That's a Lot of iPads

Apple says it sold more than 300,000 iPads on Saturday, the day it debuted across the country.
     
Sales included pre-orders of the iPad, a new type of touch-screen device that blends features of the iPhone, electronic book readers and tablet computers.

The number released by Apple is much lower than the initially one released by top Apple analyst Gene Munster.  Munster is usually spot on when it comes to Apple.  He mistakenly put the sales number at closer to 700,000.    He has made a full Maya culpa, admitting he over estimated pre-orders.

And there are still some available at retailers, so rumors of a sell out proved false.

Prices start at $499 for iPads that connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi. Apple will sell costlier iPads with cellular data connections later this month.

Apple says that iPad owners downloaded over a million applications from its app store and more than 250,000 electronic books on Saturday.

Apple's CEO Steve Jobs says the iPad is going to be a game changer.  He took time on Saturday to go to his neighborhood Apple store in Palo Alto to mingle with customers and staff.

Apple shares are actually down 17 cents to $235.80 in pre-market trading.

The iPad snagged a starring role in an episode of "Modern Family" on the brink of the tablet debut.    

Apple Inc.'s latest device figured prominently in Wednesday's episode of the ABC series as a sought-after birthday gift for one of the characters.

On "Modern Family," Claire (Julie Bowen) is eager to buy an iPad for husband Phil's (Ty Burrell) birthday and sets her alarm to make sure to get one. She snoozes past the opportunity, enlists her family's help and, by episode's end, is able to get hold of the prize item.

"It's like Steve Jobs and God got together to say, 'We love you, Phil,"' says her tech-geek husband.

Walt Disney Co., ABC's parent company, announced Thursday that it would offer applications for all its businesses on the iPad.

About 20 ABC series will be available to iPad users through a Wi-Fi connection, the company said.

Jobs is the largest individual shareholder of Disney Co., with a 7.1 percent stake worth nearly $5 billion, and is on its board of directors.

The "Modern Family" showcase for iPad may have had the appearance of masterful product placement, and Apple did provide an iPad for the episode.

But the company doesn't pay for product placement, said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling.

There were no iPad commercials during the episode, and ads often are part of placement deals. ABC declined to provide details on how the iPad came to be featured but called it a good creative match.

One person who isn't an actor got his hands on the iPad and he showed how the new toy can help in the operating room. Check out the Qik video below.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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