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Meet the Apple iPad
January 27th, 2010
Just in case you were far from the internet this afternoon and didn’t realize, Steve Jobs announced Apple’s latest product – the iPad – a tablet computer. Kind of like a big iPod but with more, you know, stuff.
Looking over my wish list, I’m actually pretty pleased. The iPad has ways to do all of these things via accessories, including a sweet keyboard dock to make actual typing quicker and more productive. I’m happy for the newest version of iWork – with a la carte pricing to boot! The price point is also far better than I’d expected. At $499 for the base model, it nicely fills the gap between iPod and MacBook. I think too, the features fill that gap as well.
The iBooks application looks killer. I love the idea of the interface being controllable via font selection and type size and am charmed by the page-like look to it. I don’t want to scroll – I want to flip pages. And it looks like Apple’s designed this eReader functionality perfectly. (Of course, I have to ask, will iBooks be available for the iPhone as well? Like a mini iBooks?)
But, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit disappointed, and I’m not sure exactly why.
No camera?
What about chat?
And only 64GB at the high end? I’d blow through that with a few HD movies.
It’s all the hype. It’s reading that it would be a game-changer. Well, it certainly could. I’ve long envisioned our desktops truly being more like this than laptops. Plug it in and dock it when you need to do some serious work, take it out and use it anywhere for fun or to browse.
But to really do that, it needs a few things. More storage, or the ability to connect to external hard drives. It needs to be able to run more standard applications. What about writing and testing code? It’s not OS X, so I’m assuming there’s no terminal window. And how about a camera for video chat? We’ve got ‘em on our laptops now. Is it a memory handling issue? Is that going to be in version 2?
I don’t know. For what I’d use this for, it would have to be a lightweight version of what I do on my laptop. I’d love to have something like this as our second computer. And it does like 95% of what I’d actually use. I just wanted something…more.
(And just in case I’m not clear… yes, I still want one.)
Hey Apple – here’s what I want in a tablet
January 20th, 2010
I’m sure you’ve seen several a bucket full of rumors about the Jan 27 Apple announcement of some kind of tablet device. 10 inch screen? 7 inch screen? Included Wi-Fi subscription? (US only, I’m sure) Is it just a larger iPod Touch? An iPhone? A whole new way to have fun? Does it come with a magical unicorn?
You know I’m an Apple fan. My first programming experience was a Logic class on an Apple IIc when I was in grade 3. And you know I’m going to drool over this tablet, whatever it turns out to be.
For me to drop $1000 on this, many things would have to happen. (Sandra would have to have a full time job, for one!) But mainly, it would have to be able to function as my primary computer for 90% of what I do. Maybe not photoshop or pattern production, but certainly everything else; surfing, emailing, listening to music, tracking my runs and my ww points, blogging, uploading photos to flickr, updating my ravelry, etc. And I’d really, really, REALLY love it if I could use it as an eBook reader as well.
Just cause I can, here’s my own (very reasonable) wishlist for the first generation iSlate:
Integrated WiFi and 3G
Probability: High
I want a device that can get online anywhere. Granted, this is going to be a little more complex in Canada. I’m already paying Rogers for my blackberry and my home internet. I’d love to share a data plan between multiple devices, an idea that’s not that far from reality.
Mostly, though, I want the 3G connection to either be free (like the Kindle) – highly unlikely – or optional. Can I get the tablet and just have it connect via WiFi? Can I then start paying for 3G without a hardware upgrade?
Functional Dock with Keyboard and Mouse
Probability: Medium/High
A keyboard – an actual keyboard – is a bit of a must for someone who writes as much as I do. (Code, patterns, blog entries, even fiction.) While I’m pretty adept on my blackberry, I’ve never really adjusted to any speed with the iPhone’s keystroke model. I want a real keyboard as an option for times when I need to do a lot of wordsmithing.
Hear me out on this one. Docking the tablet would take down it’s portability, for sure. But what if the dock could work like a laptop, with the tablet as the screen? I’d be able to use it around the house, or take it with me if I needed more writing ability. Having a dock that allows the tablet to be propped upright, much like the iPod docs, would make it a better system for home multimedia as well.
Speakers – decent ones
Probability: Medium
I’m sure some kind of speaker will be included. There’s already one on the iPod Touch, but the quality and amplification leaves a lot to be desired. From a bigger device, I’d expect bigger sound.
USB – Just One Port Please
Probability: ?
I haven’t seen many rumours around the ports available on the tablet, but I’m really hoping for a single usb port with device support. I want an easy way to get files onto – and off of – the tablet. I want to sync my iPod. And upload photos.
eReader Functionality
Probability: High
Apple’s dumb if they don’t use their highly successful iTunes model to electronically distribute books and periodicals. What they need to make it competitive is a great user experience for reading the material, though. And I’m betting that – if they wanted – they could do it better than the Kindle or the Nook.
