Nico Baird

Apple has done it again.  On Wednesday Apple announced the new iPad. Bridging the gap between  the iPod and the Laptop this new device is again set to revolutionize the way we consume content.

The iPod changed the way we listen to music and the way we buy music.  The iPod and iTunes changed the way we buy music.

A few months ago I wrote about how newspapers will have to rethink the way they distribute content to their readers or they will surely see a decline in readership in the next ten years.  Many large newspapers in the United States have already had to close shop.

Amazon came up with the Kindle but it did not quite satisfy the need that consumers had.  Apple has the ability to see a need and with Steve Jobs at the helm they know how to make it every consumers dream product.

The new iPad is a tablet computer like no other. I believe that this is just the first step in a revolution of content delivery for newspapers.  Soon this is how we will all get our news.  Apple has already signed content deals with a number of companies like Time magazine and The New York Times Newspaper.  Also a number of book publishers have signed content distribution and subscription deals with Apple.

As I watch this launch online I am excited and quite amazed at what I am seeing.

To view photos and a minute by minute summary of the event please visit http://live.gdgt.com/2010/01/27/live-apple-come-see-our-latest-creation-tablet-event-coverage/

I know that I will have to get one of these iPads as soon as they are available in South Africa. The applications are limitless.  Let’s just hope that unlike the MacBook these iPads will be more affordable in South Africa.