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Apple Releases iPad Tablet, New SDK, iBooks and iWork Apps
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This whole thread reads like the original iPod thread.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/
I dunno. The original iPod had at least one thing that made the hardware itself standout above the pack: the amount of storage was WAY beyond what anyone else was offering at the time.
The iPad doesn't have anything that really makes it stand out compared to the other 9"-10" tablets that are coming out soon (or that are already out, even). For example, you can get more storage in the Archos 9.
The one and only thing that really has the iPad standing out is also the one thing that many consider to be a bad thing: Strong iTunes integration (good: lots of media selection in the iTunes store; the bad: draconian iTunes store policies).
The chatter may sound similar, but the devices themselves aren't.
The iPad doesn't have anything that really makes it stand out compared to the other 9"-10" tablets that are coming out soon (or that are already out, even). For example, you can get more storage in the Archos 9.
The one and only thing that really has the iPad standing out is also the one thing that many consider to be a bad thing: Strong iTunes integration (good: lots of media selection in the iTunes store; the bad: draconian iTunes store policies).
The chatter may sound similar, but the devices themselves aren't.
Good software???
Hardware specs are secondary, if not irrelevant to the typical consumer.
"It's the software, stupid!"
Besides, if the iPad had the option for 2TBs of flash storage, I highly doubt that this would make it any more desirable, in this decade - the App Store, alone, ought to suffice as the 'killer resource' for this platform.
At a $500 price point, I imagine that a new sector of consumers will be jumping aboard, for the sheer convenience of instant-on operation, attractive form factor, and ease of use.
You've got a point, especially for high-def.
Oh, and I believe this is untrue - didn't the Nomad have more storage space at the time? And didn't that fact result in CmdrTaco's (of Slashdot fame) infamous dismissal ("No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.") of the iPod at its announcement?
Yep. It had less storage space than my nomad, no ability to create playlists from the device itself - unlike the nomad, and couldn't be used on PCs without horrible hacks (manually reformatting the drive).
Man, I remember those times of using Mediafour's Xplay and having it regularly corrupt the iPod's file system. I didn't own a Mac then, my roommate's iBook didn't have Firewire yet (nor OS X), and it was quite a challenge to find someone with a Mac and OS X on it so that I could run the iPod reset utility... It was worth it though. I really miss my 1st gen iPod - still the best one of all, in my opinion, and of course my gateway drug to Macs.
Where?
If it had better software, sure. But, I have yet to see that.
Dmann said:
The App store is nothing to brag about. From what I've seen, the signal to noise ratio for craps to decent apps isn't worth bragging about, nor do they have any killer apps that you can't get on other platforms.
At a $500 price point, it costs up to 60% more than another device that has better specs (on just about every point), and doesn't have the inconvenience of a single draconican app store. The $500 price point is NOTHING to brag about. It's not horrible, but all of the competing devices max out at that price point (with better specs) ... and that's the iPad's _starting_ price.
Agreed.
Seems that he would likely have predicted the same for the iPod Touch back in 2007, App Store notwithstanding.
In fact, I stopped being a _loyal_ Apple customer right around the time the iPT came out. The Nokia N800 was amazingly better (more access to the unix layers, more software available, no draconian mindset from the vendor, larger screen resolution, ability to expand storage at will, ability to use BT keyboards and GPS, etc.). And then, there was big early-september 2007 bricking of iPhones. That removed all doubt about whether or not Apple was going to be consumer-friendly about the iPhone (and, a few days later, the iPod Touch). Instead of continuing to tell people to "think different", their new mantra appears to be "think our way, or else".
I'm still a MAC fan, and aim to be a loyal Mac customer. But there's no good reason to be on the iPhone nor iPT, and plenty of reasons NOT to be. And by making the iPad an extension of that family, instead of an extension of the Mac family, they've put the iPad into the wrong pool.
So, yes, starting with the OS itself, there is no good software for the iPad right now.
All in your opinion. Me personally, I couldn't disagree more.
Tempted by the newer Nokias but having seen them in action I'm steering well clear!
I disagree about the Nokia N800 being better than the iPhone - if access and storage options were deemed that crucial, I'd simply jailbreak it.
Your perception of "Think Different" is yours to ponder - I happen to feel that the majority of apps available are excellent at what they are designed to do.
As the iPad evolves, I imagine, over time, that Cocoa Touch will approach the functionality of full OS X, as OS X transforms toward Cocoa Touch.
Refinement, development, and growth have been keeping things interesting for the past decade, and I have every reason to believe that this will continue.
They should have put an IR port in. The only thing I see the iPad being useful for (other than the occasional train/plane journey where I'd want something a little bigger to watch TV on than my iPhone), is to browse the internet in the living room. But that's still pretty pointless. If it had an IR port, it could double as a universal remote and then I would consider it. But I'm guessing apple wouldn't want to get into a situation where people were complaining that it didn't work with their specific dvd player etc (not sure if the usual universal remotes ever suffer these problems, I just know that Apple hates supporting 3rd party hardware).
They don't need to built it in. A dock adapter would be enough, especially since they open up the dock connector SDK. I'm sure I saw somewhere that a company is producing an application for iPhone as well as hardware kit for universal remote control.
Update: Found it, http://theappleblog.com/2010/01/04/iphone-becomes-a-universal-remote-this-february/
? What are you talking about?
The 10W is for charging the iPad directly to the wall plug without USB and is sold separately. iPad will charge via USB out of the box like iPhone.
No no no. Home theater remotes of this caliber use rf or ip, not ir. You use a box that receives the radio or IP signals and converts them to IR.
awesome, cheers.
lame. I'm holding out on buying a logitech until this comes out though, as I'd like to see what it's limitations are upon release.
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