Illustration Annual
Following on from our highly acclaimed Annual, and Photography Annual we are launching a version
just for Illustration
CR Blog
iPad: what are you going to do with it?
Posted by Patrick Burgoyne, 28 January 2010, 10:19 Permalink Comments (81)
So here it is then - the iPad. Will it change your world?
Apple launched its much-hyped, much-anticipated tablet device last night (as if you needed telling). First impressions – that name, is it us or is iPad just a little, well, 'sanitary'? And, yes, it does look like a giant iPhone, as many have pointed out (and quite a few correctly predicted).
At first sight, it raises more questions than it answers. If I want to watch video on it do I have to hold it the whole time? Won't that get annnoying or will there be a slew of third party cradles, stands and devices to fit over the back of aeroplane seats to address this? And if I want to type on it, how does that work? One handed? Or do I have to lay it flat? Will it be easy to hold or is it as slippery as an iPhone?
UPDATE: Here are the case (available separately it looks like) and dock which will allow the iPad to stand upright for viewing.
If I want to use the phone am I going to end up looking like Dom Joly?
I don't know, because I haven't had a go with one yet and while everyone rushes to instant judgement, the thing to remember about Apple devices is that they always get better. Problems get fixed, new versions work better etc etc
But the biggest question must surely be what is it for? Everything, Apple says, but does that make sense? By trying to do everything will it satisfy no-one?
In fact, the people who will largely determine what it is for and convince people they must have one will be you, dear readers, the people who will design and build content for it. Yes, OK, you can use it to access email and the web, to watch video and listen to music, but what will set the iPad apart will be the ways in which designers figure out how to combine all the rich functionality it offers into compelling new combinations.
The publishing industry has its fingers crossed that the iPad will solve a lot of its problems. That, through it, people will be persuaded to buy what for want of a better word, we could term digital magazines (like this), or books or newspapers. Packages of content that go further than the eBooks available already to combine text, images, video and the ability to link and comment which, crucially, people will pay for as they do with Apps. That will build on developments such as Enhanced Editions and the new digital music format MusicDNA unveiled this week.
So, over to you: what are you going to design for the iPad?
81 Comments
i think its a very interesting piece of technology - it could be for those for those who dont need computer but like to browse the web, email, look at pictures, type letters and listen to music - which personally a large part of my family only use computers for.
however i think the addition of a cd drive would be make the ipad more appealing
2010-01-28 11:11:45
Yes you would look Me if you used it as a phone, but luckily it was designed without a phone function, so you wont.
2010-01-28 11:16:46
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFNQE_TzQNI
The 'Pad.'
2010-01-28 11:20:30
musicDNATM is the name for both an ontology and a number of user interface concepts which together provide a dynamic navigation architecture for the mapping of the musical universe. musicDNATM captures the essential structure of musical events and resources in terms of human activity, thereby enabling visualization of and navigation through this powerfully rich semantic space for use in many kinds of commercial, educational, and community-based environments. musicDNATM opens up a new way of creating social objects from music, musicians, and music-making, mapping the journey of a piece of music across four stages from inspiration via notation and interpretation to appreciation, and enabling the tracking of musical influences across time. musicDNATM is provided by joint partners Pensive SA and CTU, and is implemented using the Topic Maps data model. The musicDNATM project and ontology have been presented repeatedly in the international research community since 2008, and have a long history dating back to a BBC programme at the turn of the Millennium; the current phase was publicly announced by Pensive in early 2009. You can now sign up to musicDNA at http://www.musicdna.info/signup.aspx. The iPhone / iPod touch app musicGPSTM is available in the App Store at http://itunes.com/apps/musicgps.
2010-01-28 11:30:11
The first celebrity to publicly criticise the iPad as being too big
http://twitpic.com/104n6y
2010-01-28 11:35:12
I'd heard Wacom were involved which, as an illustrator, got my hopes up thinking I'd be able to take it out and also use it as a digital sketch 'pad'. At this stage there's no 'pad' about it so I'm hoping a version with a nifty wacom pen will be developed in the future. Until then its back to my son's Thomas the Tank Engine Megasketcher, or even one of these http://bit.ly/cUssOT #ipad
2010-01-28 11:38:01
would be cool in meetings for pdf's and web stuff - only being able to run 1 program like the iphone sucks tho!
