Accessory Makers Gear Up for iPad Launch

[ArrowSmith]

Absolutely!

In December, I visited Munich and Salzburg, for a week altogether, and took about 16 GB of pics, I shoot both JPG and RAW, but even then some pics weren't worth it, so they'll get deleted. A good photographer takes many shots and then after comparing all decides which one is truly the best. I totally understand when you said that "we only keep one photo in 10". With the iPad, you now don't have to take your laptop on vacation. Just take your iPad and DSLR. At the end of the day, pop out the SD card and connect it to the iPad with the tiny adapter (that so many people say "oh gosh, another adapter?!", folks it's just half the size of credit card!!!) and get your pics to the iPad, then weed out the bad pictures, while waiting to fall asleep, and the next day erase your SD card, pop it back into the DSLR: you're good to go.

All the fuss people are making about the iPad not having a built-in espresso maker, toaster over, etc, just drives me up the wall. I'll have completed my Master's this Fall, and the most I've used my iMac for is for Word every week, and Excel maybe once or twice during the last 3 years. Other than that, it's just Mail, Safari, iTunes, and iPhoto: all functions the iPad will do rather well. For a large majority of users, this is also the case. I understand some techies want raw power, but if the vast majority of people just use basic things, the market will gravitate to that demographic.

"The needs of the many are outweighed by the needs of the few or the one."

If the iPad is to replace the desktop for people who only use Office/Email apps, then it's gonna need a docking station for keyboard, mouse/track-pad/track-ball.

 

[jungeliest]

+1

A flippin' new MBP!

 

[Jamo12]

This is one of my favorite cases.

P.S. I love the idea of the iPad, but as Larry the Cable Guys said, "I don' care who you are, 'dat's funny right there."

 

[niuniu]

A lot of people won't want to forego the official Apple case for a third party one. Bet that will irk a lot of companies that make Apple cases.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Soon as someone figures out how to hook up a wired keyboard at all. IIRC, the USB port is only a device port, not a host port.

Back on topic, I'm wondering how long before someone makes a black box that you put an iPad into to make it look like the old-school Start Trek PADD?

Ha! Magic Slate!
http://bit.ly/bsoSm1

 

[ericinboston]

Does anyone know how much the SD card adaptor will cost for the iPod Touch XXL?

$79.99




So after you buy the adapter(s), then the keyboard, then the carrying case, aren't you pretty much owning an extremely expensive but severely underpowered laptop? Yeah, I think so, too. If anyone wants these accessories/capabilities, they might as well take 5 minutes and research the Apple website and clearly they will understand the $999 MB is a far better buy than the $500-$700 iFad plus hundreds of dollars in accessories.

I like your iPod Touch XXL comment. Totally right (at least to 90% of consumers that aren't techies like us).


-Eric

 

[GQB]

USB ports come in many flavors...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus

USB-A
USB-B
Mini-B
Micro-AB
Micro-B

The iPad, like many digital cameras and external drives, could have easily used the numerous small USB connections. But instead it's more re-inventing the wheel for Apple and socking it to the consumers for a $29 add-on that will likely be lost within 6 months.

But again, it all goes back to my statement that Apple can't seem to figure out what the iPad should be. My guess is the iPad will sell well for a few months, then become another AppleTV.

I think the success will come precisely because of the simplicity of the device. It has a generic port that can support different adaptors as standards change. The rest of the device is software and essentially infinitely malleable. Connectivity should be network-based, not port-based. Software solutions will provide that.

Ultimately (as the iPhone/touch show) Apple won't determine what the device is for... the users and developers will.

