万花筒 2010-01-30&01-31 iPad真的那么牛？

So after months of rumors¹ and speculation², the wraps have finally come off Apple's latest big idea. At a launch in San Francisco, the iPad was fanfared with typical Apple hype.

"It's unbelievably great, way better than a laptop, way better than a smart phone, and you can turn an iPad anyway you want, up, down, sideways. It automatically adjusts however you wanna use it."

As predicted the iPad is more like a giant iPhone than a tradition laptop. Measuring just under 10 inches, it's a touch-screen with a virtual keyboard. It runs on Wi-Fi and 3G, and combines Mac software and iPhone applications. It plays movies and allows you to read electronic books or e-books.

"This is gonna be something you can watch videos on, you can browse³ the internet, you can read books on it, newspapers and everything. So it's a real opportunity to have a device which you can take in your house, you can have out in the street, and just do everything with it."

Apple have a history of innovation rather than invention. All their products tend to take existing ideas and make them sleeker⁴ and more desirable, and they'll be hoping history will repeat itself with the iPad.

"They've spent so much time on designing their products very carefully, observed the markets that they're about to enter very carefully, so they know what they're getting into, they can kind of learn from the faults other people have made, mistakes that people have made."

The iPad is expected to go on selling in two months time. Prices will start at around 500 dollars in the US which is around 300 pounds, and just like the iPhone and iPod, demand is expected to outstrip⁵ supply.

1 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

3 browse   

vi.随意翻阅，浏览；(牛、羊等)吃草

参考例句：

• I had a browse through the books on her shelf.我浏览了一下她书架上的书。
• It is a good idea to browse through it first.最好先通篇浏览一遍。

4 sleeker   

磨光器，异型墁刀

参考例句：

• As tight as a corset, the new speed suits make the wearer sleeker and more streamlined. 这种新型泳衣穿起来就像紧身胸衣，可使穿着者身形光滑，更具流线型。
• When he became leaner and faster, his digital doppelganger also became sleeker and more fleet-footed. 当真科比变得更瘦并且更快，他的虚拟兄弟也变得灵动飞快。

5 outstrip   

v.超过，跑过

参考例句：

• He can outstrip his friend both in sports and in studies.他能在体育和学习方面胜过他的朋友。
• It is possible for us to outstrip the advanced countries in the world.我们能超过世界上先进的国家。