2010-01-28 11:41:27
Perhaps dan also thinks that an iPod would be better if it had a cd drive built in?
2010-01-28 11:43:55
I won't be designing a damn thing FOR it. It's the emperor's new clothes, a truly pointless device, aimed squarely at Apple sycophants. I want nothing to do with it.
2010-01-28 11:44:19
There are loads of possibilities to do with this new gadget that most of geeks don't even count on it. I don't know why they complain or what was expecting. All results from endless speculations regarding some 'magical device'. For instance, when someone develops a DJing or Vjing program for this, it will be a fever. As for me, a musician, this could easily replace JazzMutant and Tenori-On with just one piece of hardware.
What intrigues me the most is, why do you need a revolution every time Apple launches something? Are you disappointed? Boo hoo. Keep already using your iPod, iPhone and Macs. Those already changed your way of living anyway.
2010-01-28 12:21:37
I must admit, I feel a bit underwhelmed. I'm a massive apple fan, but anyone who thinks this is anything other than a large iphone is truly mistaken. It's not a fully functioning tablet computer, I'd like to see multi-tasking, an OS X like operating system with application dock, a front facing camera for video calls, a dvd drive, etc...
I'd like to see the ebook reader and shop come to iphone though.
Matt
2010-01-28 12:25:28
I don't understand why it's so hard to think of what to do with the ipad. It would instantly and easily replace my sony laptop, which is only used by myself or my wife when we want to surf the net or answer emails etc while sitting on the sofa.
It would be a great device to use in my freelance for meetings where I could go through designs and ideas with my clients. I know how much it would impress them. I could sync it easily with my imac to.
You could take it with you to show photo albums to friends and family, watch movies on it while on the train or flying.
I think people should stop getting hung up trying to fault the thing when we should all admit its another great looking device from Apple that looks intuitive and easy to use.
If the complainers and the skeptics were offered one for nothing, what would they say? No thanks, Its just a big iphone... small minded shit.
2010-01-28 12:44:05
My opinion is its too same to there last product the iphone, it just a upgrade. Apple should create some think new and out the ordinary, some think that catches the eye in there range of field (out there design pattern)
2010-01-28 13:02:30
You sound like a bit of a fanboy there Dave, "it's by Apple so let's just all buy one anyway because it looks good even though it costs a lot of money for something a lot of other products can do already"
Would it really replace your laptop? It's not even got a proper OS, lite or otherwise. Doesn't look like fun to type on while I'm sat on the sofa.
Maybe the stylish iPad would impress your clients, what about your work. What if your work was printed onto a bit of paper? Would it still impress? What if your work was viewed on a cheap netbook, would it still impress your clients?
Yeah watching movies would be good. So why doesn't it have a widescreen? Yeah showing photos would be good. But I don't bring digital photoframes to peple's houses to show them pictures.
All it looks good for right now is reading the New York Times, maybe comic books. But it's not e-ink either is it?
Of course we'd have one if it was free. But Apple's not giving it out free are they? No, it's 500 sodding dollars. And God knows how much when it's released here in the UK.
Maybe it'll change the game in a while, like iPhone did for apps and iPod did for music, but at the moment we don't know, so that's why everyone's wondering what it's for. Don't tickle Steve's balls just because it's from Apple. Jeez.
2010-01-28 13:19:29
It would be great if Canon could find a way to send jpeg images directly from my 5D to the iPad via Blutooth for viewing as I shoot! I've always thought it would be great if clients could view images on location or in the studio without the camera being tethered to a computer.
2010-01-28 13:21:09
The one thing I have against it is just how much money you're going to end up spending on it after you've bought it. Apple always stress that all their products are human/consumer friendly and work straight out of the box - well this product only seems good if you take it out of the box, go online and then spend a bunch of money in one of their three handy stores to buy apps/books/music/movies for it.
Well that, and the name really dies sound way too sanitary. What happened to the iSlate?
