MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Except a lot of the fanboi worshipping is evidence-based.
Boom! 
Hopefully they'll do a keyboard add-on. It could clamp to the edge, and sort of...fold over the screen or something.
Is is capacitive/finger touch only?
[i]Hopefully they'll do a keyboard add-on[/i]
😆
Dare we aske what bikes you own Maverick?
None of them particularly aesthetically pleasing at least...
A Maverick, Giant Reign X, Gary Fisher Rig 29er, Genesis Altitude.
Beauty of a Apple laptop mike, just shut the lid. Very rarely turn mine off.
Just like my Sony Vista laptop then.
Apple.....the marmite of the computer world.
Not quite what I was expecting Maverick, those bikes are more functional than fashion victim (with the possible exception of the Fisher if you are less than 2m10).
Itunes is a case in point, the over engineering and DRM plus the 'we know what you want and you'll do it our way' business just annoys me.
Typical IT spod-speak. Overengineered? In what way, exactly? I want to get music from various sources onto my computer then onto my phone and music player. iTunes does exactly what I want with various options for bitrate and playlists and the like, should I choose to use them. It works for the job it was designed for. End of. DRM? What DRM? That was only imposed on music purchased from iTunes, and was easily circumvented, and is no longer applied anyway, and was never, ever applied to music ripped from cd, despite what many stupid people think. And as far as doing it Apple's way is concerned, who else is it going to be? Microsoft? Sony? Nokia? They all do similar things with far, far greater restrictions on use than Apple have ever imposed. Tried looking at the restrictions that MS impose on the Zune? Nokia impose on their music store for their music phones? And Sony, well, anyone who used Minidisc knows all about highly restrictive DRM. Want to make a copy of a disc you've just recorded? Ok, but just the one at a time, and no copies of copies tolerated. And who was it released music cd's with anti-copy malware that invaded your computers OS and fubared it? Oh, that was Sony. I never hear people sniping at them for such practices, yet Apple get sneered at all the time just because they make well-designed products that [i]ordinary[/i] consumers like the look of, find easy to use without needing a bloody handbook for every operation, and sell lots of as a result. I buy stuff like Apple make purely because it's uncluttered, and simple and easy to use. Nothing about their products gets in the way of whatever I want to use it for, something that cannot be said for things I've bought from Sony, Nokia and other similar manufacturers.
I am surprised there is no mention of the robust and long lasting range iClothes which Mr Jobs is demonstrating again this year at his presentation.
Self cleaning of viruses and indeed all dirt, they only require removal if Apple issue a new (and rare) update. This explains why Mr Jobs, an avid enthusiast for his company's products, is always seen wearing apparently the same iClothes in every image of him I have seen.
If only Apple were to consider manufacturing them in a range of colours or forms as that product direction did a great deal to promote the iPod range. Perhaps next year...
Do you speak like that Countzero? Apple speak I assume.
Porn at higher resolution than an iphone, whats not to like
It's just a bit big to take into the shitter
Rubbish ooOOoo I take my 15" laptop.
Not quite what I was expecting Maverick, those bikes are more functional than fashion victim (with the possible exception of the Fisher if you are less than 2m10).
Read my post about ALWAYS buying items for function over fashion... Always have, always will... The Rig was cheap, so I thought I'd try it, and to be fair I quite like it, so it is staying! For me the iPhone was a functional revolution too. To others it's an expensive phone, or worse, a paperweight!
I echo CountZero's thoughts on iTunes too by the way... Good bit of music management software, and no, I've never paid a penny to the iTunes store... And like he says, you have to question those who are saying Apple dictate how things should be done... They have a VERY SMALL percentage of the personal computer market, approximately 6%... Microsoft have over 90% market share! Read from that what you will...
Porn at higher resolution than an iphone, whats not to like
LMAO
You gonna get an i**** then can I assume? 😉
Now when they bringing out a 1080HD version? Just read the specs, and even though it's a 10" screen, pretty unimpressed it's only a 1024x768 resolution...
Will i**** come with an iwipe?
[url=
geek shall inherit the earth.[/url]
[url= http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_nothanksipad.jp g" target="_blank">http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/4/2010/01/500x_nothanksipad.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://gizmodo.com/ ]"My god, am I underwhelmed by the iPad. This is as inessential a product as I've ever seen"[/url]
I don't get the tiny Flash options - 64 Gb - I have well over 1Tb of films and video - so how is the iPad going to enhance my experience - make me choose a tiny selection and delete the rest?
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn.
CountZero, try this; connect your iPod to the computer and transfer the songs from it to the computer.
Apple don't want you to do that.
I can connect my android phone and my Creative Zen and transfer the music i want between the two without any fannying about.
