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Barack Obama and the iPad-in-Chief

US President Barack Obama has been well-known for his love of RIM's BlackBerry, at least until last year when he admitted that the device is now "no fun" because of the security strictures he faces as Commander-in-Chief. The President has also said that technology in the White House is "30 years behind," with a lack of "really cool phones and stuff." The President recently admitted he got an iPad, but until a recent photo, it wasn't clear whether he got the old model or the new iPad 2. Consider this mystery solved, because based on this photo of him boarding Marine One it's clear the President is toting around a brand-new iPad 2, complete with a Smart Cover.

The iPad-in-Chief

We're still not sure what the President uses his iPad for, though it's funny to picture the world's most powerful politician playing Angry Birds on Air Force One while the "football" sits nearby. It seems Apple's device has been cleared by White House security, which typically is not an easy feat -- the President reportedly had trouble getting clearance for his BlackBerry. If you work for a company whose IT department has been reticent about letting the iPad in, you've now got some potent ammunition for your counterargument.

Thanks for the tip, Alex!



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US President Barack Obama has been well-known for his love of RIM's BlackBerry, at least until last year when he admitted that the...
 

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julynana

i also bought this one case from here:http://www.minicasesdeal.com/high-quality-smart-cover-with-holder-for-ipad-2-grey_p4147.html
it's the same as Obama's,so cool!!

May 26 2011 at 2:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MPD01605

OPM uses them, too. But they use the 3G models, so the government does recognise them and use them.

April 26 2011 at 1:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alex

Anyone notice how thick the armor plating is on those doors?

April 25 2011 at 1:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jackrabbitjrb

"Moreover, Obama said, the era of iPads and Xboxes had turned information into a diversion that was imposing new strains on democracy."

"You're coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don't always rank that high on the truth meter," he told the students. "And with iPods and iPads, and Xboxes and PlayStations -- none of which I know how to work -- information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation. So all of this is not only putting pressure on you; it's putting new pressure on our country and on our democracy."

Apparently, he's learned how to use an iPad. And more than likely, he reads only whats important, not the useless, inaccurate and crap that people take out of context.

April 25 2011 at 1:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron Watkins

Great, so with the device tracking... Steve Jobs always knows where the president is at....

April 25 2011 at 12:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Aaron Watkins's comment
crisss1205

Except Apple says the data is anonymous and I am sure that it is almost impossible to find out which of the millions of iPad + 3G models out there is the one belonging to the president.

April 25 2011 at 12:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pwsloss

How about "Angry Birds, Presidential Edition", with pigs replaced with faces of prominent members of the Opposition?

April 25 2011 at 12:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to pwsloss's comment
Jonathan Wilson

Better yet, replace the targets with images of people the US doesn't like. I am sure finding a suitable image of the North Korean leader shouldn't be that hard :P

April 25 2011 at 9:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rodney

But did he get the black one or the white one?

April 25 2011 at 11:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
moku2k

I wonder if Apple tracks this iPad?

April 25 2011 at 10:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to moku2k's comment
farmboy

Not if it's wifi only. The location information on the iPad only gets collected when you turn on 3G.

April 25 2011 at 11:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike Napier

Hmmmm....I wonder how Jesse Jackson, Jr. feels about this.....
What with the iPad killing off so many jobs and all.

April 25 2011 at 10:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steven Sokulski

I dont believe the nuclear football comes into play about Air Force One. The craft is equipped with a mobile command post, whereas the football is used when the CIC is away from just such a post.

Neat to see some new technology make it's way into the White House. Though.

April 25 2011 at 10:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Steven Sokulski's comment
milkmage

the football doesn't have a big red launch button. it contains the codes.. and it's ALWAYS with POTUS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_football
These armed officers are required to keep the football readily accessible to the President at all times. Consequently, an aide, football in hand, is always either standing or walking near the President or riding in Air Force One, Marine One, or the presidential motorcade with the President.

April 25 2011 at 10:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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