2010-01-28 13:41:48
Has any one else noticed it doesn't support Flash? So much for a complete web-browsing experience - that's approximately 40% of the web you can't view on it.
And it doesn't even have a memory card slot, so how exactly do you get your files onto it? Do you have to tether it to your other, fully-functioning, Mac in order to port across all your images and videos? If you've got the money and the home network set-up, it'll probably fill a niche for you and sit on your sofa to pick up and play with occasionally, but it's not a viable replacement for your other computers.
Seems like it really is just a large iPhone, and a bit of a vanity product for Apple.
2010-01-28 14:06:38
It is literally a supersized iPhone. But worse.
2010-01-28 14:07:15
I agree with Dave and Marcelo, i think people should stop expecting apple to reinvent the wheel everytime they bring out a new product - theres clearly a market for this device and yet there's nothihg else quite like it around.
maybe some people are underwhelmed because of the amount of hype, long build up leaks etc...this was just clever maniplulated pr anyway thats obviously going to pay dividends.
if there are any extra costs...i'd imagine a sensible person would look into this before buying.
maybe i'm one of the sycophants, but what other brand does what apple does, consistantly. its one of those glad to be part of the human race moments when their about to launch something new...because its going to be another step in human ingenuity that effects the globe. yes there are a lot of things around that do that...but Apple do it all the time, wIth class.
For me, my mac book and ipod is all i need right now until i can afford to upgrade something...in terms of the reading function...nothing beats a crisp paper saturday morning.
2010-01-28 14:14:25
I don't really get all the whining about the iPad.
Well, I have to admit I don't really like the name, iSlate or iTablet sounded better, but hey, it reminds people of the iPod, and apparently of Tampax ( I'm french, so I don't really get the joke here : ) )
Sure it's a big iPod touch, there ain't camera, nor multi-tasking, but they did so in order to keep it at an attractive price ( for the entry model )
It's a beautiful hardware, missing some revolutionary stuff for sure, but I'm sure the revolution will come through the sofware : through the next OS Uptade ( a proper 4.0 ) and mostly from the apps developers are gonna come up with.
I don't remember which apple exec said that, but to me the big thing is what's gonna come next : " a new goldrush app for the ipad" I'm sure we're gonna see some really great apps, coming. Remember when the iphone came out, its native apps were pretty dull.
I was expecting the keynote to present more iPad specific apps, but apparently no one really started to have enough ttime with the SDK and the pad yet to come up with something really different. Things will come.
The big news is the price, in order to create this new segment in the market, and have some iPad all over the world. I'm gonna get one ( not the 3g, firstly because I don't plan on using it outdoor, mostly at home and at work, and secondly because I want it as soon as possible )
The version 2,0 will be better, but they needed something "cheap" and pretty close to what we're already used to in order to sell some qucikly. Apps will follow, and the whining will stop step by step.
I'm just a bit disappointed about the keynote app, but I need to try it to make up my mind. It's gonna be a great device for quick presentations.
2010-01-28 15:10:02
Books went large print maybe this is apple's easy reader?
2010-01-28 15:38:56
Obviously a DVD player would increase the weight and thickness and it's old school now. DVD will be as dead as video in 5 years and Bluetooth will transmit files to the ipad making card slots obsolete. It's the first flat touch interface laptop. It may not be apparent to some but that's what it is. Do I need one now? No. Would I like to be able to shoot hi res files to a flat pad I can hand around to ADs one day on the near future? Yes. And it will be possible from this starting point one day soon.
2010-01-28 15:48:58
This is my take on it: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v149/byonder/ipad_package.jpg
2010-01-28 16:09:50
Looks like an interesting device, but as always the Apple bashers will have a go at it out of habit.
Most of them still can't admit that the iPhone was a sector-defining product.
However, the smart money will wait for version 2 or 3, when it gets a camera and better ports, etc.
But what do I know, I'm Just Some Guy?
