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TheBucsFan
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#1 Posted on 27.1.10 1349.12
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1349.19
And the future, well, it looks kinda like the past, but about five times bigger.


    After months of rampant speculation, Apple Wednesday announced a touchscreen tablet computer, the "iPad" for consumers who want to take their movies, TV shows, music, games and reading with them, be it around the house or on the go. Pricing starts at $499, and it should be available in 60 to 90 days.

    "We want to kick off 2010 with a truly revolutionary and magical product," CEO Steve Jobs told a packed audience at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on Wednesday.

    The wireless device can be used with Wi-Fi, as well as run on AT&T's 3G, or third-generation, wireless network. AT&T has been the exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the United States since its release in 2007, and some were hoping that Apple's new tablet would also work with other carriers' networks, including Verizon Wireless.
    Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here

    The iPad will cost $499 for a 16-gigabyte model, $599 for a 32 GB version and $699 for a 64-gigabyte model with Wi-Fi only, and will be available in 60 days. It will cost an additional $130 for units that also can use 3G, which should be out in 90 days, making the most expensive model $829. Jobs said AT&T will charge $29.99 a month for "unlimited use" and $14.99 a month for up to 250 megabytes. There will be no contract with AT&T required for the plans, he said.

    "So far it really looks like an oversized iPod Touch," said Avi Greengart, Current Analysis analyst, blogging from the event itself for Reuters news service.

    The iPad weighs about 1.5 pounds, is 0.5 inch thin, has a 9.7-inch display and should have a battery life of 10 hours, Jobs said. It uses what he called Apple's own 1GHz A4 chip, and flash memory, ranging from 16 to 64 gigabytes. The tablet has YouTube in high-definition built in to the iPad and Apple's online iTunes Store, which will add an "iBooks" for purchase.


I've gotta say, I do not see the appeal at all. It's got a 10-inch display — who wants to carry that around? And it seems like it would make it much easier to damage as well.

I know this makes me sound like an old man, but can people really not go x-hours without watching whatever TV show they're so desperate to watch? I just have a hard time envisioning a scenario in which a phone, iPod or laptop wouldn't suffice — and be easier to lug around.

Maybe I'm overlooking something? Any fans here see a scenario in which this thing will be helpful?
Promote this thread!
thecubsfan
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#2 Posted on 27.1.10 1404.25
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1404.47
The thrust of the 90 minute presentation - about 30 minutes too long - was trying to convince everyone of just that, that there was a spot for a device between a phone and a laptop, and I'm not too convinced either. Couldn't but help to notice that you can get pretty good laptops at $500, just without the touch sensitivity (and probably with a smaller screen.)

The other big comparison is to the Kindle and other eReaders. The KindleDX is about the same price as the low end version of the iPad, and you could certainly do a lot more than with Apple's device. On the other hand, the eReaders standard is for free 3G, and you're stuck with a monthly fee here. It's a cheaper then most plans, but you're also stuck with AT&T (or maybe TMobile) in the US. And if you need to get real work done on the road, you're going to still need to get a separate connection for your laptop.

I wouldn't turn an iPad down if given to me as a gift, but I wouldn't buy it at this price. It's not that much more useful than the iPod Touch I already have. There wasn't a big leap forward here, just the same product in a new size.

(edited by thecubsfan on 27.1.10 1406)
Matt Tracker
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#3 Posted on 27.1.10 1407.58
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1408.41
This looks like the bridge between the iPhone and the real true gamechanger in personal computing.
wmatistic
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#4 Posted on 27.1.10 1418.30
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1418.30
Yeah, just a big Ipod Touch really. When I need to type, why would I want to type on this instead of a laptop keyboard? Plus you can't install your own software it looks like, just the App Store stuff. If it's not going to be any more portable than a laptop, I'll just take a laptop.

As for comparison to the Kindle, it's not worth it for someone like me who reads a lot. The Kindle screen is made to be easy on the eyes. This thing would wear me out in a hurry.

