Wednesday, January 27, 2010
ICARE? OK--The Apple iPad--revolutionary new computing device? The next Apple Newton (or, god forbid, Microsoft Bob)? Overly easily breakable toy? Kindle without a real keyboard? An oversized iPhone? (As yet an unanswered question--do I get a discount by adding an iPad on to my iPhone contract or an ability to use my iPhone tethered with an iPad?) Discuss.
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Apple has historically been extremely hostile to tethering. It's possible they will soften here, but I wouldn't count on it.
ReplyDeleteI heard a rep for a publishing industry group today lauding the iPad. His complaint about the Kindle is that Amazon has forced a low price point for e-books. Now, with competition between Apple and Amazon, publishers will be able to increase prices (perhaps by adding costly new content to their e-books). I don't think that's how competition usually works.
Matt -- I'm surprised you're not all over the IPAD trademark issue.
Oversized iPod touch. Looks nice (expect nothing less from Apple) but functionality is nothing earthshaking. Market is people who probably already have an iPhone/iPod touch/netbook/media center but price is too high to make the iPad (awful name) an easy add-on purchase.
ReplyDeleteI haven't followed the iPad trademark mess closely enough to say anything about it. My initial read on it is that it's a cool looking product that doesn't do enough more than an iPhone does (indeed, HD space is the same or even smaller!) to justify a purchase.
ReplyDeleteMore hype than it was worth, but I got the sense that everyone knew (or at least suspected) that going in. I give it 0 PM.
ReplyDeletePlus it only has wi-fi, which is just sad. I'd rather have an ebook with the paper-screen technology than a really big ipod touch.
ReplyDeleteI was excited at first, but the more I think about it, the less I like it. It magnifies the IPod Touch's shortcomings - no Flash, no multi-task, no USB or memory card expansion, no video out(?) walled garden for Apps, no Bluetooth, no camera. I'm not clear if it's got a microphone- 3G+Skype could make this interesting. I think ultimately the lack of USB and the proprietary mindset that represents is what kills it for me. That's a dealbreaker, ladies!
ReplyDeleteNo--it's 3G enabled (at least on the pricier models), and non-contract based. You pay by the month, either for a capped amount of data or for unlimited. I'm worried it's going to make the strained 3G network in places like NYC even worse.
ReplyDeleteAll that said, if Blizzard releases a World of Warcraft client for it, I'm there.
ReplyDeleteI want to know more about the iBook app -- is the store an Apple store for ebooks, or directly sourcing to pubs, or something else? As someone who works within the publishing world, I'm glad there's something competitive to the Kindle out there, and the potential for ebooks to develop into something that could include multimedia content, etc. and really break through is more likely with competetion and with a company like Apple boosting the industry.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is also in the newspaper industry, I'm more skeptical of the iPad being the savior of us all, etc. But I'm willing to see. Speaking of newspapers, I'll let @sadnewspaper be the bearer of my favorite of the multitude of jokes being made about the absolutely stupid name they've picked for this thing: "<span><span>This is a fate worse than death. The last push into obsolescence came from something that sounds like a feminine hygiene product."</span></span>
Oh, and the fact that iTampon is a twitter trending topic makes me ridiculously happy.
iCare. iWant.
ReplyDeleteWhat value does this add if someone already has an iPhone and notebook? The price point for laptops keeps falling, and they have far more functionality plus a real keyboard. And at least a properly sizes itouch or iPhone fits into one's pocket.
ReplyDeleteI see the appeal of an ereader with a led screen, except I have no interest in this or a kindle as ebooks mess with my apartments design concept.
In other words, isn't this too niche a product to justify a hyped launch?
Crap name. iSlab iTab iFlat iStone iSosceles iHopemykidsdon'truinthis etc., so many better choices.
ReplyDeleteIf AT&T would enable tethering on their network, you'd be able to use your iPhone to tether your iPad (or computer), since iPhone OS 3.0 supports tethering, but AT&T doesn't support it. (They don't really support phone calls, either.)
ReplyDeleteOne of the more interesting features of the Apple iBooks app is that it uses the standard EPUB format, rather than a proprietary format, so that you can use books from Apple's store on other readers that support EPUB (I believe that the Sony ones do) and books from other stores that sell in EPUB format. And since there's already a Kindle application for the iPhone, the iPad will be able to run that, too.
I've read books on my iPhone using the Kindle apps-- long ones, in fact-- George RR Martin's Game of Thrones and its sequels-- and it's a good enough experience for something in your pocket. And while the LCD screen isn't great for reading, the etch-a-sketch like page turns on the e-paper readers like Nook and Kindle isn't great yet, either.
If I had a desktop computer at home, I'd probably be very interested in an iPad as something to read and browse on away from a desk. Or were I still in school, and could carry around texts on the iPad, that might be great. But with an iPhone and a Macbook, the space between the two isn't $500 big for me.
But whenever Apple announces a new product, I can't help but remember Slashdot's original iPod review from back in aught-one: "<span>No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame."</span>
I have an AT&T Blackjack II and was able to tether it to my notebook (with a lot of experimenting by my IT guys), but my understanding is that AT&T has figured out how to block tethering completely in more recent models.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I've heard from people who think they can use it for business travel, but I can't see that for anyone who needs a real word processor. I can't imagine popping this out on a subway, and if I'm going to pack a laptop in my carry on, why do I need this extra weight?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, how can you design something that is essentially a netbook and not have USB?
ReplyDeleteEven more problematic as a work tool (or netbook replacement) is the lack of multi-tasking. If I can only have one application or window open at a time, it's of limited value to me for much of anything except as an e-reader, and I have a paper bias on that score anyway.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I shouldn't have commented before I saw the end of the production. Already got yelled at by Mr. liekl for not paying attention. It's still unnecessary in my opinion. Plus the name is just... wow. You couldn't make that up.
ReplyDelete