2010-01-28 16:22:12
I think this is the first I see the Apple target customers to be not so delighted with a long-anticipated product. We've expected a lot from it. Maybe the same thing they've did with the iPhone release. Set the bar of an upcoming market so high, almost "out of reach". This is the new "hot market" — of the internet tablets. HP are coming with theris, MSI too..We already got some available too and to be honest, I'm not seeing the iPad to be that much revolutionary or different/better than them. An over-sized iPhone/iPod Touch and what else? A device catching the niche between the iPhone and the MacBook? Perhaps.
For me — an iPhone and MacBook user, I really don't see where I'll place the "Pad" in my daily life.
2010-01-28 18:44:28
I'd wrongly assumed this was going to be closer to a laptop than an iphone, running photoshop & illustrator with hands on control. If that were to happen they could end software piracy in one swoop. Instead its a hobbyists device useful only for long train journeys or flights.
I'd assume there's more to come but none of things that sounded exciting like a streaming service to rival Spotify or any kinda of solution to the current free content problem of most online newspapers (apps are not the solution as its a one off charge)
This device looks like a major misstep, yes they couldn't live up to the hype but its a niche product as it stands and doesn't look like being a big success.
On a positive look at the first ipod compared to the ipod touch today so hopefully they'll do some major revisions to this but i'd imagine few will bother till then,
2010-01-28 21:22:22
All I have to add is
http://1.2.3.10/bmi/img194.imageshack.us/img194/2423/itabletislateipad.jpg
and
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/shiny-thing-make-it-all-better-201001282420/
2010-01-28 22:33:34
I don't think it's a device for us, imo. I think it's aimed at the average Joe that doesn't require 90% of the features of a laptop or home computer. After all, if all you want to do is check your email, surf the net and watch some films then this is an amazing device (although multitasking is a must, even though I understand why Apple are resistant to include it).
It's the same principle as Chrome OS (although people don't seem to realise this) it cuts out the BS that most people don't need. I, on the other hand, need all the BS; so as I say, it's not for me.
I saw a list of 'wants' on another blog recently which made me laugh, "It needs USB ports, and a keyboard, and a full OSX OS ..." ... uuum, buy a macbook!
2010-01-28 22:34:04
Will take some time. I think the magic is going to happen when the concepts/design/dev come to fruition.
And the next set of tech for the touchscreen seem promising: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-granted-patent-for-a-proximity-sensing-touchscreen/
2010-01-28 23:35:06
iScratch more than iTouch, welcome to the world of iFad.
2010-01-29 00:55:43
Personally I can't wait to visit Planet of the Apps with my new iPun.
2010-01-29 05:51:09
People who expectes a production or communication device are disappointesd, because that's exactly what it is not.
So far It's an infotainment device with an option for small office applicaions.
If you already own a desktop machine, a laptop and an iphone this one is not for you.
If you own a laptop and an iphone, this one is not for you
if you own a desktop and an iphone, this one might be for you.
If you don't own a computer at all and you see no need to buy one of these large, complicated devices, just to use email or do what all the young people call surfing, this one might be for you.
You can use it with bare hands, you can stash it when not needed and you can read books and magazines on it, it's not too expensive, and it looks great on your living room table.
I am not the one to predict a success or flop, i just think it's worth the try.
Especially the concept of a "less-os", an operating system that becomes more and more invisible, appeals to me - a lot.
This is an application focused approach, without the usual os-overhead.
A lot of people have a problem to use computers because they are so computerish.
This thing isn't
And that's a good thing
2010-01-29 08:12:17
Personally I think this is a brilliant product.
You need to remember that designers are not Apple's target market for this product, we get the macbook pro and mac pro.
For casual home users like my Mum and my Sister, this device would be perfect.
Didn't I read a while back that Apple were developing Flash for their mobile devices?
Also, the functionality does all depend if you need a computer to sync it to like the iPhone. If that is the case, then it is kind of pointless. If it works as a stand-alone device, then I think it will revolutionise computing for the everyday user.
2010-01-29 11:17:06
what am i going to design for the iPad? if i could, i'd rather design a better iPad.
2010-01-29 11:33:03
Smartest comment i've read comes from Brendan @ mN.