 

[skate71290]

Typical Apple...gotta exclude Standards (USB ports) so now we have to buy "adapters". Make up your mind, Apple! Is this thing truly a magical, revolutionary handheld device or just your answer to the netbook and inexpensive laptop market?

my point exactly... a $500 (hopefully about £400 for us UK peeps) soon turns into a very expensive - at the end of the day - large iPod Touch... Apple Sleeve (case/whatever you call it) + i'm guessing about $40... iPad Dock, let's say about $25 dollars ($50 with keyboard)? then connectors... $29 a piece? wow that's $619 dollars... mmmm Apple do know how too take our well earn pennies

 

[Jamo12]

The connectors are $29 dollars a piece.

Apple's site says it's a kit of connectors. So that would be $29 for both connectors. I have heard this on many other sites (that I cannot remember right now) as well.

Edit: Most people would only need to buy maybe a case for the iPad. Most have computers that they can stick their photos on and it works with blue-tooth keyboards. So if you go for a cheap case your maybe paying an extra $20 or $30?

 

[Detlev_73]

If the iPad is to replace the desktop for people who only use Office/Email apps, then it's gonna need a docking station for keyboard, mouse/track-pad/track-ball.

Oh no, don't get me wrong, I never said it would 'replace' my iMac. But for me it will replace both the early 2009 aluminum MacBook and the Macbook Air, since these are just used for email browsing on the bed, couch, travel/vacation, etc.

The iPad will have a virtual touch-screen keyboard, and why need a mouse if you can just point and touch the screen?

 

[Piggie]

You know what...........

All this very much reminds me of the Car Industry about 20+ years ago.

British cars came with almost nothing included, totally bare of any fancy things (like a rear screen wiper, built in radio and arial, reversing lamp, I kid you not)

Then the Japanese shocked the british car industry by bringing out cars with all these accessories as standard when you bought the car.

Apple = an old british car

You need to buy all the things it should come with as standard as optional extra's.

One day in the future all these things will come built it by default.

Funny how things come round full circle

 

[jimmydude911]

the iPad had so much potential tooooo :/

 

[bytethese]

Leather Man Purses FTW!
But Ballistic Nylon is OK too.

+1 those man purses will be the new social gender norm in society.

It's a satchel! Alan keeps all his stuff in there!

 

[admanimal]

Then the Japanese shocked the british car industry by bringing out cars with all these accessories as standard when you bought the car.

Apple = an old british car

Except the difference with this industry is that plenty of companies already sell devices that are packed with every feature imaginable, but offer a subpar experience. Apple doesn't try to pad their feature list at the sacrifice of usability. The iPod has never had the most features compared to other MP3 players, and that hasn't hurt it one bit.

 

[holmesf]

All I want:

folding leather case with built in super-slim bluetooth keyboard. C'mon accessory makers, realize my dreams here!

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

a wireless keyboard along with Apple's case would make a nice mix.
That way you could stand the iPad up either way. and not use up screen real estate for the on screen keyboard.

That would be neat with the "picture frame" dock.

 

[AidenShaw]

All I want:

folding leather case with built in super-slim bluetooth keyboard.

...with a glowing Apple logo that shines in all folds and orientations,
for the Starbucks posers

 

[MisterK]

Here's My List

Hey accessory makers!
Here are some things you should make for the iPad:

Waterproof Cover
So I can read newspapers and magazines in the tub. It would be amazing. I'd like to play Plants vs Zombies in the pool and catch up on email, too. Won't replace my wife's magazines until she can read them on iPad while taking a bath.

Hanging Kit
I'd love to just hang this thing up on the wall to be a wireless digital photo frame or to just watch a show off it. I could hang it close to my bedside, on my fridge, or on the back of my car seat for the kids.

IR or RF Blaster
So I could make it a better universal remote than my Harmony One.

iPad-Sized Keyboard With Articulated Dock
This would essentially make an iPad into a touch screen laptop for anyone who likes that sort of thing.

Tough Case
So I could give it to a baby to play speak and spell games, without worrying about damage.

Security System Kit
Could monitor a closed circuit camera and control the cameras by touch.

Pressure Sensitive Bluetooth Pen
Not much need to say more. Cintiq could be in some trouble.

