[iccaros]

Ipad Announced today

key features.

10 hours battery life
9.7" screen
Multituch

will run Iphone/ipod apps

priced from 499 to 799 depending on drive size

There also seams to be an "Ipod Touch" or Iphone Model depending on if you want 3G or Wifi only version

for 3g (also has wifi) att is offering 14.99 a month for 256 megs of download (not even a movie) or 29.99 for unlimited (or AT&T version of unlimited both with no contract

[Besttechie]

I must admit... even as an Apple fan, I'm somewhat disappointed.

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[isteve]

I already signed up on the release notify email list so as soon as they start taking orders I'm ordering one. I wasn't planning on getting one because I'm buying a motorcycle this spring but for $499 why not.

I do tech support for a school system. I was at a regional tech meeting today where we discussed how we can better integrate tech in the classrooms. Everyone there was taking notes with pen and paper. I was typing everything into Evernote on my ipod touch. One of the principals said jokingly "no ipods in class". I didn't say anything but I hope he was being ironic.

Anyway I think the ipad could be very useful in classrooms. And can't wait to play need for speed on it.

I do like that the 3G is not a subscriber service but prepaid. So if you want 3G you pay for a month right from the ipad.

[jcl]

It's everything I expected from an Apple tablet.

Still, the hardware sounds interesting. A MacBook built on the same platform with OS X would not be unappealing.

[iccaros]

I was a little disappointed at first, But not because of what it is.. its 99% of what I thought it would be..

its a large Ipod touch +

book reading would be my major use(epub so its compatible with barns and noble and the Sony Ereader, but also Video for the kids in the car.. and Ipod functions..
the killer for me.. Pages, Numbers and Keynote support.. AWESOME..


that .1% disappointment is no Isight... if it had that .. I would put my money today..

[Besttechie]

I just finished my first article on the iPad: http://www.besttechi...ointing-so-far/

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[isteve]

I just watched the stevenote and saw the iwork demo. I'm really impressed with the UI I had thought that there would be no way to use office apps without a mouse. But I can see apple has changed that.

I can se people being disappointed because of all the media hype. Remember the first imac, ipod, iphone, itunes, everyone was greatly disappointed. the first imac we heard "no one will ever want a fruit colored computer", first ipod "all this hype about a stupid mp3 player... apple is doomed" , They called the iphone the iflop and itunes will never catch on people can get music and movies for free.

[jcl]

isteve, on 28 January 2010 - 09:18 AM, said:

I can se people being disappointed because of all the media hype.

Nearly all of the complaints I've seen have been about the completely unhyped operating system. A lot of people wanted a Mac tablet and instead Apple gave them a 10" iPod Touch.

[iccaros]

From People who have used it

[iccaros]

I do not understand a lot of complaints.. here are some I have seen and what I disagree with

1. iBooks is initially US-only
Do we know this or is this a guess?

2. No built-in camera
My number 1 issues

3. No USB ports
This has USB for it.. will it be useful only time will tell
iPad Camera Connection Kit
The Camera Connection Kit gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera. The Camera Connector lets you import your photos and videos to iPad using the camera’s USB cable. Or you can use the SD Card Reader to import photos and videos directly from the camera’s SD card.

4. No memory card read
see 3

5. Keyboard dock sold separately
?? tablet.. say it with me...

6. No multi-tasking
would be nice but not a killer for me, I do not want to do full scale computing.. just get task done.. mostly web apps with how my company is set up

7. No Adobe Flash support
maybe a big deal. until I use one I am not sure.. but the Linux tablets on ARM will have the same issue so far

8. Can only run Apple-sanctioned apps
its a device not a laptop... This is where people miss the ideal.. I could give this to my mother in law to use, I would not do that with a full OS.. too much stuff

9. Can only access iTunes videos and music
hmm, If I can sync with Itunes on my PC or Mac, What stops me from shopping at Amazon like I do now for my ipod touch.. they even have a app to buy music and books..

10. Lacks HDMI port
1024x768 is not HD (well 480p is but devices that are 480p are to be labeled Enhanced TV).. and why does everyone want to plug everything into a TV... This is too big for that.. This is why I have a Mac Mini..

11. Screen is 4:3 aspect ratio, not 16:9 widescreen
yes and no.. 4:3 is better for the web IMHO, as most sites are created to be in that format..

