Apple to Unveil 'Latest Creation' on Jan. 27

Wait time now up to three weeks

(NEWSER) - More than a million eager pairs of hands will be gripping the third version of the iPad on its launch day this Thursday, analysts predict. Some 300,000 models of the first iPad were sold on its first day in 2010, and while Apple didn't release launch-day figures for the iPad 2, executives said they were hit with the "mother of all backlogs," PC World notes. Shipping dates for the new tablet, which was unveiled last week , are now behind up to three weeks. More»

Apple's touch-screen tablet's a winner

(NEWSER) - The revolutionary iPad's a winner that largely lives up to Apple's hype, according to overwhelmingly positive early reviews. The tablet computer could easily replace the laptop for users focused on consuming instead of creating content, and who can live without a mouse—and Flash, say reviewers.

• The device is "basically a gigantic iPod touch," writes David Pogue at the New York Times . Hardcore techies will find lots to dislike, he notes, but regular people will find it "infinitely more convenient than a laptop" for consuming books music, video, photos, and browsing the web.

Steve Jobs reveals the long-awaited tablet computer

(AP) - It's out, finally. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad today, a tablet-style computer that resembles the iPhone, but larger. "It's so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone," Jobs said at the device's highly anticipated debut in San Francisco. He says the iPad will be better for reading books, playing games, and watching video than either a laptop or a smart phone. More»

But remember, with Apple, nothing is certain: Mashable

(NEWSER) - Apple is holding another one of its big events today, expected to be the unveiling of the iPad 3. Mashable runs down 11 things to watch for when it begins at 1pm ET:

• Tim Cook will be "the main attraction." He may not be as theatrical as Steve Jobs, but he's definitely Apple's biggest gun.
• There will be a lot of buildup. Before answering all your burning questions, Apple will have to build up to the big reveal by hyping its "dazzling" sales and download stats.
• Get ready for Mountain Lion. Apple's new Mac OS won't go on sale until the summer, but its new features will most certainly be previewed.

New tablet to come in 4G LTE version

(NEWSER) - Apple's first major product launch since the death of Steve Jobs is set for March 7, sources tell iMore . The iPad 3 will be unveiled at an event in San Francisco, and the latest version of the company's tablet computer will be offered in models that run on AT&T and Verizon's speedy next-generation LTE technology, according to the Wall Street Journal . Rumors about the new tablet helped Apple shares soar above $500 for the first time yesterday. (In other Apple news, click to read about why Apple really should bring its jobs back to the US .) More»