Neat looking, not worth it.
Lise
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#5 Posted on 27.1.10 1442.03
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1442.18
I want to know what comics, magazines, newspapers and ebooks I can get on this. What sort of DRM they want to use? What unique options will I have other than color. What will the price point for content be? I want to see real usage battery life tests. I want to know how fragile it is.

I'm not usually an early adopter, but I'm interested in getting a second or third generation one, but it has to do the things I want to do better than other products.

If I can get a skin or cover for it, that will allow me to toss it in a purse sized bag, if it doesn't require constant charging, if it supports all of the ereader file formats, and there's targeted content I want to use... I'll probably get one.
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#6 Posted on 27.1.10 1456.29
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1456.34
    Originally posted by TheBucsFan
    Maybe I'm overlooking something? Any fans here see a scenario in which this thing will be helpful?


Padding Steve Jobs's bank account?
TheBucsFan
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#7 Posted on 27.1.10 1512.53
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1513.00
    Originally posted by Lise
    I want to know what comics, magazines, newspapers and ebooks I can get on this. What sort of DRM they want to use? What unique options will I have other than color. What will the price point for content be? I want to see real usage battery life tests. I want to know how fragile it is.

    I'm not usually an early adopter, but I'm interested in getting a second or third generation one, but it has to do the things I want to do better than other products.

    If I can get a skin or cover for it, that will allow me to toss it in a purse sized bag, if it doesn't require constant charging, if it supports all of the ereader file formats, and there's targeted content I want to use... I'll probably get one.


Disclaimer: I've never owned any e-reader. My experience with them is limited to borrowing a friend's kindle for a week on two separate occasions.

I guess having color and pictures is a major thing the iPad has in its favor - I hadn't thought of comic books. But for me it's not worth carrying around the bigger of the two devices. If the Kindle added color and images, would it change your mind?

It looks like the Kindle screen will be MUCH easier to read — largely because of the lack of full color, in my opinion — and it is WAY cheaper - both for the device itself and to purchase books on it. Yes, the iPad can do more than books, but again, I don't know why many people would need a device that can do more than that.

I guess what I can't understand is this: This thing can play HD movies and TV shows; under what circumstances would someone want to bust out this thing to watch an HD movie or TV show? And frequently enough to justify the cost? The Kindle gets wireless and Internet access too, so that seems like a push.

Also, even at the optimal battery life — Apple announced 10 hours — it still pales in comparison to the Kindle, which can go more than a week.

It's early, and I think I was skeptical about the iPhone too and that took off, but I really think Apple missed with this one. There was a lot of hype, and people were talking about this forever, but I just don't see enough day-to-day usage for most people to justify spending $600 just on the hardware.

(edited by TheBucsFan on 27.1.10 1627)
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#8 Posted on 27.1.10 1544.56
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1547.25
If you tell a Bostonian that Apple is coming out with a gadget called the "iPad", he will laugh at you and tell you it's been around for years.
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#9 Posted on 27.1.10 1546.59
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1547.25
http://i.gizmodo.com/5458382/8-things-that-suck-about-the-ipad

I think it might be a step in the right direction, but it's not the Jesus of devices just yet.
TheBucsFan
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#10 Posted on 27.1.10 1557.02
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1557.18


That link doesn't work. Here is a good one.

Holy crap, I had no idea it doesn't have flash. Really?

And you need separate adapters just to plug in a USB cable?

The more I read about this, the less I understand what market Apple is shooting for here.
DJ FrostyFreeze
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#11 Posted on 27.1.10 1600.44
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1601.02

    AT&T has been the exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the United States since its release in 2007, and some were hoping that Apple's new tablet would also work with other carriers' networks, including Verizon Wireless.

    [...]

    There will be no contract with AT&T required for the plans, [Jobs] said.
I thought it interesting that you dont need a contract with AT&T to sign up for their 3G service. Does that leave the door open for the iPad accepting another carrier's service later on?

