Excitement about iPad: A Large Screen Multi-Touch Platform

[Rocketman]

The iPad is not a giant iPhone, the iPhone is a tiny, cramped iPad.

Exactly. I wonder how many people who compromised their actual wishes and got an iPhone or iPod Touch will simply upgrade to iPad and get a bluetooth (or 802.11!!) headset for VoIP.

That number alone ought to sell enough iPads to get excited about.

Look how many people bought multiple iPods and thought nothing of it.

Rocketman

 

[Eidorian]

mmmh, so no need for a 'reboot' then? just a runtime plugin - sounds acceptable.- but never been asked to install it yet but I'll bear it in mind if I ever do...thx

It's a brower plug-in like all the other ones. Yes, you will have to close and restart your browser to install it the first time.

 

[Gleemen]

If the ipad gets iwork apps then why cant my iphone?

 

[whiteboytrash]

Already done.

"Mobile air mouse" Brilliant app.

Hasn't got pressure sensitivity yet.
But that is easy enough to work out with pinch motions.



I am a musician too - and and am ludicrously excited by the possibilities!

Just wait to interior designers, fashion designers, lanscape modellers, advertisers - anyone who travels and wants to show mock-ups to clients. It's endless. Want that couch in red ? One swish & it's red. Want it with yellow cushions ? Flick the left pane across the cushion selection and drag them onto the couch. Heck the client can do it for you. Endless. All the pricing is on-line and updated as it's selected. The client can places orders right in front of you. Endless.

Attach a camera to the dock. Take a photo of someone kitchen then start making the changes on the screen with the clent. Again endless.

Endless.

 

[airwalke]

This is exactly why I was excited about the iPad when it was first announced. While everyone's having an aneurysm over the fact that it doesn't have a built in camera, I was thinking of all the great apps I've used for my iPhone that would benefit greatly from a larger touch screen. If only this thing had a stylus of some sort, apps like Brushes or Sketchbook would be a killer app for creative users (as it is right now, it's still pretty great).

The only fault I find in the iPad is that it doesn't do multitasking, which it rightly should... but I suppose that's for iPad 2.0. But right now, it's very hard to resist selling my current laptop for an iPad and a Mac Pro/iMac.

 

[Frazzle]

Perhaps I buy it when hundreds of my clients switch their sites to HTML!

As they should have done all along if they paid any attention to proper web design guidelines. Better yet, if they're serious about their work, they should build a custom app for iPhone/iPad owners. That gets attention!

Seriously, I've been using the fantastic ClickToFlash plugin on my Mac for a week now and haven't had any real problems. This plugin just displays a grey box that says 'Flash' but it will not run it, unless you click the box. 'Flash on demand' as it were. As it turns out, with my usage, I can live without Flash just fine.

My other Mac runs completely without Flash and even that one hardly has problems. Most newspaper sites (and banner ads, unfortunately) automatically switch to using animated GIFs. I hardly ever notice the absence of Flash.

 

[dwl017]

I find myself somewhere in the middle of this discussion. The iPad is really close to what I was expecting once you remove the thought that a 7" device was coming. However at this point there are real issues that bother me, these however are my issues and are not for others to discount.

Some would say that it is Apple that is displaying short sightedness. By the way You as a consummer have the right to register complaints about a product with the manufacture. It is up to Apple to register those complaints and act on them based on relative importance.

Have you every stopped to think that there is a reason you keep seeing this. Oh by the way having to attach a dongle to get a USB port is not acceptable at all. Sure a USB port can be seen as a legacy interface, but that is why it is needed. That is to offer up the missing features that many want to see on the iPad.

I think people supporting Apple with respect to flash are just to much of the fanboi ilk to reason with. The reality is many of us hate flash but realize it is an evil required to get work done. The click to flash approach works fine on my MBP, why not support similar behaviour on the iPad? Maybe it isn't the technical issue Apple like to make it out to be, but rather a political one.

Life won't end but then again many won't be buying an iPad. In any event invariably those that object to user multitasking demonstrate a very limited understanding of what it is and the value it offers the average user. The intent isn't to emulate a supercomputer on the iPad, rather it is simply a desire to solve problems that can't be solved any other way. Please don't bring up notifications here as that has absolutely nothing to do with the issues at hand.