Apple are good, but they ain't all that.
..and as I said, my phone does what this new thing does, albeit on a smaller screen, and it goes in my pocket, and does Flash...
[i]My god, am I underwhelmed by the iPad. This is as inessential a product as I've ever seen, but beyond that, it has some absolutely backbreaking failures that will make me judge anyone who buys one. Updated
Big, Ugly Bezel
Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It's huge! I know you don't want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.
No Multitasking
This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can't listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can't have my Twitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can't have AIM open at the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guarantees that I will not buy this product.
No Cameras
No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either? Why the hell not? I can't imagine what the downside was for including at least one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?
Touch Keyboard
So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs; this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we've seen on other tablets, and unless you're lying on the couch with your knees propping it up, it'll be awkward to use.
No HDMI/HD Video Out
Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on your TV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you'd just buy an AppleTV already.
The Name iPad
Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of 'em!
No Flash
No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch. On something that's supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? It will leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don't care about streaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait, nevermind, they all do.
Adapters, Adapters, Adapters
So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god's sake.
Update: Why stop at 8? Here are more things we are discovering that suck about the iPad.
It's Not Widescreen
Widescreen movies look lousy on this thing thanks to its 4:3 screen, according to Blam, who checked out some of Star Trek on one. It's like owning a 4:3 TV all over again![/i]
Just for balance like....
Apple don't want you to do that.
To be fair the reason for that is exactly the same reason why you cannot, or are not supposed to, stick a DVD into your computer and copy it to your harddrive. It is to protect intellectual property. The fact that there are a million and one programs out there to allow you to copy from iPod to a computer does seem to be glaringly missing from your post.
The only reason why creative etc allow you to copy from their devices is they have nothing to protect.
Just saying.
Am I the only one thinking it's just not something that special or mind blowing. And yes I do like Apple products.
I don't get the tiny Flash options - 64 Gb
It's 0.5" thick, tell me how you're gonna fit a large HDD in there?
64GB will be more than enough for most who will use it anyhow...
I want to see Dom Joly with one...[b]"HELLO!!"[/b]
Am I the only one thinking it's just not something that special or mind blowing. And yes I do like Apple products.
As a owner of a macbook pro, iphone and ipod nano i agree. The only thing i can see it being good for is a ereader for books/mags etc. Thing is for the price and the bulk i will just keep buying books and newspapers. It is a bit of a weird one. I would have preferred a cheaper macbook air type device.
If it has a user replaceable battery and full compatibility with Windows applications like WMP11, i'd buy one, but this will never happen.
Apple will continue to vigourously lock their customers to iTunes etc and all other OS/applications will be shut out.
Anti-competiton law suit would sort Apple out, but i guess they would easily find the money to pay a top law firm to defend them and also launch a propoganda campaign.
Shame!
Doesn't actually bother me because there a loads of tablets/slates on the way. The netbbok is evolving into this form factor and there is new chip and display technology that will give 10 hrs of battery life between charges. These tablets will be way cheaper than Apple's offerings and will be compatible with anything worth bothering with. My money will probably be on a Samsung when they ship.
i wouldn't buy it but it looks pretty good.
The video here shows what it can do pretty nicely:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/?sr=hotnews.rss
Basically it's like having a netbook for browsing the web, playing games, listening to music, watching films in bed 😉 etc but without the cumbersome keyboard. Looks really nice to browse photos on too.
i'm a huge apple fan and long time user (20years) but I can't see a place for the ipad in my life!
[i]To be fair the reason for that is exactly the same reason why you cannot, or are not supposed to, stick a DVD into your computer and copy it to your harddrive. It is to protect intellectual property. The fact that there are a million and one programs out there to allow you to copy from iPod to a computer does seem to be glaringly missing from your post.
The only reason why creative etc allow you to copy from their devices is they have nothing to protect.
Just saying. [/i]
But you can copy on to an iPod from a computer but not off it?
Yet you can't download directly on to an iPod....
And the 'intellectual property' on my iPod or Zen or Walkman is **** all to do with Apple.
Nope, sorry it's Apple arsing about.
But you can copy on to an iPod from a computer but not off it? [b]its quite simple, download all your music to the computer, then you don't need to do it back the other way[/b]
Yet you can't download directly on to an iPod.... [b]you can from itunes with a touch or iphone[/b]
And the 'intellectual property' on my iPod or Zen or Walkman is **** all to do with Apple. [b]eh?[/b]
Nope, sorry it's Apple arsing about. [b]I think your making a fuss about nothing, can't say i've ever felt restricted having an ipod and the software beats any of the non ipod mp3 players i used to have[/b]
Only thing I would have preferred is flash support which could still come, they keep talking about it for the iphone.
ps when will singletrack be available as an iPad magazine, I might just subscribe again when that happens.
