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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Apple tablet: Thoughts?

I wish it had a Finder, simplified Mac OS X emulation of some kind, a user-accessible directory structure, multitasking, a front-facing camera, HD output, a 720p screen, a real USB port and an open development environment.

Won't stop me from likely buying one. I'm still thrilled about the thing, it's fabulous. Such is the nature of this nerd life.

A good article.
 
Jacek Szwarc-Bronikowski said:
From my point of view, it's a kind of device
that SUPPRESS creativity and imagination.
It's not like a computer.
It's not OPEN for creation.
It's not for dynamic communication, also.
Its like a TV.
Just for watching.
Just for selling newspapers and video content.
It's not any kind of a authentic "digital revolution".
It's just a toy. A passive one.
Causing INERTIA.
Very sad.
Click to expand...

You have a very good point Jacek. For most users, no doubt this will be the case, as those who are content to just consume will find many more options to dull their senses with. However, I can see lots of developers coming forward with app's that will open up the device's potential for education and creative uses.
 
Jacek Szwarc-Bronikowski said:
From my point of view, it's a kind of device
that SUPPRESS creativity and imagination.
It's not like a computer.
It's not OPEN for creation.
It's not for dynamic communication, also.
Its like a TV.
Just for watching.
Just for selling newspapers and video content.
It's not any kind of a authentic "digital revolution".
It's just a toy. A passive one.
Causing INERTIA.
Very sad.
Click to expand...

Inertia is the last thing this will cause! I have to say that I think you're looking at this device from completely the wrong perspective. I don't expect it to be a major creative tool; I think of it as a screen for viewing creative work. And that's very exciting!
Outdoor Magazine did this production last October. Think of the implications this sort of work has for moving images. The iPad is its theater. The iPad and its like have the potential to drive an evolution of magazine feature stories into a form that combines good writing with moving pictures. Very exciting stuff in my view!
 
I've had a day or two to put my thoughts in order and I've come up with this:

I think it'll be a really cool ipod, but thats where I think they missed the point. If it's larger than an ipod and comes close to laptop size, then why not make it in essence a touch screen laptop?

I'd pay $1,500 or more for something like it if it had full (low end) laptop functionality, if I could put it on it's stand, hook a keyboard and mouse up to it at home and use it like I would a low powered home computer to run Quickbooks, fool around with simple Photoshop stuff, and if I really wanted to push it, make some simple cut edits in FCP using OfflineRT, and then unhook it take it in the living room using it's touchscreen goodness to tool around on the internet, check email, or take it on a plane and watch movies or play games to pass the time like you would an ipod.

That's where I think they missed the boat on this one, functionality. I'd gladly pay double, or tripple for this device if it could replace or combine 2 or 3 devices I use every day in one really nice package. And for goodness sake, stop with the lack of expandable storage. Give the freaking thing a sd card slot.
 
I think the iPad will be the most important product Apple have ever released. Im sure most of us here use computers professionally and it's easy to look at it from that perspective.

It's a huge step forward in computing, people who have a fear of computers or find it difficult to use them miss out on the experiences we take for granted. I bet people like that can just pick up an iPad and away they will go.
 
Restricted functionality.
That's that hurt.

Why to be a consumer ONLY
if you can (and should) be PRO-SUMER ?!
 
jimhare said:
I disagree. It's easy to say you want every feature available in every device, but if you look at what they set out to design:

1. Compete with $289 Kindle monochrome e-reader
2. Make it do a lot more
3. Create a device that sits between a smart-phone and a lap top
Click to expand...

Okay if you put it that way, but I consider things like connectivity and communication abilities pretty essential features for a modern device like this. No one expected ExpressCard, FW800 etc.

I also think majority of folks did not expect just a larger iPod and a Kindle replacement.


jimhare said:
As Red owners we are used to people attacking the thing we love, and feel most of those attacks are unfounded and misguided.

We shouldn't be shooting arrows.
Click to expand...


Since limiting standard features is nothing new with this company I think negative impressions from folks are pretty founded. This device will be far from useless, enabling new uses previously impossible - this is unquestionable. However, for a few basic features more it would be much better and much more useful.

