The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. Its size and weight falls between those of contemporary smartphones and laptop computers. The iPad runs the same Operating System as the iPod Touch and iPhone and can run its own applications as well as iPhone applications. Without modifications and with the exception of web applications, it will only run programs approved by Apple and distributed via its online store.Like iPhone and iPod Touch, the iPad is controlled by a multitouch display a departure from most previous tablet computers, which used a pressure-triggered stylus as well as a virtual onscreen keyboard in lieu of a physical keyboard. The iPad uses a Wi-Fi data connection to browse the Internet, load and stream media, and install software. Some models also have a 3G wireless data connection which can connect to HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) data networks. The device is managed and synced by iTunes on a personal computer via USB cable.
Apple released the first iPad in April 2010, and sold 3 million of the devices in 80 days. During 2010, Apple sold 14.8 million iPads worldwide, representing 75 percent of tablet PC sales at the end of 2010. During the release of the iPad2 in March 2011, Steve Jobs said that just under 15 million iPads had been sold in the device's first nine months on the market — more than all other tablet PCs combined.
