iPad
Picked up a 3G version last week, and I have to say… I’m impressed. I haven’t opened my netbook since, and my iPhone use has dropped dramatically. Some of the apps specifically designed for the iPad are phenomenal.
I give it two snaps in a circle.
I think we’re waiting for the price drop before the other half caves in and gets one. It will help him pass the time without an iPhone upgrade as we cross our fingers that Verizon gets one next year.
Posted by Bitter on May 25, 2010 at 1653 hrs
Don’t hold your breath too long on the Verizon thing.
http://www.appleoutsider.com/2010/05/25/whither-verizon/
Besides, Verizon is no hero. There’s nothing magic about their network or their service. It’s true that they manage to have a logo that doesn’t look like the death star, but aside from taht? Nothing special. All American wireless carriers are incompetent crooks.
And if you’re waiting for an iPhone-like price drop, forget it. Won’t happen.
Also, I love my own iPad.
Posted by scott on May 25, 2010 at 2138 hrs
- Printing
- Network Attached Storage (or NFS/SMB mounts)
- Multiple simultaneous Bluetooth connections
- Multiple apps running at the same timeIf/when they build in those functionalities, I will absolutely buy one. Until then, I’ll spend my money on more useful things like fast food. I’m not going to be a profit-generating beta tester for Steve Jobs so he can figure out what people really want from the device.
I was excited today when I heard Dell was coming out with a tablet - The Streak (sounds like something you find in your underwear). Then I realized it was the size of a Pop-Tart (and probably about as reliable if it’s coming from Dell).
When will one of these companies finally get it right? ALL of it right?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 25, 2010 at 2158 hrs
When Dell comes out with something innovative, it will be the first time. They can source parts and put them together and ship them as well as anybody, but they are not a technology company, they’re a widget manufacturer.
And nothing will ever have everything - you can’t get it all right. It cannot be small, fast, have every feature and decent battery life. Engineering is always about trade offs - you pick the best tool for the job based on what your priorities are. I love when my friends insist on getting a 17 inch laptop, but complain about how big & heavy it is to carry around. Or complaints that the MacBook Air didn’t have an optical drive.
I will say though, your wishlist for the iPad doesn’t seem unreasonable. Especially connecting to network storage (though things like DLNA and the like still aren’t very well supported standards so everyone has a ways to go on that front). Multitasking should be addressed in the next OS update (though it will be interesting to see what the impact is on battery life. And what are the multiple bluetooth devices you’d need to connect at once? Just curious.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 0046 hrs
Don’t hold your breath too long on the Verizon thing.
http://www.appleoutsider.com/2010/05/25/whither-verizon/
Besides, Verizon is no hero. There’s nothing magic about their network or their service. It’s true that they manage to have a logo that doesn’t look like the death star, but aside from taht? Nothing special. All American wireless carriers are incompetent crooks.
And if you’re waiting for an iPhone-like price drop, forget it. Won’t happen.
Also, I love my own iPad.
1.) Yes, all US carriers blow. They are all highwaymen.
2.) There will be a price drop, most likely for this holiday season. If not, it will happen when a competitive device is announced. There are rumors out there that RIM has placed orders for 8.5” capacitive touch screens… Blackberry may release something within a year, if that is the case.
3.) Glad you love it, but when you think about it, the apple logo does kind-of resemble the death star also. I have to wait a few years for my kindle to die before I can justify an IPad.
“Sent from my macbook”
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 0839 hrs
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I’m sure if this were Microsoft or some other company people would be screaming from the rooftops about slave labor and offshore factories.
Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 26, 2010 at 0920 hrs
and of course the link moved
Posted by Jay4Liberty on May 26, 2010 at 0921 hrs
When will one of these companies finally get it right? ALL of it right?
Never. “It” is a moving target, always. Besides, Apple’s MO is to take two dozen engineers, lock them up for 18 months, beat them with sticks until they come up with a small core of new functionality—a good touch interface, for example—and then release a product. Then they spend the next two years putting in all the missing features. But the point is, they start with a core of actual innovation and fill in the details later. The strategy is pretty successful. (Contrast this with other companies: put in every feature you can imagine, but nothing new or innovative, nothing brilliant and polished—nothing done correctly.)
Printing
Totally valid. Likewise with file management/syncing.
Multiple apps running at the same time
I’m not so sure this is a huge deal. I almost think Apple is baking this into this summer/fall update simply because Verizon/Android/Google was able to make clever ads about it rather than it being about an actual need that people have. Besides, what’s Verizon going to say when they finally get their iPhone and you can’t use an app while you’re on a call? Their network doesn’t allow data and voice at the same time. In any case, in less than 2 weeks I’ll have more and better multitasking than any Droid presently has.
When Dell comes out with something innovative, it will be the first time.
Amen, brother.
