“If Bob Iger’s appearance at Apple Inc.’s splashy unveiling of the iPad tablet computer two weeks ago didn’t clue you in, on Tuesday he made his affinity for the new device clear,” The Associated Press reports.
“The chief executive of The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday the iPad was a ‘game changer’ that could transform how media companies deliver content to consumers,” AP reports. “He ad-libbed on several products that Disney would potentially develop for the iPad: a souped-up version of the ESPN ScoreCenter iPhone application, an interactive children’s book format, and applications for watching ABC News and the drama ‘Lost.'”
Eiger said, “‘We find that the iPad has a lot of potential. We think it’s a really compelling device. We think it could be a game changer in terms of enabling us to create essentially new forms of content.'”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Eric24601” and “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]
How can someone ask for Flash, and in the same breath critisize technology that locks out competition. That was exactly Flash’s business model.
Here’s another group to consider; folks like my MIL, who wants to be able to check email, look things up on the Web, maybe play a few casual games without having to kick my FIL off the desktop…but standard laptops are too heavy and bulky for her (she’s quite petite, plus has been disabled in a wheelchair for some time). An iPad is just what she could use, with the addition of the keyboard dock for when she’s responding to email. Not everyone needs the full power supplied by a desktop or laptop machine.
Plus, I’m a writer and poet by avocation…but dragging my laptop everywhere is a PITA. An iPad will be great when I have a sudden inspiration.
NASAMan: But if you’re not at home (stuck in an airport for example), you’ll still be able to catch your show in a “normal” way if you so choose.
@spatlantean
I don’t deny that google is evil or apple and the iPad are great or that buzz is simply dangerous but it opened up a whole new world today.
When I first saw the Apple iPad Event, the first thing that crossed my mind was – I WANT ONE! I thought to myself, it will be a nice toy to have around the house. When I want to check email, I won’t have to run up to the Office to check it on the Mac. I’ll use a bunch of iPhone APPs (hopefully upgraded to iPad APPs), and of course I’ll download my iBooks and enjoy them from the iPad. But my initial thought was that an iPad would probably not replace my Mac. That my Mac would remain the workhorse, and the iPad would be a toy to play with.
Since then, every day, I think of different ways I’ll use an iPad, and it’s becoming clear to me that nearly everything I do on my Mac will be able to be accomplished on an iPad. For instance – I’ll be able to do my online banking from my iPad via Safari – that’s something I hadn’t initially thought I would do with it (I use a small local Bank & Trust that does not have an iPhone APP). Obviously I’ll be able to use Mail, iCal, Address Book, iTunes, Pages, and Numbers as well. I know there are iPhone APPs for my Financial software (iBank), as well as my Password Database (SplashID), and for my SlingBox too.
So I’ve been thinking the past couple of days, what do I do on my Mac, that I won’t be able to do on an iPad. As of right now, I can think of only one thing –
1) I can’t listen to Howard Stern on an iPad. I know the Sirius-XM APP doesn’t have Howard 100 on it. And the Sirius Internet Radio site requires FLASH. If Pulsar ever makes an iPad APP – I’d buy it instantly. I love Pulsar on my Mac, and use it everyday to listen to Howard.
I also thought of two other things, but quickly realized that they too could be accomplished on an iPad –
1) Import music directly from a CD. Then I thought to myself – I could buy them from iTunes via the iPad instead. There’s no need for my Mac to accomplish the same result.
2) I can’t do my Taxes on an iPad. But I think I could, if I wanted to go through one of the online tax services.
So I am convinced, that after I get my iPad, that except for listening to Howard via Pulsar (and probably pushing it to the iPad via Airfoil) 4 days per week, my Mac will quickly start to gather dust. And that in my mind is definitely a “game changer”.
He is terrified, and he’ll pretend he doesn’t get it. But his very fear points to what a game-changer this is.
R2 will never agree that its a game changer. When the iPad can stream Pandora while watching LOST, then its a game changer.
Apple is throwing a big iPad party this year and mike g isn’t invited!
Like many others I felt a little let down at first by the iPad vs my expectations of what Apple might unveil. I think I was particularly intrigued by some revolutionary 3D UI…. I didn’t want it yet…. I just knew if Apple did something revolutionary then it would almost certainly be something I would want.
I too said it’s just a big iPod Touch…. and STILL believe that, but that is no small thing (literally). Since when is an iPod Touch a bad thing. I LOVED it until my company got me an iPhone. Once that took it’s place in my pocket, I just couldn’t justify keeping it.
Subtract the hype and things look differently. If there was NO hype, and Apple suddenly came out and said they’ve made a new version of the iPod Touch much bigger, have faster Wi-Fi, a much faster processor, have the option of 3G in it without contracts, and of course new types of Apps (even versions of iWork) to take advantage of all of the above all priced not too differently then a large iPod Touch would be and I think people would go nuts.
I do agree though, that this is evolutionary not revolutionary. An evolutionary leap from something head and shoulders ahead of anything else.
All the tower loving, file sharing, geeky troubleshooting, everything should be free pc’ers are gonna hate the ipad … of course. I love it …. the idea that intellectual content should somehow be free is an adolescent fantasy that has destroyed thousands if not millions of peoples jobs and their future. Yes … the device should be closed for protection to the user from crappy apps and viruses and drm is protection for the artists. It’s perfect! ….. If you want free watch your job disappear to China like everything else …
And another thing .. if it was just a laptop with an OS …how many pc’ers would buy it? … but the ipad does not require you to make a wholesale change over to another operating system or computer .. all you need is itunes … which millions of pc’ers already are familiar with. It’s a brilliant trojan horse into the pc market with everything going thru itunes ..
