Omnigroup Commits to Bring Five Productivity Apps to iPad

[gwangung]

Arn, I think the question that will play the biggest factor in all efforts from all developers is: How fully featured (compared to full class desktop versions) can we realistically make these apps within the scope of the OS 3.2 SDK?

I betcha fairly close...at least to the limits of the hardware.

I mean, we're not going to see full fledged Photoshop...but we will see sketching apps. We won't see full powered desktop publishing programs...but we will see some basic word processing and basic image layout apps. If a particular company won't do it, you'll see some other company rush in to fill the gap.

Some stuff we've always thought needed a full fledged computer is going to get off loaded onto the iPad...(And really...the stuff from the Omni group doesn't need a full fledged Mac Pro to run)

 

[arn]

Yes , without a doubt that is huge plus. Talking about directories, my understanding is that the App will be able to store documents within it's own directory. so the user won't have to deal with your typical directory found in OS X or Windows.

Now if Apple will allow an email attachment from the mail program to be saved to an apps directory? (ie, save to or open with option from mail: choose an app: list of apps) .

well then I can kiss my laptop good bye!

Apps are said to be able to declare file types they handle, so they should be able to launch files from mail.

arn

 

[Eric S.]

Remember how Macintosh was intended to be the computer "for the rest of us"? That's what we feel Apple’s iPad is: the best computing device for most of the things people use computers for.

I guess it's official then: I am no longer part of "the rest of us."

 

[admanimal]

Arn, I think the question that will play the biggest factor in all efforts from all developers is: How fully featured (compared to full class desktop versions) can we realistically make these apps within the scope of the OS 3.2 SDK?

I also hope that developers don't just stick iPhone-level utility/gimmicky software on the iPad, but I also don't want to see them try to shoehorn every single feature from the desktop version of the software into the iPad version, either, because I think that misses the point of the device. Just the essential features that can fit in the context of the device. It looks like Apple has set a pretty good example of this with iWork.

 

[boss1]

Apps are said to be able to declare file types they handle, so they should be able to launch files from mail.

arn

well your just full of good news today

btw if anyone here is interested, I'm buying 2 of them ... the wifi only version because i want one asap . I'm also buying a 3G version so when I get the 3G version i will have a 30 day old wifi version for sale at a very steep discount. PM me if interested.

 

[DonSqueak]

And so it begins...

Or to quote my favourite Cylon: “It has begun...”

 

[MacDawg]

This is obviously good news
And only the beginning of much better things

It may very well change the way many of us use a computer

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[akm3]

OSX is already the secondary OS...

I agree. I think Apple believes that OS X is a dead end and are planning their own successor, going back to why they made the Mac in the first place. A computer for the rest of us.

However, I am damn excited for the possibilities of the iPad and thus the iPhone platform. We are witnessing a revolution.

 

[someone28624]

One of the problems I have with calling the iPad a "computer" and one that stares me in the face when I see programs like this and iWork- is there anyway to print from the iPad? What about just e-mail files created as an attachment? How are files saved and accessed without any sort of file directory or "Finder" system?

 

[jlasoon]

This is obviously good news
And only the beginning of much better things

It may very well change the way many of us use a computer

Everything changed for me as soon as I saw the MLB app. I'm ditching my MacBook for the iPad. 12 games a night at your finger tips with most being in HD.

 

[obeygiant]

Remember how Macintosh was intended to be the computer "for the rest of us"? That's what we feel Apple’s iPad is: the best computing device for most of the things people use computers for. (Or, as Apple puts it, "the best way to experience the web, email, and photos.") It’s the computer people can sit down and start using immediately, without training, whether they're 2 or 92.

I agree with this sentiment, although things that people use computers for are also video conferencing and multitasking and flash-rich web browsing.

 

[iDisk]

iPad SDK FACTS

• [*] Initial support for the newly released iPad
  
  [*] Initial support for landscape springboards
  
  [*] Includes new frameworks for recognising custom gestures, custom keyboards etc.
  
  [*] Allows display output to an externally connected display for compatible 3rd party apps
  
  [*] Allows user to change home screen background
  

 

[geofly]

Multitasking

QUOTING ".....How HORRID would it be if I were able to Listen to Pandora, while creating a Word Document ????"

This seems to be people's main concern with multitasking: streaming music while doing something else. You CAN play the iPod while doing other things on your iPhone, you can even stream through the iTunes Store on iPhone while doing other things....

I imagine Apple is working on their own online "streaming Genius" service like Pandora which may be a part of the reason why they aren't in a hurry to let unoptimized 3rd party CHAT and Music apps run in the background and drain CPU and power.

 

[MacDawg]

One of the problems I have with calling the iPad a "computer" and one that stares me in the face when I see programs like this and iWork- is there anyway to print from the iPad? What about just e-mail files created as an attachment? How are files saved and accessed without any sort of file directory or "Finder" system?

I would say we don't really know yet, not until we can actually use it
Many of the criticisms may be removed once the product is actually used

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[Casiotone]

Looking at my laptop screen right now, there are very few operations that would be more complicated using fingers than a keyboard. Most would be far simpler. A few would need some clarifications. Just a few.

I switched resolution to 1024x768 on my 24" screen, and apps seem to be perfectly usable using fingers. Buttons and menus are the right size. But on a 9.7" screen, everything would be 4x smaller, up to the point where targets would become too small for fingers.

By making every UI widgets bigger developers would end up running out of screen space, and would have to re-think the interface, just as they will have to when porting apps to the iPad OS.

