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Apple Working With More Than 40 Tech Companies to Make iPad a Better Work Tool
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I use a Surface Pro 3 everyday with the Type keyboard. It works hoops around any iPad in multitasking and feels more robust and professional of a device then an iPad. It does not feel any heavier and your assumptions sound like you're not using the device yourself. It's fast, and my GOD the iPad has useless multitasking in this forum of use. The iPad is great for single app use. It's not great as a workhorse mobile device when it comes to the need to multitask. I use a mouse with my Surface and have no need for the track pad.
I agree and only want my mini for a consumption device. But I would like to see Apple evolve a Pro version to do so much more.
Having used the original Surface RT and the Surface Pro 3, it is amazing how fast you can type once you grow accustomed to the Type Cover.
I agree that the surface pro is amazing and better than an iPad from productivity standpoint but they don't compete. It was made to compete more with the MacBook Air.
Over 90% of Fortune 500 companies use iPad. Millions of small businesses use iPad even if it is only via Square or some other POS system. I don't think businesses are afraid of it. All Apple needs to do is continue catering to the needs of business - even if that means putting OS X on iPad or adding some sort of recognizable file system to iOS.
IBM thinks???? You must be joking Sir. Have you ever experienced any of their enterprise products?
...that's true, as long as software continues to be written for typewriter interfaces. There is no way that in a thousand years, humans will still be trying to design houses and engineer mechanisms and illustrate graphics and control audio & video by using typewriters and a million memorized abbreviations while seated subordinately in front of a computer. We're already getting away from that now little by little and theres no going back.
But we won't get applications with command-specific control surfaces until there's a reason for anyone to write them, and there won't be until there are millions of people using capable hardware. The technology is available. One of these companies needs to quit dragging its heels and build the damn thing already. Microsoft and Apple both have the ability to do so, but only Apple has the demographic required to make the initial push.
Fully functional tablets are a given, and one of the more conservative steps forward in light of the advancements ahead. The only reason to cling to using a telephone OS on one is because it's easy and there's still some money to nickel and dime out of this little fad.
As a knowledge worker, I want to be able to work with files better. Get an attachment, edit it, save it to a network, and send it out as an attachment. It is so stinking hard with my iPad. Netbooks or a Surface just works for that workflow. I work with words, and with the iOS 9 cursor controls no longer miss a mouse. I don't need better multitasking when I'm mobile.
As I put myself in a developer's shoes, I imagine their most ardent feedback to Apple would be to make it possible culturally to make money with app updates. There are three models, right: freemium, buy-once and with updates forever, and subscriptions. Don't developers need to be able to get rid of the buy-it-once-and-get-updates-for-free-forever culture? Developers get so much hate for pushing out new paid versions and the app store structure makes it seem like they are doing it wrong.
As I put myself in a developer's shoes, I imagine their most ardent feedback to Apple would be to make it possible culturally to make money with app updates. There are three models, right: freemium, buy-once and with updates forever, and subscriptions. Don't developers need to be able to get rid of the buy-it-once-and-get-updates-for-free-forever culture? Developers get so much hate for pushing out new paid versions and the app store structure makes it seem like they are doing it wrong.
I agree but this thread is about making the Ipad useful as a productivity device. As that device today it needs work. It could use a new OS and multitasking. The wack-a-mole type of spring home page and double tap home button is great for single use, but needs more to compete with the Surface Pro 3, which has touch where the Mac Book Air does not.
I think the Surface 3 is a good start, it's unique with the integrated cover keyboard and kickstand. I like it for work processing. It's still is plagued by a wonky and nutty OS. I have bashed Microsoft so much that I'm glad their new CEO is changing stuff up.
I just think there is a lot of things other tablets have added.. IR blaster, wireless charging, etc.. that is shaking stuff up.
Would love wireless charging... been on my wishlist for a long time. Something like Ossia wireless charging!
I was sure it would happen with Touch ID also, but we are still waiting. Bueller? Bueller?
Article should simply be titled "Apple invests millions in attempt to convince businesses to work within the iPads horrendously limited capabilities"
"The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club!"
