What the Apple iPad Means for Gaming

When Steve Jobs announced the new iPad touch-screen tablet device today, it came as a shock to no one.

After weeks of speculation Jobs, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc., revealed the device that looks like an overgrown iPod Touch or iPhone and pretty much is.

The iPad will feature a 9.7 inch LED-backlit, IPS touch screen display, Wi-Fi (and 3G on some versions) internet access, 10 hours of battery life and all of the other snazzy features you would come to expect from Apple in a 0.5-inch thick and 1.5-pound package.

Pricing for the device ranges from $499 to $829 for 16 GB to 64 GB storage versions of Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi/3G versions of the new iPad.

Amongst Apple's glorification of the device is a photo of gaming on the device.

With access to thousands of apps already available in Apple's arsenal - many including video games - the new iPad could certainly be considered a potential threat in the handheld gaming market.

The iPad's 9.7 inch screen blows the Sony Playstation Portable-3000's 4.3-inch screen and Nintendo DSi's two 3.25-inch to make the new Apple gadget the largest screen of any handheld device on the market.

Certainly a large screen and multi-touch capabilities would allow for customizable controls for any game developed for the tablet or enhance the already existing library of video game titles.

The X-factor will be the iPad's 1GHz Apple A4 processor and graphics capability. Although Apple is calling the A4 "revolutionary" and "energy saving" it might not pump out the necessary juice to compete with Nintendo and Sony if Apple wanted to position the iPad in direct competition with the next generation of handheld devices from both companies.

Also, the iPad is slated to display only up to 720p HD visuals at 30 frames-per-second. Once again, that is ahead of the curve, but maybe not far enough when the handheld gaming standard is likely to reach 1080p at 60 frames-per-second in the near future.

Nevertheless, the iPad will certainly become another huge seller for Apple and technology phenomenon and possibly a formidable adversary if Apple decides to take its current gaming library in a new gear.