KGOR's thoughts on the iPad

With the unveiling of the ever expected iPad, it seems to be met with mixed reviews and nerdom grumbling. "Where's the camera!?!" "No Multi-tasking!?!" "Why would I want that? I have a laptop..." This tech enthusiast thinks that analysts and consumers alike aren't looking at the bigger picture in terms of where it's going to go, they are looking at where it's currently at. The multi-touch netbook (if that's what you want to call it) market is one that is starting to gain some traction. Other companies are announcing their own version, or at the very least, feeding the rumor mill to make sure they don't get forgotten. Apple, the largest mobile devices company by revenue in the world, is no different. By putting their product out before the others, it sets a bench mark of what multi-touch netbook should be and how it should interact with the customer. Whether Apple believes this or not (I find it hard not to), they force media and technology industries to continuously innovate to advancing where technology needs to go in a modern world. I'll give you one example, what mobile device before the iPhone allowed us to connect in the way we do now with our smartphones? The Blackberry? Some random device from Samsung? Exactly. The technology introduced to the mass market with the iPhone forced the mobile industry to wipe the sleep out of their eyes and take a critical look at where the technology is going. So whether you're a fan of Apple or not the benchmark on which all other mobile device manufactures aim to knock out of place, comes from Apple. You can't deny it.  But before you can even see where the iPad could potentially lead an industry, you have to do some critical thinking to get your perspective on course. As I stated previously, there have been several WTF moments in regards to the features of the iPad, or lack there of. Below I talk about a few and why I don't think they've been included in this first gen (Note how I said first gen).

"Where's the camera!?!"

To me this one seems simple. I think Apple decided to focus on more important hardware issues like battery life and chipset, knowing that the camera could always be added at a later time. Another possible scenario is that the camera chipset at the early stages of development weren't right for what Apple was looking for. If you believe the rumors, Apple is just now (past 6 months) signing contracts for 5 megapixel chip sets for presumably the next gen iPhone, which will most likely trickle down to the second gen iPad.

"No multi-tasking!?!"

Simple. Battery life. Apple thinks about the whole device, not just one feature. So for them if it means sacrificing the ability to listen to Pandora Radio while cruising the net to save battery life then so be it. They're sacrificing one feature for the greater good of every other feature. Keep in mind just as battery life of laptops have greatly expanded over the years, so will the iPads.

"Why would I want that? I have a laptop..."

The iPad is not a laptop, nor is it designed and marketed as a laptop. The iPad is a netbook designed to keep you connected to the world and your media in a more "intimate" way. It's a new market. Designed to be placed in between your smartphone and your laptop. With this third category of devices it's designed to be better than a smartphone and a laptop at browsing the web, email, viewing and sharing photos, watching videos, listening and purchasing music, playing games and reading ebooks. It won't replace the robustness of a laptop, but will allow you to do the simple tasks where you might not need a laptop. Don't forget the iBookstore as well. Largely regarded as the device that'll change the print industry much like Apple did with the music and phone industries, the UI of the iPad when reading a newspaper or book looks absolutely spectacular and engaging. So the iPad is not just a bloated iPod Touch and it's not replacing laptops (not yet), it's a new device designed to allow you to be productive on a foundational level but also allowing you to kick back, relax and enjoy seamless media while sharing it with others no matter if you're standing at the bus stop, riding an escalator, or walking over to a coworker's cubicle to show them a video from YouTube. It's a new echelon of connectivity.

So while I could have summed that all up by saying that it's just the first gen and don't forget what Apple achieved with the second gen iPhone alone, I figure I would give my two cents in hopes to charge a new perspective what I believe it's going to do.

Here are a handful of ideas/features that I think the iPad could take us:

• Video conferencing or Video chat (duh)


• A portal for indie-self published books without the red tape of agents and publishers.


• Digital iPad versions of magazines not only for download but included with a subscription of print issues.


• Digital text books for students. Including videos, diagrams and slideshows.


• For the creative arts student, think video tutorials downloaded through iTunes University.


• Can you say "augmented reality?"


• Maps, not designed to get you from your house to the mall, but from the front door of your grocery store to the last product on your iPad created list in the most efficient route possible.


• Facial scanning and recognition for government officials.


• What's that? U need to know how much your package weighs so you can determine postage? Perfect, set it down on the iPad screen check the weight at the bottom.


• and sure...maybe even some day flash. However, barring some federal injunction, I would bet on HTML5 taking over industry first.

Some content from this post was paraphrased from Apple's Keynote introducing this magical product. In addition, this post was edited by my lovely Girlfriend Ashley.

Comments

[Ryan]

Ive seen some pretty cool mock-ups of using the iPad as a pro grade video coloring/color correction interface too..
The uses for the iPad are endless

http://prolost.com/blog/2010/1/27/make-movies-with-apple-ipad.html

[Tim]

Great read, probably one of the few reviews on the iPad Ive actually read through.

Great list of where the iPad will take us. I think most of those are right on.

Its exciting to think about where the industry will go now that Apple has put its foot down in the market of pseudo-netbooks.