iPad SDK 3.2 Details: External Display, File Sharing System, No Multitasking

[0092762]

The iPad doesn't fit into a _niche_. It fits right bang in the middle of what all the consumers want. They don't want a powerful but complicated computer, or a netbook that is just the same old complicated computer just with less power except netbooks start getting bigger and clunkier until they are laptops again. Consumers want an _appliance_ that does all the things they want to do at home.

For 70 percent of the _whole_ home computer market, the iPad is the best match to what people actually want and need. That's not a niche.

I guess 70 percent of the whole home computer market doesn't care about watching youtube, facebook, or hulu videos. Maybe Apple can get away without flash in the iphone, but no effing way on the tablet...no f'n way.
This is just like the original iphone with OS 1.0, very flawed and lacking. Give it a couple years and it will gain the features to make it popular.

 

[smiddlehurst]

I guess 70 percent of the whole home computer market doesn't care about watching youtube, facebook, or hulu videos. Maybe Apple can get away without flash in the iphone, but no effing way on the tablet...no f'n way.
This is just like the original iphone with OS 1.0, very flawed and lacking. Give it a couple years and it will gain the features to make it popular.

Uh, you know that YouTube is already supported on the iPhone OS right? As in, everything works straight from the device? And they're transitioning to HTML5 as we speak? Hulu is US only so yeah, 70% of the home computer market doesn't care about that either. Facebook videos? I honestly don't remember the last time I saw a facebook video, everyone uploads to youtube.

Honestly, Flash is vastly overrated and isn't required to anything like the degree most geeks think it is. Over the last year I've taken to surfing on my iPod Touch when at home and I haven't had to reach for the MBP ONCE because of a lack of flash support. Not once. Would it be a nice to have feature? I guess, although I still think the trade-offs for flash in general are too high whether on laptop or tablet (security issues and power consumption chief amongst them). But it's not a requirement.

 

[bmacir]

lol

We're gonna have to wait till iPad 6G S. That's when there's gonna be some major improvements, atm, it's just a big iPhone with no camera! iPad = IFlop IMO.

Basically it's just a big iPhone..... what a letdown.

you guys have been quoted by the italian "corriere della sera" (probably the most important italian newspaper), check it out here (google translation) @ the 4th paragraph "Fan delusi"-"Disgruntled fan"

ha!

 

[iRACK]

One other point that i was thinking about regarding the whole iPad discussion:

They had to show it to the crowd ow. They had to get the DEV´s on board and start getting the FCC approval process going.

So Apple had a decision to make. Wait or act. Secret or open. They made their choice and went for secret. The problem was they had to keep most stuff private in order to generate the Hype.

I am kind of wondering if this isn´t the real deal. 60 Days is a long time. Who says this is in mass production yet ? Apple did not have to many machines at the Hands on session.

Lets wait and see how the version in Stores will be. Camera anyone ? Could be in the High End iPad.

And there is the software side, too. Is it going to ship with 3.2 ? highly unlikely. So they can modify lots of things that are being missed by many at this state of the slate.

3rd partie Dev´s are going to rock the SDK. And at launchday there will be loads of functionality added already...

For example the missing file System? SDK already hinted a "central file storage" where all apps can give n take data.

Mobile Me integration will be seamless, too. Giving u the benefit of the cloud. Store your PDF etc online.

And so on... so we should stay tuned until the 60 (58) days are over and judge after testing and knowing what is going to happen during this two Month wait....

 

[cmaier]

no, it's not central storage. It is a shared directory within each app's own sandbox. These get mounted as a single drive on a USB-connected computer. There is no sign of one app being able to access the shared directory belonging to a different app, at least not yet. Apps can, however, launch other apps to open files. So there's a push mechanism, but apparently no pull.

One other point that i was thinking about regarding the whole iPad discussion:

They had to show it to the crowd ow. They had to get the DEV´s on board and start getting the FCC approval process going.

So Apple had a decision to make. Wait or act. Secret or open. They made their choice and went for secret. The problem was they had to keep most stuff private in order to generate the Hype.

I am kind of wondering if this isn´t the real deal. 60 Days is a long time. Who says this is in mass production yet ? Apple did not have to many machines at the Hands on session.

Lets wait and see how the version in Stores will be. Camera anyone ? Could be in the High End iPad.

And there is the software side, too. Is it going to ship with 3.2 ? highly unlikely. So they can modify lots of things that are being missed by many at this state of the slate.

3rd partie Dev´s are going to rock the SDK. And at launchday there will be loads of functionality added already...

