He detailed various specs of the device from his verified Twitter account@jason, including a built-in HDTV tuner and a solar pad for recharging. But at the official unveiling, Apple CEO Steve Jobs didn't mention any of the features that Calacanis had touted, and it soon looked like the Weblogs founder had tested little more than the tech world's credulity.. who is currently the chief executive of Mahalo.com, has been known to go on anti-Apple (AAPL,Fortune 500) rants, and has pulled pranks on the blogosphere in the past. He did not respond to a call for comment.
But soon after the iPad debuted, around 4 p.m. ET, Calacanis posted another message stating: "My greatest performance ever?" with a link to a YouTube video titled "Jason Calacanis Destroys Tech 'Journalism.'"
In the video, posted by video satire site 1938 Media, blogger Loren Feldman unleashed an expletive-laced rant attacking the bloggers and media outlets that bought into Calacanis' tweets. Calacanis appears to be linked to the 1938 Media site, but his connection couldn't be verified.
"Want to know hard hard Jason is laughing?" Feldman asks in the video, nearly spluttering with anger. "This hard!" He proceeds to cackle maniacally.
By posting the video Calacanis appeared to be owning up to a hoax. But a few minutes later, he posted another message to the contrary: "Note: I have the iPad 2.0 and Steve Jobs showed the Apple iPad version 1.0 today."
But his last tweet seems to confirm the obvious prank: "i also said it had two cameras, an HDTV tuner and farmville and finger printing... you believed me?"
Apple Details First iPad Accessories
A gadget as svelte as the iPad needs to trim a few odds and ends to deliver that lightweight, streamlined form factor. And if you'd like to get the most out of your wunder-gadget (or oversized iPod Touch), you'll be buying those odds and ends back piecemeal.
Apple's iPad site doesn't offer much information or release dates for the recently announced accessories, but expect the vibrant third-party market to step in and offer cheaper alternatives once the device is available.
iPad Keyboard Dock - $69
Steve Jobs may have dismissed the Netbook, but many road warriors are going to need something a little more tactile than an onscreen keyboard for hammering out prose. Someone at Apple agrees: the iPad Keyboard Dock is arguably the first must-have accessory.
Much like a regular dock, it'll charge your iPad. You'll also be able to use it to sync to your computer, and offers an audio jack to connect your iPad to a proper stereo. It also includes a 30-pin connector, so you'll be able to connect iPad accessories, too. But the most important feature is the integrated full-size keyboard, which bears a striking similarity to the Apple Keyboard, bundled with iMac purchases.
iPad Dock - $29
If you think the onscreen keyboard will suffice, plan on picking up a Bluetooth keyboard, or you'd just like a spare dock for the office, you can always buy a plain old charging dock. It offers the same features -- the ability to sync, an audio jack and 30-pin connector, and charging capabilities, but doesn't include a keyboard.
iPad Case - $39
The iPad's tablet form factor presents a very real ergonomic dilemma: how exactly will you hold this thing for extended periods of time? Will you hunch over a table while watching a film, or be restricted to typing on your lap?
The iPad Case offers one solution: a triangular kickstand props the tablet up at comfortable angles -- upright for watching media, and inclined for typing. While it looks like leather, it's reportedly made from a soft, rubbery microfiber material. Not your style? Fret not -- cases are one of the most popular accessories, and you'll be drowning in options long before the device is actually starts shipping.
iPad Camera Connection Kit - $29
Even the lowliest of netbooks include a USB port and SD card reader -- a pair of dongles will provide similar functionality for your iPad. The Camera Connection Kit consists of a pair of dongles that will plug in to your dock, or into the 30-pin connector port at the base of your iPad.
One dongle will allow you to import photos directly from your camera's USB cable, while the other will let you pull content from an SD card. Juggling the pair of to handle such mundane tasks is disappointing, to say nothing of having to pony up $30 for the inconvenience. But such is the price of skinny, light tech.