The letterspacing on the logo is ****ing useless. I have no more too add.
And the fanboys are like fish in a barrel...
i think multi-tasking, flash support etc will come in iphone/ipad 4.0 OS.
and hopefully proper bluetooth support, particulary Serial Port Profile because then I can assign software engineers to it, build some really cool app for my work and justify buying a load of them....
OK "rs", If you have two iPods, you can't sync them both with the same machine unless you go through some convoluted process via the iStore. Why?? It's your music that you paid for on the computer, why shouldn't you be able to copy all or part of it as often as you like?
Apple's thinking assumes you are illegally sharing music with others. It kicks off by distrusting it's customers. No other media player manufacturer operates this policy.
I remember that it wasn't so long ago that all iStore music downloads were DRM protected. How arrogant!
I was considering an iPod Touch for my daughter and have in fact used one of these. They are impressive devices, however to get one with any decent amount of memory costs double the price of a 8Gb unit. There is no 16GB, how convenient! £300 for a media player with no mobile calling capability? And three years later it won't hold a charge anymore.
Apple corporation really sucks!
CountZero -
Tried looking at the restrictions that MS impose on the Zune?
The only restrictions on my Zune (I didn't buy it, it was a freebie) are geographic (as in, I can't use the marketplace). I can even copy music OFF my Zune onto any PC or your PC if we're so inclined.
errr, yes you can. i've got a nano, a shuffle and an iphone syncing up to my itunes. different set of playlists for each one.
oh, and my music library sat on a NAS that anything else on my network can access. it really isnt rocket science.
spongebob you must be doing something wrong 😳
Erm... Yeah I've got mine and the missus iPhones both syncing to the same tunes on the same iTunes. What's the issue?
its tough when fact gets in the way....
Now that i come to think of it, its not just multiple iPods, I can also transfer songs from itunes to my nokia 5800 using the official nokia software (granted not the DRM ones bought on itunes but those are few and far between and there prob is a way around it) 😀
Anti-competiton law suit would sort Apple out, but i guess they would easily find the money to pay a top law firm to defend them and also launch a propoganda campaign.
What exactly would an anti competition suit try to achieve? Telling apple that they can't dictate what operating system is used on the machines that they themselves produce? Why not apply that logic to say Nokia after all you should be able run any phone OS you want. Or how about Sony those guys who force you to use their own operating systems on their games consoles (the PS3 having only just been hacked after 3 years on the market) so that you can't play xbox games on them, the swines.
If software developers want to write software for mac then they are free to do so, hell even Microsoft has version of Office for Mac.
iPad seems like the ideal solution for a non-work machine. I use the same MBP for my work and for leisure, that gets kind of wearing when it's hard to separate the two areas of my life. Now the iPad allows me to do this without spending a whole heap of cash or putting up with some piece of plastic crap that is incompatible with the rest of my gadgets without a lot of fiddling.
Good to see some devils-advocate being played here, but a lot of it seems anti-Apple rather than con-iPad. If you don't like something, don't buy it.
Now, I'm off to play with the new iPad SDK.
crikey:
And the fanboys are like fish in a barrel...
Oh, i get it now!
1. Make argument
2. Have inaccuracies in argument pointed out.
3. Pretend it was all a fishing expedition rather than engage in fact based discussion.
Genius.
Sorry.
iGenius!
I-haterz
As you can see by looking back, I've said I like some Apple products, but it is entertaining to see the almost knee jerk responses when I dare to suggest that some bits of apple software are not that great. Whatever...
anyone else think ipad sounds like a funky sanitary towel?
I like it, don't love it till it gets multitasking and some sort of instant messaging - i guess I can get the yahoo or beejive as I have on my iPhone - but still. I'd also like a camera really, I think they didn't do that for the same stupid reason they dont have a front camera on the iPhone ie data usage of mobile carriers.
Can see it replacing my laptop for when I go away and dont have much of a reason for a full featured, highly specced computer. A book, some surfing, emails maybe a movie is all I need most of the times I travel and it would be perfect! Especially with the connection for cameras -wish it just did have an SD card slot really but oh well so I can empty my memory cards and view the pictures I took on a more substantial screen.
Well personally I find the HMI of my iPod Touch much more user friendly than the poor piece of interface on my Dell Inspiron. The Keyboard is very clunky and the trackpad annoys me quite a lot.
I'm not a total techno freak so don't follow these things that closely. I was only thinking watching something on my Touch the other day that I wish someone would make a big screen version.
I'm ambivalent about Apple, I do think some of their prices are purely cos they get away with charging that much, and not necessarily a reflection of cost to manufacture. But then what is.