My Media – Everywhere
Probability: ?
Now that I’ve got the AppleTv up and running to serve up movies and tvs from iTunes, I really want all my stuff everywhere. That may be more of an AppleTv request than a tablet one, to be clear. Why can’t it function as a server that broadcasts to every one of my iTunes instances? This could work with the eReader concept too. Imagine if I could use my tablet to read in bed at night, then pick up my iPod on the bus the next day and be able to start from the same page?
I don’t know. It’s not much of a list, really. The USB port is probably the only feature not super likely, although maybe not. It would be great to be able to connect and charge existing devices.
Mostly though, I want Apple to totally surprise me next week. I want this tablet to redefine portable computing the way the iPod did portable music. I’m ready for it. And you know I’ll be watching closely next Wednesday to see what we can expect from Apple’s “newest creation.”
On My Mind (A Mostly Random Collection)
July 24th, 2009
I’m not anti-union in any way. But holding out for raises and more benefits in an economy where loads of qualified people have been looking for work for months feels a bit unreasonable. On the other hand, because my wife is looking for a job, she has time to take the garbage to the dump herself.
Now Via Rail is striking. I wonder if that’ll make the airlines a little happier? I adore rail travel, and would do it more often, if it weren’t generally more expensive than flying, at least in North America.
I may not say it often, but I’m a huge fan of So You Think You Can Dance. I’ve been watching since the second season and adore it. I think I love dance so much because it’s the ultimate athletic expression of music. I think it’s beautiful, more so when I love the song. Last night’s show was up and down for me. First of all, are we really comparing Katie Holmes’ performance to Judy Garland? Srsly? She strutted around the stage in a cute outfit and lip-synched to herself. Woo. Exciting.
In terms of real talent, I loved getting an opportunity to see a few old favorite routines from alumni of the show. I was never that big of a fan of the Butterfly routine, but Rama-lama and The Bench are still near the top of my list. Very funky, creative, and passionate.
I’m disappointed about the results, though. I had predicted that Evan was definitely a gonner, and probably Janine on the girl’s side. For Jason and Janette to go home… shocking. Jason had just become my favorite guy to watch, and I’d long been impressed with Janette’s ability to pick up so many different styles seemingly effortlessly. Don’t get me wrong… I think Evan’s adorable. And he may win the title of “America’s Favorite Dancer”, but I don’t think many people would call him the best dancer from this season.
Did you know SYTYCD is transitioning to a fall-season show? I’m not sure how I feel about that. It’s been the highlight of my summer boob-toob-watching, largely because it has little with which to compete. What’s going to happen when it’s up against hugely popular shows like Grey’s? I think it’s a risky move for FOX, and the show.
I’m getting really used to actually having weekends off these days. Sandra and I haven’t been doing much of excitement; just walking a lot, taking the dogs around town, exploring our neighborhood. I may be one of the only Torontonians to be happy with the cooler summer weather. I love actually being able to be active outside (when it’s not raining) without feeling like I’m walking through hot pea soup.
I started running, very casually. I think I’ve gone three or four times now over the past few weeks. It feels horrible and wonderful at the same time. I can’t believe I actually can run again after so many years of being horribly out of shape.
I’m teaching a drop spinning workshop at The Purple Purl next week and can’t wait! It’s one of my favorite intro classes to teach. Seeing knitters start to understand the physics behind the yarn they love is so exciting.
On my wish list right now:
- A bike. Any bike. With a basket or two. I want to bike to work sometimes.
- A uke of my own. Do I hold out for a step above the lime green Mahalo in that music store window?
- Right now, this very second? I’d love some of Black Oak’s IPA. Mmmmm. Hops. And for it to be 6pm and be on my way home.
I’m totally and utterly in love with my project at work. I’ve been working on building this application since December and am finding the post-launch enhancement and upgrade phase so rewarding. I get to see my application working and focus on making it work even better. How great is that?
At some point in 2009, it’ll transition to being the responsibility of one of the other IT groups for long-term support. At that point, I’ll stop getting phone calls at 3am when a server goes down, but I’ll also lose the satisfaction of knowing that I wrote almost every one of the 50,000 lines of code that went into it.
Our plans for this weekend include taking the dogs to the Blue Jay’s “Dog Days” game on Sunday afternoon. How this will go, I have no idea. Should be crazy fun. Or just plain crazy.
Well. Lunch time is over and I’m back to my code. Have a great weekend!