by Cyrus Farivar

After seemingly endless weeks of rumors, Apple finally released its tablet computer, calling it the iPad.

The device, which will sell worldwide at a starting price of $499 (€356.65) later this year, represents something in between the company’s extraordinarily popular iPhones and its line of laptops.

“If there’s going to be a third category of device, it’s going to have to be better at these kinds of tasks than a laptop or a smartphone; otherwise it has no reason for being,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the special event in San Francisco.

The basic model comes with 16 gigabytes of flash memory storage and WiFi — it will go on sale in two months. For an additional $130, users can buy an iPad with third-generation (3G) wireless capability, for high-speed access from nearly anywhere. The most advance model on offer will top out at $829.

For more, click here.

I’ve been informed that my radio piece on the controversy over the “Songs for Tibet” album, iTunes and China, will be airing today.

It will be available on any of these stations (and their Internet streams):

New York – 3 pm Eastern – WNYC – 820 AM – www.wnyc.org
Washington, DC – 8 pm Eastern – WAMU – 88.5 FM – www.wamu.org
Los Angeles – 12 pm Pacific – KPCC – 89.3 FM – www.kpcc.opg
Boston – 4 pm Eastern – WGBH – 89.7 FM – www.wgbh.org
San Francisco – 2 pm Pacific – KQED – 88.5 FM – www.kqed.org

Will be available on The World’s site later in the day and on my site if you miss the broadcast.

Lemme know if you hear it!

Update: Audio is here.

I’ve been informed that my radio piece on Apple’s woes with the iPhone and MobileMe will be on All Things Considered today (July 30)!

It will be available on any of these stations (and their Internet streams).

New York – 4 pm to 6:30 pm Eastern – WNYC – 820 AM – www.wnyc.org
Washington, DC – 4 pm to 6 pm Eastern – WAMU – 88.5 FM – www.wamu.org
Los Angeles – 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm Pacific – KPCC – 89.3 FM – www.kpcc.opg
Boston – 5 pm to 7 pm Eastern – WGBH – 89.7 FM – www.wgbh.org
San Francisco – 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Pacific – KQED – 88.5 FM – www.kqed.org

It will also be archived at npr.org and here if you miss it.

Update: Audio is here!

Lemme know if you hear it!

1) The 3G costs just as much as the old one over two years. In fact, slightly more.

2) Taxes/fees included, my cell phone bill these days on T-Mobile (for 1000 minutes) is usually about $80. On AT&T it would cost me about $90 for less minutes, plus 3G. Is that worth it?

3) I don’t really care that much about GPS. MobileMe is pretty rad though, and I think I might shell out $100 annually for that — and it will run great on my existing iPhone.

Also the idea of a two-year contract is really unattractive, and having an unlocked phone is very valuable to me.

Finally, it appears that AT&T may be selling the phone unsubsidized at some point, which MAY sway me. We’ll see.

I’ve been informed that my radio piece on learning English in Estonia aired today. Sorry I didn’t inform you in advance.

The audio is here.

Also, I had a spot news item on the new iPhone for NPR this afternoon. Audio is here.

I’ve been informed that my radio piece on Apple’s WWDC will be on Morning Edition tomorrow (June 9).

It will be available on any of these stations (and their Internet streams).

New York – 5 am to 9 am Eastern – WNYC – 820 AM – www.wnyc.org
Washington, DC – 5 am to 10 am Eastern – WAMU – 88.5 FM – www.wamu.org
Los Angeles – 2 am to 9 am Pacific – KPCC – 89.3 FM – www.kpcc.opg
Boston – 6 am to 9 am Eastern – WGBH – 89.7 FM – www.wgbh.org
San Francisco – 3 am to 9 am Pacific – KQED – 88.5 FM – www.kqed.org

It will also be archived at npr.org and at my site if you miss it.

Lemme know if you hear it!

Update: Audio is here.

The entire hour is available here, both in stream and MP3 flavors.

The topic? WWDC Preview – iPhone Speculation, Apple TV Wishes and Mac OS Expectations

The entire hour is available here, both in stream and MP3 flavors.

The topic? Recovering Stolen Macs, Common Sense Security and Starbucks’ WiFi.