For example the missing file System? SDK already hinted a "central file storage" where all apps can give n take data.

Mobile Me integration will be seamless, too. Giving u the benefit of the cloud. Store your PDF etc online.

And so on... so we should stay tuned until the 60 (58) days are over and judge after testing and knowing what is going to happen during this two Month wait....

 

[cteel2004]

I would hope that it is designed to be able to print from iwork directly to a printer connected either via network (wireless or LAN) or via a USB printer connected to the Mac/PC. Anything else would be rather cumbersome.

Currently it doesn't look like that is built in. But our app (ActivePrint, www.activeprint.net) will let you print through a printer connected to the PC (and soon, a Mac as well).

 

[iRACK]

Like i said. Wait 58 days and see what the status will be:

Printing for example will be taken care of by apple themselves:


"Sources who talked to Apple's business unit also say the company is working on some additional features that haven't been publicly announced yet. These include support for direct network printing from iPad apps, as well as support for accessing shared files from a local file server"

Quote:
"http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/01/29/apple_to_target_ipad_at_business_users_through_new_features_sources.html"

Read my post from a couple post above. They didn´t show it all yet because it was not possible to finish it all without having the problem with disclosure. Keeping the secret so long and tight has its compromises, one being the SDK problem (code bits indicating devices specs etc. oh Simulator of iPad giving away ipad ...) the other being Content deals and abroad license agreements. It will all be done, it takes time.

 

[onehoop]

::relieved:: I thought this thing was going to kill the value of my 4yo MBP (which I'd say is worth about $500-$600), but the iPad does not serve light computing very well. More of a Maxi-iPod-Touch. 4x the display at 2x the price, or something like that.

I would say that the true value of this device depends upon the application developers and what they do with it. Pricing for iPad apps is bound to be greater too, since the number of customers will be less. I'm no MLB fan, but that app looked great, and the NYTimes one is awesome (but both look to carry subscription pricing).

Some form of multitasking will come in the new OS. I suspect it will be similar to Spaces. Perhaps 2 available for iPhone 3GS and the 3G 32/64GB iPod Touches; and 4 available for the iPads. I hope that it is not that limited, but that is what I'd guess, with something along the lines of 3-finger swipe for swapping Spaces.

Lots of good examples of why you'd want to multitask have already been listed, but those who insist it as unnecessary confound me.

I'm sure we'll be able to Air-Print.(?) Agreed about multi-user profiles, possibly in the OS update though.

I wish that this meant we could soon get a iPod Touch with wireless access, but I suspect that would intrude upon this new niche and that we will never see anything more than Wi-Fi in the touch now.

Here's my question: Would everyone feel comfortable using this device on public transportation? at night?


M@

 

[cmaier]

Here's my question: Would everyone feel comfortable using this device on public transportation? at night?

Sure, why not? It's better than using a laptop. You could even "hide" it inside a magazine like a kid reading a comicbook inside his textbook.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Actually it was System 7 in 1991 that brought cooperative multitasking to the Mac, eliminating kludges like MultiFinder and Switcher.

So you're basically admitting this operating system is in some ways inferior to even System 7 from 19 years ago.

Fast-forward 20 years and yes, everything old is new again. Now partly due to the limitations of a low-power portable chip, the touch OS is presently better suited to single apps running one at a time, but with essentially

My Commodore Amiga from 1989 had plenty of uses for multi-tasking and I dare say the CPU in this thing is just a tad more powerful so I don't really buy that it's not suited for multi-tasking. Even iPhone 4.x is rumored to finally offer some realm multi-tasking capabilities. The fact you cannot seem to think of anything you'd like to concurrently doesn't mean some of us cannot, but then partly the restrictive nature of the entire OS for it (i.e. no true 3rd party software allowed without paying the 30% fee and getting Apple's "blessing" to allow them to release something only AFTER they've developed an submitted it, thus robbing us of a lot of higher quality software that no one wants to spend many man-years developing only to have Apple reject it at the whim of a breeze blowing.

instantaneous close and reopen...all in a sleek 1.5lb portable slate smaller than a legal pad for $499. As the hardware and OS evolves there will surely

I can get a sub-compact computer for less than can be hacked to run OSX and can run a LOT more software. This thing should be running the iPhone OS as a player like Front Row on a regular Mac and let the user run regular OSX software if he so chooses. It would have been simple to add a USB port or two, for instance for real connectivity and would have elevated this from a simple E-book reader/Toy to something that could compete with sub-compact computers. Heck, there was a notebook years ago that could flip the screen over to turn it into a pad when needed. That was more innovative in terms of POTENTIAL functionality than making a giant iPod Touch. They didn't even standardize the 3GS chip, making users potentially regret their purchase over a lousy $30 later on. It should have been included in all or been a simple plug-in option to add later. If it's designed for enhanced gaming, it should have included dedicated gamepad/buttons to facilitate better control over certain types of game that don't lend themselves very well to touch-screen gaming (believe me when I say this is very obvious playing certain existing iPod Touch games).

