Excitement about iPad: A Large Screen Multi-Touch Platform

[hondaboy945]

SDK on the iPad

Forgive me for not reading the entire thread but is it possible that we might be able to develop on the iPad. I don't mean for the iPad, I mean make the SDK available for use on the iPad that way we can develop on anywhere at anytime.

 

[bnerd]

People keep mentioning Windows Tablets and how they're inexpensive and you can do more...

Well... those tablets have been around for years.. and haven't been successful so what does that tell you. The AVERAGE person doesn't care about that kinda stuff.

 

[martint84]

Great post. It's always nice to see that some people get it...

The MLB app alone is worth buying the iPad. Too many people on this forum doubt the talent and imagination of developers.

i have an iphone for that and it works great..

Did you see the MLB demo on the iPad? How can you even compare the two? Why is it so hard for people to see the potential of the iPad?

 

[grayskies]

Why? I don't wanna play VHS on my blu-ray player, thank you very much!

fair enough...but...

Office is the leader of the pack (good or bad)

(IMO Office for Mac is way better than Office 2007)

anecdotally, when people ask me about the Mac platform, that is almost always the first question, "What about office?"

 

[skritz]

I cant wait for someone to write the app to turn the iPad into a Wacom table for my iMac.

....Or for that matter the hundreds of other verticle apps that will make the iPad do things that are just not possible with a lap top.

 

[cerbin]

No, I am not calling you narrow minded. I displayed a casual garment, it is up to you to claim it is cut to your fit.

I even agree with you on the camera, but I am also aware of what is available on the current market. There is no iPad competition there that includes it. There cannot be, because it is a new kind of product. I am convinced enough to buy the product as it is. This does not mean that everyone should be. I am merely pointing out the possibilities this product introduces.

so you are saying that all of us who wanted the obvious (2010 hello! i need a camera!) a camera and a flash are narrow minded.
Apple did have some problem not to putting them into iPad? And if yes, why to include these feature (and more as you say) in the v2?
We are shouting (Apple do you hear?) because there was the possibility to inculde all these stuff already in the iPad!

 

[Researcher]

fair enough...but...

Office is the leader of the pack (good or bad)

(IMO Office for Mac is way better than Office 2007)

anecdotally, when people ask me about the Mac platform, that is almost always the first question, "What about office?"

anecdotally? wow!

anyways, office is not the leader pack. MS Word is the leader word proccessor, and this is another debate.

 

[grayskies]

The iPad has a chance to change ALL of that. It is a usable size for data input. It is personal... you can hold it just like a chart or clipboard... you don't have to turn your back to your patient

OH YEAH...

What happens when you get some eye goo on it?

 

[nadirturkman]

I think the iPad is a device that is going to take some time to really catch on. Whether it ever becomes a hit for Apple will depend on the quality of the apps that are developed for it. As it is right now, it's a bit of a dud. No built-in camera for video conferencing means this is really just a big iPod Touch. It's too big to be a portable device you can drop in your pocket. You need a bag or a backpack for it. And if you're going to do that, you might as well carry a more powerful laptop with a real keyboard. Apple saw this as filling the gap between smart phones and laptops, but I don't think there really was a gap there. The iPad may yet prove to be a success, but it will have to carve out a niche for itself, and for that to happen, Apple needs the help of developers to create apps to win over buyers. That and Apple needs to improve the features set.

Agree 100%, best analysis of what the future of the iPad might be.

 

[Ed91]

Wow! Now THAT has gotten me thinking.... I'd have a bluetooth keyboard and Magic Mouse for the Mini, with the mini piped into my HDTV. But for most surfing and common tasks, I could just lounge on the couch with the iPad. That actually could be quite awesome ... and cheaper than a MacBook Pro!

I agree. 95% of the time the iPhone OS interface would be just fine for what I need to do, and when it isn't, you could just VNC out of it, with all the added benefits of vastly superior hardware.

I do, however, find it curious that the tablet was running on OS 3.2 and not 4. It makes me wonder what OS 4 will have to offer. Presumably the tablet will benefit from the update, so perhaps we'll get new functionality that wasn't quite ready for prime-time? Multitasking? Hmm.

Let the OS 4 rumours begin..

 

[thinkpatience]

I cant wait for someone to write the app to turn the iPad into a Wacom table for my iMac.

....Or for that matter the hundreds of other verticle apps that will make the iPad do things that are just not possible with a lap top.

It's funny that you mentioned that, because I was just about to say it! Since the announcement I couldn't stop thinking about how nice it would be if this thing could replace a Wacom tablet.

A 12" Cintiq Wacom tablet cost $999, iPad is half that price. I don't know how they would compare, but it would be nice to have a Tablet with tons of different features. Ultimately though, I think the iPad was very over hyped. If they added a phone and camera would it have affected the price at all? I'm sure they were trying to pack this thing with features while trying to keep the price down as low as possible.

