Uh, they've been able to develop products which interface with the 30 pin connector for years now....
Do you actually know anything about Apple and the products other companies have used? Ever hear of the Peel? How about the blood pressure monitor?
30 pin connector does not make a product great,
Its just something on a great product.
Been using Apple (later PC DOS) since 1981.
I am no expert but am no spring rooster.
This post is the perfect response and the OP seems to have ignored it cos it validly challenges his post and he can't disagree with it without facts...
To busy complaining about low market penetration......in Singapore.
Because those answers are not ideal solutions.
Since you are so interested, I will shoot them down.
I think the rugged electronic's market is well covered by rugged PCs. software that you might need in wet or muddy places exists for windows platform and I don't think it's a big enough market to justify an iPad port.
<snip>
cheapest hardware would kill the iOS experience. not likely
The irony is, the LAST thing you want in most muddy, dusty, wet situations is a big heavy rugged bulletproof PC.
I know because our company has them, and for all their Schwarzeneggerness, they are a hindrance. Oh, their are certainly times you need a powerful laptop, but how often do building drafters do major design work on site? Usually its pictures and notes at location, or call the drafter at office.
Example of rugged iPad:
Japan's 2011 9.0 quake and devastating tsunami.
Three times more iPad's can be carried to the disaster area then laptop (even more if use desktops), long battery life means they can be used more often, built in camera to take photo of survivors with simple information (name, age, address), built-in cell network (few laptops have that), light weight and size makes it very portable.
I doubt an iPad would have lasted long in the rough conditions of the disaster zone.
As to last issue,
"cheapest hardware"
iPad is made from milled and polished Aluminum and a fine polished glass surface. That is 3 to 5 times what a damage proof plastic enclosure costs.
>Reduce tolerances of manufacturing (less reject parts because they do not fit)
>Remove some of lesser used features, like TV/HDMI out, earphone jack, cameras (one or both), WiFI and/or cellular only, 8GB Ram, less battery.
>Service by local organization, that is no App Store as it is meant for education and information, so EduTainment software for most part. Service and support is a chunk of any hardware cost.
>A4 chip, cheaper but sill powerful for a smooth experience.
So it is possible to make a really low cost good iPad for much less then what it is now. Also I never said less then $100 or cheap, just inexpensive.
A child in Africa would rather have a sub-par iPad then no iPad at all, and what would they if it is sub par, they would not know what is par, let alone Golf (golf, par, get it?
)
Apple has made Tablets a reality, but like many companies before, if they do not explore other potential markets (no matter how small) they could lose out in long run.