The presentation was not so much about the tablet as it was about that nice big comfy chair.
http://brendandawes.posterous.com/ipad-its-all-about-the-context
2010-01-29 14:17:01
It's for my mum, now I don't have to keep saying "Please don't touch the screen, nothing happens when you touch the screen".
2010-01-29 14:18:38
I have to agree if the wacom style pad had been part of ipad then it would have been a great tool for me as an illustrator. maybe save me taking my wacom and laptop in my flight bag.
Anyway I will have to sit back and wait for it to develop. Not rushing to the apple store just yet, if at all.
Back to scratching in the snow.
2010-01-29 14:23:14
Apple can only design one way, its a "Honey I Blew Up The iPhone"
No BluRay Drive
No Multi Tasking
No Camera - although it should have 2 cameras for Video Chat
2010-01-29 14:26:33
No camera, no multi-tasking, no Flash, no widescreen, no ibooks in the UK....What am I going to do with it? Not much by the sounds of it. An over-sized glorified iphone...without the phone.
2010-01-29 14:31:30
For my money, the big idea here is the iBook component.
The device itself seems simple enough but the effect the whole package will have on the publishing industry will be enormous. If you consider the impact iTunes has had on the Music Industry, you get the picture.
Sony, Google and Amazon must be looking over their shoulders now (or buying shares in Apple)
2010-01-29 14:32:20
I couldn't believe it when I saw Steve Jobs' keynote demo of the iPad. He banged on for ten minutes saying how it offered the best ever internet experience - better than an iPhone, better even than an ibook.
The he sat down and showed us the demo.
"Look - you can see the whole of the front page of the New York Times", he said. But what he didn't point out was the gaping white rectangle in the middle of the page with the familiar blue Lego brick icon in the middle of it - indicating that Flash was missing. "If I want to go into a story I can just touch it" he declared clicking on an item about health care. What did he find but another blank rectangle with Flash missing. "Let's go to Time Magazine" he said. Did I detect an element of panic in his voice? Up came Time Magazine. He scrolled to the bottom of it and guess what? Another empty Flash box. Hastily he zipped to the top of the page.
I don't know why Apple have such a downer on Flash, but, love it or loathe it, it's everywhere on the web. Why would anyone want to surf the web constantly coming across tantalising hints of images and movies they'll never be able to see?
So if you're tempted to buy an iPad, buy it for the great apps or for the iBooks or because it looks so damn sexy.
But don't buy it to seriously surf the web - unless you're crazy about blue Lego bricks.
2010-01-29 14:32:48
I am going to patent a waterproof sleeve with an adhesive back so I can have it stick to my shower wall and hey presto - emails while you wash! Or surf and soap - whatever.
2010-01-29 14:32:58
My Grandma has been talking about going online for a while now and I've been trying to figure out a really simple way of doing this - cue iPad perfect...
2010-01-29 14:35:59
Personally I think it would be brilliant in the car. Rip out all your old dials, knobs and controls for the radio, cd, air con etc. and just replace with the ipad to control it all with individual apps.
Use it to watch a movie on it for long journeys. A large screen for reversing camera. what about infra-red or night vision through 3rd party apps?
Ohh, the list is endless…
2010-01-29 14:37:07
Deutsch LA picked up Dr. Pepper a year ago. Are they behind it????
2010-01-29 14:37:15
Clearly the "doesn't support Flash" argument is tech's equivalent of the Hitler argument elsewhere.
I use my iPhone regularly for surfing the web. Do I miss Flash? No. Would I hate Flash if it constantly drained my battery? Yes.
For me, lack of Flash support is a feature. It's like criticising Gutenberg because movable type didn't support canvas, or payrus, or whatever. Time to move to a web that wasn't so reliant on a crappy piece of software.
As for "can I see myself using an iPad?" Hell yes. I teach and present at conferences. I need to make quick edits to Keynote docs and Pages docs. I store data in Bento and Numbers. I don't need a fully-blown laptop but I use one because that's the alternative to lugging my iMac around with me.
I'm getting one, not because I'm an Apple fanboy but because it genuinely meets my needs.