...but to be honest, during the whole event I was anxiously waiting for the "one more thing..." moment.

 

[Xenious]

Logic Audio!

I'm dyin for a multitouch Logic Audio control panel remote. Give me a mixer and a transport control for Logic running on my Mac Pro.

 

[cmaier]

For once all of u socalled Apple heads need to admit that apple dissapointed u all the Ipad in my opinion will b a sucess once it gets up and running i for 1 will b getting one its called the FUTURE and its coming fast

"apple heads?" do you even know what "so called" means?

 

[sculfort]

If only i could steam netflix or hulu on this thing i would buy it in a heartbeat. That is the only item holding me back right now.

 

[wizard]

Interesting but…

I really don't think you understand virtual memory or computer memory management in general.

Dave

With the iPad becoming a grown iPhone instead of a shrunken Mac, the Mac that we know and love has its days numbered. Let me explain.

For the last twenty years, desktop computers have had to deal with the lag of virtual memory. While running massive spreadsheets and word processors with the half to three second pause every minute or so was acceptable back then, apps have become more and more user interface intensive in dynamics requiring faster memory responses.

The biggest problem with moving desktop OS'es to a hand-held device has been this disk drive emulation on top of flash memory that has slowed down performance. Anyone using Windows Mobile with the "wait" icon is annoyed by it since virtual memory swaps is what the kernal is doing most of the time when you see that icon. Modern desktop OSes are built with the expectation that a disk drive is present for virtual memory.

A time will come soon where Flash memory will get cheaper than hard disks. Those in the memory storage business know how close these two GB / dollar lines are getting. When Flash memory cost hits parity, Flash memory access time is going to have hard disks go the way of paper punch cards and magnetic memory tape.

From that, Steve and company at Apple see this trend. This is why they are pulling all development resources, CPU, hardware, software, etc. in house so they don't have to talk about trend to suppliers 'til they are blue in their face. IMO, their goal in a few years is a totally solid state Mac with no hard disk, no virtual memory and with that, very quick memory response.

In the new few years I expect larger screen iPad like devices and and OS XI or whatever they call their next generation OS to run smoothly scaled up and down from an iPhone to and iPad to whatever they call thier totally solid state desktop computer.

Then you will see the computer of the future when this outdated virtual memory paradigm obsoleted and retired.

That is my crystal ball view!

 

[MisterK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

As days go by I get more excited about the iPad. I've had tons of people telling me I'm stupid for wanting one, but I honestly find... Let's say "unimaginative". What they're asking for is the tablet pcs that they didn't buy in the past. It's not "just" a giant iPod. It uses apples touch os to turn on and launch apps the fastest and simplest way possible. What those apps are is up to developers make. For all I do after work, this is my perfect computer.

I get that apple won't put Flash on here because they'd rather the developer make an app where apple gets a 30% cut rather than having people play for free on facebook. I'd prefer if there was flash. Not gonna happen. Still getting the ipad.

Home automation, media center remote, dockable business computer with apps MADE FOR a tech screen, digi photo frame that's web connected, blogs, books, magazines, any device you're building that requires a computer with touch screen just had that part of the manufacture done by apple. You just build the sensors or attachments. Cookbook, boardgames, reference manuals, in car entertainment, musical instrument, tour guide, navigation, point of sale device, presenters notes, day planner, casual games, bedtime story books (kindle pictures and multimedia suck).

All in all, awesome.

 

[Journojulz]

I cant wait for someone to write the app to turn the iPad into a Wacom table for my iMac.

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'm dyin for a multitouch Logic Audio control panel remote. Give me a mixer and a transport control for Logic running on my Mac Pro.

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

 

[wizard]

Multi tasking yes, camera no!

I don't think there's unrealistic expectations for a front camera and multi-tasking.

Add those two and you'll make a lot of people happy.

The reality is a front facing camera would piss off more customers than it pleases. I belive the best approach would be to have that feature be optional.

Dave

 

[cmaier]

The reality is a front facing camera would piss off more customers than it pleases. I belive the best approach would be to have that feature be optional.

Dave

Why on earth would someone be "pissed off" by a front-facing camera? They don't have to use it. And it's not like this thing is likely to get much enterprise or court room adoption (two places where cameras may be a no-no).

 

[Eric S.]

I miss Apple Computer Inc.

 

[Bevz]

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.

+1
I think i'll be getting one too....

 

[jouster]

You're not buying laptops for 1000 employees, and worrying about what happens to your companies data when somebody (at least one) loses a laptop. With a remote desktop viewing app on an iPad, none of your valuable disk drives ever have to leave the building.

Why is this an argument for iPads? It pretty much describes what my employers do with laptops. You're right about not buying laptops for 1000 though. It was more like 7000.

