TechBytes: Steve Jobs to Save Media with the iPad?

April 02, 2010— -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs changed the way we listen to music, with the iPod and iTunes. He shook up cell phones, with the iPhone and its apps.

Now he's introducing the iPad, and with that some say Jobs is about to save newspapers, magazines and books.

"You're going to start to see the concept of books really change. They're going to become much more interactive, much more visual," said Nick Bilton of the New York Times. "I think this is a new era of computing that we're about to see, both with multi-touch and this new kind of system where applications are the central theme to a device."

But are we really ready to buy into tablet computers? Apple is making its pitch for the next phase of computing to happen with this iPad. Based on the early reviews, it looks like Apple is starting that next phase in style.

"Apple has done it again with the iPad. The company has pretty much nailed it and lived up to most of the hype" said Ed Baig of USA Today

Apple's certainly not the only company hoping to change the game. Microsoft has developed an innovative touchscreen tabletop computer called the Surface, and is also working on tablets. And Google has big plans as well, developing its own software for tablets. Ready or not, change is in the air.

"I think we're going to have something to replace what we do now with computers. Over the next decade, over the next two years," said Steven Levy of Wired Magazine. "And the iPad really, given Apple's track record, has as good a shot as any as leading the way there."