iPodDailyNews - Where iPod news comes first

I love how folks dream up these neat uses for the iPad as if they have any control over it happening. I think it's a
coping mechanism to make up for the fact that it's a relatively limited, closed device.

"Oooo, I'll get one in hopes that it can someday be used as a Wacom style tablet," LOL.

Didn't we say shit like that about the iPhone? That we'd be able to hook it up to our Macs and use it to replace the mouse? Now nearly three years later it was all a hopeless fantasy.

What you see is pretty much what you get when it comes to the iPad. Apple wants you to browse the web, check emails and buy apps, books, movies, shows, and music from iTunes. It's a big iPod touch, and I'd bet anyone dollars to donuts that the new iPad apps won't be all that sophisticated. The biggest advancements come from Apple and they'll slowly ride it out with yearly upgrades over the next decade leaving a trail of outdated iPad bodies behind.

Jan 28, 10 - 12:54 pm Comment from: TowerTone

There are people like me who have to carry a PC laptop for work (proprietary software and ports) so I don't need a full blown laptop. Matter of fact I was planning on getting a used iBook but this is CHEAPER! Well, almost.
-Plus it will fit in the same bag as my 15" Dell.

As far as using it as a phone
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icall-free-voip/id293837001?mt=8

But what I really wish I could do is Bluetooth my iPhone camera to it for video-chatting.

"Patience, young Skywalker."
Or was that Rambo....?

Jan 28, 10 - 01:00 pm Comment from: TowerTone

"Didn't we say shit like that about the iPhone? That we'd be able to hook it up to our Macs and use it to replace the mouse? Now nearly three years later it was all a hopeless fantasy."

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/air-mouse-pro-remote-trackpad/id289616509?mt=8

Works great.

Jan 28, 10 - 01:08 pm Comment from: Wade Smith

It ain't charmin' me for the nonce. But, really, the only thing I'm offset by is the lack of (non-dongled) slots. No USB? No SD.... Hmmm. Makes actually using it as a media viewer somewhat limited, IMHO. I really don't want to have to connect it to my iMac to get files onto it.

But maybe it'll be jailbroken in a few....

The ipad will be great to have around for use in the library, lab, coffee shop, on trips, in the classroom. Everyone on campus, whether student or faculty, will love them.

Anyone who is saying, "It is just a bigger iPod." is not looking at the big picture.

This is going to be the ubiquitous home appliance.

You will program your TV viewing/recording, control your home (lights/appliances/heat), shop, read, listen to music, etc. all from this device or something similar.

It can replace medical charts, textbooks, diagnostic computers, maps, etc. with well written apps that will be sold through the App Store.

Hang on kids, things are going to start moving quickly...

Jan 28, 10 - 01:38 pm Comment from: Buster

Mark my words....this will be a big hit like the iPod. Too many shortsighted people posting..nay...whining about their immediate wants. No cam, wide bezel, its not the right colooooooooorrrrr!.

If I am going to iChat...I will use my laptop or desktop. If I want to talk, I will use my phone. We all have those fer cripessake and both the phone or the laptop will do it better. Jobs TOLD us that.

I am stunned that people want it to be their laptop or their phone.

It holds so much potential here people that it is not funny.

Jan 28, 10 - 01:44 pm Comment from: McIntosh

I've already come up with 3 great things I plan to do with my iPad (God, though, how I wish it were named iSlate instead):

- Digital portfolio. I can show all of my work digitally, in a slimline case containing my iPad. No more need to print material (good printing costs a lot anyhow) and I can constantly update the sequencing and content.

- Reading PDF articles full-screen. I love Papers (an app for collecting and organizing academic journal articles) and I have almost 2,000 articles in my library. I've read 2 of them on my iPhone, and I can barely tolerate reading any of them on a landscape-oriented MBP. But believe you me, I will be reading them aplenty on an iPad. For that reason alone, this device is worth every cent.

- Making presentations. With the right cables, I won't need to have a laptop on stage with me when I make a Keynote presentation. Not that a laptop is really all that bad, but from an overall aesthetic POV, running a beautiful slideshow from a slim slice of glass and aluminum is going to be a marvel for me and the audience. Run a show through an iPad and a pico-projector, and you'll look like you came from the future or something.

And after that, we're going to see interactive iPad magazine versions of SI, Newsweek, Esquire, Fast Company, and so many more. It really is amazing to think about how this machine will free up the imaginations of the publishing industry. The launch event was a little tepid, but the potential for this device is truly stratospheric. If ONLY Steve would change that godforsaken name!!! Please, Fujitsu, sue the hell out of Apple, if only so that they decide to quit on the name and go with iSlate instead!

