Even the most ardent hermits and shut-ins in the remotest corners of the globe will have found it hard to avoid yesterdays Apple announcement unveiling the iPad, Apple’s long awaited tablet. Billed as the portable device the Netbook should have been, the iPad boasts a stunning 9.7 inch LED-backlit touchscreen display employing capacitive technology allowing for multi-touch. Available in two flavours; a Wi-Fi only version and Wi-Fi + 3G, memory from 16GB to 64GB, Bluetooth, a 1GHz processor and compatibility with the vast majority of the iPhone’s 150,000+ apps, it’s hard not to get swept up in the excitement.

There were, however, a few niggles that have left some Apple fans slightly unsatisfied in the wake of yesterdays grand unveiling, relating both to the iPad and Apple’s entire portfolio. As good as it looks, the iPad still has its cons and no one is quicker to point these out than the online community. Firstly, and this is quite a biggie, the iPad can’t multi-task. Period. No WebOS or N900 style multi-tasking for any of the iPad’s apps, just limited functionality with a select number of the pre-installed Apple applications. Secondly, unless Jobs and co. are keeping something from us, the iPad’s web browser still can’t handle flash content. Apple are keen to promote the iPad as the best web browsing experience ever but can this really be the case without full flash support? We’re not so sure.

We’re willing to forgive the lack of voice calls and camera as they just wouldn’t be usable in a device of the iPad’s size (think Dom Joly in the famous Trigger Happy TV skit) but a front facing camera wouldn’t have been unwelcome. But to be fair, when announcing a device that has been rumoured for so many years, it’s impossible to please everyone but overall, the overwhelming response to the iPad was definitely positive.

Yesterday had also been mooted as an opportunity for Apple to bolster the iPhone portfolio but sadly we’ll have to wait for iPhone OS 4.0 and the next installment in the iPhone family. iPhone users weren’t forgotten entirely though, as an updated version of the Software Development Kit (SDK), the software developers use to make apps for the iPhone, allows apps to make VoIP calls over 3G. At present this is tied to Wi-Fi hotspots but the update could finally allow Skype calls from anywhere with 3G coverage. Ok, so it’s not the updated multi-tasking OS we had hoped for but it’s better than nothing!