My point is this is a device I was looking forward to and I expected it to be a game changer. Instead, it's something they could have released with the iPhone V 1.0. Despite it's large size compared to an iPod Touch, it has no more storage space, no removable battery, no memory card reader, no camera and no USB connectivity, all of which would have been EASILY DONE if Apple didn't have their proverbial head up their back-side. And while I wouldn't mind having one as a table-top remote for my home theater system like I do with my iPod Touch with my AppleTV units, $499+ is a bit steep when they didn't even include anIR port to control regular remote devices. The device is too big to carry on your person (except maybe in an over-sized purse) beyond the similar restrictions of a Macbook (i.e. case, briefcase, whatever) and given its lack of capabilities beyond my iPod Touch that I CAN fit in my pocket, why bother to bring it at all when I can just as easily bring along a hacked sub-compact or even my MBP with not much more effort and do a whole lot more with it. I'd need it anyway to get photos and the like into the thing in the first place since again, it has no memory card reader or USB port to download them right off a camera (and includes no camera to take photos or video with the device) so once again, it's not exactly a good replacement on a trip for a Macbook and my iPod Touch can do most other things anyway. So what's the point of this device except as a more expensive Kindle Reader + Giant iPod Touch device combo?

 

[HowieR32]

it doesnt sound like the majority will be enjoying the iPad

Because the 'Majority' here are RAM sucking Geeks. There is A WORLD outside of these forums, you know. Not all Apple product consumers are IT gurus or groundbreaking visual designers OR uber professional photographers.

On a recent historical 'brief' on what SJ has done over the past decade and a half.

1) iPod = Genius. Basically saved Apple from self destruction
2) Intel into Macs = ABSOLUTE Genius. Basically saved apple personal computers from disappearing into oblivion.
3) iPhone = STUPENDOUS Genius. Now apple have the BIGGEST profit quarter in the company's history.
4) iTunes store = The beginnings of the fundamentals of the worlds best consumer eCommerce facility which leads onto:
5) AppStore. Need we say more?

Five makes it almost a double hat trick. On EVERY one of those product releases, nerds everywhere were calling doom and gloom or disappointment of the 'specs' or the 'restrictions'. With the release of the iPad. You'd wouldn't be surprised that the nerds were expecting a Teleportation app, or something like that.

As a businessman and a visionary, Jobs has got it right on every single thing he's done since he got back into Apple. What have the geeks got right so far? I'll put my money on Jobs. We may not understand it right now... but History, as they say, tends to repeat itself.

 

[Lara F]

Five makes it almost a double hat trick. On EVERY one of those product releases, nerds everywhere were calling doom and gloom or disappointment of the 'specs' or the 'restrictions'. With the release of the iPad. You'd wouldn't be surprised that the nerds were expecting a Teleportation app, or something like that.

Who criticized the App Store (at least until issues started rearing with the approval process)? And no way was the reception for the iPhone anything like this. Posters may have bemoaned the lack of 3G, no 3rd party apps etc + the high price when it was first announced, and may have been willing to wait for rev 2...but that doesn't mean they weren't otherwise blown away by the multitouch, ease of web surfing etc. I know I was and wanted it from the moment I saw the keynote. The iPad brings nothing new to the table in contrast.

 

[Rocketman]

Multi-tasking is a software upgrade in terms of developer permissions. Some apps have received special dispensation, so if you have an app that commands multi-tasking, just ask for special dispensation (and charge for it).

I think folks are missing a big hardware variable and upgrade path.

The iPad version with a "3G modem" is a plastic facing or door that also has a micro-sim slot. That facing or door is over 50% the width of the device and about 1/8 its height.

What else could fit into that plastic besides a "micro-sim slot"? Hmmm.

"The mind boggles." - Homer Simpson
"Doh!" - Steve Jobs' kid
"I told you so." - Rocketman

Rocketman

 

[frjonah]

Point well taken but...

Uh, I've got a Dell Mini 9 with OS X on it, it's a very nice system but it'd be utterly useless with just a touch screen. As soon as you add a stylus or mouse to a tablet then you've utterly borked the reasons for buying one in the first place.

