I was hoping for just the opposite - a nice curved back. iPhone 4 is far less ergonomic (IMHO) than the smooth palm-fitting curve of the 3G/3GS. I'm putting my chips on a return to curves for Apple's designs.
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Next-Generation iPad With Tapered Sides and iPod Touch-Like Form Factor?
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I was hoping for just the opposite - a nice curved back. iPhone 4 is far less ergonomic (IMHO) than the smooth palm-fitting curve of the 3G/3GS. I'm putting my chips on a return to curves for Apple's designs.
I'm only hoping the next iPad is incredibly awesome, I really have no extraordinary insight into anything Apple does.
But, if I had the opportunity to influence the next iPad I'd keep with the early Apple tradition of making products in areas that Apple pioneers in incredibly awesome. *Hint*Hint*
But, if I had the opportunity to influence the next iPad I'd keep with the early Apple tradition of making products in areas that Apple pioneers in incredibly awesome. *Hint*Hint*
Well I don't like cases, so I need the iPad to be ergonomically well designed. The current one has a few problems. The back is too smooth and slippery, and the shape of it doesn't allow the fingers to get any grip. If it had a flat back, the edges would be bigger and hence the device would be easier to grip even if made out of the same material. I like the square iPhone 4 shape (I came from iPhone 2G so I'm used to flat back anyway).
But I don't think the iPad will get a flat back until the overall depth of the device is small enough to impress. That is, the main purpose of the curved back is to make it seem thinner than it really is. Until the device can be made thin enough that it seems thinner or at least no fatter than the last model, it won't get a flat back. That's my prediction. It's significantly thinner overall or it retains a curved back.
iPads are selling well. The competition is SLOW to catch up, and with the iOS ecosystem behind it, the "just a bigger iPod touch" iPad is kicking goals left and right. Apple have no pressing need to overhaul it completely. Just a tweak here and there, add a couple of features and away we go.
The big feature explosion of iPod OS came in OS 3.0 when Palm Pre was breathing down it's neck. We need competition to ensure that Apple innovates. Right now the competition in the (non ereader) tablet market is pretty weak really. Until necessary, Apple will withhold any big guns and we will just get memory/storage bumps, a camera, and a freshened image.
Why in the world can't you use two hands to take a picture? Left side of the iPad in your left hand, right side in your right. Tap icon. Picture taken. That seems 100% workable to me. In fact, to take a GOOD picture, you should always use both hands to steady the camera.
There are a ton of app ideas utilizing a rear facing camera.
I don't get why people don't like the idea of cameras on an iPad. If they didn't do that, people would be complaining about it not having a camera. Some people (including me), would really enjoy having a camera on a device like the iPad.
My iPod touch takes pictures. Sure, they're not wonderful, but it works for what I want it to do.
My iPod touch takes pictures. Sure, they're not wonderful, but it works for what I want it to do.
People have be wanting "video phones" since the idea was first thought up. Skype use has skyrocketed since being introduced. Facetime is used all the time. I'm sure most people WILL use facetime or other video chat in their lives.
Parents and Grandparents are jumping all over Skype, even buying laptops for the first time, just for this feature. iPad should've had it in version one. It will definitely have it in version two.
Just smack in down hard on the desk two or three times and it will lie still for you to type on it. Then I suspect you'll be complaining about something else.
I find it odd that people see the iPad as too heavy or too awkward to use as a camera. I used to use a Crown Grafic camera that weighed several times the weight of an iPad and required both hands to operate. By the time you added four "D" cells to the flash unit and popped in a flash bulb the size of a 25 watt light bulb you could really hurt someone if you hit them with it. In addition, it required a large carrying case of film cases (2 pictures per case) and bulging big pockets for flash bulbs.
Attachments
I think the new speakers might actually wrap around the edge of the iPad. So the risk of covering them up entirely by your hand at once is reduced. I end up doing it all the time because the edge of the pad is so thin.
Just a thought.
Those two are actually what the second gen iPad will be all about lol. It's the most logical thing.
3g
Does anyone use the 3G all that much? I am wondering if there are others like me that found out very quickly I didn't need it. I was always in someones wifi bubble. I literally paid for two months and probably didn't use a single GB and haven't activated it since.
Does anyone use the 3G all that much? I am wondering if there are others like me that found out very quickly I didn't need it. I was always in someones wifi bubble. I literally paid for two months and probably didn't use a single GB and haven't activated it since.
It seems we can agree that a front facing camera makes sense for FaceTime etc.
However, I argued during iPad 1 hype that a rear facing camera would open up whole new usage scenarios for the iPad. Firstly there is the ever growing augmented reality segment. A bigger screen means better augmented reality.
