In 1991, Apple introduced the first laptop. Then almost 20 years later, Steve Jobs brings us something to bridge the gap between the MacBook and iPhone, everybody meet iPad. I never really expected that they name it iPad, although I've been reading how Apple has secured the name. And just like the iPhone, the iPad lets you browse the Internet, use the touchscreen to flick through your photos, get directions via maps, and access the iTunes Store to buy apps, and watch movies and TV shows in landscape mode. Using the touchscreen keyboard, you can send emails, chat, and use the iPad like a regular computer.

The iPad, like a giant iPhone, is super thin. It's 1/2-inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds, and the full capacitive multi-touch display lets you take advantage of the 9.7-inch screen. The iPad comes with 16 - 64GB of flash storage, WiFi and Bluetooth, an accelerometer, and compass to help you use maps, and a speaker and mic (but no camera) for chatting. A 10 hour battery life (with over a month of standby) lets you use the iPad without a worry of whether or not you have a power source. And it's eco-friendly. The iPad is arsenic-, BFR-, and Mercury-free, and the body and glass are made from recycled parts. It has a LED display and IPS display technology, making it easier for more than one user to view the iPad at a time.

Here's an inside scoop on the iPad's applications:

* Existing iPhone apps will be able to run on the iPad

* The SDK (that's software development kit) is now open, so there are sure to be many more apps to come.

* Brushes is coming to the iPad. With the huge 9.7-inch touchscreen, you can create new art or alter past works similar to one of my other favorite iPhone apps, ColorSplash. Brushes offers a true painting experience with a wide selection of brushes, options to store your favorite colors, and using pinch and zoom, you can add impressive detail to your art. In-app playback lets you see a history of your strokes. The partnership between the iPad and Brushes is perfect for art students to create digital work on the lightweight device.

* Martin Nisenholtz from the New York Times was on hand to introduce its new iPad application. The app captures the essence of reading a real newspaper, while harnessing the power of technology to watch videos, see slideshows, and sync up with your iTunes for the latest updates and breaking news.

* The newest eReader app on the iPad is called iBooks. It works similar to iTunes for books; the virtual bookstore runs within the iBooks application, and you can select titles to read from your virtual bookshelf. Tapping the right side of the page turns one page forward; a tap on the left turns one page back back. Also, you can change the book's font. And, iBooks can be used for textbooks, too.

I'm guessing we're not just the only ones waiting for the unveiling, Al Gore, was in the audience to hear all about Apple's newest product, the iPad. The iPad is eco-friendly — coming stocked with arsenic-free display glass as well as a mercury-free LCD screen. The entire device is free of any toxic BFR and PVC chemicals, while the body of the iPad is enclosed with recycled aluminum and glass.

The new iPad will be sold unlocked, and you won't need a contract; all data plans will be prepaid. There are WiFi and WiFi+3G coverage options, starting at $499 for 16GB with WiFi and data plans through AT&T starting at $14.99 a month.

WiFi:
16GB: $499
32GB: $599
64GB: $699

WiFi+3G:
16GB: $629
32GB: $729
64GB: $829

Rumors also that this device will be available in the Philippine market sometime around June2010.