Here's something I've observed in all this. People who don't like it or don't see a use for it: don't buy it. But don't criticise those of us who do. It's really very, very, sad.
2010-01-29 14:38:39
I'm a photographer and I just blogged this:
The jury hasn't even been selected to pass judgement on the iPad but the concept of the tablet running an operating system and applications in the way smart phones do has arrived and that particular genie is never going to be forced back into it's bottle. E-books, e-newspapers and a whole range of other e-stuff is going to be part of our lives later this year, next year or in a few years time and photographers need to wake up and smell the coffee. These devices aren't aimed at us to use as business tools - they are almost certainly the format that a huge percentage of our work will be viewed on. If that doesn't sit comfortably with your world view or your business model you have a huge problem.
What I intend to do is to make myself familiar with tablets and the way that my work will be used on them. This is my new market place and I want to be right there in the market. Before I shot my first pictures for newspapers and magazines I had had my whole life to familiarise myself with the medium. Newspapers were there at my home every day. We subscribed to magazines and had secondhand copies of National Geographic delivered by friends of the family. They were inspiring and they are the reason that I wanted to take pictures. Along came the internet and I started my own website to learn about how things worked on the world wide web simply because knowing how the printing process worked had made me a much better photographer a few years previously.
So my opinion about the iPad is this: I am going to embrace the concept, learn how it works, make judgements about the way that my images will work best on it and try my best to keep up-to-date with the technology as it inevitably develops. If the iPad isn't the answer it has to be the biggest clue that our profession can have been given about where our future lies.
2010-01-29 14:44:42
I with a previous comment - I'm interested to try it out for photography shoots out of the studio - there is a possibility it will be a great previewer for clients and photographers I think. I'm sick of lugging about laptops, tethering to a camera, trailing wires and the usual jobs-worths who arrive half way through a shoot and talk health and safety about a 3 metre cable!
2010-01-29 14:53:19
Contrary to some of the thinking above, I think this is a true thing of beauty and a true move forward in the mobile device market. I look at my macbook pro and it suddenly looks old.
The beauty of the simple design is stunning. I want one now!! As we all know, the iphone made waves in the marketplace despite its price. I expect this to do the same.
Have you seen the keynote speech? Impressive! The Apple brand goes from strength to strength.
2010-01-29 14:53:45
Got to say i agree with both sides of the arguement, but the comments that mention that its the apps that will make this a success have hit the nail on the head (such as Marcelo Baldin, Benito etc). There is the obvious potential for magazines beyond that of just a 'digital flipbook' as blogged by CR recently (http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2009/december/the-future-of-magazines), and as Marcelo Baldin mentioned earlier in this post, the DJing / VJing could definitely be a killer-app for the iPad. On the other hand, i dont think i'd shell out for this product until we started to see some of its potential unlocked. It looks great, and im sure it will be great, but its a piece of tech that I don't really need just now.
2010-01-29 14:55:12
I think the iPad is an interesting device, but flawed.
In the evenings when I've finished work, I have a laptop with which I can sit on my sofa is mostly used to read emails, browse the internet and other uses. I have my desktop machine for my work.
I could see this replacing it when it dies, but apple need to add two things:
Flash - without it 50% of the sites I visit in the evenings just wont function. I understand on the iPhone why it wasn't necessary to support it, but on a device with a screen big enough for proper browsing, its absence hobbles it for real browsing.
A webcam - I have friends in Australia and the US that I speak to regularly via Skype, my Macbook with a built in camera is great for this.
Add those two features and you'll have my attention. Maybe next year eh?
2010-01-29 14:59:46
Hmmm... i am waiting for the smaller, more compact version to come on the UK market. you may have heard about it.. The ipad nano? Check here > http://bit.ly/a205b4
2010-01-29 15:06:27
I think in 2 years we'll all be working on a bigger versions of these that run the CS4 package - then it'll be useful and not just a toy.
I do presentations in all sorts of environments and would love to use it - but what's the connectivity like?
I think it will be out of date quickly.
2010-01-29 15:10:01
idont think so
No Flash no multitasking no built-in camera no thanks...
