中國網(wǎng)站品牌欄目（頻道）
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 Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs shows the keypad on the new "iPad" during the launch of Apple's new tablet computing device in San Francisco, California, January 27, 2010. [Agencies]
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Click for official video of the new Apple iPad
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Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs took the wraps off an "iPad" tablet with a lower-than-expected price tag, placing a big bet on a new breed of gadgets that aim to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops. Jobs, who returned to the helm last year after a much-scrutinized liver transplant, took the stage at packed theater on Wednesday and showed off a sleek, half-inch thick tablet computer with a 9.7-inch touchscreen. It can run movies, books, games and a gamut of applications. The iPad will sell for as low as $499 for 16 GB of storage. An extra $130 is needed to equip it with third-generation wireless capability. "What once occupied half your living room can now be dropped in a bag," said NPD analyst Ned May. "It's pulling together a variety of needs (in) a universal entertainment device." Shares of Apple were up 1.7 percent after the pricing details were announced to trade at $209.40, within reach of their all-time high of $215.59 logged on Jan. 5. The tablet is Apple's biggest product launch since the iPhone three years ago, and arguably rivals the smartphone as the most anticipated in Apple's history. Culminating months of feverish speculation on the Internet and among investors, Jobs took the stage at a jam-packed theater in San Francisco and, with his famed showman's flair, began displaying the device's features. Jobs said there was a need for a new type of device that would sit between a smartphone and laptop computer, and that can perform tasks like browse the Web, play games and display electronic books. "If there's going to be a third category of device, it's going to have to be better at these kinds of tasks," he said. The iPad has a near life-sized touch keyboard and supports Web browsing. It comes with a built-in calendar and address book, Jobs said, calling it "awesome." In an online poll on reuters.com, 37 percent of more than 1,000 respondents said they would pay $500-$699 for the tablet. Nearly 30 percent weren't interested, while 20 percent said they would pay $700-$899. Analysts' sales predictions for the tablet vary widely, with many believing Apple can sell 2 million to 5 million units in the first year. (Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a multimedia journalist at the China Daily Web site.) 點擊查看更多雙語新聞
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蘋果公司首席執(zhí)行官史蒂夫?喬布斯日前揭開iPad平板電腦的神秘面紗，當天公布的產(chǎn)品定價遠低于預期。對于蘋果公司而言，開發(fā)填補智能手機和手提電腦之間空白的新型系列產(chǎn)品是一個很大的賭注。 周三當天，iPad發(fā)布會現(xiàn)場座無虛席，去年成功接受肝臟移植手術(shù)、重返工作崗位的喬布斯在臺上向眾人展示了這款平板電腦。iPad平板電腦外觀線條流暢，僅有半英寸（1.27厘米）厚，配備一個9.7英寸的觸摸屏，帶有播放電影、電子書閱讀、游戲等功能以及一系列的應(yīng)用軟件。 一臺存儲量為16GB的iPad僅售499美元。如配備3G無線上網(wǎng)功能則需額外支付130美元。 NPD市場調(diào)查機構(gòu)的分析師內(nèi)德?梅說：“以前占據(jù)客廳一半空間的東西現(xiàn)在只需放在一個包里。這款產(chǎn)品娛樂功能全面，滿足了各種需求。” iPad的定價公布后，蘋果公司的股價上漲1.7%，漲至209.4美元，接近今年1月5日創(chuàng)下的215.59美元的歷史最高紀錄。 這款平板電腦是蘋果公司自三年前推出iPhone手機后所推出的一款最具分量的新產(chǎn)品，足以挑戰(zhàn)iPhone手機作為蘋果公司史上最受期待產(chǎn)品的地位。 當天的發(fā)布會在舊金山舉行，現(xiàn)場座無虛席，喬布斯走上臺，以其出色的展示技巧向眾人演示了這款產(chǎn)品的特點，結(jié)束了網(wǎng)民和投資者數(shù)月以來不斷升溫的猜測。 喬布斯稱，我們需要一款介于智能手機和手提電腦之間的新產(chǎn)品，人們可以用它來上網(wǎng)、玩游戲、看電子書等。 他說：“如果有這樣一種第三類產(chǎn)品，那么它在這些方面的功能就應(yīng)該更先進。” iPad配備接近真實鍵盤大小的觸摸鍵盤，并支持網(wǎng)頁瀏覽。此外，它還配有內(nèi)置日歷和通訊簿，喬布斯稱其“超贊”。 路透社網(wǎng)站針對一千多名受訪者開展的一項在線調(diào)查顯示，37%的受訪者稱他們愿意花費500至699美元購買iPad。近30%的受訪者不感興趣，20%的受訪者稱愿意花700至899美元。 分析人士對于iPad銷售前景的預測存在很大分歧，其中很多人認為這款產(chǎn)品的首年銷量有望達到200萬至500萬臺。 相關(guān)閱讀 谷歌發(fā)布智能手機NexusOne iPhone終遇對手 （中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Julie 編輯蔡姍姍） |
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Vocabulary: take the wraps off: to make something known that had been secret （揭開秘密；公布于眾） helm: the place or post of control（掌舵，掌管） flair：a natural talent, aptitude, or ability; bent; knack（才能，本領(lǐng)） life-sized：of the natural size of an object, person, etc.（與原物一樣大小的） |
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