@mike g
It’s all about usability, not just the hardware feature, <a ref=”http://www.andrejkoelewijn.com/wp/2010/01/30/so-you-think-its-the-ipad-thats-missing-features/”> as has been demonstrated before by the iPhone.</a>
2 words: paradigm shift. this pretty much sums up the people that get it already, and those who are yet to.
All the naysayers comparing an iPad to a laptop are like all the chuckleheads comparing a bargain-basement $399 POS Windows machine to a Mac. Apples and oranges.
The iPad is already changing the game in Technology as well as media. I first production units haven’t even hit the streets yet and media companies are all quietly (well some less so then others) clamoring over how they can leverage it to make money from their content. From small indie Music labels to the mega national media giants with their fingers in all forms of media like Disney. The Tech punters are stamping their feet and offering negative feed back already because they now see that Apple is striping the curtains off of their religion that technology devices need to be cloaked in a layer of obscurity that keeps out normal people. They raised and still raise the same flags and protest about the iPhone. Technology punters have all been touting the Google Nexus One Phone because Android has an OS is not ready for prime time and Google also believes that Technology is for the few Tech. Savvy users. This same vision of you must be a hard core nerd to fully use a high technology device is of course what keeps Windows embedded in offices by IT managers. They need to preserver their turf and keep their jobs relevant. Switching to the Mac OS X would render their turf an open question, it would also strip their budgets over time as few IT staff and support staff would be needed.
The Tech Punters are living in fear of Apple rendering their jobs and them obsolete. Why have the over paid Geek Tech Punters reviewing technology that anyone can understand and use. If Media outlets want honest reports and reviews of Apple Products they should start by giving the assignment to someone that is not a tech reviewer or tech reporter in any way. That will give you the most honest review and report of an Apple Related Product announcement.
Tech Punters and IT Nerds a word of warning, Apple is going to strip the obfuscation from your treasured technology god and open it up to the people. Like your grand parents, great grand parents and the learning challenged children around the world. Let’s face it Apple is going to kill the elite technology god no matter how much the tech nerds bitch and moan.
The iPad will move consumers to Apple that would in many cases have chosen cheap laptop based on price, and some who want a light weight netbook, others who might not have an iPhone but would like a netbook that does telephone, and all these markets are huge. Apart from the gaming potential which is huge. Unfortunately, people are going to be killed and mugged for their iPads, which is why they will represent a personal security risk.
*Those millions of people you are putting out of a job will not be able to buy a iPad.*
This is the very definition of Luddite.
It’s a smart move for Disney to embrace the iPad now. Apple will be a leader in the tablet market very soon, and for the forseeable future. The potential for the iPad to be applicable in personal and business use, more than previous products, is huge. After some issues are fixed, the iPad will be a homerun.
Check out ipad news and updates:
iPadLot.com
Sorry PC (and Nokia Symbian) users, here´s the thing you are not getting: The iPad is a game changer as it is the first device to change what has been status quo since the Mac Plus – the time it takes to get to where you want – your e-mail account, browser, video or document. Throughout the decades this user experience hasn´t changed at all – or actually got worse. Even though this article is a couple of years old, not much has changed.
http://hubpages.com/hub/_86_Mac_Plus_Vs_07_AMD_DualCore_You_Wont_Believe_Who_Wins
Gotta agree for the most part with mike g. Any family/child who can afford such a device is going to be growing up (either now or in the future) with knowledge about how to use computers. It does not need to be stupid simple – how hard is it to operate a Mac? Every kid/young adult I know can use a computer with a basic degree of competence, and as they grow up and have their own children, you can bet that technology will advance, not become stupidly simple. I understand ease of use is important and that’s why I use a MBP, but it becomes a problem when it strips away functionality. And while the virtual keyboard works great on an iPhone, I have my reservations about typing horizontally on a virtual keyboard with no feedback. I am almost certain I will lose a lot of speed.
Laptops are getting lighter all the time. I would much rather have a MBA than an iPad, if not for the price difference. The difference in weight and portability is negligible, and the MBA can do so much more, because it is a real laptop running a full-featured OSX.
iPads will sell, but not because of their usefulness. It will sell to people who love Apple and have to have any new product they release, regardless of functionality.
@Demon
Yep.
It amazes me how I keep reading through so many threads on this site where people just don’t get what this device is. Last I checked, Apple was still making computers with a full OS and keyboard for anyone who needs them. Who does? Me. Who doesn’t? My mom, dad, kids, aunts, uncles & a whole sh!tload of my friends. Truth is – I don’t need one – BUT, I will want one!
I also think it’s amazing how the reader portion of this device is generally ignored by the nay-sayers. There are likely many more people like me, who even though they don’t need this device, will get it anyways because of the reader and the iBookstore. AND – if I were still a student – it would be a no brainer. As much as others want to talk about e-ink and special screens – well, like a lot of you I’m already staring at a laptop screen most of the day – the IPS screen should be even easier on the eyes.
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it would be a no brainer. As much as others want to talk about e-ink and special screens – well, like a lot of you I’m already staring at a laptop screen most of the day – the IPS screen should be even easier on the eyes.
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I understand ease of use is important and that’s why I use a MBP, but it becomes a problem when it strips away functionality. And while the virtual keyboard works great on an iPhone, I have my reservations about typing horizontally on a virtual keyboard with no feedback.
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it would be a no brainer. As much as others want to talk about e-ink and special screens – well, like a lot of you I’m already staring at a laptop screen most of the day – the IPS screen should be even easier on the eyes.