Bluetooth Camera
To satiate all those deeply affected by the lack of Apple including one.

 

[SandynJosh]

Typical Apple...gotta exclude Standards (USB ports) so now we have to buy "adapters".

Ohh, that "adapter" you buy (for likely $29) will only allow a camera...heaven forbid it have any other purpose.

All these accessories (especially manufactured by Apple) just turn this pad thing into a pseudo-laptop.

Make up your mind, Apple! Is this thing truly a magical, revolutionary handheld device or just your answer to the netbook and inexpensive laptop market?

You get a frikin' UBS cable with the iPad. Read the specs on the Apple site fer gaws sake before you have a public snit fit!

 

[SchneiderMan]

There will be a full on war of iPad accessories just like the iPhone.

 

[QEII Student IT]

that case with the flap fold is pretty nifty really. Will that be an official Apple case? Or is it something Apple has announced knowing that it's in development elsewhere?

That's an Apple Product.

I'll buy that case at purchase, and I'll buy the keyboard dock depending if it's good

 

[propynyl]

Waiting for the iPad is getting excruciating

It has been 1 month, and no new news. This is getting excruciating, I want one already.

 

[doctor-don]

I'm not an iPad fan (real OS warrior), but that case with the flap fold is pretty nifty really. Will that be an official Apple case? Or is it something Apple has announced knowing that it's in development elsewhere?

From Apple's iPad site- "iPad Case
The iPad Case not only protects the iPad, it can be used in various positions. So it’s easy to type, look at photos and slideshows, or watch movies."
The only thing missing is a MSRP.

What I'd like to know is for how many bending times the 'hinge' will be guaranteed. If it's cheap plastic, it could break after opening and closing a hundred times or several thousands.

 

[doctor-don]

While I understand the desire to copy photos from a camera card to a device with a larger, higher quality display, there really isn't the sufficient capacity multiple to make that more than a niche task.

A 64GB device already used for apps, books, music and podcasts doesn't offer much room for repeatedly downloading 8GB camera cards.

Probably, the main reason for uploading photos to the iPad would be to edit images and then e-mail to friends and family - or to an internet storage site. Most photographers would have sufficient flash cards for their storage needs. With this device, it would be fairly easy to transfer images to an external portable hard drive. What I would really like is for the price of SSD to come to a more affordable level since data stored on SSD is more likely to be there for many years.

Additionally, I would hope that USB3 or other faster transfer is available on these iPads. And I would hope that the ability to use one of these faster methods is soon available for my existing Mac.

 

[Detlev_73]

Probably, the main reason for uploading photos to the iPad would be to edit images and then e-mail to friends and family - or to an internet storage site. Most photographers would have sufficient flash cards for their storage needs. With this device, it would be fairly easy to transfer images to an external portable hard drive. What I would really like is for the price of SSD to come to a more affordable level since data stored on SSD is more likely to be there for many years.

Additionally, I would hope that USB3 or other faster transfer is available on these iPads. And I would hope that the ability to use one of these faster methods is soon available for my existing Mac.

For me the draw to the iPad is the convenience of not having to lug around extra poundage for unneeded power. According to specs, the iPad is half the weight of the MacBook Air, which I already have. Having taken this on several vacations, I can say that it was a joy to only have to carry around a 3 pound laptop; however, there are annoyances to a full featured OS: startup time, app launch time, shutdown time, worrying about leaving a laptop in a hotel room and hoping it'll still be there when you get back. The iPad you can anywhere, without wishing that the thing were less heavy especially when an individual's needs are examined.

AGAIN, folks that say that this product is a 'fail' either are "techies" who want raw power just for the sake of it, or a minority who actually does need the power of a full-featured OS, with the capability of running Photoshop, and other powerhogs all running at the same time. I'm just about certain that a very large portion of users' needs will be filled with the iPad. It would be very interesting to see results of a statistical study that addressed this question, so we would have empirical data to fend off detractors.