Well I never expected OS X but OS X has nothing to do with hardware prices. OS X has been demonstrated to run fine on netbooks.

The thing that is really stupid about the OS X crowd is their uncanning ability to ignore history and the reality of integrating Touch with legacy APIs. There is good reason to bash the OS X crowd but hardware costs isn't one of them.


That is all well and good, as I've said the IPad has come close to what I was expecting. However there are a number of ways to measure power and iPad fails in many ways. The lack of built in SD and USB ports are a massive shortcoming to some and reflect poorly on percieved power.

In any event you currently can not even pass judgement on iPads power simply because Apple hasn't released the technical specs to allow one to evaluate the machine properly. Nothing official has come out yet about the A4 nor the included RAM. These things weigh heavily when it comes to future software development.

Dave

The Dell Mini 5 - Has everything I need plus front and rear facing 5 mega pixel cameras. Fits in my pocket plus will make a phone call if I choose to use it as such a device. 3G + WI-FI

Sorry Apple your product is exactly what I don't need, I plan to purchase the Dell Mini 5 the first day it becomes available.

No I am not trolling and yes if I want a Apple product to do what the tablet does plus more I will buy a MacBook - Pro / Air

The new iPad should have been a 5" iPod Touch with front and rear cams - with 3G + WI-FI unlocked $25 monthly data plan.

Thanks SJ now I can put the money towards the Dell Mini 5

 

[sohelpme]

You do realise that current iPhone/iTouch browsers represent only 0.64% of browser share, and most sites couldn't probably care less when they still have the other 99.36% to deal with? 50 million iPads could make it as much as 1% - and still make no difference. The idea that Apple is saving the Internet from Flash is hilarious, frankly. If that was a motivation they would not ship it with OS X. There are other reasons for not supporting it, but that's unlikely to be one of them. And besides, those very same people that you say won't know how to install Flash will also be kind of pissed when the little blue bricks show up all over the place.

If that fraction of 1% is so unimportant, then why are sites like Vimeo and YouTube making versions of their site that don't use Flash? Even the porn site that some Adobe guy posted as an example of content that people want to see has an iPhone version of their site that doesn't use Flash. Why is Adobe pleading for Apple to let them implement Flash on the iPhone and now the iPad?

And if the device is useless without Flash on it, then the market will speak and simply not buy it. This method seems to have worked out in Apple's favor for the iPhone [vs in Adobe's favor], and I expect it will work out the same way for the iPad...

 

[Bevz]

You missed out on a couple years of great fun. Adopting early pays off.

I agree completely. There is a lot of fun being in on something from the beginning and "being there" when it evolves. The iPhone felt a little like when you're into an unknown band when they first form and then slowly watching them get really famous. There is a certain pleasure and pride in saying "i was into them before they were famous". It felt the same with the first gen iPhone. I appreciate everything i've just said is pure geek LOL, but the point being; it's not for everyone, and most may feel they have better things to spend their money on and prefer to wait for tried and tested technology, but to some, like us (hope you don't mind me roping you into my geeky world LOL), being an "early adopter" is a really fun ride!

 

[tampaappleman]

Me too

Well, was a lil underwhelmed when iPad (still giggling at the name choice) was first announced. But now that we know what we are actually gonna get and there`s no point in dreaming about an iTablet as powerful as the MacBook, I`m now leaning towards getting this thing. In the last couple of days, I`ve found myself in more than a few situations where iPad would have been so much useful compared to either my Macbook or the iPod touch. I know I`ll be getting it for sure now. Just wish I could get atleast 32GB for the base model.

I feel exactly the same way and I'll bet many people will at least after they'll actually get their hands on a real one inside a store. There are many ways to use an iPad instead of an MacBook. If it's sitting in the living room every family family can pick it up check their mail ( assumed that separate accounts are supported ) or briefly surf the net, read a chapter in their favorite book or just play a game. All that without firing up a MacBook logging in etc.. I kind of like the idea and I will have a use for it.

 

[Journojulz]

As far as i am aware - the reason flash is not allowed is that it would be able to run apps.

And that would circumvent apple's control over what runs on it hardware.

If that sticks in your craw - then you are free to choose another tech solution

I can live with it if the results are as good as they have been.

