Given the destruction caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis, Apple said Tuesday that it will delay the release of the iPad 2 in the country.
"We are delaying the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan while the country and our teams focus on recovering from the recent disaster," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris confirmed.
The iPad 2 went on sale in the U.S. on March 11 and was scheduled to launch in more than two dozen additional countries, including Japan, on March 25. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake, however, hit northeast Japan on March 11, prompting devastating tsunamis that have wiped away entire towns and killed thousands.
In a recent blog post, Digg co-founder Kevin Rose cheered Apple for its reported goodwill after the quake. Rose received e-mails from an Apple employee and an Apple fanboy, who said that Apple kept its flagship Tokyo store open, and allowed residents - iOS and Android users alike - to access the store's public Wi-Fi, watch online news, and contact friends and family via social-networking sites and e-mail. Apple also reportedly allowed stranded employees to sleep at Apple stores.
Other tech giants are also stepping up with donations and online tools, like Google's Person Finder. PCMag also has a guide for how to donate to the relief effort.