with the 5MP camera and voice dictation, which is a new feature. A 64 GB model with 4G and Wi-Fi capability will retail for $829. The Wi-Fi only, 16GB model will sell for $499. Mr Cook described the device as the flagship among the company's ‘post-PC' products.
Ipad2 price slashed
The price of iPad2 has been slashed by $100 after the launch of the latest version.
Lean, bespectacled and wearing black, he was still not quite Jobs, the showman. Unlike Jobs, who presented everything in the event, Mr Cook let others like Mr Phil Schiller, Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing, share the stage with him.
It did have a desired effect on the markets and the ecosystem of companies such as cellular carriers and chip suppliers that saw their stock go up.
Some analysts, however, feel that Mr Cook needs more invention if he has to take Apple into newer frontiers. Will the iPhone 5 be something more radical than the new iPad?