February 1, 2010: The tech-loving world goes into meltdown at the sight of comedian Stephen Colbert using a pre-sale iPad to read the nominations during the televised Grammy Awards.
“Jay-Z, didn’t you get one of these in the gift bag?” Colbert jokes from the stage. “Am I cooler than you?”
The celebrity sneak peek is part of Apple’s grand (and highly successful) plan to tease its upcoming tablet.
Stephen Colbert and the iPad hype machine rock the Grammys
Apple CEO Steve Jobs just publicly demonstrated the iPad a few days ago on January 27th. Since Apple’s secrecy ensured that virtually no outsiders saw the iPad when Jobs unveiled it, the deal with Colbert happened incredibly quickly.
“I saw (Apple) announce it and I said, ‘God, I want one of those,'” Colbert later told reporters. “I went, ‘I’m opening the Grammys. Send me one and I’ll pull it out of my pocket (on stage).’ By the way, it’s gone – I can’t keep it. They handed it to me backstage, they took it out and I handed it to them when I got backstage. It’s amazing.”
The high-profile display case serves as a reminder of how cool the original iPad seemed at the time. And how — unlike stunts like Samsung’s mass Galaxy Note selfie a few years later at the Oscars — it felt like a real moment, rather than a bit of viral marketing. Colbert is, of course, a big Apple fan.
Remember the exciting debut of the iPad?
The first-generation iPad went on sale a few months later on April 3, 2010. It quickly became Apple’s fastest-selling new product line of all time, taking less than a month to sell 1 million units. And within one year, around 25 million units were sold.
More than a decade and a half later, the iPad continues to evolve. The iPad lineup has grown to include the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and the increasingly capable entry-level iPad. And Apple’s tablet is getting lighter and more powerful. (For more information, see Cult of Mac’A practical buying guide: How to choose the right iPad for you.)
Remember iPad night at the Grammys? Leave your comments below.
