Apple Inc (AAPL)

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More details on iPad as orders begin
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal
Friday, March 12, 2010, 10:24am PST

Apple began taking orders Friday for its iPad tablet computer and revealed a few more details on how it works.

Apple Inc. released more details about its new iPad as it started taking orders for the tablet computer on Friday.

Customers are initially being limited to two iPads per person, with pre-order deliveries coming on April 3, the same day the iPad hits store shelves.

Only the versions with just Wi-Fi, starting at $499, will be delivered on that date with the 3G version that starts at $629 coming later in the month.

One detail that Apple outlined Friday on its Web site concerns the AT&T Inc. data plan. Users who sign up for the $15-per-month, 250-megabyte plan will see a warning on their screen when they are nearing their data limit. They will get the option of adding more data at that time, as well.

Unlimited data plans cost $30 per month and unlike the iPhone users don't have commit to a lengthy contract for service.

Apple also said the iBook app won't come loaded on the computer but will available as a free download from the App store.

A few details were released about how the iBook app will work, too. Among these are that it remembers where you left off reading and if you touch and hold a word the iPad will look up the meaning for you. VoiceOver screen-reading technology will read any page aloud, as well.

One feature that owners of iPhones might applaud is that a screen rotation lock switch has been added so that a user can prevent the iPad's accelerometer from automatically rotating the screen.