Today marks the official release of the Apple iPad in 9 more countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Here’s a round-up of some news stories covering the Apple iPad release from around the web:
Australia
Tech-heads take the tablets as iPads finally go on sale – The Australian
Apple estimated 1000 people had lined up in Sydney, with the queue stretching halfway around a city block.
Australians Line Up (With Kangaroo Pouches) for iPads – Wall Street Journal
Fashion designer Davina Reichman attended the launch in central Sydney wearing her own twist on the traditional little black dress, the “iDress,” which has a reinforced pouch in the front to carry the iPad.
VIDEO: iPad mayhem, and other iPad videos – News.co.au
Watch how the Apple staff work the crowd and the media as we go behind the scenes at the iPad launch.
Canada
iPad launches in Canada: Vancouver lineups start early this morning – Vancouver Sun
Before the 8 a.m. early opening of Apple’s downtown Vancouver store, more than 100 people were in a lineup snaking through Pacific Centre.
Small but Enthusiastic Crowd Greets iPad in Toronto – PC World
Canadian cellular providers Rogers Communications and Bell Canada both announced support for the iPad and introduced plans that, while not comparable to the unlimited access that AT&T offers in the U.S., are generous by national standards, with 250MB of data available for $15, and 5GB for $35.
France
iPad-mania as thousands queue for global roll-out – Yahoo News (AFP)
Several French publishers, including world number two Hachette Livre, announced Friday that they had reached a deal with Apple to make their titles available through the company’s iBookstore.
VIDEO: L’iPad débarque aujourd’hui en France – France24
Deux mois après son lancement aux États-Unis, où Apple a vendu plus d’un million de tablettes tactiles en avril, l’Ipad arrive en France. Une application FRANCE 24 est disponible.
Germany
Anbetung auf der Freßgass’ – Faz.net
Die Showtime beginnt etwa fünf Minuten vor acht. Hinter schwarzen Stellwänden, die den Einblick in den gläsernen Apple-Store an der Freßgass’ in Frankfurt verhindern, beginnt rhythmisches Klatschen. Großer Jubel. Das hört sich an, als käme es vom Band. Es ist aber live.
The iPad’s Random walk through Europe – ft.com/techblog
We are very pleased that Verlagsgruppe Random House’s German-language book content will be directly available from Apple’s iBookstore for Germany. . .
VIDEO: Apples iPad nun auch in Deutschland erhältlich – nrw-aktuell.tv
Digitale Schiefertafel bereits teilweise ausverkauft Seit heute verkauft der US-amerikanische Computerherstelle…
Italy
VIDEO: Assalto all’Apple Store per l’iPad – Antenna Sud
Lo ha lanciato oggi in tutta europa la Apple e anche i baresi non hanno resistito all’ipad, il nuovo strumento informatico che permette di leggere libri e quotidiani da un monitor da nove pollici. Preso d’assalto l’apple store di Bari.
L’iPad è sbarcato in Italia Fila notturna all’Apple store di Roma Est – Il Messaggero
Le porte dell’Apple store, lo scrigno che racchiude il gioiello iPad, si aprono alle 8 in punto.
Japan
Japan’s iPad Frenzy Signals a Sea Change – Wall Street Journal
More than a half-dozen Japanese business and technology magazines ran cover stories about the iPad’s debut, with one declaring in English: “Here comes the game-changer.”
VIDEO: iPad queues in Japan nearly 1km long – ITN News
Japan goes iPad launch bonkers as more than a thousand people queue for days and explode with cheers when Apple’s store opens.
Spain
Un “capricho” de más de 480 euros – Publico.es
El iPad salió a la venta en 150 puntos por toda España y, aunque Apple no ofrece datos, gran parte de ellos confirmaron que se habían quedado sin existencias antes del mediodía.
VIDEO and article: Los iPads más caros, los primeros en agotarse en España – RTVE.es
Así, calculan que la compañía estadounidense sólo ha puesto entre 3.000 y 4.000 iPad disponibles para toda España.
Switzerland
VIDEO: Apple overtakes Microsoft as iPad is launched – World Radio Switzerland
WRS video journalist Amy Wong waited in line at the Geneva store where over 150 people couldn’t wait to get their hands on one.
United Kingdom
Apple iPad: excited British fans embrace new gadget after launch – Telegraph
Apple customers, some of whom had queued since midday on Thursday, were greeted to thunderous cheers from dozens of specially drafted in staff members when they entered the tech giant’s flagship store in Regent Street, central London.
VIDEO & article: Apple iPad tablet gathers crowds for UK launch – BBC News
Hundreds of people gathered at Apple’s flagship store in London to be among the first to buy an iPad.
VIDEO: Apple iPad goes on sale in the UK – ITN
Apple’s iPad is finally on sale in the UK after a delay due to the gadget’s popularity in the United States.