Today's significant announcement by Apple of the iPad is already being pronounced as a larger iPhone, a smaller MacBook and a rangier iPod.

The 9.7-inch screen weighs 1.5 pounds and is a half-inch thick. Its supposed battery power is 10 hours, with one month on standby, and it can play HD. It has Wi-Fi, comes in a 3G version, and has a U.S. deal with AT & T on data storage. International Wi-Fi versions will be ready in 60 days.

The price tag is lower than expected: $499. 

It seems particularly suited to video, but The New York Times has unveiled its partnership this morning with it to emulate the newspaper reading experience.

There's a major league baseball video application on the way. And it has introduced iBooks as an e-reading technology. It has developed iWork for it and has access to the educational market.

Alan Mutter on Reflections of a Newsosaur has some instant prescription for the industry on how to work with the device.

Engadget kept a very strong running comme