 

[Gixxerguyk6]

iPad pro

If apple comes out with something a little bigger and with a little more power I would love this thing for school. Love the idea of a touch screen, but i want multitasking and multi-windows for research projects. I could read articles on it and then connect my keyboard to write. I will be watching closely for the next-gen.

 

[Littlewizkid]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 1.5; en-us; ADR6200 Build/CUPCAKE) AppleWebKit/528.5+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.2 Mobile Safari/525.20.1)

If it gets jailbroken. Then I might be interested. Need multitasking and flash, want USB printer support

 

[Researcher]

Just wait to interior designers, fashion designers, lanscape modellers, advertisers - anyone who travels and wants to show mock-ups to clients. It's endless. Want that couch in red ? One swish & it's red. Want it with yellow cushions ? Flick the left pane across the cushion selection and drag them onto the couch. Heck the client can do it for you. Endless. All the pricing is on-line and updated as it's selected. The client can places orders right in front of you. Endless.

Attach a camera to the dock. Take a photo of someone kitchen then start making the changes on the screen with the clent. Again endless.

Endless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIGd4aBzhTU

 

[wizard]

A few corrections are in order.

Someone said earlier that it would be easy for to add a camera and multi-tasking to the iPad.

Sure it would be. For one multitasking is already there. Second the camera is already supported in iPhone.

I would suggest that the camera is probably easily incorporated.

Someone else indicated that not many people spend time video conferencing - well I do almost every evening to my son for about 15 - 30 minutes, he is severely disabled and lives in a hospice many miles from my wife and myself and we feel it is absolutely essential, an iPad without Camera gets a thumbs down from me.

I'm sorry to hear about your son. You describe a ligitimate need but unfortunately the mass market is at odds with your desire for supported video.

First many of us don't like the idea of video calls or conferencing on personal devices. Call us Luddites or very ugly but the fact remains it isn't a concern to us.

Second, along the same lines why pay for hardware you rarely use if at all. The camera on iPhone is a perfect example. All it really does is Jack up the phones cost to the rest of us.

Third; if Apple did put a front facing camera on the iPhone how would you make use of it? This is a huge question because you can't hold it like an iPhone for long. I suspect that the lack of a camera on iPad has a lot to do with usability more than anything.

Fourth; the reality that cameras are forbidden in many places. By keeping iPad camera free there is one less black ball resisting it's adoption.

In anyevent this is why I wish Apple had a standard USB port on iPad. Such a port would have allowed for addressing all of the above issues as one could simply plug in a we'd cam when needed.

Multi-tasking: That is a different matter, the iPad has Flash memory, multi-tasking requires swap space which will be continuously written and read from.

Actually this is completely wrong. First iPhone OS does multitasking right now. Second swap space isn't required to multitask at all.

This would increase the power consumption and would probably reduce the lifetime of the flash memory, I don't think you will see UNIX style multi-tasking for quite some time.

You save the flash by not using a swap file. As for UNIX style multitasking what do you think iPhone is doing now? Don't believe me, then look up swapon swapoff and other utilities used to manage swap space on Linux and similar systems. Swap space does not enable multitasking what it dies di is allow for multitasking more programs than real RAM provides space for.

As to the iPad and its reported speed, I suspect that the new chip and the fact that everything is memory resident makes it as fast as it is.

Well that we just don't know. Apple hasn't even released an indication of RAM space. Given that I don't believe people where even accurate with the reported specs for the A4. For one the GPU has to be bettter than current rumored specs. Overall though I suspect multiple ARM cores are making a huge difference here.


Dave

 

[Eric S.]

There is a lot of fun being in on something from the beginning and "being there" when it evolves. The iPhone felt a little like when you're into an unknown band when they first form and then slowly watching them get really famous. There is a certain pleasure and pride in saying "i was into them before they were famous". It felt the same with the first gen iPhone.

It seems to me the iPhone was famous the moment it was announced.

 

[MyBrainIsSpeakn]

That phrase - I do not believe you understand it's meaning.

Not the phrase, your talking about specific words used. Yes, an applying of deep emotion, from the gut. Have a nice day.

 

[Frazzle]

Death of the universal interface

I think the iPhone and iPod Touch devices have started a trend that will get even stronger with the iPad: the death of the browser as our universal interface for everything. Let me explain.