 

[-=XX=-Nephilim]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16) I get that apple won't put Flash on here because they'd rather the developer make an app where apple gets a 30% cut rather than having people play for free on facebook. I'd prefer if there was flash. Not gonna happen. Still getting the ipad.

That is all fine and great for some...

However, Flash for others isn't just "web based video player" or FaceBook game machine...

Flash, in fact, is present in one form or the other on millions of web sites out there and is integral part of overall web experience - like it or not...

iPad, being advertised as best browsing experience ever, simply can not be that until Flash stops playing such an important part.

For example, I already mentioned this in one of previous threads, - I am in art, design and photography business. I deal with hundreds of clients working in this area and vast majority of them have Flash based sites!

Meaning, if I need to keep an eye on their latest work, I simply won't be able to do this due to the fact that Flash player isn't available for the system.

This fact alone instantly renders whole system for me useless...

It's awesome thing without doubt, it has massive potential but without supporting fundaments such as Flash player I simply have to skip it.

Can you imagine someone in situation of receiving urgent email from a client or partner saying "check this guys / girls work - here is a link" and you replying with "sorry I am using funky iPad I can't see the site since I have no Flash player installed"

I mean lol - I would stay out of business within a week using this...

I understand that there are number of people out there who can't get this point from whatever selfish reason - but this is fundamental issue that needs to be resolved first before I take a bite.

And I am sure I am not the only one!

People will be buying this device as their main portable web browser (between everything else ofc) and Apple is risking its reputation and sales tremendously here for not allowing OPTIONAL flash player installation (please note this OPTIONAL in capitals!)

By the way - I noticed few posts in here talking about how would Flash work on touch screen device.

Well here is little video that demonstrates this rather clearly:

http://theflashblog.com/?p=1666

 

[surferfromuk]

That is all fine and great for some...

However, Flash for others isn't just "web based video player" or FaceBook game machine...

Flash, in fact, is present in one form or the other on millions of web sites out there and is integral part of overall web experience - like it or not...

iPad, being advertised as best browsing experience ever, simply can not be that until Flash stops playing such an important part.

For example, I already mentioned this in on previous threads, I am art, design and photography business. I deal with hundreds clients working in this area and vast majority of them have Flash based sites!

Meaning, if I need to keep an eye on their latest work, I simply won't be able to do this due to the fact that Flash player isn't available for the system.

This fact alone instantly renders whole system for me useless...

It's awesome thing without doubt, it has massive potential but without supporting fundaments such as Flash player I simply have to skip it.

Can you imagine someone in situation of receiving urgent email from the client or partner saying "check this guys / girls work - here is a link" and you replying with "sorry I am using funky iPad I can't see the site since I have no Flash player installed"

I mean lol - I would stay out of business within a week using this...

I understand that there are number of people out there who can't get this point from whatever selfish reason - but this is fundamental issue that needs to be resolved first before I take a bite.

And I am sure I am not the only one!

People will be buying this device as their main portable web browser (between everything else ofc) and Apple is risking its reputation and sales tremendously here for not allowing OPTIONAL flash player installation (please note this OPTIONAL in capitals!)

By the way - I noticed few posts in here talking about how would Flash work on touch screen device.

Well here is little video that demonstrates this rather clearly:

http://theflashblog.com/?p=1666

Flash is dead, dude. Steve knifed it in the keynote. Get over it already, it's not a big deal.

 

[!¡ V ¡!]

Of course the iPad will be a far superior tool in three years time, with more features, more storage and more computing power. Just as importantly, there will be far more apps available by then to take advantage of all that. Nobody is saying technology will stand still or that the iPad will go down in a ball of flames and shame Jobs into an early retirement. But must everyone love the current iteration because of what it will become in three years? People are commenting on the iPad's current feature set and what it does and doesn't offer today. And today it offers little more than an iPod Touch except a larger screen. That's not saying there isn't potential for much more down the road, but I'm not going to buy one today because of what it might become at a later date. (Does that make me a 'hater?')

It will be interesting to see what developers come up with to exploit the iPad's current and future capabilities. I'm not feeling it right now and won't until I've been convinced it's worth parting with my hard-earned cash for one. That may change with a future iteration that has more features and apps available. Until then, the iPad isn't something that will suit my needs better than what I already have.

Not everyone has 500 large burning a hole in their pocket, waiting to be the first to pick up the next big gee-whiz gadget (let alone for the sole pleasure of playing the MLB app). Some of us buy the product we need when we actually see the need for it. Hopefully, I don't have to wait three years to see the need.

Well said, I had the same feelings regarding the iPhone and iPod Touch when it was initially released. It was limited and not tested, however a few years later and I own them and am please that I did not jump in and buy a 1G or 2G. Patience pays off.