Well done Apple, for getting your iPad even more media coverage at the Grammys.

When Comedian Stephen Colbert was announcing the Grammy for Song of the Year (winner: Beyonce), he had supposedly forgotten the list of nominees.

Never mind, he could find them out by whipping out his shiny new iPad….

video: iPad at Grammy Awards

The Apple iPad has arrived

… well actually the Apple iPad has been announced, as mentioned yesterday - now Apple fans just have to wait…

• iPad has a 9.7″ hi-res LED backlit multi-touch display
• Coming in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB capacities
• With or without 3G, and Wi-Fi, bluetooth connectivity
• Onboard iPod, accelerometer, microphone, speakers, 30-pin dock connector

Standard built-in apps are things like calendar, contacts, notes, mail, photos – as well as Safari, Google Maps & YouTube integration.

The iPad can run almost 140,000 apps from the iTunes App store, including the ones you’re already using on your iPhone (or iPod touch).  There will be iPad specific versions of iTunes and iWork available.  It can also support an external keyboard to make use easier.

As well, at the event, Jobs announced the new iBooks app (like Kindle on roids & the standard ePub format) which of course, has it’s own iBookstore – with content from the big guns like Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster etc.  iBooks available in the US only at this stage.

Also announced, was the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK for use with the iPad.

They will come unlocked, pre-paid*

• Wi-Fi models shipping in late March.
• 3G models shipping in April.
• *International pricing and carrier availability yet to be announced.

Any iPad downsides?

No multi-tasking… That’s right, still just the one app open at a time.

More iPad info

VIDEO: “The best way to experience the web, email and photos” Apple iPad demo video

Want to know when the iPad is available in Aus? Register your interest at the Apple store:

New Apple tablet to be announced

As usual, the Apple rumour mill has been running overtime of late.  Snippets of information and ideas have been circulating about the Apple tablet about to be released. Much like the iPhone or iPod touch but bigger, even running on an iPhone OS.

Well, they will be announcing “something exciting” at a media event in San Fran later today.  Jobs is reportedly the “most excited” he’s been in years, possibly since the arrival of the iPhone.

Further details are sketchy, including it’s name.  I think the name ‘iPad’ tends to have the closest association with the rest of the Apple products, but guess we’ll know tomorrow.  MacRumours even blogged about a tweet from a German retailer which has since been deleted, mentioning a name – and prices.

Stay tuned for more updates tomorrow….

Imagine doing Wii Hoola-Hoop after a few cocktails – in public?!

That may sound a little like a bad dream to some (like the one where you forgot your undies), but it can soon be your reality.

Four local gamers are set to open a new nightclub, Mana Bar, in Brissy’s Fortitude Valley, where you sip on some awesome cocktails whilst partaking in PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii games – particularly the more social ones like Wii Sports and Guitar Hero.

Mana Bar director Guy Blomberg said the next gen video gaming venue would be the first of its kind in the country and would offer a wide selection of video games at five terminals, including several titles available in the bar “weeks before they’re available to the public”.

Impressive!

Playing games will be free in the venue, with no bookings taken, so patrons will have to wait their turn and then “socially interact with everyone else”, Mr Blomberg says.

More info

Interested to know more? Check out their forum, the Mana Bar Facebook fan page and their interview with Rave Magazine.

The club will open in February at 420 Brunswick St, so get ready to bowl, dance and sing your little hearts out <3