You can get around pressing very small targets on the iPhone OS, because the system is intelligent enough to tell what button you were aiming for, even though the center of your finger was outside of the target area. Mac OS X apps take the x,y cursor coordinates and interpret them internally, except for standard aqua buttons, the OS can't know the size and position of the available clickable targets as apps are not required to return this information to the OS. That means that this intelligent target detection could not work with Mac OS X apps unless their interface is completely re-written.

You can blame Apple for putting a small screen on the iPad, but Mac OS X apps would need to be redone even if the iPad run the "full Mac OS X".

 

[CFreymarc]

There's going to be a rush of either full fledge 3 third party apps or hybird Apps for this device. Very good news.
Expect for Apple to have 3 different SDK's soon ... iPhone....iPad.....Mac OS X ..... Sadly Apple cares about these OS's in the order I mentioned them oh well

I'm right now stating that the launch of the iPad was the day that the traditional desktop computing market started to die.

In less then five years, we are going to see all solid state laptops and desktops with only secure and digitally signed apps. Hand motions, facial expressions and speech will input to it as easily as a keyboard and mouse.

Apple's ivory tower sees it in IL One and the Bomb shelter. Everyone else is just starting to wake up to it.

 

[slb]

Pff. Call me when it runs OSX and it no longer matters what companies want to spend their sweet time developing for yet another platform. Until then, I'll be on my laptop.

Someday, touchscreen devices like this will be what people consider a "laptop."

 

[DonSqueak]

I would say we don't really know yet, not until we can actually use it
Many of the criticisms may be removed once the product is actually used

Woof, Woof - Dawg

I agree that printing is the one last issue to be addressed. But seeing as the desktop/iPad setup is my vision of the future, I’d say the printer’s in the basement anyways. Also: What about cloud-based printstations? For people on the go, like the fax machines in Japanese convenience stores. Average person does not print that much after all.

 

[DonSqueak]

How come you deleted/edited your post saying that you looked at your laptop screen and that OS X apps would only need a few modifications to make them usable on a 9.7" screen?

Anyway I switched resolution to 1024x768 on my 24" screen, and apps seem to be perfectly usable using fingers. Buttons and menus are the right size. But on a 9.7" screen, everything would be 4x smaller, up to the point where targets would become too small for fingers.

By making every UI widgets bigger developers would end up running out of screen space, and would have to re-think the interface, just as they will have to when porting apps to the iPad OS.

You can get around pressing very small targets on the iPhone OS, because the system is intelligent enough to tell what button you were aiming for, even though the center of your finger was outside of the target area. Mac OS X apps take the x,y cursor coordinates and interpret them internally, except for standard aqua buttons, the OS can't know the size and position of the available clickable targets as apps are not required to return this information to the OS. That means that this intelligent target detection could not work with Mac OS X apps unless their interface is completely re-written.

You can blame Apple for putting a small screen on the iPad, but Mac OS X apps would need to be redone even if the iPad run the "full Mac OS X".

You should check out RemoteTap. It has some very clever hold-to-zoom features for small click-targets. I could see myself using iPad for most everything and accessing my iMac with RemoteTap for when I need it to crunch some numbers.

 

[Aranince]

OmniOutliner?! I've even more sold than I was before!

 

[Mr. Gates]

I narrowed it down..... You Two are the Ones who rated this Negative!? ... just had to follow the trail

Quote:
Originally Posted by PlayRadioPlay View Post
Pff. Call me when it runs OSX and it no longer matters what companies want to spend their sweet time developing for yet another platform. Until then, I'll be on my laptop.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Gates View Post
Agreed.

" oh , it does the simple things you can already do ......BUT WITH YOUR FINGERS IN THE WAY OF THE SCREEN !!!! "

Geee !! There aint nothing gimmicky About this at All !!!!

...and I would hate it if I were able to do two things at once,...Like "MULTI-TASKING" .....How HORRID would it be if I were able to Listen to Pandora, while creating a Word Document ??????

Well ,...Its just not possible at this time ,. Apple just can not figure out how to do more than one thing at a time { in Soooooo MAny Ways}
I narrowed it down..... You Two are the Ones who rated this Negative!? ... just had to follow the trail

 

[Rocketman]

One of the problems I have with calling the iPad a "computer" and one that stares me in the face when I see programs like this and iWork- is there anyway to print from the iPad? What about just e-mail files created as an attachment? How are files saved and accessed without any sort of file directory or "Finder" system?

I wonder if they will port file manipulation utility 1dir.exe (DOS 2.2 compatible, 1983) to the iPad.

 

[Analog Kid]

Amazing how one announcement totally changes my view of the iPad. Omni has done a great job with OS X apps-- they're creative, thorough and customer focused. If they're taking an interest in this platform, maybe there's more to it than I conceded.

Maybe.

 

[DARKJ3DI]

I agree. I think Apple believes that OS X is a dead end and are planning their own successor, going back to why they made the Mac in the first place. A computer for the rest of us.

However, I am damn excited for the possibilities of the iPad and thus the iPhone platform. We are witnessing a revolution.

I think so too. The Macintosh 128k was a simple machine; no bells and whistles. It gained better hardware and software as it started to mature into the Macs we have now. I see that Apple will do this with their touch-based platform they are setting up.

I'm just wary that history will repeat itself...

 

[fkntotalkaos]

Enjoy that laptop (I am using one now) while you can cause they are going to stop making them in 5-10 years. "Touch" the future.

he still has betamax, don't make fun of him