What is the Ultimate Role of the Apple Tablet?

[hitekalex]

The iPad is going to get a lot of use in the government,hospitals and schools. They don't like cameras. So no camera.

I guess by your logic iPhones or MacBooks shouldn't have cameras either.. They sure get a lot of use in government, hospital and schools.

No multi-tasking. multi-tasking is way overblown. This is a device that is used for single app at a time. The only multi-tasking I would want to do on my iPhone or iPad is maybe listen to music while surfing or writing. Which you can do.

*sigh* here we go again.. Multitasking is not "overblown". It's been a part of computing experience since 1989. You can go back to the days of DOS and use one application at a time. I don't want to.

No USB ports! No Firewire port!! Actually no ports at all.. This will discourage but not completely stop hacking.

It won't discourage "hacking". And why do you think Apple has a right to dictate what you can do with the hardware which you own and paid for? This whole notion that I have to "hack" my own device is ridiculous.. And it's even more amazing that it's something that Apple koolaid drinkers justify and consider a positive.

 

[AidenShaw]

*sigh* here we go again.. Multitasking is not "overblown". It's been a part of computing experience since 1989. You can go back to the days of DOS and use one application at a time. I don't want to.

Multi-tasking actually dates from the 1960s. The first UNIX system (1969) had pre-emptive multi-tasking - and several earlier OSs also used it years before the first UNIX systems.

 

[Razeus]

Frankly, Apple half ass'd the product:

1) Should have had a couple USB ports
2) Should have a SD Card reader
3) Should have flash enabled (don't call it the ultimate web experience cuz it's not)
4) Should have double the flash memory at those price points so I can actually put a bunch of media on it and not have to cherry pick my content.
5) Multi-tasking. Shoot me if you want, but the OS should have this by now. Unacceptable.


This isn't like the iPhone where you can tack on "features" little by little to sell more phones (features that other phones been having for years). This should have been a full blown product. If Steve Jobs couldn't sense something was wrong when the audience was silent and ended with less than enthusiastic applause, then he's been out of touch for a while.

 

[LagunaSol]

1) Should have had a couple USB ports

Seriously?

2) Should have a SD Card reader

Probably.

3) Should have flash enabled (don't call it the ultimate web experience cuz it's not)

No thank you. Time for an end to the Flash-ruled Web.

4) Should have double the flash memory at those price points so I can actually put a bunch of media on it and not have to cherry pick my content.

Maybe, but "those price points" are actually remarkably low compared to expectations. HP will have a tough time pricing its Slate competitively (though expect a "subsidy" from Microsoft to save face).

5) Multi-tasking. Shoot me if you want, but the OS should have this by now. Unacceptable.

Absolutely. This better be in iPhone OS 4.0 (which is what the iPad will likely ship with).

This isn't like the iPhone where you can tack on "features" little by little to sell more phones (features that other phones been having for years).

I know, huh, and because all those "other phones" had all those "other features" for years, the iPhone was a great big stinky dud in the marketplace.

 

[hitekalex]

"Open" like...Microsoft?

You can't write a single post without getting on your little Microsoft soapbox, can you? Open like "I don't have to do everything through Apple-controlled and Apple-sanctioned methods.." that kind of open.

Odd, I (a user) install apps on my iPhone all the time.

Yes as long as they go through multi-week Apple approval process, and Apple deems them "acceptable" for you to install on the devices that you own.. Of course, if those apps include things like alternative browsers, 3rd-party media players or Google Voice apps - you are S.O.L.

 

[Peace]

You can't write a single post without getting on your little Microsoft soapbox, can you? Open like "I don't have to do everything through Apple-controlled and Apple-sanctioned methods.." that kind of open.



Yes as long as they go through multi-week Apple approval process, and Apple deems them "acceptable" for you to install on the devices that you own.. Of course, if those apps include things like alternative browsers, 3rd-party media players or Google Voice apps - you are S.O.L.

I notice you own an iPhone 3GS. If you hate it so much I'll buy it from you.

 

[hitekalex]

I notice you own an iPhone 3GS. If you hate it so much I'll buy it from you.

Nope. I love my 3GS. It's still the best phone on the market by a good margin. I have jailbroken it, and do whatever I want on it (including Multitasking, Theming and installing whatever apps I decide).

But that are certain things Apple does that I can't and won't support. And if Apple continues on their "ironfist control" path, and at some point in the future makes jail-breaking impossible or too much hassle.. I will be seriously considering my Android options.

