“Last week Apple announced their iPad family of devices which are scheduled for launch in late March of this year. Building upon the success of the iPhone and the App Store, Apple are on track to once again revolutionise the mobile application business,” David Dixon, developer at Mubaloo, writes for Macworld UK.
“It’s just a bigger iPod touch right? Wrong… Cosmetically they are very similar but when you delve even slightly into the iPad’s hardware and software additions you begin to realise the incredible capabilities offered by this mobile device,” Dixon writes.
Dixon writes, “iPad is a welcome addition to the iPhone OS family alongside the iPhone and the iPod touch, and it will undoubtedly lead to another gold rush for developers.”
Read more in the full article here.
I hope one day the NYT or WSJ pulls all the iCalled idiots that MDN has been keeping tabs on and publish their silly rants about the iPad. For that matter they can do the iPhone list today. That would be cool to see…. hehe
“It’s just a bigger iPod touch right? ¨
Size really matters here. It´s not the same playing minigolf to playing in a real golf course
The ubergeeks start off claiming that the iPad is nothing more than a big iPodTouch. That was my initial impression. Oddly, if that were true, the product would still be of interest, but it’s not true. The iPad does indeed incorporate all of the functionality of the iPodTouch, however it adds a significant level of usability and functionality predicated yes on size, but upon user interface enhancements as well. Look at the implementation of iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) in the iPad introduction video. Look at the book reader application. The iPodTouch/iPhone are nice to use for such functions in a pinch, but one can easily see that using the iPad will be a very comfortable experience in comparison.
When I first saw pictures of the iPad, I had the same underwhelmed ‘it’s just a big iPod Touch’ reaction that was prevalent that day on the internet. I quickly set that aside though with the caveat of ‘I really need to see and interact with one of these before I pass judgement’. And that’s where I am now… Although everyone who HAS seems really enamored of the device.
Of course, I will probably end up wanting one; but since I am still rocking an iPhone 3G, I’m going to want to upgrade to the 4th generation iPhone they release this year – being that my AT&T;contract will allow to upgrade and take advantage of the subsidy – and that will put quite a crimp in the budget toward such a device.
I mean when the device launches, I’ll be busy trying to round up a couple thou to pay my taxes with… by the time I recover from that, It’ll be time to get the new iPhone… then in the fall it will be time to upgrade the Wife’s iPhone… so it may not be until next year. By then they will likely release the 2nd gen… and so it goes….
The next WWW interface will be developed by hundreds if not thousands of developers from across the globe in the form of apps. Apps offer direct access to relevant content without having to troll the web via a search engine, also as long as the vetting regime remains tight, secure content that does not contain trojans, viruses or spyware. Roll on the day when security is no longer the main issue that obstructs online commerce.
@ Jubei,
from PC World today:
Are iPad Skeptics as Wrong as iPhone Naysayers Were?
Plenty of pundits are pooh-poohing Apple’s iPad. But let’s look back at some of the initial predictions that doubting Thomases made about the iPhone.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/188386/are_ipad_skeptics_as_wrong_as_iphone_naysayers_were.html
@iWill
Haha… thanks. I’m going to copy all that crap and save it for fun.
@Willie G
“Of course, I will probably end up wanting one; but since I am still rocking an iPhone 3G, I’m going to want to upgrade to the 4th generation iPhone they release this year “
I’m in the same boat albeit in the UK… can’t FRIGGING WAIT to upgrade… if apple puts in a custom chip into the iPhone 4G as well it’s going to sing in our hands.
Two things:
1. There appears to be no easy way to use the iPad in landscape mode with an external keyboard. Portrait mode is very inconvenient when running any sort of graphics application.
2. I haven’t read anything about syncing the iPad to the cloud when traveling. No mobile backup = Big deal breaker for working pros.
Does anyone know if the iPad can sync to MobileMe (or other online service) while on the road?
iPhone does this, right? so why not?
One of the biggest achievements of the iPad ecosystem will be to drive home the idea that the OS doesn’t matter, just as it hasn’t mattered much for mobile phones.
What most people don’t know is that the iPad uses OSX (unix) on the inside, i.e., exactly the same OS, development frameworks as the Mac, except for the GUI frameworks which are called Cocoa Touch, rather than Cocoa.
The iPhone (which also runs OSX) has already attracted quite a number of developers to the OSX platform.
But low and behold, most of the iPhone apps now run on the iPad, which will offer even more opportunities for developers.
It is a small step, however, for an iPhone/iPad developer, to also start developing for the Mac proper. Why? Same OS, same development environment, same frameworks (apart from the GUI, which will, no doubt, soon also include touch functionality on the Mac).
A whole new breed of developers for the Mac/iPad/iPhone is emerging.
