iPad to ship in Ireland in JULY!!!

Yeah, while we’ve been told that the iPad will ship “internationally” on May 28th, what Apple actually meant, was that 9 more countries will get access to the device on May 28th. Those countries are: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain Switzerland and the UK (which for once, doesn’t include Ireland!).  Ireland, Belgium, Austria, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore will have to wait until July with pricing and specific prices being announced closer to the launch date.

I’ve always been, and stand by my “meh-ness” of the iPad. I DON’T need or want one (and that’s actually shocking to some of my friends who know me as the geek who needs to get all these gadgets, but no, no iPad for me!)

Anywho, here’s the press release for the next 9 countries:

iPad Available in Nine More Countries on May 28th

Pre-Orders Begin May 10th

CUPERTINO, California — May 7th, 2010 — Apple today announced that iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK on Friday, May 28th. Customers can pre-order all iPad models from Apple’s online store in all nine countries beginning on Monday, May 10th. In the US, Apple has already sold over one million iPads and customers have downloaded over 12 million apps from the App Store, as well as over 1.5 million ebooks from the new iBookstore.

iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. iPad is 0.5 inches thin and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and delivers up to 10 hours of battery life.*

The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 200,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. Developers have created more than 5,000 exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.

*Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.

Pricing & Availability
iPad is available in the UK for a suggested retail price of £429 (inc. VAT) for 16GB, £499 (inc. VAT) for 32GB, £599 (inc. VAT) for 64GB for Wi-Fi models and £529 (inc. VAT) for 16GB, £599 (inc. VAT) for 32GB and £699 (inc. VAT) for 64GB for Wi-Fi + 3G models. iPad will be sold through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorised Resellers. The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store on May 28th.

Apple plans to release iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July. Apple will announce availability, local pricing and pre-order plans for these nine additional countries at a later date.