 

[ChazUK]

I notice you own an iPhone 3GS. If you hate it so much I'll buy it from you.

Yeah! Sell it to Peace and get a Nexus One.

 

[LagunaSol]

You can't write a single post without getting on your little Microsoft soapbox, can you?

They are the "other guy" in the equation, no?

Open like "I don't have to do everything through Apple-controlled and Apple-sanctioned methods.." that kind of open.

Jailbreak.

Yes as long as they go through multi-week Apple approval process, and Apple deems them "acceptable" for you to install on the devices that you own.

Jailbreak.

Of course, if those apps include things like alternative browsers, 3rd-party media players or Google Voice apps - you are S.O.L.

Jailbreak.

I have jailbroken it, and do whatever I want on it (including Multitasking, Theming and installing whatever apps I decide).

So it seems you have already found the answer to your questions

But that are certain things Apple does that I can't and won't support. And if Apple continues on their "ironfist control" path, and at some point in the future makes jail-breaking impossible or too much hassle.. I will be seriously considering my Android options.

I'll wager the days of "anything goes" in Android Land are numbered. Corporate interest and corporate protection will eventually take precedent.

Besides, you don't really believe Google is funding Android for altruistic reasons, do you? I have loved Google, but Big Brother suddenly seems to loom large.

 

[hitekalex]

So it seems you have already found the answer to your questions

Of course I have.. for now. Apple is making jailbreaking more and more difficult with every iPhone OS release. At some point, I may just get tired of it altogether.

I'll wager the days of "anything goes" in Android Land are numbered. Corporate interest and corporate protection will eventually take precedent.

I don't think so. There is no evidence to believe that Android will stop being an open mobile OS. From a pure business perspective, Google's ultimate goal with Android is to get you on the Web and present you with more mobile ads. This is what makes Google their revenues. Google is not looking to completely control your experience and tie you into their ecosystem in the way that Apple does.

 

[str1f3]

I'm surprised Steve didn't use a toilet instead of a couch onstage yesterday.

 

[LagunaSol]

Google is not looking to completely control your experience and tie you into their ecosystem in the way that Apple does.

I think it's completely naive to believe that.

 

[hitekalex]

I think it's completely naive to believe that.

Maybe so, but I believe in things based on evidence.. rather than paranoia. So far, I haven't seen any evidence of Google's ulterior motives with regard to Android, or anything else they have done.

 

[hitekalex]

I'm surprised Steve didn't use a toilet instead of a couch onstage yesterday.

LOL.. yeah, that could have been a better demonstration of "what this thing is good for other than browsing the web on a can". I am still trying to figure it out

 

[LagunaSol]

Maybe so, but I believe in things based on evidence.. rather than paranoia. So far, I haven't seen any evidence of Google's ulterior motives with regard to Android, or anything else they have done.

As they say, "let history be your guide."

 

[Peace]

Maybe so, but I believe in things based on evidence.. rather than paranoia. So far, I haven't seen any evidence of Google's ulterior motives with regard to Android, or anything else they have done.

Isn't your view of Apple a form of "paranoia" ?

 

[ChazUK]

I think it's completely naive to believe that.

Evidence I've seen suggests the opposite. Take the Android market for example.

You can source applications from many places: Android Market or direct from the developer (with no third party cutting into your profits that way).
You can also source apps from AndAppStore, Slide Me, Curvefish and lastly, Archos AppsLib.

If google wanted total control of Android then none of the above would exist and I can't say that because Google might want total control should mean that someone should just give in and let Apple do the exact thing that Google might do.

EDIT: Thinking about it, Google would never win with some here.

With an open app ecosystem people scream: It's fragmented, it's confusing.
Closed app ecosystem people would say: Google are evil, Google wan't control.

 

[Peace]

Evidence I've seen suggests the opposite. Take the Android market for example.

You can source applications from many places: Android Market or direct from the developer (with no third party cutting into your profits that way).
You can also source apps from AndAppStore, Slide Me, Curvefish and lastly, Archos AppsLib.

If google wanted total control of Android then none of the above would exist and I can't say that because Google might want total control should mean that someone should just give in and let Apple do the exact thing that Google might do.

Because of that the Android smartphone is going to be the least secure out there.

 

[ChazUK]

Because of that the Android smartphone is going to be the least secure out there.

