Apple's January 27th Event

[Hamish]

Sorry I meant something far more comparable to OSX than to the iPhone OS - IMHO its a joke that such a device uses an OS built for a tiny screen, using the excuse its tailored for touchscreens just doesnt cut it. The home screen pics just look embarrassing...

ps3ud0

Just because the iPhone OS is used on a small screen at the moment doesn't mean it doesn't scale up well. The video of using it seems to show it working well with all the touch widgets of the iPhone. Yes the home screen does look a bit odd when you're used to the iPhones but when you think about it would you want a mahoosive clock or an unlock slider where you have to slide your finger all the way across the screen?

It could do with a few widgets though, I will probably be jailbreaking mine and sticking whatever fancy homescreen the hackers have to offer on.

 

[manoz]

I don't plan to buy one of these, but a lot of the complaints in here are ridiculous.

'I own a Mac, a Macbook Pro and an iPhone. Why should I bother with this? WHY?'

The iPad is obviously aimed at people who aren't techies and want a fast and easy way to check the news, send e-mails, etc, when they are not at a computer. The iPhone is too small and awkward to compose long e-mails on or do much reading. This device obviously fills a gap for casual users, although I can't imagine filling that gap will be worth £400+ to many.

If you want to compose long emails, you need a physical keyboard, in which case you get the keyboard add on or buy a netbook for cheaper with more functionality.

This device seems very very limited. If I want to share things with other people like photos and videos, I can't get them on there for lack of USB port and card reader in the device. Storage is limited so can't put much of anything in it.

I take it you can't do accurate photo editing cos of the nature of capacitive screen? Resolution seems poor, especially considering what other companies like Sony are doing.

Design is childish as usual with Apple products but that said, I like the form factor (in which a slate would be better, at least for my needs)

 

["andy"]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-ipad-first-hands-on/

Video of it in use by engadget. I really like the photo application that is shown at the 5m30s mark. Very fast rendering, bit like Microsoft Photosynth. Youtube application looks very slick as well.


Since Apple introduced iPod Touch/iPhone, youtube encoded all their videos in 2 formats, Flash for websites and more "powerful" phones and H.264 for iPhone/iPod touch, these are accessed with an app on the portable devices. This only works for youtube as they, in effect, have 2 versions of each video on their servers. Other Flash only video sites will not work, even with an app.


rp2000

all the iphone/mobile specific you tube videos are poor quality though ? they will look poo on this higher res screen. they look bad enough on my 800x whatever phone screen

 

[Hamish]

all the iphone/mobile specific you tube videos are poor quality though ? they will look poo on this higher res screen. they look bad enough on my 800x whatever phone screen

Youtube encode all videos in lots of different resolutions and format, iPad can play the HD h264 ones.

 

[Jimmy1983]

Hmmmm, from what ive read iam kinda worried that there might not be a v4 iPhone let alone iPhone OS 4.0 this summer

 

[ps3ud0]

Just because the iPhone OS is used on a small screen at the moment doesn't mean it doesn't scale up well. The video of using it seems to show it working well with all the touch widgets of the iPhone. Yes the home screen does look a bit odd when you're used to the iPhones but when you think about it would you want a mahoosive clock or an unlock slider where you have to slide your finger all the way across the screen?

It could do with a few widgets though, I will probably be jailbreaking mine and sticking whatever fancy homescreen the hackers have to offer on.

I just think what weve seen so far just shows lazy development from Apple software-wise, other than the iWork updates (and the different keyboards) nothing really has been setup to really exploit the iPads size and target application...