Without much ado, the IBM compatibles will be superseded by Mac compatibles.
@alansky
graphics apps don’t need keyboards that much, do they? portrait mode is likely more relevant to those who do heavy word processing…
I would like to be able to run iPad apps on our Macs
Unfortunately, that article has absolutely zero, I mean 0%, useful info about developing on the iPad. Zilch. Doubt the author is even a software developer anyways. Lame lame lame article. Just rehashing some info from the release event with no new info, no new specs, no new anything at all. For developers? Useless article. My 2 cents.
It’s getting to be painful reading about the iPad- so many idiots. I’m just gonna wait for version 2.0, thank the Lord for version 1.0, then snatch one up.
Without needing anyone else’s approval or recommendation- I’ve seen enough. I’ll take one now, but buy one- hopefully soon.
It seems the more successful Apple gets, the more the special interest groups (its competitors) spread lies and influence “pundits” to write biased articles. Legitimate criticism? Sure- that’s why I’m waiting a bit. But the Google and Microsoft camps are “me-too snakes”- incapable of innovation. let Apple do all the R & D- better yet, serve on their board for a while.
“Apple’s got a lot of great stuff coming out”- Google.
Yeah, meaning, “therefore, so do We!”
“1. There appears to be no easy way to use the iPad in landscape mode with an external keyboard”
A bluetooth keyboard would be external…
“2. I haven’t read anything about syncing the iPad to the cloud when traveling. …Does anyone know if the iPad can sync to MobileMe (or other online service) while on the road?”
I strongly suspect that Apple didn’t state every single detail of iPad capabilities or usage at the keynote. Also, doubt that the iPad is going to lack major functionality of the iPhone mob.
Patience.
This is a revolutionary device.
It is making a very humble entry into the computer ecosystem. Apple is keeping this initial model extremely modest in its function-ability, so that it can eventually evolve into a more powerful form… with ever increasing functionality.
The trick is to introduce a new form factor… to keep it simple enough… so that it works… to allow for a successful launch… that will allow it to take hold…
The features it lacks now allow its emergence… and its simplicity will allow it to capture the hearts and imaginations of the public…
and soon… very soon… everyone will be using an apple tablet… even if they think it was invented by someone else.
Despite the enthusiasm I have for the iPad, my expectations for the initial batch of software is that there will be a lot of obvious first-generation problems. For example, I wonder if developers will have the opportunity to buy iPads for testing their applications before the launch in late March. If not, their user interfaces will be based on guess-work; there is nothing like holding the actual device during testing. I also think that a lot of software ported to the iPad will give reason for people to say that it is just a big iPod Touch. The best applications for the iPad will be those that are written from the ground up, like Pages, Numbers and Keynote from the demo we saw last week.
4x the screen size = 16x more usefull… (i think)
that’s all
As an iPhone developer I can’t imagine the iPad being that lucrative to develop for, but this is because im guessing not as many people will own an iPad as they do an iPhone. Check out http://www.PhoneFreelancer.com if your looking for iPad developers for a cool app idea. Might have the opportunity to make a killing being the first to market.
…graphics apps don’t need keyboards that much, do they? portrait mode is likely more relevant to those who do heavy word processing… —pluki7
That depends on the user. Personally, I do use the keyboard quite a bit when I’m working in Photoshop. Some people prefer to do everything with the mouse. But the point is that the iPad has no mouse; so without a physical keyboard, one must use the on-screen virtual keyboard, which means that the iPad must be lying fairly flat—and it shouldn’t be. Even if the screen remains bright, there’s too much distortion in graphics images when they are viewed this way. I suppose someone will come out with a simple stand to address this issue, but it’s another thing to carry.
Mind you, I think the iPad is a brilliant device. But it won’t be all things to all people. Artists and kids who like digital finger painting will love it; but Photoshop running on an iPad would be a serious mismatch, imho.
Personally, I was never into the iPhone and I still use the iPod mini I bought in ’04 (with new battery). It does all I need in this regard.
The iPad is a completely different animal, though. When you count in iWorks and that keyboard/dock contraption, you have the perfect travel device. Small enough for airline roach class tables, yet big enough so people my age don’t need reading glasses. Once arrived in your hotel room or meeting room, you can type away on your texts or go over your presentation. You can load all the manuscripts and documents you want to proof read and a few movies, too. Love it!
@Not impressed:
With all due respect, you are like the people back in 1850 who thought the California gold rush was no big deal. Whatever.
@plethora
Suggest you get your facts straight….all you had to do was type in his name and company and you would not only see that he is a developer but what he has developed. Unfortunately its people like you that bring down the tone of the reviews. If you cant get your 2cents correct keep it to yourself!