Well I can say I think I'm smart enough that I'll never fall into any traps. I've been using Windows for years and haven't fell foul to a single Virus (that I know of).

I really don't need Apple to babysit me.

 

[Antaios]

Frankly, Apple half ass'd the product:

1) Should have had a couple USB ports
2) Should have a SD Card reader
3) Should have flash enabled (don't call it the ultimate web experience cuz it's not)
4) Should have double the flash memory at those price points so I can actually put a bunch of media on it and not have to cherry pick my content.
5) Multi-tasking. Shoot me if you want, but the OS should have this by now. Unacceptable.


This isn't like the iPhone where you can tack on "features" little by little to sell more phones (features that other phones been having for years). This should have been a full blown product. If Steve Jobs couldn't sense something was wrong when the audience was silent and ended with less than enthusiastic applause, then he's been out of touch for a while.

This is not a a 'Mac Tablet', its not intended to be. Your five points already exist. GO GET A MACBOOK AIR cheap ass. The point of this device was to take the most successful tech device in the last 5 years and make it available to a bigger audience. People who refuse to be locked into a two year contract with at&t and who view the iPod Touch as an MP3 player with Touch screen games on it. Really, the technology, capablities and the apps of the iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad are incredible. Those devices have changed the way developers and web designers deliver their content to the end user....more importantly the consumer has responded incredibly to that new delivery system, better than they have to anything with flash, multitasking, and ports and SD slots... I work in retail at an att store, I'd say only 10 percent of people know what a SD card is, they are still trying to get data cables for their phones... the majority of the world likes easy and dumbed down, the majority of the world are not techheads like us....and that's who this is marketed for. The majority, not us techy people with MacBooks, iPhones, iMacs, Apple TV's and Time Capsules...lol...

And as far as the silence after Steve's speech, go on Youtube and watch the Keynote when he introduced the first iPod. Then you will be silent, hopefully.

 

[hitekalex]

Isn't your view of Apple a form of "paranoia" ?

What part of my view of Apple? That it restricts what types of apps you can install on your iPhone (and now iPad)? That it doesn't allow developers to get their apps out without going through their App Store? That it makes you hack their devices to enable basic features like multitasking?

Those things are facts, not paranoia.

 

[hitekalex]

Because of that the Android smartphone is going to be the least secure out there.

This whole "Apple makes your iPhone secure" argument is a bunch of hogwash. It's just an excuse Apple uses to justify their total control of the platform. There are other better ways to ensure security of computer devices, without making a single company a sole gatekeeper.

What would you say if Microsoft made itself a sole "approver" of any app before it can be installed on a Windows PC? Taking 30% of developers profits for that privilege?

 

[ChazUK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1; en-gb; Nexus One Build/ERD79) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

Isn't your view of Apple a form of "paranoia" ?

What part of my view of Apple? That it restricts what types of apps you can install on your iPhone (and now iPad)? That it doesn't allow developers to get their apps out without going through their App Store? That it makes you hack their devices to enable basic features like multitasking?

Those things are facts, not paranoia.

Fear what Google "might" do. Embrace what Apple "do" do.

(Do do sounds silly)

 

[swagi]

There's a big purpose. To sell content to people through the Apple store.

They only 'might' do that now. They could have cleaned up but I don't think this is the device to do that with.

You definitely hit the nail here. So QFT

But OTOH I'm quite eager to see two things:

a) How the iPad price will lower in two months due to phone carrier subscription models. Just because the US is stuck with AT&T, it doesn't mean we Europeans are.

b) How the Jailbreak community will take this device to the next level, like they did with the iPhone.

But basically this iPad is there for producing iTMS sales. That's it.

 

[Eidorian]

You definitely hit the nail here. So QFT

But OTOH I'm quite eager to see two things:

a) How the iPad price will lower in two months due to phone carrier subscription models. Just because the US is stuck with AT&T, it doesn't mean we Europeans are.

b) How the Jailbreak community will take this device to the next level, like they did with the iPhone.

But basically this iPad is there for producing iTMS sales. That's it.

After sleeping on it, it's a content device right now and Apple is taking a beating for it. I suspect they're using content profits to shore up lower hardware margins as well. They're taking the negative mindshare into account over the long term.

Sadly, I'm still more interested in iPhone OS 4.0 more than the iPad. I already use my MacBook for browsing in bed or on the couch.