But more importantly, I believe people are going to enjoy taking photos and videos on a device with such a large preview "window". Back in the day (well still now, if you use an D/SLR optical viewfinder) we put the camera up to our eye. The field of view was immense. Now, it seems everyone is happy with low res crappy LCDs covering perhaps 2 degrees of vision. Not only that, they put the LCD at 1/2 arms length (why?) which reduces their view further. That some pretty good shots result seems more luck and sheer technological grunt than skill.
Now, the iPad has the opportunity to give back that field of view, without the apparently oh-so-inconvenient hassle of putting the camera up to your eye. Don't get me wrong, you won't be using your iPad instead of a compact or other real camera. But you might use the iPad instead of the iPhone camera, particularly in social situations in which you already have your iPad out, showing photos etc.
Simply put, if the camera and processing are good enough, I think people will enjoy taking photos on the iPad, and it will be a selling point. It won't displace other more practical photo taking equipment, but it will help sales and will be another fun use for your iPad.
However, I argued during iPad 1 hype that a rear facing camera would open up whole new usage scenarios for the iPad. Firstly there is the ever growing augmented reality segment. A bigger screen means better augmented reality.
But more importantly, I believe people are going to enjoy taking photos and videos on a device with such a large preview "window". Back in the day (well still now, if you use an D/SLR optical viewfinder) we put the camera up to our eye. The field of view was immense. Now, it seems everyone is happy with low res crappy LCDs covering perhaps 2 degrees of vision. Not only that, they put the LCD at 1/2 arms length (why?) which reduces their view further. That some pretty good shots result seems more luck and sheer technological grunt than skill.
Now, the iPad has the opportunity to give back that field of view, without the apparently oh-so-inconvenient hassle of putting the camera up to your eye. Don't get me wrong, you won't be using your iPad instead of a compact or other real camera. But you might use the iPad instead of the iPhone camera, particularly in social situations in which you already have your iPad out, showing photos etc.
Simply put, if the camera and processing are good enough, I think people will enjoy taking photos on the iPad, and it will be a selling point. It won't displace other more practical photo taking equipment, but it will help sales and will be another fun use for your iPad.
I'm not sure the iPad could drive a 9" retina display. That resolution would require a lot to support it.
My minimum requirements for purchase are two cameras (front and back) and a minimum 1280x960 display for native HD support.
The next iPad looks like it will be quite fugly with a bog standard square shape and that nasty looking sieve speaker guard. I don't have a hard-on for a camera (unlike many others who woul kill their own children for one, let alone two cameras) so I'll probably skip the next gen.
My guess is that when the new iPad is announced, the theme of the presentation will be "Back to iPad"
Meaning apple will take things they learned from the MacBooks and iPhone, and build those elements into the iPad.
Slimmer profile and higher resolution screen - ala MacBook air
Dual core processors - like the Mac
More memory and dual cameras - like the iPhone
Apple will probably call it the iPad HD
Definitely going to buy the 2G iPad. I've waited a year; watched it grow. I sincerely hope the price goes down, too.
Those people who want hdmi out -that's what airplay is for.
Those pele who want a USB port to connect to a printer -thats what AirPrint is for.
I don't understand the obsession with adding ports! I can understand an sd card slot but its not even on their cheapest MacBook and since the cheapest iPad is half the price, I don't think it will find it's way on to the iPad.
I really like the new shape, I've never liked the hump and curved back of the current gen IPad
also increasing the resolution would make a problem for developers no?
Those pele who want a USB port to connect to a printer -thats what AirPrint is for.
I don't understand the obsession with adding ports! I can understand an sd card slot but its not even on their cheapest MacBook and since the cheapest iPad is half the price, I don't think it will find it's way on to the iPad.
I really like the new shape, I've never liked the hump and curved back of the current gen IPad
also increasing the resolution would make a problem for developers no?
What are your thoughts about, what seems at the moment, to be a lack of any holes for a Flash unit for the rear camera?
New design of Flash unit, or flash unit located on another part of the case?
Would Apple dare not fit a flash unit, hence making the iPad unable to take indoor photo's unless in a incredibly well lit room?
Might they not allow still photo's and make the rear camera for video only?
Personally I would think, either no flash unit, or no still photo's being allowed would be like shooting themselves in the foot and open them up to major criticism from press and rival device makers during 2011
What's your thoughts on this, as so far no case design seems to have any flash area?
New design of Flash unit, or flash unit located on another part of the case?
Would Apple dare not fit a flash unit, hence making the iPad unable to take indoor photo's unless in a incredibly well lit room?
Might they not allow still photo's and make the rear camera for video only?
Personally I would think, either no flash unit, or no still photo's being allowed would be like shooting themselves in the foot and open them up to major criticism from press and rival device makers during 2011
What's your thoughts on this, as so far no case design seems to have any flash area?