What about the Axiotron Modbook... I've considered going that route myself but held off. They seem pretty popular and the drawings people are doing on them are amazing.

iPad could have done this easily (and may yet, who knows), but part of the magic does require a stylus. Also, lots of other "tablet" type devices use styli (sorry, Latin coming out) ... true, they're abject failures, but I wouldn't blame it (entirely) on the stylus

Concerning features, I believe that the iPad, or at least the touch interface on a large display surface, will eventually evolve into more of a full-fledged, Apple branded computer. I mean, if you think about it, mice are really inelegant ways to control a computer... moving a device to move a cursor... finally, touch technology has caught up with the obvious way to interact with a computer. I still would love to see a Macbook-esque design with a laptop monitor that folds open... the iPad surface would be the virtual keyboard, which would also display content, and the whole thing could be used as a tablet with a screen swivel (not a Fuji design on that btw!).

Despite my having been negative concerning some of the things left out (USB ports, iSight, a name that doesn't make me want to cover my kids eyes and ears), I have to agree with those that point out that $499 for a high quality eBook reader that also does lots of other cool stuff is probably acceptable and, depending on what emerges, will likely be a game changer similar to iPod, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds (yeah, yeah... I know it's a tablet and therefore can't literally unfold )

PS... Maybe they'll come out with an iPad Light for those lighter days... you know, when you don't need to bring your Macbook and even the iPad basic is overkill

"Fly into your favorite book with iPad... iPad, it's got wings"

At least they didn't call it an ePad... then people would say, "Have you seen Mac's ePad?", which just doesn't sound right if you say it out loud.

 

[blybug]

So what's the point of this device except as a more expensive Kindle Reader + Giant iPod Touch device combo?

I think that's exactly the point.

 

[cmaier]

I think that's exactly the point.

iPad:MacBook = iWork:MS Office

In each case the first product does most of what the average person needs, and does much of that simpler and better. In each case the first product has limitations that prevent it from being an acceptable solution for everyone.

Or maybe not. Hard to tell without one in hand.

 

[MacDav]

I stopped reading here. You really don't have any clue what this device is supposed to be do you? Hint: Its NOT a laptop replacement, its a companion device.

Yes, you're right. It's not a laptop replacement... That's the problem. What it's supposed to be is not enough for me. It would
be a lot more successful if it was running a full OS X. I would buy one for sure. For now I will think about it, but it's doubtful I will want one. If it ran a full os x it would do all it does now and a thousand times more. If it ran a full os x then no one would buy another MacBook. That is why it only does a few things. It or something like it will eventually replace the macbook line. This is simple fact.

RealDave

 

[blackcrayon]

I think that's exactly the point.

So what's the point of the Apple 30" display? It's just a big version of their old Apple 15" display. I can't see how you could do anything different on one compared to the other

 

[Eidorian]

Yes, you're right. It's not a laptop replacement... That's the problem. What it's supposed to be is not enough for me. It would
be a lot more successful if it was running a full OS X. I would buy one for sure. For now I will think about it, but it's doubtful I will want one. If it ran a full os x it would do all it does now and a thousand times more. If it ran a full os x then no one would buy another MacBook. That is why it only does a few things. It or something like it will eventually replace the macbook line. This is simple fact.

RealDave

I'd be a bit more interested in the iPad if I could run XCode and the SDK on the iPad itself.

 

[cmaier]

I'd be a bit more interested in the iPad if I could run XCode and the SDK on the iPad itself.

What's the allure? the slow compiles? the cramped screen? the joy of shifting between three soft keyboards to get all the characters you need for a single line of code?

 

[Eidorian]

What's the allure? the slow compiles? the cramped screen? the joy of shifting between three soft keyboards to get all the characters you need for a single line of code?

A replacement to my MacBook. An external keyboard is fine too.

To be honest I use my Macbook for portability and it's ability to run Safari or iTunes. Throw in development as well.

Wait it'd have to be x86 then.

 

[cmaier]

A replacement to my MacBook. An external keyboard is fine too.

To be honest I use my Macbook for portability and it's ability to run Safari or iTunes. Throw in development as well.

Wait it'd have to be x86 then.

cross-compile

 

[blybug]

Yes, you're right. It's not a laptop replacement... That's the problem. What it's supposed to be is not enough for me. It would
be a lot more successful if it was running a full OS X. I would buy one for sure. For now I will think about it, but it's doubtful I will want one. If it ran a full os x it would do all it does now and a thousand times more. If it ran a full os x then no one would buy another MacBook. That is why it only does a few things. It or something like it will eventually replace the macbook line. This is simple fact.