12. No full GPS support
since I am not going to put something this large on my dash.. I care.. There are lots of Bluetooth GPS devices.. that can connect.. and I believe I can share my phones GPS..


one last one.. AT&T
since 3G GSM carries do not work on the same frequencies. So in order to support other GSM carriers they would have to reprogram the radio when the user selects a carrier.. as far as I remember in my Radio training in the military the FCC thinks that is a bad ideal.
as for verizon or sprint, that is a whole new radio.
so I can see it not being added.

I looked at the HP slate, besides the fact that I can find no real answers to what is in it.. it looks like it has no camera.. HP Slate

and Win7 on a small screen.. well that start menu would have to go.. would need a multi-touch launchy


in the end, if it was a full Mac OS X tablet.. it would be much more expensive, intel
would use more battery power, and people would complain that MS office on the mac does not respond well to touch.. oh.. you would not have the games.. already for accelerometer play..



how Apple got 10 hours
Testing conducted by Apple in January 2010 using preproduction iPad units and software. Testing consisted of full battery discharge while performing each of the following tasks: video playback, audio playback, and Internet browsing using Wi-Fi. Video content was a repeated 2-hour 23-minute movie purchased from the iTunes Store. Audio content was a playlist of 358 unique songs, consisting of a combination of songs imported from CDs using iTunes (128-Kbps AAC encoding) and songs purchased from the iTunes Store (256-Kbps AAC encoding). Internet over Wi-Fi tests were conducted using a closed network and dedicated web and mail servers, browsing snapshot versions of 20 popular web pages, and receiving mail once an hour. All settings were default except: Wi-Fi was associated with a network; the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks and Auto-Brightness were turned off. Battery life depends on device settings, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPad units; actual results may vary.

[jcl]

iccaros, on 29 January 2010 - 05:25 AM, said:

I do not understand a lot of complaints.. here are some I have seen and what I disagree with

I still think that nearly all of the complaints can be traced back to the tablet vs iPod issue. Every item on your list except 1, 12, and maybe 11 are common (if not universal) features on tablet PCs.

Quote

2. No built-in camera
My number 1 issues

There was, I think, a reasonable explanation for that omission: if you're using the iPad as a tablet, i.e. holding it in your hands or cradling it in an arm or resting it on your chest, the camera angle would be terrible. The picture'd be all chest, chin, light fixtures, and sky. A camera would work when the iPad was docked, but then you might as well use a notebook or desktop.

Quote

5. Keyboard dock sold separately
?? tablet.. say it with me...

We'll see. Over the last decade there's been a definite trend toward tablets with physical keyboards, e.g. convertible tablet PCs and slider smartphones. There's probably a reason for that.

[iccaros]

Quote

We'll see. Over the last decade there's been a definite trend toward tablets with physical keyboards, e.g. convertible tablet PCs and slider smartphones. There's probably a reason for that.

there is... but I do not expect it, and the fact that you can get one, or use a bluetooth one make this moot..

I see your point on tablet, but this is more of a consumer device on steroids then a traditional computer.. It how they are marketing it IMO.
but I see tech's and reporters what to do everything on thing.. Where is the one product to rule them all..

MSI has their tablet running android, but wait for it.. no multi touch, dose that matter? don't know yet but it has a camera..
msi

so I see no winners in the tablet market.. They all have faults..

IPad wins in quality, everything is works together, the interface from the video is more thought out.
MSI looks like Android.. Like my phone almost there and good for someone who tweaks things, but where is the office suit (another important item on my list).. Ipad has one in Pages, keynote and numbers
HPSlate looks good, but Win 7 as a touch interface.. I would have to use it.. if its anything like winmo.. it will be bad.. and office with touch screen, unless they tweaked office.. I do not see that working..

if the Ipad had a camera and flash.. it would be a no brainier..

I see your point on camera.. but I still feel the option would be nice.

[Besttechie]

I wrote this earlier today:

http://www.besttechi...to-buy-an-ipad/

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P.S.

I would like to see a camera too, but jcl does make a good point about the angle.

[iccaros]

did apple steal the ibook design
Delicious Library

[Besttechie]

iccaros, on 29 January 2010 - 06:13 PM, said:

did apple steal the ibook design
Delicious Library

I saw that on Wednesday. Interesting though. I guess it's possible especially looking at the two designs/interfaces. There was another article on TechCrunch where they spoke with the developer of Delicious Library - he basically said it is what it is. Link to the article: http://www.techcrunc...t-the-only-one/

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