iPad: 50,000 sales in 2 hours, Apple TV bumped, mysterious app icon
The introduction of the iPad Friday morning sold an estimated 50,000 units in two hours, and also bumped Apple's "hobby," the Apple TV, from the front page of its online store. Also, a mysterious icon included in iPad promotional pictures gains attention, and Apple has expanded its site to explain features of the coming hardware in greater detail.
iPad sales estimated at 25,000 per hour
After it went on sale at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Friday, the iPad is estimated to have sold 51,000 in its first two hours. As discovered by Philip Elmer-DeWitt at Fortune Brainstorm Tech, users at the Investor Village AAPL Sanity Board took their order numbers and attempted to crack the code to figure out total sales.
Victor Castroll, analyst with Valcent Financial Group and member of the AAPL Sanity Board, has been monitoring the spreadsheet and came up with the calculation of 51,000 units in the first two hours.
iPad preorder bumps Apple TV from front page of online store
In accepting preorders for the iPad on Friday, Apple made some minor adjustments to the front page of its online store. As a result, the Apple TV product and its accompanying picture were bumped and are no longer featured atop the store's main page.
The Apple TV used to be featured prominently alongside the company's line iPods, the iPhone and Macs. Now users must scroll down and find it in the left column under the "For iPod" heading.
Last month, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said his company still views the Apple TV as a "hobby," and noted that sales of the product simply don't compare to the consumer markets for smartphones, computers and MP3 players. Cook said he doesn't believe the Apple TV will remain dormant, but it may take time for the potential market for the device to grow.
"Because our gut says something is there, we're continuing to invest in this," Cook said. "But today, it's still just a hobby."
Last October, Apple released the 3.0 software update for Apple TV, featuring a redesigned main menu that made navigating content simpler and faster. It also added support for the new iTunes LP and iTunes Extras formats.
Mysterious app icon gains attention
Apple updated its Web site with new pictures of the iPad Friday, and one screenshot in particular garnered attention from readers due to its inclusion of a mysterious icon. Included on the home screen Web page, the picture shows an icon on the far right of the device in landscape mode, and the application is not shown in any other screenshots.
Though the text is too small to read clearly, the icon appears to show the logo for the publication National Geographic. It's likely that the icon is for a digital version of the magazine, to be sold through Apple's iBookstore.
Apple expands on iPad features
As preorders began Friday, Apple also fleshed out the official iPad section of its Web site, adding greater detail on the iBooks application, 3G data subscriptions with AT&T, and more.
As before, all of the built-in applications on the iPad have their own page describing their function. Apple also has special dedicated pages for the iBooks application, which must be downloaded from the App Store, as well as the $9.99 Keynote, Pages and Numbers software.
A page devoted to 3G access on the iPad describes how users can start and cancel a no-contract data plan with AT&T direct from the device at any time. As was revealed at the product's unveiling, the data plans run $15 per month for 250MB of data, or $30 per month for unlimited access.
Apple also updated its total number of applications available on the App Store to 150,000. When the iPad was first announced, the company advertised that more than 140,000 applications would be available for the device at launch.
iPad sales estimated at 25,000 per hour
After it went on sale at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Friday, the iPad is estimated to have sold 51,000 in its first two hours. As discovered by Philip Elmer-DeWitt at Fortune Brainstorm Tech, users at the Investor Village AAPL Sanity Board took their order numbers and attempted to crack the code to figure out total sales.
Victor Castroll, analyst with Valcent Financial Group and member of the AAPL Sanity Board, has been monitoring the spreadsheet and came up with the calculation of 51,000 units in the first two hours.
iPad preorder bumps Apple TV from front page of online store
In accepting preorders for the iPad on Friday, Apple made some minor adjustments to the front page of its online store. As a result, the Apple TV product and its accompanying picture were bumped and are no longer featured atop the store's main page.
The Apple TV used to be featured prominently alongside the company's line iPods, the iPhone and Macs. Now users must scroll down and find it in the left column under the "For iPod" heading.
Last month, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said his company still views the Apple TV as a "hobby," and noted that sales of the product simply don't compare to the consumer markets for smartphones, computers and MP3 players. Cook said he doesn't believe the Apple TV will remain dormant, but it may take time for the potential market for the device to grow.
"Because our gut says something is there, we're continuing to invest in this," Cook said. "But today, it's still just a hobby."
Last October, Apple released the 3.0 software update for Apple TV, featuring a redesigned main menu that made navigating content simpler and faster. It also added support for the new iTunes LP and iTunes Extras formats.