For the first time ever I actually agree more with *freaking* Paul Thorrott. From his weblog:

“But the price, Steve. What is the price??
He’s building up to it by listing out what it can do…
iPad pricing starts at $499.
That’s actually quite aggressive for Apple. In fact, that’s pretty amazing. So good for them.
Of course, that’s for a paltry 16 GB of storage. The 64 GB version is $699.
The one you want–with a 3G connection and 64 GB–is a more Apple-esque $829.
…
They’re talking accessories now. I think the real cost of one of these things will indeed be $999 when you think about it.
Dock. Keyboard dock. (Nice!) A case. Oh yeah, this is a $999 device alright.

This is a $999 device that can’t do half of what Apple’s other $999 device can do. Scratch that. It can’t do a 100th. I can’t imagine why anyone would every buy this thing.

And yes, ChuckO, you are making excuses. You are not describing reality, you are describing a reality that you are wishing for. Here, read the tech specs for this : http://bit.ly/9u9hlS For more than a $100 premium, can you point out one single thing that the iPad can do that this netbook can’t?

Jan 28, 10 - 02:02 pm Comment from: Buster

@Dallasm
'For more than a $100 premium, can you point out one single thing that the iPad can do that this netbook can’t?'


Yeah,,,,get you laid because you are sooooo cool and avant garde!

Jan 28, 10 - 02:02 pm Comment from: MikeK

This is a $999 device that can’t do half of what Apple’s other $999 device can do. Scratch that. It can’t do a 100th. I can’t imagine why anyone would every buy this thing.

--------------------------------

I'd expect a comment like that from Thurrot. He has absolutely no imagination whatsoever.. Read his comments on the introduction of Apple's first mouse, way back when..

Yes, there are a lot of things that an iPad can't do that a notebook can. However, there are just as many things that an iPad can do, that a laptop can't.. And these things go way beyond the built in apps that were showcased yesterday..

That's why they are TWO DIFFERENT DEVICES for different purposes.

Musicians, teachers, students, medical professionals, etc, etc.. There are endless possibilities of things they will be able to accomplish on a paper sized multi-touch surface that could never be accomplished on a traditional laptop.

Paul Thurrot has proven time and time again that his brain is just to small to realize the potential and possibilities of such a device.

Steve Jobs was right in saying this is the most important project he's ever worked on.. We've only seen the beginning.

Jan 28, 10 - 02:04 pm Comment from: justme2

@Wade Smith: Apple website shows a version of the Camera Connection Kit with an SD card slot; wonder if that could be used to transfer files?

Jan 28, 10 - 02:05 pm Comment from: MikeK

Dallasm
'For more than a $100 premium, can you point out one single thing that the iPad can do that this netbook can’t?'

-------------------

Here's just a few of the ideas being thrown around for musicians and Logic users. The iPad is going to go way beyond the average consumer..

http://www.logicprohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=52975

Jan 28, 10 - 02:11 pm Comment from: MikeK

For more than a $100 premium, can you point out one single thing that the iPad can do that this netbook can’t?

-----------------------------

Also, it's not just "what" the iPad can do, it's just as much "how" it does those things, and the user experience while doing them. In this regard, the iPad is in a class of it's own.

You can get to the store whether you're driving a Pinto or a Mercedes, however, the experience is guaranteed to be very different..

Jan 28, 10 - 02:30 pm Comment from: TowerTone

exactly, MikeK
Imagine each player on stage with one of these on his 'stand'.
The playlist, music, maybe sound enhancements.
If you could have one at the back of the room checking sound, it could relay needed sound adjustments to the stage.
A list of the local gig sights, back-up musicians, groupies....

Jan 28, 10 - 02:48 pm Comment from: Buster

@TT and MikeK...even getting away from the arts...think of all the cool Apps that may currently be on your iPod touch and then iTranslate (pun intended) them bigger and better onto your iPad. For example at a construction site...to have a level (try THAT with a laptop), with a ruler, construction codes, web access to get to something like the stair angle calculator (which I have used frequently) , blueprints (that you can read) etc etc

The uses are limitless for those with imagination.

Jan 28, 10 - 02:49 pm Comment from: Ouate de Phoque

I can see men's purses becoming popular.

Can't wait to see the profit-margin teardown. Still at Apple's customary 0+ gouging? (Seriously,is the 3G hardware that expensive to solder in?)

My guess is Apple takes a bite on the lower end models, makes it up on the high end, and still comes out about right (gouging is okay, right?).