2010-01-29 15:24:19
A wonderfully generous space for book covers and album sleeves... illustrators, designers, photographers who felt cramped on an iphone
2010-01-29 15:49:52
I like the idea its not finished. This is Apple saying we trained you with the iTouch now play on something bigger. The iPads true place will become clear with version 2+ and the content designed during the coming 12 months. Way to earlier to call time on this type of thinking yet. remember how the games industry greeted the Wiii? rubbish spec? no place in the market? launch games are too simple?
2010-01-29 16:13:10
Fantastic enquire!
We were just this morning discussing here: What is it for?
Cheers!
Pedro.
2010-01-29 16:19:30
I really think people need to see this for what it is. It's not a tablet PC and its not meant to be one, so we must stop comparing it to them. If it was it would be at least twice the price.
Yes it is like a large iPod Touch but why is that a bad thing? The iPod Touch is a marvelous pocket device but a bit small to be completely practical for many tasks.
The iPad is a nicely priced well executed touch screen computer with the stuff you need to perform everyday basic tasks with ease. A dump truck has lots of storage space but Its not that great for going shopping and picking up friends. A formula 1 racing car has very high performance but I don't really need it when driving down the high street.
Yes there are similar devices that already exist but Apples skill is in putting the technology together in a way that makes it extremely useable and I think it often does this by not making it an everything device. Whilst for years we have been able to read our news papers and magazines digitally most people don't. A simple device like this will be the coffee table computer that changes that.
I think if this was knocking around the house it would be used a lot for email, internet, writing letters, family events, photos, films, games, music etc. I usually sit on the sofa with my iPod but it's a little small, my laptop is less convenient but an iPad would be just right.
2010-01-29 16:32:25
@ Gemma Mercy - love the comment under the MAD TV clip that you linked to: 'The iPad sucks period'...
2010-01-29 16:33:26
This is Manna from Heaven... can't wait to port my Issuu publications to it.
IBooks! Wicked. Photography will look great on it.
And my music collection will get the proper weight it deserves.
Gutenberg 2.0
2010-01-29 17:17:06
I think I'll wait a couple of years (like I did with the iPhone). I was hoping for something that had some sort of operating system, enabling me to doodle or kern merrily on the hideous urban commute. Ah well...
2010-01-29 17:17:11
Unless Hermes or someone makes a nicer case than that horrible plastic thing, I'm not going to be buying one.
Even the thing itself doesn't look that nice. The frame is giving me the creeps a little bit.
2010-01-29 17:22:14
...Although I agree it could be useful for out and about client presentations for us heavyweight, satellite-manipulating, mac pro users.
2010-01-29 17:28:41
This is Manna from Heaven... can't wait to port my Issuu publications to it.
IBooks! Wicked. Photography will look great on it.
And my music collection will get the proper weight it deserves.
Gutenberg 2.0
2010-01-29 17:31:30
why you have to use so many devices, i don't understand. one i-pod..one i-pad..one i-mac, one i-book etc etc.why everything can't be in one compatible small thin device easy to carry n use..n fast enough too that u don't need to upgrade atleast for 10 years?
won't that be good that apple introdused i-life instead of i-pad.
i-pad reminds me i am still living in 18th centurey not in 21st..that we still care for such devices.
n' am eagerly looking for a 21st century device from ahead of time company APPLE.
Best Wishes,
Yellowleaves
2010-01-29 18:05:28
.
..................... iFad ....................
2010-01-29 18:40:14
When I was a student I loved apple but now they're just gadgets for people who want to show boat give me a PC any Day. N by the way Wacom were involved with the HP tablets a little while ago so check them out first although my ones got a dodgy graphics chips it still kicks that Ipads ass.
2010-01-29 21:20:03
I hope this is the start of better things to come.
Maybe this is the technology for the next touch screen iMac.
That i'd like to see.
2010-01-30 03:27:32
It needs bigger storage space. As it will be predominently used for photos, video, and music. The things that take up all the room.
2010-01-30 11:58:32
pointless. seriously...
2010-01-31 03:04:08
big thing is art.
