iPad debuting in Tihar Prison courtesy high profile 2G Scam !!

** Two cameras for FaceTime and HD video recording. The dual-core A5 chip. The same 10-hour battery life. All in a thinner, lighter design.**  --  ?

If you can think of one thing in this material World, which over years will have betterment but will lower in price – it is the electronic gadgets.  The gizmos and their reach are ever changing but their utility value can be dubious.  

Quite often a good salesman would speak highly of the credit card highlighting its reach and would say that it is accepted internationally.  Even people without passports and who do not travel at all or would not buy much when they travel – would readily accept that card to be of great value !.  The Cell phone’s primary purpose is to provide you the luxury of communication even when one is one the move – most have added facilities of a good quality camera, FM radio, music player, some have advance OS, and office capabilities.  But how many again, use these facilities atleast marginally.  Are you in the habit of shooting photos of self or the things around – if not do you really require a 5 MP camera inbuilt in your phone…. Which obviously adds more cost than the facility.   Still technology is great and adapting to modern technology helps man a lot.  Researches reveal that women are more enamoured by luxury of gadgets having the best of the looks or adorned with diamonds whilst men would go for technology driven things.

The description at the first line is that of iPad – Apple iPad which costs around Rs.32000/- in the Country.  Mostly a personal device, is fast becoming a business utility also as some companies are adopting iPads in their business offices by distributing or making available the iPads to employees.

The iPad  is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. 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 modification, and with the exception of websites, 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 multi-touch 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 or EV-DO data networks.

The iPad's touchscreen display is a 9.7 in (25 cm) liquid crystal display (1024 × 768 pixels) with fingerprint-resistant and scratch-resistant glass. Steve Jobs backed the choice of screen size, saying a 7-inch screen would be "too small to express the software.  iPad is designed to be controlled by bare fingers. Reportedly it has physical switches that enable a home button to return to the main menu, volume control, software update etc., 

This gadget was first released by Apple during April 2010 and millions of pieces have been sold.  This Mar 2011 saw the release of iPad2.

The present version as is wont to be, is thinner, lighter and claimed to stronger than the original version.   Also the original had no camera the version 2 has front VGA camera and a rear-facing 720p camera, both capable of still images and 30fps video. The rear facing camera has a 5x digital zoom for still images only.

Quite often one would read of criminals inside the prison cells using mobile phones clandestinely brought in.  Asif Balwa is different.  Today’s paper report has it that the Delhi high court on 25^th May 11  made an exception and allowed Asif Balwa, an accused in the 2G telecom scam, to use an iPad in custody to prepare his defence in the case. However, steps are being taken to ensure that Balwa,director of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables,who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail,doesnt misuse it as a communication device.

The ipad is sought to be used for the purpose of reading the case papers which are to be handed over to the law officer of the Tihar Jail.  TOI reports that the  iPad will be examined by the information technology department of the Delhi government, which will disable any feature that may enable the petitioner to use it as a communication device.  The chargesheet is running into 80,000 pages and the trial is going on a day-to-day basis, and hence the reported allowance to use the gadget.  It is also reported that the facility could be  withdrawn if it is found that the iPad is tampered with and is being used for sending emails or communication.

Obviously, this will have repercussion elsewhere with other prisoners also clamouring for such demands, though not many of the politicians are adept using any of the modern gadgets. 

iPad is still a novelty and stranger to many of us.  Perhaps most have seen the similar sounding iPod – which is infact only a portable media player designed and marketed by Apple in  2001.  The higher versions can also store photos and videos and can be organized wonderfully as indexed albums  through a system in sync with itunes.

Regards – S. Sampathkumar.