Also, was I the only one secretly hoping today's announcement would include Apple making an iPhone for Verizon???
thecubsfan
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#12 Posted on 27.1.10 1632.15
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1632.20
The Verizon deal had been bouncing around as rumor for a while.

Edit: Never mind, I just read the link a few posts up.

As I understand it, the AT&T 3G technology is the same as T-Mobile, so you could use their card instead. It's a different technology than Verizon and others.


    Doesn't Support T-Mobile 3G

    Sure, it's "unlocked." But it won't work on T-Mobile, and it uses microSIMs that literally no one else uses.


Jobs did mention the reader would use the ePub file format, which is looking like the standard for eReaders. The word DRM never came up, so who knows for sure. They probably would've just said "DRM free" if it was DRM free.

The more I'm thinking about it, this is actually sort of another AppleTV. It's going to be an innovate but niche product adopted by few, and hopefully it leads the way to other companies make more feature rich tablets.

(edited by thecubsfan on 27.1.10 1633)

(edited by thecubsfan on 27.1.10 1634)
Leroy
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#13 Posted on 27.1.10 1636.41
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1636.52
    Originally posted by TheBucsFan
    That link doesn't work. Here is a good one.

    Holy crap, I had no idea it doesn't have flash. Really?

    And you need separate adapters just to plug in a USB cable?

    The more I read about this, the less I understand what market Apple is shooting for here.


That Flash issue is a long standing battle between Apple and Adobe (there's no flash on the iPhone or iPod Touch, either). Every few weeks, I read some rumor that Flash is on it's way to the iPhone, and then nothing happens.

One rumor I've heard/read is that Apple considers Flash a development platform, and Apple is, shall we say, "a bit tight" with allowing other development platforms to have access to their hardware. I've also heard that, when Apple switched from the G5 to the Intel chip, Apple pounded on their developers pretty hard and that Adobe was none to pleased with the demands Apple made during the transition. But both of these "reasons" are probably juicier than is the actual truth...

    Originally posted by SchippeWreck
    I think it might be a step in the right direction, but it's not the Jesus of devices just yet.


That's my take on all of this as well. Apple is doing some AMAZING things with hardware right now. The Air is an incredibly impressive device on which no one really wants to spend the money (although, now that the price has dropped considerably and the SSD drive is bigger, I'd definitely consider getting one).

Frankly, I was hoping the iPad would be more of a laptop and less of an iPhone - and that it would incorporate a lot more of what the Air had without the downsides of an iPhone. This iPad, however, isn't something I'm all that interested in getting.
Lise
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#14 Posted on 27.1.10 1649.54
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1650.50
    Originally posted by TheBucsFan

    I guess having color and pictures is a major thing the iPad has in its favor - I hadn't thought of comic books. But for me it's not worth carrying around the bigger of the two devices. If the Kindle added color and images, would it change your mind?

    It looks like the Kindle screen will be MUCH easier to read — largely because of the lack of full color, in my opinion — and it is WAY cheaper - both for the device itself and to purchase books on it. Yes, the iPad can do more than books, but again, I don't know why many people would need a device that can do more than that.



I like the Kindle. I REALLY like the size of the Kindle and the eink technology. I don't like the access to personal machines that Amazon gives themselves (even though they promise not to use it, and there are ways to back up your files). I don't like some of the interface on it.

I'd like the option of color mostly because I want whatever ereader I end up with to be able to do comics and magazines in addition to books. I'd love to replace a bunch of paperbacks with digital copies, and switch the majority of my magazine subscriptions to digital. I want to be able to clip items out of magazines and save them, even if I delete the original source. I want to be able to expand the storage of any device with SD cards or some other cheap removable media.

The Kindle isn't there yet, and neither is the iPad, but we're moving in the right direction.
TheBucsFan
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#15 Posted on 27.1.10 1808.51
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1811.01
    Originally posted by Leroy
    That Flash issue is a long standing battle between Apple and Adobe (there's no flash on the iPhone or iPod Touch, either). Every few weeks, I read some rumor that Flash is on it's way to the iPhone, and then nothing happens.