Think that what has surprised/disappointed me - Apple normally provide very clear reasons why such premium products should be lusted after - for me irrelevant of situation or persuasion its a device Ill never want. I applaud them for creating a device that doesnt have a real market (or where multiple existing device types overlap already) and will be interested in how it sells and how over time its marketed...

ps3ud0

 

[rp2000]

all the iphone/mobile specific you tube videos are poor quality though ? they will look poo on this higher res screen. they look bad enough on my 800x whatever phone screen

NO. I thought this. If you have a mac/book/pro install an application called click2flash on it. It "replaces" all youtube videos with the h.264 versions in Safari. They can be in any resolution that the Flash equivalents are in. Phones are "made" to see the smaller versions by use of browser agent strings (I think). There are higher quality ones on Youtube servers (720P Quicktime HD, just like Flash 720P), they are just not shown, by default.


rp2000

 

[theheyes]

I can quite easily see myself mooching about with one of these on the sofa while half watching TV, much like I do with my laptop currently. The Flash thing is annoying but I think Flash Player's days in it's current form are numbered anyway.

I was secretly hoping the OS would be a watered-down version of OSX, rather than a beefed up iPhone - but it was wishful thinking really.

I'll probably buy one, but I can wait for version 2.

 

[Hamish]

NO. I thought this. If you have a mac/book/pro install an application called click2flash on it. It "replaces" all youtube videos with the h.264 versions in Safari. They can be in any resolution that the Flash equivalents are in. Phones are "made" to see the smaller versions by use of browser agent strings (I think). There are higher quality ones on Youtube servers (720P Quicktime HD, just like Flash 720P), they are just not shown, by default.


rp2000

or go here: http://www.youtube.com/html5

 

[bam0]

Nail, head.

I think you'll be surprised really by takeup, it'll never be as mass market as the iphone/ipod touch obviously but devices like the sony ereader (which is, by all accounts a compromised, expensive single use device) sell pretty well. They'll take a beating from the ipad...

No they won't anyone in the market to buy an eInk device will see/know the difference between a laptop screen and an eInk one, if you're actually after a portable book reading device I can't imagine many people picking an iPad over a Kindle/Reader etc.

 

[rp2000]

or go here: http://www.youtube.com/html5

Cheers!!! I heard about this trial but never knew that Safari was a supported browser!!!

Edit: Spoke too soon, I guess they have to do some server side encoding of older videos as I can't seem to find any videos that play via HTML5, apart from a few uploaded from my PlayStation 3 and a few low res ones in my favourites.


rp2000

 

[Raymond Lin]

If you want to compose long emails, you need a physical keyboard, in which case you get the keyboard add on or buy a netbook for cheaper with more functionality.

This device seems very very limited. If I want to share things with other people like photos and videos, I can't get them on there for lack of USB port and card reader in the device. Storage is limited so can't put much of anything in it.

I take it you can't do accurate photo editing cos of the nature of capacitive screen? Resolution seems poor, especially considering what other companies like Sony are doing.

Design is childish as usual with Apple products but that said, I like the form factor (in which a slate would be better, at least for my needs)

You are comparing it to a fully on laptop/netbook, which this is not.

All the argument about it having less features than a netbook can be said when the ipod first came about can you not? This is not really a product for work, its more for entertainment and leisure with a few things that help you through out the day. If you want to do photo editing, you are better off with a Quad Core, 4Gig of ram and 24inch screen than a 9.7" portable device with hardly any grunt.

Remember when ipod first came out ? The restriction of itunes, DRM, you can't drag and drop, etc, No this, lack of that.

It still sold by the bucket load.

This will sell too. Yes, there are other products that can do more for the same or less money but none of them looks this cool. Sitting on the train and pull out a Dell Netbook or an iPad, you know who'll get more chicks

Okay, it doesn't work like that but remember, the public are not very techy savy, they will see this do the internet, email, read books, share photos, watch videos and its pretty. They will buy it.

And people forgot that this is practically idiot proof compare to a full OS and it is designed that way, lots of people don't want to mess with installing this, that and worry about updating Firefox to the latest version. With this, you plug it into itunes, and it'll update it all for you, back up it all for you and if it goes wrong, restore it for you. You can't do that with a netbook.

 

[tbs]

You are comparing it to a fully on laptop/netbook, which this is not.

