The iPad has now been revealed, but its place in the grand scheme of things and how Apple intends to make it an indispensable product aren’t that clear. Knowing that some online video services will be coming to the iPad would be a start. Hulu, anyone?

iPad Arrives

Apple has now shown its hand, unveiling the iPad, its new tablet PC, a few days ago. I’ve already looked at what the iPad means for online video, although the jury is still out on whether the device will actually mean anything, certainly in the short-term.

Apple failed to truly capitalize on its media event on Wednesday, with very few content partners, and only YouTube and MLB.tv for online video streaming. But that doesn’t mean more won’t follow, especially by way of apps created to take advantage of the iPad’s bigger screen.

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It took years to arrive, and months to be announced, but Apple has finally unveiled its new tablet PC, the iPad. But what does this device, targeted between the iPod Touch and Macbook, mean for online video. The jury is still out on that one.

The Apple iPad

Steve Jobs unveiled the new Apple iPad at a special media event on Wednesday. The iPad will comes in a number of different flavors, with 3G and HD capacity options. The basic spec list is below.

• 9.7-inch screen
• 0.5-inches thick
• 1.5 lbs heavy
• 802.11n Wi-Fi
• 1GHz Apple A4 chip
• Speaker & microphone
• Accelerometer & compass
• 10 hour battery life, one month in standby
• Starting price of $499

The bigger issue, and the reason this first-generation iPad has disappointed so many tech fans, is what it not included. You cannot multitask, there is no camera, no Flash support, and no USB or HDMI ports. Some of which will affect its abilities in regards to video.

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As Apple prepares to launch its next big thing in the Apple Tablet, it’s reportedly keen to strike a deal with U.S. television networks which would see the price of TV episodes cut in half. Could the Apple Tablet be about to revolutionize online video?

Apple Tablet Imminent

Apple is expected to launch its new Tablet PC – likely to be called the iSlate or the iPad – at a special media event tomorrow (Jan. 27). The Tablet is being touted as a revolution in home computing and in the way we will consume media in the future.

But pricing is going to be the key to this vision becoming reality. And that doesn’t just mean the pricing of the Apple Tablet, but also the pricing of the content Apple is expecting to be read, viewed, listened to, and played on the device.

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It appears Apple may be building towards becoming a vital part of the lifecasting, personal broadcasting, video streaming business. And with iTunes, the iPod and iPhone, and the App Store, it’s in a prime position to do so.

A Growing Sector

The lifecasting and citizen journalism sectors are both growing in popularity and importance.

Services such as Ustream, Justin.tv, and Livestream allow ordinary people the opportunity to broadcast, well, whatever they want to, within reason.

And with everyone owning a mobile phone, and new models coming complete with built-in video cameras capable of shooting good quality video, citizen journalists a growing band who can no longer be ignored.

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It’s a simple question – would you pay to stream an episode of a TV show on YouTube? It would cost the same as on iTunes and Amazon but it would be a one-off rental deal, with no download or ownership option. Well, would you?

YouTube Diversifying

Yesterday I wrote about how YouTube was launching its first ever offline advertising campaign in the U.K. Meant to promote the new TV content from Channel 4 and other broadcasters, it clearly spelled out YouTube’s intentions to succeed with professional content.

Now, just a day later and MediaMemo is claiming that YouTube is in early negotiations with networks and studios about offering shows through YouTube for a price. This comes three months after similar reports emerged but with movies being the order of the day.

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As Web television offerings grow, both free and paid-for, cable providers are finding customers canceling their subscriptions in order to save some much-needed money. Hulu is looking to offer a paid subscription service and now Apple may be looking for similar with a monthly iTunes offering.

From Free To Paid

There is more television and movie content to watch for free on the Web now than ever before. Hulu in the States, BBC iPlayer in the U.K., and YouTube and all the rest worldwide, the Internet is now awash with programming.

Interestingly enough, both Hulu and the iPlayer are thought to be looking at paid options in the future. But this is, if anything, a sign that the business is getting serious and offering an alternative to the traditional cable and television networks.

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Epix has upped its commitment to online content by promising 3,000 movies available to subscribers through its Epix Megaplex and EpixHD option. But while this is cause for celebration, is it enough to deter piracy?

Epix

When Epix was first announced back in June, I described it as a ‘Hulu for movies’ and an indication that Hollywood and the movie industry was finally waking up to the need for free or cheap, easily-accessible Web destinations to consume content legally.

After all, the music industry failed to do this for years and it lead to the situation we are in now where despite Apple iTunes and a wealth of other places to stream or buy music (my favorite being Spotify), piracy is still a huge problem.

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