I understand your perspective which makes sense, but I think it's slightly more considerate to manufacturer then the consumer.
 
I've been hearing all the time, "it's just a big iPod touch or iPhone".

It's not really...

It's got a more powerful engine in it, they even managed to put iWorks in it. Think about it this way...the power of the device will be at launch. All doubts will be dispelled.

The device is content driven, much like the iPod, it's giving way to content in such a way that other devices haven't before. It's not really to challenge the kindle fully but rather to expand on what the kindle has done. It's not a netbook killer YET.

2nd revision it will become a netbook killer. By looks of the SDK, it remains with "take photo" in the contacts area. This means that either the camera was taken out last minute or it will be a future potential. At that point, much like many have said, thinks storyboards.

Go beyond that and think of this device as a pre-production planner, a post production tracker. It's pro-sumer. It's not to edit your videos, netbook's aren't built for that, get a macbook pro if you want to do that or a mac pro.

All of this is fine and dandy but notice how it's all based on content created. The only reason people maybe rather doubting this device is because they have yet to have one in their hands or possibily because expectations were too high at first. People were going on about 'cameras behind the display' or even 'iChat potential'.

The device is lighter then a macbook air. It's got more real estate then the iPhone (obviously.)

Imagine the potential.

Let your mind run wild.

A way to check up on your renders whilst your outside of office at the coffee shop.

Security camera feed to check up on your employees (haha...many may not like this.)

Some have said a console for color or a tangent wave sort thing... (kind of hard as theirs no tactile feedback but I guess that's pretty neat)

What about a huge clapper board (like the slate thats for the iPhone/Touch)?

Or perhaps with an external camera you can use it as a directors view finder.

When camera input is available imagine the possibility of a huge star viewer (like the one some love so much!)

Do anything, do everything. Photoshop can be placed on it, appreture.

Problem is storage. Give it 2nd rev and 128GB will be possible.

People's minds have already started going wild with ideas...just chucking some more out there...that have been or havent been said before...

More devices means more potential. Never look at something and say 'it's not worth it.' cause even a hacker can mod an iPhone to make apps on the iPhone itself, his clearly found the potential for such a small device. When given something more powerful with a larger display, there's so much possibility for more!


Btw, watch the promo video, I was sitting in my room today and realized that if I had the iPad, I'd probably be able to carry that every where and beable to use it faster then booting up a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro.

Also -

the iPhone HAS an open directory, it's hidden. Jail breaking is there for those that want to use that since Apple has decided to hide it. The iPhone has the ability to be used from the computer to the iPhone, as in you can actually use the iPhone device with a mouse and text from it etc.

without jailbreaking in the SDK there's ability to create your own ways of interacting with the device. So draw a circle creates a circular menu (sort of like the Sci-Fi kind) stuff like that is possible.

I've been trying to pick this stuff up but it's pretty damn hard to say the least!
 
Also, wont a device like this be a good "window" to the "cloud" whenever cloud computing really takes off? Imagine, all you need is to open the safari browser and you can have access to as much decentralized computing power as you need. The only requirement will be some form of broadband connectivity (wifi and 3G). Also, is there possibility of desktop virtualization? Would it be possible to synchronize this with your Mac Pro?

Being a native English speaker living in a non-English speaking country I am very excited about having instant access to all the books, magazines and newspapers that I can click on. For content creators this is going to be great. It's not perfect and its in its infancy but the idea for alternative digital distribution is now in the mainstream and we can all take advantage of that at some point.

Simply put, this allows us more access to the "long-tail" of media which in the end is great for consumers and content producers alike.
 
So it now looks like the 'full web experience' will lack Flash support. What's with Apple lately?

No bluray (industry standard)
No flash (industry standard)

What's next no 60hz power sources?
 
Well although it doesn't have a lot of things to make it perfect...it is perfect at film development and pre-prod, production managing. Review location shots...it will be perfect for using in a production meeting. For Indie work if I can get Celtx up on it then that would be great. There is already a Final Draft viewer for Iphone isn't there?