It used to be the case (before the www) that whenever you wanted a computer to do anything specific, you had to install an application. Software for booking a vacation, a plane ticket or buying a book was so specialized (and in need of a huge database) that you had to go to travel agencies and book stores.

Then came the web and browsers quickly became the universal interfaces. With the massive databases now available online, the browser could become the universal interface for practically anything. But because it was never intended for that, several helper apps had to be invented to add more intelligence to the dumb browser client. That's why we're stuck with stuff like Javascript, Flash and all the other add-ons.

Browsers are getting rather overwhelmed though. They have to accommodate everything from online shopping to reading newspapers, and from watching videos to doing your accounts. By nature, a universal interface can never be as perfect and useful as a smart, dedicated application.

However, we don't want to go back to a model where you need to go to a developer's site to download and install an application and then properly maintain it as it gets new versions etcetera - not when it's just for checking stocks. For our main productivity applications we do still accept this. But nobody wants to be bogged down by hundreds of 'useful' little utilities - at least, not in the way they have to be installed and maintained on a traditional OS.

Some companies think that the browser will take over everything and more or less become the OS. That's one intriguing vision. But I think Apple has shown us a different idea: the app store. Compared to the traditional way of acquiring and using software, the app store is brilliant. Easy purchase, easy installation an no maintenance for the user has led to its enormous success.

And with the app store we have seen the return of the dedicated application! Many, many iPhone applications are just 'smart interfaces' for data that's readily available on the internet (not necessarily on the web). But these interfaces are less cumbersome, present the data in a more useful way and only present the choices the user needs.

Apps like these fit the human way of working: we generally use tools that fit the task. You don't stir your coffee with a screwdriver (usually). Apps are small, dedicated tools. You book a plane ticket with the ticketing app, you check stocks with the stocks app. It's easy and you simply hit a button to go and do something else.

This model actually reflects the latest insights in the way humans perform tasks. We are context-driven. We essentially do not multitask but quickly switch our attention (and our persona, role and behavior) from task to task by switching our context. It's true: many people can't stand the interrupt-driven style that computers have forced upon us. The iPhone/iPad can follow our preferred way of working by making those context switches with only two taps. And yes, the iPhone/iPad also focuses our attention by showing only one relevant task/context on its screen at any one time.

That's why the iPad is brilliant. That's why Steve said it's the best experience for what it does: the iPad can offer you an infinite number of intuitive and custom environments, or contexts, for the tasks you want or need to perform. Changing your context only takes two taps. That's why I don't think the next OS will allow multitasking, unless they give in to popular demand.

I think the best developers understand this. They will amaze us with wonderful city guides, travel planning apps, interactive television schedules with video previews right there in the schedule, recipe books that can show you preparations interactively and step-by-step, electronic portfolio apps with pictures and demo reels for photographers, videographers, actors and models... to name just some ideas.

The big screen, the fast CPU and the design that doesn't distract from the task at hand - all that will make the iPad a winner.

 

[rowspaxe]

apple connects the internet and the sofa, sort of

The major problem with the reception of this device is that many see it as a netbook, and apple has contributed to the ambiguity by including iworks and the dock. If you view the ipad as a webveiwer with advanced game, book and video functionality for sofa use, it largely succeeds--the easy chair at the presentation was the meta-message. When you try to find ways to make a netbook, it starts to seem lacking.

The flash issue will resolve itself, but not with html 5. Apple has just introduced the first real touch internet device--the whole phone internet arena is a toy/tool for early adapters--it is unweildy and slow--even in wifi mode. So there will need to be a shake out period for new browser development. One of those strategies will be an adobe based Flash port for existing flash content. Apple may not embrace this, but the coming rush of pc derived follow on products may. Apple however, may not be the minority player in the pad market; it may dominate as it did with the ipod.

I do think there is a major opportunity for someone else to make a better device and take the initiative in this market--i just don't know if any of the current players are up to it. Apple may win by deault.

Its seems certain to me that form factor will succeed, but not as a laptop replacement

 

[alent1234]

If that fraction of 1% is so unimportant, then why are sites like Vimeo and YouTube making versions of their site that don't use Flash? Even the porn site that some Adobe guy posted as an example of content that people want to see has an iPhone version of their site that doesn't use Flash. Why is Adobe pleading for Apple to let them implement Flash on the iPhone and now the iPad?