RealDave

If being successful = selling more units, then why is it assumed that running a full OS X would result in such success? People still see Macs as "incompatible" and different from the still majority Windows OS. Yes, progressive people and lots of students are buying Macs...but even more Windows PC users have bought iPhones and iPod touches.

They won't be afraid of the iPad. They won't think it's incompatible with what they already have...it "works" with their PC and with their iPhone software investment. It is targeted at people who love their iPhone, are grudgingly satisfied with their PC and don't own a laptop. The other target group is the Mac faithful, but we are but a small sliver of a sliver the consumer market Apple wants to tap with this thing.

I wrote another post about how Jobs/Apple should have unapologetically intro'd the iPad as exactly what it is: a giant iPod touch. Trying to sell it as something new and magical has confused the man on the street and the geeks on this forum.

You're right though, as time goes on the iPad and the MacBook lines and OS will certainly merge, and ultimately this is how the Mac OS marketshare will finally grow.

 

[pubwvj]

iP!

Some interesting things I see, some sooner than others from all of this:

There will be a camera - of course, silly whiners.

There will be phone via VOIP. No plan, how grand!

There will be GPS.

There will be multitasking, eventually.

Flash is gone. Good. It is a waste of bandwidth, processing power and promoted bad graphic design. I browse the web with Flash turned off - a much better experience. I don't need all that attention grabbing flashy stuff zipping around my screen. Check out Pithhelmet and Glims if you use Safari. Regain control over your web browsing experience.

An iPad (or any iP) with a keyboard is a computer. So simple. Even mice could work.

The iPad/iPhone/iPodTouch (call it the iP) Apps will run on the MacOSX as shown by the SDK test mode on the Macintosh for development. It is just a small step to give this to users in iTunes.

It is only a small stretch to have the iPs run the MacOSX. The processing power is there. All Mac software then runs on the iPs.

Just for good measure Apple also runs all Windows and ClassicMac software on the iPs. This brings in all the Windows users and all that great old Classic software that was there for kids and education. Developers bring out emulators for all other computers. ENIAC lives again, faster and better. Hi Hal!

The MacOSX and the iPOS will merge to become one with the MacOSX being the complex operating system for power users and the iPOS being the simple operating system that is all you get on the small display iPhone and iPod. This was done before by Apple. The wheel rolls around again.

Multiple iPs can become the computers / workstations in a family, classroom or business all base stationed to one computer (Macintosh or Windows!).

Lay out multiple iP's together in a line or a matrix, they self recognize, configure and become a bigger display. Cool advertising and promotion stuff. Wow games!

You might have a small iP (Touch or Phone) for your pocket and a different one for home, classroom, work, etc. People will buy more iPs because they want to have one in their pocket when on the road (iPhone) and one at home for relaxing or using in school or at work with a bigger screen. Watch for the 50" iPad. People who would not otherwise have bought a computer at all will be buying iPs. This sells hardware which is good for Apple, good for software developers, good for content developers and benefits end users. Microsoft will fail - okay, so there are some losers out there. (Note to broker, "Sell MSFT‎.")

You may rarely want to buy another 'computer' instead just buying iPs. Many businesses, schools and home power users will buy a 'computer' to have as a central base station which all their iP's dock to. Airport Extreme, Time Capsule and the Mac will merge for this function. It's all there. The iCube is back. Like the iTV except it might be named the iCenter to make it more obvious that it is different. Lots of connectors both virtual on the wireless and physical for speakers, screen, docks, phone, etc. Smart Homes are here.

You are taking your 'Home' folder with you. And it also still exists at your physical home (apartment, house, business, etc) on your iCenter. Your iCenters can even be syncronized. Home made cloud computing and storage.

Since the iP can have a file area now you can take all of your 'Home' folder with you. Security will be an issue. Solvable.

Voice will become another form of navigation in addition to touch, mouse and keyboard. The tech is here already.

All iPods will become iPs. iPNanos can then be used with a bluetooth mic-headphone. Product lines from Nano to PowerMac are once again unified all running the same operating system and all applications/Apps.

Enter the Apple Cybrog implantable iP, due in 2012.
Always on. Always connected.
Order now!

 

[VideoShooter]

A quick observation/question...

Will the "File Sharing" feature allow programs like VLC Player app to play movies in a format other than the iTunes standard? If so, that would absolutely be a huge plus for the iPad. I would love the ability to play .avi files on the device without having to convert them like I do on the iPhone.

This is exactly what I want to know.

Without being able to use VLC player and download files... iPad loses a lot of value for me.