All the argument about it having less features than a netbook can be said when the ipod first came about can you not? This is not really a product for work, its more for entertainment and leisure with a few things that help you through out the day. If you want to do photo editing, you are better off with a Quad Core, 4Gig of ram and 24inch screen than a 9.7" portable device with hardly any grunt.

Remember when ipod first came out ? The restriction of itunes, DRM, you can't drag and drop, etc, No this, lack of that.

It still sold by the bucket load.

This will sell too. Yes, there are other products that can do more for the same or less money but none of them looks this cool. Sitting on the train and pull out a Dell Netbook or an iPad, you know who'll get more chicks

Okay, it doesn't work like that but remember, the public are not very techy savy, they will see this do the internet, email, read books, share photos, watch videos and its pretty. They will buy it.

And people forgot that this is practically idiot proof compare to a full OS and it is designed that way, lots of people don't want to mess with installing this, that and worry about updating Firefox to the latest version. With this, you plug it into itunes, and it'll update it all for you, back up it all for you and if it goes wrong, restore it for you. You can't do that with a netbook.

If you read/saw the beginning of the event you would know that Stevie Jobs actually said that Netbooks are rubbish and worthless, and not actually a "computer", and this is thes solution to wiping out Netbooks, the iPad.

Now, for something to be better in the slightest then a Netbook, it would have to do a few things.

1) Multitasking
2) A Webcam
3) Supports Flash
4) AT LEAST one USB

So far the iPad does none of these, and I find it hard to believe that the iPad will actually make a change to the Netbook market, because I cant see it.

I was quite hyped myself about the iPad, but the downer for me, no front facing camera and no multitasking. If this is suppose to be powerful, why not let it run like a normal Netbook can if Netbooks arent even "real computers"

First gen iPad I will skip, 2nd gen, maybe, but Im not paying extra £100 just because they found a way to put in ONE camera and call it their best iPad yet...

 

[Turbo-G]

I quite like it. Agreed, it's nothing life changing... however it will appeal to the casual user - much like the Wii has....

I can see it's main attraction would be as a device to share with the family in the house. A device that pretty much anybody can pick up, surf the net, share photo's, read an iBook, read an eNewspaper etc etc on a decent screen, without having to squint at a smart phone, sit in front of the tv with a laptop cooking their legs or dissapear up to the study to use the desktop...

I won't be buying one though..... but an interesting product nonetheless.

 

[CraigN]

i will be getting one

I have been looking at e-readers for a long time but was holding out for this.

I also play D&D old school pen and paper and in the past have tried to carry my books arround in PDF format on my iphon. It just cannot handle the images on the pdf and bombs out trying. Im very much hoping the 1ghz in this will mean i will be able to keep digital copies of books id like to carry but cant all the time.

The £300 i would have spent on an e-reader anyway + a bit more for it being apple and in a OS i allready know and use.

There is a market for these as e-readers seem to be selling very well atm.

I just hope blacklibrary join the ibook store so i can buy all the Warhammer 40k novels im into atm on it

 

[Raymond Lin]

If you read/saw the beginning of the event you would know that Stevie Jobs actually said that Netbooks are rubbish and worthless, and not actually a "computer", and this is thes solution to wiping out Netbooks, the iPad.

Now, for something to be better in the slightest then a Netbook, it would have to do a few things.

1) Multitasking
2) A Webcam
3) Supports Flash
4) AT LEAST one USB

So far the iPad does none of these, and I find it hard to believe that the iPad will actually make a change to the Netbook market, because I cant see it.

I was quite hyped myself about the iPad, but the downer for me, no front facing camera and no multitasking. If this is suppose to be powerful, why not let it run like a normal Netbook can if Netbooks arent even "real computers"

First gen iPad I will skip, 2nd gen, maybe, but Im not paying extra £100 just because they found a way to put in ONE camera and call it their best iPad yet...