And if the device is useless without Flash on it, then the market will speak and simply not buy it. This method seems to have worked out in Apple's favor for the iPhone [vs in Adobe's favor], and I expect it will work out the same way for the iPad...

iphone plays Google videos same way Blu-Ray players do, via the API and not flash. It works by you striking a deal with Google, writing them a check for at least $10 million and they give you API access

 

[quixotic]

I like it but

I don't think it's for me. If I could spare $500, maybe, but I'd want a new MBP, iPhone, and Kindle first (e-ink is the only way to go for e-books).

The fact that the iPad is thin and the battery last forever are great selling points. For casual entertainment, and 1 on 1 presentations I think it's awesome, but for doing work and reading books, I'd say at best it's average.

IMO you'd have to have more discretionary income than the average apple consumer, to be able to justify buying it. Especially, if like most people, you already own a laptop and iPhone.

 

[alent1234]

mmmh, so no need for a 'reboot' then? just a runtime plugin - sounds acceptable.- but never been asked to install it yet but I'll bear it in mind if I ever do...thx

Mhh, this entire Flash situation is a mess isn't it - this iPad thing has just brought it to an absolute frenzy. There are gonna be some *very* difficult decisions being made in web design studios all over the world right now

only if the iPad sells enough units to make it worthwhile to migrate from Flash which is going to be very expensive

 

[blackcrayon]

The Dell Mini 5 - Has everything I need plus front and rear facing 5 mega pixel cameras. Fits in my pocket plus will make a phone call if I choose to use it as such a device. 3G + WI-FI

Sorry Apple your product is exactly what I don't need, I plan to purchase the Dell Mini 5 the first day it becomes available.

No I am not trolling and yes if I want a Apple product to do what the tablet does plus more I will buy a MacBook - Pro / Air

The new iPad should have been a 5" iPod Touch with front and rear cams - with 3G + WI-FI unlocked $25 monthly data plan.

Thanks SJ now I can put the money towards the Dell Mini 5

That's kinda funny, that's a middle ground between the iPhone and the iPad... Talk about just a "big iPhone that won't fit well in your pocket" Not that it looks like a bad device... But do people want a cell phone and that thing?

I wouldnt be surprised if Dell made the mini 9 return as a slate after the iPad announcement- that might be a more compelling competitor (at least superficially).

Someone commented on gizmodo on it (comment made weeks before the iPad announcement)
"If its going to be in my bag, I'd rather have something that had a 9-10 inch screen, more power, more diversified uses, and was also thinner. This thing looks a little chubby, although I admittedly can't tell much from that picture."

 

[-=XX=-Nephilim]

The Dell Mini 5 - Has everything I need plus front and rear facing 5 mega pixel cameras. Fits in my pocket plus will make a phone call if I choose to use it as such a device. 3G + WI-FI

Sorry Apple your product is exactly what I don't need, I plan to purchase the Dell Mini 5 the first day it becomes available.

No I am not trolling and yes if I want a Apple product to do what the tablet does plus more I will buy a MacBook - Pro / Air

The new iPad should have been a 5" iPod Touch with front and rear cams - with 3G + WI-FI unlocked $25 monthly data plan.

Thanks SJ now I can put the money towards the Dell Mini 5

WOW!

Never heard of Dell Mini 5

Looks awesome - it has camera, supports Flash and its bloody fast!

Hmmm...

Apple might find itself with one hell of competition very soon indeed!

 

[str1f3]

I think the iPhone and iPod Touch devices have started a trend that will get even stronger with the iPad: the death of the browser as our universal interface for everything.

The idea that you, and maybe Apple have, is very dangerous. It means that Apple is in control of everything through the App Store. While many fanboys on this forum don't have a problem with it, they should. Why?:

-Apple will have more control over your device than you will and they have already proven that the approval process is at the very least controversial.

-People may believe that Apple won't try to misuse the leverage they have with the iPhone OS but they already have to an extent with Flash. Flash will be all but dead 5-10 years from now and Apple will primarily be credited with it. With iTunes, iPhone OS & the App Store, Apple will now be in control of the any video/audio format on the web. Who's to say that Apple won't introduce their own proprietary codecs? There hasn't been a company yet that hasn't abused the power they have.