<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The first - generation iPad (/ ˈaɪpæd / EYE - pad) is a tablet computer designed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the first in the iPad line . The device features an Apple A4 processor, a 9.7" touchscreen display, and, on certain variants, the capability of accessing cellular networks . Using the iOS operating system, the iPad can play music, send and receive email and browse the web . Other functions, which include the ability to play games and access references, GPS navigation software and social network services can be enabled by downloading apps . </P> <P> The device was announced and unveiled on January 27, 2010 at a media conference . On April 3, 2010, the Wi - Fi variant of the device was released in the United States, followed by the release of the Wi - Fi + Cellular variant on April 30 . On May 28, it was released in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom . </P> <P> The device received primarily positive reviews from various technology blogs and publications . Reviewers praised the device for its wide range of capabilities and labelled it as a competitor to laptops and netbooks . Some aspects were criticized, including the closed nature of the operating system and the lack of support for the Adobe Flash multimedia format . During the first 80 days, three million iPads were sold . By the launch of the iPad 2, Apple sold more than 15 million iPads . </P>

When did the first apple ipad come out