I disagree with SJ that the netbook is worthless, I had one for a week last year, I put windows 7 Ultimate Beta on it. It only had 512mb RAM and the thing ran perfectly fine, I even put a copy of Office on it. It works, it played Divx, I can surf the net, and I can do some typing on it. Netbooks are here to stay and there is no doubt about that.

The iPad however will do none of that, and hence it won't replace the Netbook. What it will do is destroy Amazon and Sony's E-book market, as long as the iBook store takes off. When that takes off then anyone who were thinking about a Kindle will get an iPad instead, as its only a tiny bit more, it has a Colour screen (the public loves that), and it can surf the net etc.

 

[Kainz]

Apple or SJ pretty much shot themselves in the foot by boasting about killing off Netbooks, when the Pad can't even do the basic functions of a Windows powered netbook. Hell I own two Samsung NC10's and both of them despite having a puny 1.6ghz Atom can run Win7 RC1 without a single issue. Granted their Intel GPU's are godawful though.

I love what they did with the pad and pretty much expected exactly what they delivered all along, but putting down netbooks was just wrong.

 

[tbs]

I disagree with SJ that the netbook is worthless, I had one for a week last year, I put windows 7 Ultimate Beta on it. It only had 512mb RAM and the thing ran perfectly fine, I even put a copy of Office on it. It works, it played Divx, I can surf the net, and I can do some typing on it. Netbooks are here to stay and there is no doubt about that.

The iPad however will do none of that, and hence it won't replace the Netbook. What it will do is destroy Amazon and Sony's E-book market, as long as the iBook store takes off. When that takes off then anyone who were thinking about a Kindle will get an iPad instead, as its only a tiny bit more, it has a Colour screen (the public loves that), and it can surf the net etc.

Kindles can surf the net too.

Well SJ said that and people clapped at that comment when he said it, so the ppl at the event must agreed with his statement, right?

Now, from what you said just now, is the iPad suppose to go against Netbooks or eBook Readers?

There is no way that you can stare at that screen when reading a full fledge novel and not once have eye strain. eBooks are made with eInk so its easier on the eyes just like a real book is, if the screen is too bright your eyes will burn, some might say they never get it from laptops or computers but those are people that spend huge amount of time sitting and staring at a screen, SO if this is to target the casual types, ie mums and dads who dont stare at screens for long periods of time and this is something theyre buying to read books on, then have fun having migraines.

So what is the iPad suppose to be? eBook replacement? Netbook replacement? Since it does have an iWorks version especially made for it to do your documents and stuff, but it cant multitask...

 

[muon]

Granted their Intel GPU's are godawful though.

Still likely to be better than what's in the ipad. Also it runs aero fine. Its not like you plan on playing games (or at least I hope you don't).

I also think the ipad screen should be a desktop/worktop with multitasking. Otherwise it may struggle to keep up with the windows 7 tablets which are about to come into the market this year.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Kindles can surf the net too.

Well SJ said that and people clapped at that comment when he said it, so the ppl at the event must agreed with his statement, right?

Now, from what you said just now, is the iPad suppose to go against Netbooks or eBook Readers?

There is no way that you can stare at that screen when reading a full fledge novel and not once have eye strain. eBooks are made with eInk so its easier on the eyes just like a real book is, if the screen is too bright your eyes will burn, some might say they never get it from laptops or computers but those are people that spend huge amount of time sitting and staring at a screen, SO if this is to target the casual types, ie mums and dads who dont stare at screens for long periods of time and this is something theyre buying to read books on, then have fun having migraines.

So what is the iPad suppose to be? eBook replacement? Netbook replacement? Since it does have an iWorks version especially made for it to do your documents and stuff, but it cant multitask...

More the E-Book market than a netbook market, IMO.

The fact that it can't multitask annoying, especially with that screen estate. If i run MSN on the ipad, I want to be able to surf the net too. MSN does not need to take up all of the space onscreen, 1/3 would do really.

The iPad is not perfect, it is however not that expensive, it is practically toy money for the entry model. So that's why it'll sell.