Posted by scott on May 26, 2010 at 0948 hrs
For the multiple bluetooth connections, I was thinking external keyboard + headphones or bluetooth to my cell phone when utilizing that for Internet connection when there’s no wi-fi around. The multi-bluetooth would be least priority on my list, and honestly if they come up with the other items, that would likely push me to the threshold to buy one. BUT, I will say that the advantage of controlling multiple devices in the home (which is where I believe Apple is going with this thing) will be dependent on its ability to communicate via bluetooth or another shared network protocol. I envision sitting on the couch reading some emails while watching TV, then realizing I’m hot, then right from the iPad turn on the A/C, then realize I’m hungry and start pre-heating the oven for a pizza, again right from the iPad, then go back to reading emails and posting flames to B&S. But I’d prefer not to have all those home devices be dependent on Internet connection and an app I have to purchase in order to control them. I’m in favor of standards - something that Apple only gives lip service to.
scott… I like to listen to music while browsing, word processing, reading, printing, having two things open at the same time co I can compare text/content. Can’t do that until the device is setup for multi-tasking.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 1036 hrs
I’m in favor of standards - something that Apple only gives lip service to.
Harsh. I don’t think they’re any more hostile toward standards than anyone else. And more friendly than some. Adobe’s whining lately is completely disingenuous—don’t be fooled.
I like to listen to music while
I can do those things right now on both my iPhone and my iPad. (You begin to have a point only if you’re talking about internet radio-type music listening, though.)
having two things open at the same time co I can compare text/content
Well, you can’t really have two things visible at the same time, so you’re talking about application switching no matter what. At that point whether the other application is technically “running” while you’re looking at the first one becomes an exercise in nerdery rather than a practical difference. To wit: switching between an email compose window and a browser window is the same thing regardless of whether they’re simultaneously running or not. There are some instances where this is not the case, but for the most part it is.
Posted by scott on May 26, 2010 at 1145 hrs
I’m sure if this were Microsoft or some other company people would be screaming from the rooftops about slave labor and offshore factories.
If you compare that suicide rate to the general chinese population, you will see that it is actually very low.
Ironic, huh?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2010 at 2208 hrs
Scott, I agree with you a lot on this website… but I think that you are going to see Android’s feature set demolish the Iphone in the next few months.
I have a 3G Iphone for work and I LOVE it, I might even get the “4G”. But, things like the wifi hotspot, faster OS updates, and number of awesome phones that Android is being pushed out on will eclipse the Iphone. The next Iphone will probably only have a few things on the Android phones: battery life & user interface.
If you watch the Google I/O videos from their 2nd keynote speech, you will see some of the things that Android is going to do that Apple will only be able to play catch-up with. With Android being an open system to develop on, their apps will shortly catch up with Apple’s.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 0740 hrs
I’m sure if this were Microsoft or some other company people would be screaming from the rooftops about slave labor and offshore factories.
Another fact: This isn’t an “iPhone factory.” This is some part-maker in China who makes little plastic pieces for a variety of American tech companies including Dell, Apple and others. Because Apple is a sexy beast and nobody gives a rats ass about the other companies, the media headlines all say “iPhone maker in China has high suicide rate!”
Posted by scott on May 27, 2010 at 0816 hrs
I agree with jonnyV about android. The problem that I foresee with android, like ALL other google products is that in no-time their entire OS will be saturated with advertising. Every time you open an app., every time you check your email, every time you power up, every time you charge the battery…. Imagine, “this battery charging brought to you by BP, looking for a clean energy future.” or “This application is brought to you by Fox News, fair and balanced.”
I will stick with Apple. I’ll be in line for my iphone HD/4G. (coming from a current blackberry user)
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2010 at 0907 hrs
I’m of two minds about Android OS. On the one hand, it’s clearly great technology. Google did a nice job catching up to Apple when nobody else seemed able to. And the fact that they have a variety of hardware and carriers on board, one would expect them to overtake Apple and do really well for themselves. On the other hand, the Android platform is highly fragmented. One handset does this, the other doesn’t; one version of the OS does this, the other doesn’t; One phone can be upgraded to a new version, another can’t; One carrier allows X feature, another does not. App makers don’t know which way is up because their target market is fragmented so severely. Another down side to “openness” is shitty apps from disreputable vendors, apps using undocumented APIs (that later break) and other problems. Contrast this with the iPhone ecosphere. Everything is shiny, works as advertised, uses a standardized UI…
I guess if I had to make a prediction, I’d say the Android platform will remain highly successful, but won’t snuff out Apple’s success with the iPhone. They each have unique strengths and weaknesses.
Me, I’ll likely stick with Apple. I have a strong inclination for elegant things that work right all the time as opposed to things with an impressively long bullet-pointed feature list. Especially when it comes to devices I expect appliance-like dependability from, such as my phone.
Posted by scott on May 27, 2010 at 0929 hrs
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