Apple has finally unveiled its hotly-anticipated tablet PC, announcing the first devices will go on sale in March.

 

Apple said the iPad bridges the gap between smartphones and PCs, being lighter than notebooks or laptop PCs, but offering more functionality than a smartphone.

 

The device will sell at prices starting from $499, well below the $800-$1,000 price range expected before the launch.

 

The iPad looks like the iPhone’s larger brother, featuring a 9.7-inch LED touchscreen that orientates content when you turn the device. It is only half-an-inch thick, and tips the scales at 680g. It is designed to handle web browsing, email, photo albums, video and TV, games and e-books.

 

Apple CEO Steve Jobs described the device as “magical,” stating that it “defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way.”

 

Although Apple didn’t confirm if iPad shares the same OS as the iPhone, it has been designed to allow users to run their existing applications, as well as accessing the full catalogue of content in the Apps Store. Apple will also launch a new bookstore – iBookstore – offering access books from leading publishers.