Apple is all about making money (hence the referral to all those credit card - one click purchasing - accounts, 125m). Nothing wrong with that, capitalism is Freedom personified. But if Apple truly wants to "change the world" then it needs to drop prices and its profit margin.

Don't worry, I'm poor, not a communist. However, I always find a way to keep using Macs. More efficient, less frustration, balances out in the end.

Yet as a teacher, seeing this device, knowing the problems have with reaching today's students (especially those on the lower socioeconomic scale), the potential to change American education (besides excising the Liberal content, attitudes, brainwashing) and at efficient costs is within reach.

Books on servers accessible to student iPad accounts, teachers' iMacs to monitor every screen, assignments EASILY accessible and workable from the screen (uh, would require MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY, Apple) without eliminating paper notebooks (handwriting ability is essential to learning, sorry).

Of course, PCs can do the job as well (except it doesn't always 'just work').

Lower the costs, Apple. Change the world - quickly!

Jan 28, 10 - 03:13 pm Comment from: TowerTone

Hey, Buster
Pocket Universe will be out of this world!
Labyrinth will be full sized!
Jaadu, Family Tree, Google Earth, EyeTV, Simplify Photo, Zinio, MyWeather, Things...
Just a few from my iPhone. Better on iPad.

Jan 28, 10 - 04:07 pm Comment from: jocknerd

Two things are really keeping me from accepting this in its current form. One, it doesn't do multitasking. Seriously, this is 2010, not 1984. And two, the screen resolution. Why is this not 16:9 ratio? 1024x768. Thats a 4:3 ratio. CRT's had that a decade ago. Seems like Apple decided to build this one as cheap as possible. Thats the consumer side of me talking.

The geek side of me absolutely despises this thing. Way too closed of a platform for my taste.

Jan 28, 10 - 04:08 pm Comment from: Giles

"Older people: You see them all the time squinting at their iPhones and iPod touches and/or holding them at arm's length."
I fit this description... So count me in, I'll buy one.

Jan 28, 10 - 04:12 pm Comment from: jocknerd

What surprises me the most is how often I hear people talking about how Apple has been working on a tablet device since around 2003. If thats the case, I'm surprised about how little this differs from the iPod Touch.

I guess I feel underwhelmed by it. Its a delivery platform, not a creators platform. I've already got plenty of delivery platforms ranging from my HDTV to my Macs to my iPod touch. Don't see a need for another one.

Jan 28, 10 - 04:18 pm Comment from: alansky

@Evil Monkey:

You can run a machine for 5+ years without upgrading anything, but not if you want access to the latest cutting-edge technology. Tell your dad that he can't have his cake and eat it, too!

Jan 28, 10 - 04:23 pm Comment from: alansky

@ dougbob:

That's a very good point! However, many people are genuinely disappointed that the iPad doesn't have a webcam. i mean, how else are you going to upload videos of yourself writing lewd (but witty) remarks on the walls of bathroom stalls at airports around the world?

Jan 28, 10 - 04:25 pm Comment from: alansky

@spatlantean:

Personally, I think the iPad is too far ahead of the curve for the average person to grasp. But my money is on Steve's genius for pushing the envelope just far enough, but not too far.

Jan 28, 10 - 04:28 pm Comment from: alansky

@R2:

If you really believe that the iPhone's promise turned out to be just "a hopeless fantasy", then you never understood the genius of the iPhone at all. Give some people a champagne glass and they'll try to use it as a hammer. What to do?

Jan 28, 10 - 04:32 pm Comment from: alansky

@stucktrader:

The design of the iPad has absolutely nothing to do with the future of Firewire. The iPad is not intended to replace the personal computer, but to extend the market for always-connected, digital devices into new territory.

Jan 28, 10 - 04:38 pm Comment from: alansky

@theloniusMac:

Some people have absolutely no vision.

Jan 28, 10 - 05:05 pm Comment from: Jeff

I want 1 and I can see anyone who doesn't need a computer but wants to surf, Read a book, watch a video, and email, without the worry of Viruses and crap (like gran dad).

Jan 28, 10 - 05:16 pm Comment from: grwisher

Regarding: "Who else might be buying an iPad?"
You missed the most obvious potential buyers - Current owners of the iPhone or iPod Touch. There are over 75 million potential buyers which is a pretty good number.
All of these potential buyers:
1) Already know how to use the iPad
2) Can readily appreciate the value of the iPad
3) Understand the power of the Apps Store

Jan 28, 10 - 05:23 pm Comment from: disposableidentity

"Nothing wrong with that, capitalism is Freedom personified. But if Apple truly wants to "change the world" then it needs to drop prices and its profit margin."

What are you talking about?
This thing is priced to move.