(says a shirt-less Tim Cook wearing disco shorts, as he shakes his muscles as Eddy Cue's ready to square off).
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1. The Surface is MUCH heavier than an iPad. The iPad weighs less than a pound. The Surface is 1.75 lbs. saying that you don't notice a difference sounds like blatant fanboyism.
2. I agree, the Surface is better as a general productivity tool than an iPad; like any laptop (PC or Mac) which the Surface has more in common with than a tablet due to its weight and schizo/hybrid UI.
3.The fact that you use a mouse with your Surface (like many folks in my office who use a Surface) proves my point that the Surface has a crappy trackpad, making it a less than ideal laptop.
If you enjoy using it, more power to you. All I'm saying is that it's not a good choice for most people... there are better laptops, hybrids and tablets because the Surface doesn't know what it wants to be. So while MS calls it a tablet, it's ironic that everyone I know who has one uses it like a laptop.
The fact you've been using Windows since the 90's is irrelevant (we're talking about now, not then), and stating it is "crap" shows your bias.
That is fine. It's your right to think so.
But to me, a 15-year Mac-only user, Win 10 looks like a compelling alternative to OS X, now that ML is soon to be EOL'd. I hate the new iOS/OS X aesthetics THAT much. I LIKE what I see in Win 10.
Let me be clear, I find OS X to be superior to Win 10 in almost every way, with the exception of the aforementioned aesthetics of the OS and the brilliant all-in-one tablet/desktop hybrid functionality Win 10 has. I'd love a Mac with a 360 degree hinge that behaved like that.
Also, I agree that Microsoft is playing catchup, still. But wow, what a way to try to turn that around.
I think the most impressive thing of all is that it is Microsoft, not Apple, who is "thinking different" (from the way they used to think). Apple lost it's visionary. Microsoft gained a new VISION.
Like I stated before, I think that Microsoft is close (perhaps close enough) to getting their vision ironed out, but whether or not they pull it off fully remains to be seen.
However, Win 10 looks to be a success so far, and it may stave off migration to the Mac and (gasp!) maybe even reverse it in the near long term.
The large Windows installed base, the availability of actually good PC hardware, the new OS's light weight, and its (great in my opinion) look and feel might, just might, start impacting Apple. Not to mention, they are attempting to integrate ALL their platforms. They finally see the value in ecosystems and they are driving that at the software level with Devs as well. Desktop + XBox + smartphone + tablet + laptop = a formidable, already installed user base that can have the "Halo" effect the iPhone had for Apple, in reverse.
Again, I'm not saying it WILL happen, I'm saying Microsoft is aiming for that, and it's looking like they just might pull it off. If MSoft puts out a kickass phone like they (finally) did with the Surface, Apple may be in trouble (-ish…they have waaay too much money and clout now to go down completely).
In the end, I think it's ironic that Microsoft is taking bold risks (they must), and Apple is playing it safe (which is what happens when you're "on top").
Talk to me again in 2-3 years and we'll see.
That's all well and good and smart from Apple.
The problem is that Microsoft's new vision of one-size-fits-all software might just put a kink on that.
IT departments love Microsoft. Microsoft knows this, and is attempting to keep it that way by integrating their existing users into other platforms (mobile/tablet/hybrids) that run the same OS. A one-size fits-all solution, that IT Departments are familiar with already? Or a "new" platform that forces a change in "culture"?
Can Microsoft pull this off? (It's really up to the Devs).
That's the situation at hand.
Nonsense. Show me even one case where it is established (not hypothesized) that EM emissions from a cell phone caused an explosion.
I agree.
1.75 lb is too heavy for a tablet. Even the original iPad was only 1.5 lb.
Agreed 100%. Apple doubtless has realized that too, and is probably having high hopes the rumored iPadPro together with this business-focussed initiative will bolster their 'lagging', or should I say disappointing, tablet effort, once more raising it to new heights.
Personally I believe the ever increasing seamless transition between OS X and iOS is a double-edged sword that while being very enabling, limits at the same time what an ultimate OS could be.
Actually the special stylus (rumored) would not need any special display. Thats the beauty of this solution.
HOwever, they also could install such high sensitivity screen into, say, iPad pro.