Mysterious app icon gains attention
Apple updated its Web site with new pictures of the iPad Friday, and one screenshot in particular garnered attention from readers due to its inclusion of a mysterious icon. Included on the home screen Web page, the picture shows an icon on the far right of the device in landscape mode, and the application is not shown in any other screenshots.
Though the text is too small to read clearly, the icon appears to show the logo for the publication National Geographic. It's likely that the icon is for a digital version of the magazine, to be sold through Apple's iBookstore.
Apple expands on iPad features
As preorders began Friday, Apple also fleshed out the official iPad section of its Web site, adding greater detail on the iBooks application, 3G data subscriptions with AT&T, and more.
As before, all of the built-in applications on the iPad have their own page describing their function. Apple also has special dedicated pages for the iBooks application, which must be downloaded from the App Store, as well as the $9.99 Keynote, Pages and Numbers software.
A page devoted to 3G access on the iPad describes how users can start and cancel a no-contract data plan with AT&T direct from the device at any time. As was revealed at the product's unveiling, the data plans run $15 per month for 250MB of data, or $30 per month for unlimited access.
Apple also updated its total number of applications available on the App Store to 150,000. When the iPad was first announced, the company advertised that more than 140,000 applications would be available for the device at launch.
Comments
The introduction of the iPad Friday morning sold an estimated 50,000 units in two hours, and also bumped Apple's "hobby," the Apple TV, from the front page of its online store. Also, a mysterious icon included in iPad promotional pictures gains
Apple also updated its total number of applications available on the App Store to 150,000. When the iPad was first announced, the company advertised that more than 140,000 applications would be available for the device at launch.
A good start.
A good start.
Yes it is a good start - more than 50K in the first few hours but did you really need to quote the entire article?
50k in first 2 hours, wow. Not surprising I guess.
Anybody have numbers for the first 2 hours of sale for the iPhone?
Yes it is a good start - more than 50K in the first few hours but did you really need to quote the entire article?
Yeh, slipped sorry will not happen again
I thought Apple was cutting down on porn!
Early Adopters...
Yep. I have been an early adopter of Apple hardware for years, but I just couldn't pull the trigger this morning. The speed of the browser on my iphone (wifi) simply doesn't match the speed of my macbook pro. Maybe the iPad will be faster or maybe I am expecting too much, but I think I will have to wait til more people have them in their little grubby hands. Good luck Apple.
poor Apple TV.
poor Apple TV.
May it rest in peace... on the back pages of the Apple Store.
Apple lists the cost for the 3G data but I can't find any info on the typical activation fee. In fact, it reads as if their isn't one which would make this product even more attractive for the occasional activation for trips.
Doesn't look like there will be one, otherwise there should be a footnote somewhere saying activation fee may apply or something.
May it rest in peace... on the back pages of the Apple Store.
I still LOVE my Apple TV...had it now for over a year.... I never use it to buy/watch movies, but to centralize all your music in one place..with your best speakers, it can't be beat....Also great photo album and an easy place to watch podcasts/YouTube...works AMAZINGLY well with iPhone remote....
So whats the deal with the pre-orders...are they charging cards now or waiting? or putting a hold? It seems my accounts already been cleaned out
I have never known Apple bill me until they ship. I have my order confirmed and shipping info but no invoice so all seems as normal.
Doesn't look like there will be one, otherwise there should be a footnote somewhere saying activation fee may apply or something.
That would rock, though they can always add one or even change the rates for data at any time since their is no contract.
Yeh, slipped sorry will not happen again
You could edit the post to avoid another 100 critics
Doesn't look like there will be one, otherwise there should be a footnote somewhere saying activation fee may apply or something.
It doesn't say either way, because it is up the carrier to charge or not charge an activation fee, as they see fit.
So whats the deal with the pre-orders...are they charging cards now or waiting? or putting a hold? It seems my accounts already been cleaned out
Apple typically has several charges against your card: mine is a debit card so I can see specifically in my online bank account; they charge $1.00 for each item ordered and strangely charge for the shipping if applicable. In my case, and I have received an email confirmation of the order, they charged $1.00 for my iPad, $1.00 for the case, $1.00 for the dock and $13.00 for the expedited shipping (on the 2 accessories). That's it. I have always liked that about Apple. Some companies put a hold on the full amount of the order which in my case with a debit card means that the funds are unavailable! So hurrah for Apple on this one! A measly buck to hold my iPad till April 3!!! Then free FEDEX Saturday delivery! Talk about customer satisfaction!
The silence is deafening.