    One rumor I've heard/read is that Apple considers Flash a development platform, and Apple is, shall we say, "a bit tight" with allowing other development platforms to have access to their hardware. I've also heard that, when Apple switched from the G5 to the Intel chip, Apple pounded on their developers pretty hard and that Adobe was none to pleased with the demands Apple made during the transition. But both of these "reasons" are probably juicier than is the actual truth...


Yeah, but I think the expectations should be a bit different for the tablet than they should for the iPhone. As the link states, no Flash seems fine on a 2-inch device you keep in your pocket, but on 10-inch thing that's as much of hassle to move around as a laptop is?

Here is another perspective on Apple's views on outside software:

The iPad appears to be Steve Jobs’s attempt to roll back the multi-decade trend toward more open computing platforms. Jobs’s vision of the future is one that revolves around a series of proprietary “stores”—for music, movies, books, and so forth—controlled by Apple. And rather than running the applications of our choice, he wants to limit users to running Apple-approved software from the Apple “app store.”

I’ve written before about the problems created by the iPhone’s top-down “app store.” The store is an unnecessary bottleneck in the app development process that limits the functionality of iPhone applications and discourages developers from adopting the platform. Apple has apparently chosen to extend this policy—as opposed to the more open Mac OS X policy—to the iPad.
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#16 Posted on 27.1.10 1821.47
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1822.04
I'm kind of interested in seeing this thing in action.

If I could drop this in my bag for overnights instead of hauling my laptop bag and cables around when all I need is basic internet browsing and a few already existing apps...especially when flying...this just might work.
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#17 Posted on 27.1.10 1854.11
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1854.42
This sums up the iPad nicely:


Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard
Leroy
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#18 Posted on 27.1.10 1910.16
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1911.29
    Originally posted by TheBucsFan
    As the link states, no Flash seems fine on a 2-inch device you keep in your pocket, but on 10-inch thing that's as much of hassle to move around as a laptop is?


The big thing is Hulu - but they are rumored to be working on a stand-alone app anyway (which probably won't be released until their subscription service rolls out). I don't know - if the iPad were more like a laptop without flash, I'd be pissed, but since it's like an iPhone/Kindle... ehhh...

    Originally posted by TheBucsFan

    Here is another perspective on Apple's views on outside software:

    The iPad appears to be Steve Jobs’s attempt to roll back the multi-decade trend toward more open computing platforms. Jobs’s vision of the future is one that revolves around a series of proprietary “stores”—for music, movies, books, and so forth—controlled by Apple. And rather than running the applications of our choice, he wants to limit users to running Apple-approved software from the Apple “app store.”

    I’ve written before about the problems created by the iPhone’s top-down “app store.” The store is an unnecessary bottleneck in the app development process that limits the functionality of iPhone applications and discourages developers from adopting the platform. Apple has apparently chosen to extend this policy—as opposed to the more open Mac OS X policy—to the iPad.


Well, this kind of flies in the face of Apple's anti-DRM stance. Granted, that stance coming from Apple was a bit half-hearted and mostly pressured by their customer base - but it's not like they weren't doing good business before DRM left. But I don't think Apple ever pretended to be the benevolent, non-proprietary corporation - so criticizing them on those grounds seems silly to me.

There are currently over 140,000 applications available in Apple's App Store (three times the number available just six months ago) - I think there are more than enough of developers making applications. Even *I* have an app that's nearing beta - if I can write an application, then, trust me, pretty much anyone can write an application. (FYI - it's an audio player for the radio station at which I work, and it will be free - no delusions of grandeur here. At least, not yet.)