2010-01-31 18:57:12
Great, so now millions of people will pick up the Ipad and hundreds of millions of apps will come out on Itunes. Think of all the clients asking for new Ipad apps to be produced and then customers will just magically want to download a glorified flip book magazine full of biased marketing junk.
Though I agree this is a move in the right direction, in terms of portable display technology, it won't solve the majority of issues users currently have. Finding content to interact with is still one of the largest problems in digital delivery. The biggest problems I have with my iphone is finding that best and most useful apps.
The ipad sort of reminds me of around 2002 when every designer, myself included, just decided to use that flash page flip effect. Hey look everyone, it's a digital magazine! Problem solved!
2010-01-31 20:14:12
There is nothing revolutionary about this device. It is a scaled up ipod with all the advantages of a bigger screen. It concentrates on entertainment and communication (without the phone) which is how most of us use our computers these days. It delivers in a stylish package with the typical user friendly interface. I don't see it as being a new dawn for anything because it does not actually offer anything new. It will be a different matter when we get four colour e-ink devices on this scale.
2010-02-01 10:04:50
I agree with Jonathan on this because there is no improvement over the iphone or ipod and it looks too big to carry around with you. Hopefully they will update it to run more than one program at a time and bigger storage options but until then, I can only see the Apple fans purchasing this. It's only a novelty in my opinion and Apple should have made it better before releasing it properly.
2010-02-02 10:54:22
I think in the evolutionary timescale of Apple products, it feels although this should have been released before the iphone. Saying that though I think the proof of the pudding will be in the tasting, and how folk will find interesting and creative applications for it as opposed solely as an simple entertainment hub.
2010-02-02 14:34:33
Squeaky bum time for Bill Gates and co.
Apple is the forbidden fruit that the masses are growing to love instead.
Very refined indeed.
If you're reading this Mr Steve Jobs, can you send me a free new Mac laptop please good sir? Even a signed picture of one? :)
2010-02-02 16:43:44
Here's what you will do with it sheeple,
you'll trade it in every 6 months for a new shiny shiny.
2010-02-03 09:13:25
As a fan of apple and an artist I am disapointed, it seems completely usless and the type of screen makes it impossible to draw on, even WITH a stylus!
2010-02-04 16:24:17
OK. Flash. I understand the raging battle between Apple and Adobe (albeit a rather tit for tat one). I also understand the pro's and cons and the supposed vulnerabilities. But I do think it's a problem, not having Flash built in. For starters, all the existing sites that use it. This includes most children's educational resources - a market not to be dismissed, and also some of my client's sites who are starting to enquire how their site will work on the ipad... 'er... it won't'. Of course, we're always careful to provide alternative content where Flash is concerned, but sometimes, there's just no real satisfactory alternative.
So yet another hurdle for us to educate clients to the pro's and cons of delivery options.
Until we're all developing in HTML5 (with cross-browser support to match), Flash remains the best way to produce CERTAIN types of engaging online content. So it's lack of support from Apple represents a major pain in the ass for the time being.
So please Apple and Adobe, stop the arguing kiss and make up.
2010-02-08 12:35:49
I'n no flash player fan, but omitting it seems to be a major faux pas. Also apple seem to be going the way of microsoft these days. I'm not impressed!
2010-02-09 12:49:29
Am a bit confused, why have Apple stolen the name of some feminine products :-)
2010-02-16 16:31:00
Get the RSS Feed
Most recently commented
| Awww... Hello Leonard (12) |
| The AV Studio (10) |
| Harvey Nichols' Pun-tastic Postcards (44) |
| The new look BJP (18) |
| UVA at the Speed of Light (4) |
Most read
| iGlass mate? That'll be extra |
| The Small Apple |
| Driven by data: McLaren's new site |
| Decision time for the RCA |
| David James: Out of Print |
Subjects
| Advertising | (643) | |
| Art | (187) | |
| Books | (137) | |
| Digital | (202) | |
| Graphic Design | (533) | |
| Illustration | (250) | |
| Magazine / Newspaper | (95) | |
| Music Video / Film | (497) | |
| Photography | (185) | |
| Type / Typography | (130) |