I will buy one for this purpose alone because it is reasonably priced. I can read scripts on it, edit scripts. There is a lot of positives. Not saying that this is all new to the world, however it is light, small and well priced.
 
If you are gonna carry around something that large, just carry a laptop
 
Ethan Cooper said:
So it now looks like the 'full web experience' will lack Flash support. What's with Apple lately?
Click to expand...

As best as I can understand the Flash situation, there's a lot of fiinger pointing between Apple and Adobe. It seems that Apple thinks Adobe should create the Flash support for the iPhone/iTouch, just as Adobe maintains and releases their Flash player plugin for OSX, Windows, Linux, etc..

Adobe doesn't seem to see it that way. The Flash file format and specs are entirely open. Source code for various Flash players are available through Adobe's development resources. If Apple wants Flash support, all they have to do is create it. Just as has been done by other manufacturers and developers for other platforms like Palm, Android, etc..

Is it really that simple? It seems there should be more to it. Then again, it really could be that simple... Who knows, but I have yet to see any concrete answer from either Apple or Adobe as to why there is no Flash support on the iPhone/iTouch. Flash developers will be able to make iPhone/iTouch apps via Flash CS5 and there's a good chance that full iPad support will be included in a subsequent update. So then if Adobe has gone through the lengths of making player that can serve as an app loader, why don't they go the extra 20 yards and give Apple the web plug-in too? After all, Apple seems to be saying that they're waiting on Adobe... Adobe keeps saying Apple just has to do it.

I don't get it... Someone please explain it to me. Both companies are repeatedly asked about this situation. Neither company ever gives much of an answer, or at least nothing that makes sense beyond a playground dispute between two children.
 
One thing to consider is that AT&T already has trouble keeping up with iPhone bandwidth demands, if suddenly you got Flash support for the iPhone/iPad would that bring AT&T's already taxed system to it's knees?
 
One last thing and then I'll shut up:

Regardless of why Apple doesn't support flash, it seems ludicrous to me that with the proliferation of flash on the web that you can introduce a made for the internet device without flash support. Sure there are other ways to do what flash does, but a large percentage of sites and services are currently using flash.

This smells of Bluray to me. Apple defiantly stomping their foot like an angry child and refusing to conform to the industry standard just because they don't like it.

The iPad isn't a pro level device, therefore it's targeted at consumers correct? Shouldn't a product geared toward consumers be easy to use and work with existing standards as to please the maximum amount of consumers?
 
You don't have to use the iPad with AT&T. It's sold as unlocked. It will work with any 3G carrier willing to issue it a data plan. I bet here in the USA that T-Mobile and others will be scrambling to offer up some deals. The AT&T plans are also the no-contract, pay as you go prices. I wouldn't be surprised to see cheaper offerings if paired with existing phone plans.

Unfortunately iPhone 3G aside, most carriers' 3G networks are over-saturated. The only reason I would buy a 3G iPad is for when I travel I could enable the 3G plan for the time I'll be away. Then I don't have to track down free hotspots.
 
Because Flash is open source to some extent, it is vulnerable to hacking and other security threats. If the iPhone were to have Flash support in its current form, the User's account information, iTunes transactional processes and other vulnerable information is at risk. A solution is underway, but the core issue is security related as I understand it. In order to close the security gap that Flash support would expose, a new, more robust and closed version of Flash is required. I think that Adobe and Apple are at odds over who should pay for this added development cost and implementation.

Flash is also largely blind to search engine optimization. When you jailbreak your iPhone, you also open a huge door to security threats. This is the situation as I understand it.
 
Ethan Cooper said:
This smells of Bluray to me. Apple defiantly stomping their foot like an angry child and refusing to conform to the industry standard just because they don't like it.
Click to expand...

i think it's a little more complicated (i.e. political) than that but apple is being just as selfish. like it or not apple wields a big stick now and when they put their mind(share) to it, they can get things done such as supplanting flash with html 5. i don't care about flash and have never once wished i had it on my iphone but that might not be the same for the ipad that i intend to buy. i wish apple would play nicer with others because these things trickle down and eventually do affect things near and dear to me like red.
 
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