The just-announced iPad from Apple will be out in March for the wi-fi only edition and a month later for the 3G version in the US, but when can we expect it in Japan?
So far, not only is there no mention of any release date on the Apple Japan site for either version, but all pricing is for the US release (in dollars), with fine print indicating that prices for Japan will be announced at a later date. No word either on whether the data plan will be offered by Softbank — the only provider for iPhones in Japan — or if it will match the unlimited plan that has been announced for the US (around $30 monthly).
Update: And now it looks like Apple will need to face off against Fujitsu over the iPad name.
Update 2: According to writer Gordon Kanki-Knight: “iPad with Wi-Fi only hits stores in Japan in March, with 3G in June. Docomo to provide the micro-SIM cards.” More details here.
For US$549 this have more features http://www.archos.com/products/nb/archos_9/index.html?country=us&lang=en
That may be true (more features), but I think you have to look more at the number of apps that are going to become available for each device, and building on the iPhone apps, the iPad is going to be hard to beat.
The Archos runs Windows, so there’s no need for “apps;” it just runs the software you’re already using. The iPad is running a mobile phone OS, the limitations of which on a larger form factor probably won’t be made up for by apps if you’re seriously considering an Archos versus an iPad for the same purpose. I don’t think these are competing products. (I don’t know that the iPad will really “compete” with anything, honestly, since it lacks the OS and hardware features to compete with netbooks/laptops).
I assumed that the Archos ran some sort of mobile version of Windows — it if is the full Windows, then sure, you have to access to more software, but I don’t think I’d really want to interact with regular software with something like a tablet. Sure, the iPad runs on a mobile OS, and therefore is not really a netbook, but when I talk about the importance of the number of apps that’s because each in the end, each new app adds new functionality to the device (like we’ve seen with the iPhone).
For me, the things I really wish would have been included are a camera (for video chats) and multi-tasking (to have stuff like Twitter running while I’m doing something else).
I just hope that we can buy iBooks in Japan. At the moment it seems to be a US only feature. I’m also curious as to whether the book store will be open to indie publishers?
I guess for me I’m pretty sure I’ll have access to it since I buy most of my apps on the Canadian iTunes store (tied to my Canadian credit card). I do hope that indie publishers have access though, yeah.
It looks like DoCoMo will release its own microSIM cards for the device in Japan. No details yet, neither word from SoftBank if and when they will announce their own plans.
http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/04/28/docomo-to-sell-ipad-sim-cards-in-japan/
The device itself has been pushed back, due to the inability of Apple to cope with US demand. Best guess is currently end of May for the WiFi version (even if you can already find some imported iPads in Akiba)
http://mobileinjapan.com/2010/04/15/no-ipads-for-japan-till-end-of-may/
I’m getting one for sure. It’s only when I first played with it than I realized I wanted one. Now, I’ll hold off until the 3G version (and try getting these international data roaming microSIMs from MaxRoam for my travels).
I guess we’ll find out May 8 what the deal is, since that’s when pre-orders are supposed to start — but then again, we might just have access to the non-3G one. I’ve been thinking so far that I’d just get the wi-fi one anyway, since I want the cheapest model, but the more I think about it, the more it would be nice to have net access anywhere.