A 747 costs more than the aluminum, riveting and soldering.
It costs what the market will bear.

Apple works the same way.

Jan 28, 10 - 05:40 pm Comment from: cartoonasaur

I will be buying one. I own an iMac, Macbook Pro 13 inch and an iPhone. Wifi only for me is perfect. A large-screen and powerful iPhone with NO $100 a month commitment? HALLELUJAH!

Thank you Steve Jobs for thinking of all the vast number of folks worldwide who will NEVER be power users and just want their media delivered conveniently and simply. And what about the power users? Hey, there's plenty to choose in 140,000 apps and always more to come, not to mention those folks already have a capable computer anyway. It's not for everyone and it can't do everything which is why the OS is limited and super-simple, perfect for the non tech-savvy folks. It won't replace my Macbook Pro with Photoshop and Dreamweaver and about 200 apps I've accumulated over the last decade - why would it? But will it be more comfortable on my couch in front of my TV? Of course. Will it be perfect for my mom who will really only surfs and emails and never got the hang of downloading and installing files and apps? Definitely! And will there be tens of thousands of apps available that are NOT available on laptops or netbooks at any price? Yes indeed!

Remember the last gigantic change in media delivery? The iPod. At first, it was useable only with a Macintosh and sold very well to that audience. It was an immediate "hit" in that community but the PC world ignored it until their platform was supported and then it took off like gangbusters. In those days, the Macintosh was 2-3 percent of the USA - now, Macintosh is more like 10%, so the 'halo' effect will be much more pronounced from the iPad. Also, PC folks have no problem using the iPhone, they'll have no problem using the iPad which is very similar (same OS but more capable hardware = a bunch of new OS abilities).

Ipods are ubiquitous but mostly invisible, however the iPad will be ubiquitous and VISIBLE and it's as thin and wall-mountable as can be AND can hook up with huge monitors... I predict an infinite stream of iPads on walls of infinite homes and businesses - now the internet streams through a window full of video, photos, movies, tv shows and music. Surprise! The future is NOW and only one device delivers it all, seamlessly: the iPad.

I saw the future when I bought the first iPod. It was obvious to me and so many others. Pundits and analysts? They didn't get it at all and as a group, they dismissed the iPod, the iPhone and now the iPad - talk about slow learners! LOL

Jan 28, 10 - 05:45 pm Comment from: disposableidentity

@ cartoonasaur, exactly.

The world is not made up of people like you, me and the other people on this site.

The world is filled with people who will never need a whole, complicated computer. Most people should never have to know what an "OS" is. People have lots of real-world things they need to get done, this is the machine that will let them do it.

Jan 28, 10 - 05:46 pm Comment from: disposableidentity

Only one problem as far as I can see.

Will anyone in Boston know what all the fuss is about?

Jan 28, 10 - 06:11 pm Comment from: Buster

@TT...everything will indeed be better on the iPad. But this transition raises a few questions.

Question#1. Will a podcast now become a padcast?

Question#2. If there are two p's in a pod, how many p's in a pad?

Jan 28, 10 - 06:39 pm Comment from: TowerTone

"how many p's in a pad?"

'Depends' on how many drinks she's had
-and what kind of flo she got.....

Jan 28, 10 - 06:45 pm Comment from: rw86347

Not great for business.

Apple has done an amazing job with MobileMe! In fact Apple has done such a good job that I have enterprise like services without a corporation providing it.

Network storage ... iDisk
Backups/off site duplication ... iDisk
Calendar sharing ... iCal
Contacts ... Address Book

All of these things work amazing with MobileMe. I would even consider not having mobile me. In fact I keep all of my business documents on my iDisk, thus I have access and sync from all of my computers. If one dies I still have my files.

Here is the problem, iPad does not have a file browser. iPad also does not have access to my iDisk. It is great that iCal and Address Book and synced, but really I need to work remotely and that means getting access to mobile me. You know that Apple service.

Today when I travel I carry my Mac Pro, my iPhone, as few paper files as possible, camera and misc cables. This weighs about 30 pounds! Apple please let me reduce the number of things I carry.

I often travel between China and the USA. What I heard Steve say is that I could watch my iPad for 10 hours. However I can't access my files, thus I also need my notebook. and I will probably need my phone! Now I have 3 computers!

If the iPad could access my files directly, like a real computer then I could leave my laptop at home. In fact I would switch from my macbook pro to an iMac 27". and I would lighten my travel load dramatically!

So Steve please give me my iDisk and files!!!

Jan 28, 10 - 08:33 pm Comment from: TowerTone

rw86347
What is wrong with this?
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mobileme-idisk/id320654497?mt=8

Congratulations to Steve, Johnny Ive and everyone at Apple for this . Great work lads.