This is the thing that gets me about these arguments - there are plenty of open platforms. Take Android - from everything I've heard from folks developing apps for Android, the store is a mess, and they're making a fraction of what they make porting their iPhone applications to the Android platform. Sure, iPhone, as a phone, has more of the market, but, that aside, app sales should reflect phone sales. From what I understand, that's just not happening.

(edited by Leroy on 27.1.10 1712)
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#19 Posted on 27.1.10 1923.18
Reposted on: 27.1.17 1923.57
This is the next step to killing the old fashion book. It looks like a cross between the Nook and the Iphone. We're all plugged in, the Borg would be proud.

TheBucsFan
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#20 Posted on 27.1.10 2008.51
Reposted on: 27.1.17 2009.15
    Originally posted by Leroy
      Originally posted by TheBucsFan
      As the link states, no Flash seems fine on a 2-inch device you keep in your pocket, but on 10-inch thing that's as much of hassle to move around as a laptop is?


    The big thing is Hulu - but they are rumored to be working on a stand-alone app anyway (which probably won't be released until their subscription service rolls out). I don't know - if the iPad were more like a laptop without flash, I'd be pissed, but since it's like an iPhone/Kindle... ehhh...

      Originally posted by TheBucsFan

      Here is another perspective on Apple's views on outside software:

      The iPad appears to be Steve Jobs’s attempt to roll back the multi-decade trend toward more open computing platforms. Jobs’s vision of the future is one that revolves around a series of proprietary “stores”—for music, movies, books, and so forth—controlled by Apple. And rather than running the applications of our choice, he wants to limit users to running Apple-approved software from the Apple “app store.”

      I’ve written before about the problems created by the iPhone’s top-down “app store.” The store is an unnecessary bottleneck in the app development process that limits the functionality of iPhone applications and discourages developers from adopting the platform. Apple has apparently chosen to extend this policy—as opposed to the more open Mac OS X policy—to the iPad.


    Well, this kind of flies in the face of Apple's anti-DRM stance. Granted, that stance coming from Apple was a bit half-hearted and mostly pressured by their customer base - but it's not like they weren't doing good business before DRM left. But I don't think Apple ever pretended to be the benevolent, non-proprietary corporation - so criticizing them on those grounds seems silly to me.

    There are currently over 140,000 applications available in Apple's App Store (three times the number available just six months ago) - I think there are more than enough of developers making applications. Even *I* have an app that's nearing beta - if I can write an application, then, trust me, pretty much anyone can write an application. (FYI - it's an audio player for the radio station at which I work, and it will be free - no delusions of grandeur here. At least, not yet.)

    This is the thing that gets me about these arguments - there are plenty of open platforms. Take Android - from everything I've heard from folks developing apps for Android, the store is a mess, and they're making a fraction of what they make porting their iPhone applications to the Android platform. Sure, iPhone, as a phone, has more of the market, but, that aside, app sales should reflect phone sales. From what I understand, that's just not happening.

    (edited by Leroy on 27.1.10 1712)


But the issue is customization.

I'm not trying to convince anyone not to like the thing, and this is certainly way down on the list of problems with the device, but still, the issue is individual users' ability to do whatever they want. The adaptability of open source software without having to go through Apple. Apple approving 140,000 apps only creates the illusion of not having to go through Apple.

Really, this is the sort of thing that won't matter to most users. But I first realized the problem last summer, when the Electronic Frontiers Foundation put together an app for viewing its RSS feed on the iPhone, and Apple rejected it because the RSS feed linked to a YouTube video that used the word fuck once. Seriously. (For the record, in case you decide not to click on the link, the YouTube app produced by Apple and available on every iPhone as purchased will link to the same video, so clearly it wasn't the "objectionable content.")

Maybe it was only a coincidence that this came just two months after the EFF sued Apple. The point is, we shouldn't have to go through Apple at all. I know, don't use it if you don't yadda yadda, like I said, it's not my top problem with the iPad. It's just a problem I have with Apple in general that doesn't really stop me from using Apple products.

(edited by TheBucsFan on 27.1.10 2112)
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