I still think omitting the camera was a dozy idea though. A huge turn-off for who knows how many potential customers.

What were you thinking?

The first gym that equips their treadmills and bicycles with ipad will have a storm of new subscribers. Imagine all the magazines u want in front of you, penthouse(whats left of it), gossip, travel, the home, espn etc

Jan 29, 10 - 12:19 am Comment from: ssray23

Great work Apple .. I am already drooling over the iPad.

I would go for the lowest $499 model first to check the basic features like WiFi, internet, iPod etc. I am a big big big fan of the iPhone interface and the fact that iPad gives me the same cool interface over a larger surface area is just freaking me out in a positive way!!

Also, I can't just wait to see iWork for iPad version.
I think this is the beginning of a new era - The rise of mobile computer ... with the fast dying desktop PCs around the world. In the future, most of us folks would go for the "mobile" version of any app so that it can be installed on an iPad - ready to hit the road. In the future, I wont be surprised, if we have iPad version almost any app you can think of - Photoshop, MS Office, Indesign ... the list is long.

Kudos to Apple for jump-starting a new mobile revolution (with the iPad) which just not coming right with Nokia, Samnsung and bunch of also-rans.

This article convinced me to get me an iPad when it comes out. I was debating the use I could find for it but there are many and the good things far outweighs the bad.

Jan 29, 10 - 03:32 am Comment from: ssray23

Great comment, rw86347!!!
You have just read my mind.

I want to transfer my .docs, ppts, .xls etc to my iPad (from my Thinkpad) and access them on a long flight. Phew .. !! Too good to be true now.

When, when, when, Steve ?????????
** FILES ** ... are our most important stuff!!!

Jan 29, 10 - 03:52 am Comment from: Jubei

The anti anything Mac is in force.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/nightlinedailyline/2010/01/ipad-launch-the-hangover.html

Jan 29, 10 - 04:46 am Comment from: hardmanb

I'm one of those 20% and growing elderly population, and as soon as I get the notice from Apple, my order goes in. I am a reader and take a book with me everywhere. Sizeable type for my tired old eyes will be a Godsend and let me abandon my magnifying glass. I going to be in reading paradise again.

Hey R2
"Didn't we say shit like that about the iPhone? That we'd be able to hook it up to our Macs and use it to replace the mouse? Now nearly three years later it was all a hopeless fantasy."

Dude those apps were some of the first in the appstore pay attention!!!

For everyone bitching about the iPad name please realize this. It is a real life PAD. You know from star trek. Small devices used to interact with the system , sign manifests and such. They were called PADs. That is a Personal Access Device. This is exactly what the iPad is its a PAD.

I don't agree with the target market analysis in this article and here's why:
Older people...no, many older people don't have WiFi and I know none of my older relatives will spring for 3G.
Couch potatoes...maybe some, but if you're potatoed out on your couch you're likely in front of a big screen TV
Frequent Fliers...I'll give you that one
Reader...As an eBook kindle and Sony devices are better. eInk is easier on the eyes and I can read my Sony for 11 hours and not dent the battery, the iPad would be dead. Plus I can check out books from my library on the Sony for free. I don't see much free content coming from Apple.
Gamers....iPhone is not a serious gaming platform, it's games you play for a few minutes when you're bored. I don't see developers spending time developing games just for the iPad, they'll develop for both the iPhone and iPad which means the processing power will be underutilized.
Navigators...Not putting that on top of my dashboard...won't be able to see.
Kids....If I was buying one I sure wouldn't let my kids play with it.
Students....Only if textbooks are released on it, and unless they develop a book reselling method that will be a hard sell.

Let me just add, with no Flash, I don't know that I'd want to sit down on my couch and surf the Internet on it. About 1 out of every ten sites I like use flash. I'll just use my laptop.

Jan 29, 10 - 10:18 am Comment from: jocknerd

I totally understand what the iPad is. Its a content delivery device. Great. My wife will love it. Now I want Apple to build a tablet computer. Thats what I want. In a 16x9 form factor.

Jan 29, 10 - 10:29 am Comment from: aaplsaur

Webcam? Unless you set the thing down and sit still, webcam chat video would be far too shaky to watch. The iPhone doesn't have a webcam. It's sold a few. The iPod Touch doesn't have one. It's sold a few. The iPad will do just fine. I'll be buying one now, and when it does come with a camera I'll upgrade. But why wait for that one little thing when you have the coolest, most convenient, most powerful (and did I say coolest?) portable platform ever for a consumer friendly price?