I will be very interested in seeing how much this costs, can't see it being much shy of £1k so I'm unlikley to ever buy one. But my Touch experience is such that if I could afford one I'd buy one.
I will be very interested in seeing how much this costs, can't see it being much shy of £1k so I'm unlikley to ever buy one. But my Touch experience is such that if I could afford one I'd buy one.
Starting from $500, knock yourself out 🙂
I remember that it wasn't so long ago that all iStore music downloads were DRM protected. How arrogant!
Arrogant of whom? As has been pointed out countless times, the DRM was at the demand of the music companies. Apple gained nothing from it but a headache.
i wonder how many IT geek forums have crashed through increased traffic since 6pm yesterday, it's bad enough on this 'mountainbike' forum 🙂
Crikey:
Not about sticking to the man, more about not falling for the hype
Who is the bigger victim - the guy who buys the best phone just because it's trendy, or the guy who buys a crap phone because the best one is trendy?
[url= http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/shiny-thing-make-it-all-better-201001282420/ ]I see the Mash is bang on the money again[/url]
Spot on DrJ.
I got an iPhone simply because I tried a mate's and thought it was a great piece of kit. I tried Blackberry and other smartphones in the past, but had been pretty nonplussed. iPhone was the first one where it all came together properly.
"Fashion" just didn't feature in the decision at all, but I'm still told I'm a fashion victim and that I should use something unfashionable so everyone knows how disinterested, cool and fashionable I am 🙄
Mash link funny!
It looks like a giant digital picture frame.
I'm sure it'll be lovely and super duper to use, but reading more it does seem quite restricted in what it can do.
reading more it does seem quite restricted in what it can do.
The first iPhones were slammed because they were 2G, had no copy and paste, no GPS, limited tarrifs, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure the iPad will fade into obscurity just like the iPhone did.
People will buy it as it looks 'fashion'.
I had an apple pad about 10yrs ago. Obviously it wasnt that portable and it wasnt a phone but it was cool!
My boss used to have an iPad last time they launched it
http://oldcomputers.net/apple-newton.html
Have to say I was hoping for a bit more, features wise, but I'm sure it'll be a joy to use, I'm not sure I'm going to want to be seen out with one though. Are they for home, coffee shops, the pub?
Sent from my iPad
reading more it does seem quite restricted in what it can do.The first iPhones were slammed because they were 2G, had no copy and paste, no GPS, limited tarrifs, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure the iPad will fade into obscurity just like the iPhone did.
But a 4:3 screen, no stylus input, no multitasking, no flash?! You're right I'm sure, they'll bring out the upgrades. I just want something now that will last at least 5 years. I'm not interested if it's another apple product with the magpie upgrade path.
As some have already said, I can definitely see the market for this. It's a coffee table gadget that fits somewhere between a proper laptop and a PDA. There's quite a few horrible little netbooks selling out there and if I wanted something I could just browse the web and email on, I'd rather use one of these. Plus you know once version 2 comes out (inevitably with flash) and the app developers have really got to grips with it, there'll be a lot you can do with it. Personally, I have a macbook and an ipod, so I don't feel I need an ipad.
I know there's plenty of irritating Apple fanboiism out there, but there's just as many anti-Apple zealots that have to jump all over anyone who says they like anything Steve Jobs made. It's just a gadget!
But a 4:3 screen, no stylus input, no multitasking, no flash?! You're right I'm sure, they'll bring out the upgrades. I just want something now that will last at least 5 years. I'm not interested if it's another apple product with the magpie upgrade path.
A 4:3 screen makes sense to me, when it's dictating the shape of the device so much. Using a widescreen in portrait move would feel 'wrong'. If the touchscreen is good enough, I don't see the need for a stylus. No multitasking is a pain, and would put me off, though the iPhone's doing ok without it. Flash is dead and/or dying anyway.
The multi-tasking is, has been said above, fully expected to be included in the software upgrade due in the summer.
But a 4:3 screen, no stylus input, no multitasking, no flash?!
4:3 screen, makes sense for a roughly A4 size tablet. I think wide-screen would be a bit odd as a tablet.
No stylus, don't need one for the much smaller iPhone so can't see why I'd need one for the iPad.
No multitaking, agree this does seem like a very odd omission given it is one of the commonest complaints about the iPhone.
No flash, yeah bit rubbish, result of Adobe vs Apple dispute. Adobe have a version of Flash ready for iPhone and iPad but toys are out of prams and won't be back in them for a while.
Flash is dead? It's bloody everywhere.
4:3 may work, but more & more content is 16:9. If it's 1024 x 768 then a film will be about 560p. And waiting for multitasking? Honestly seems a bit poor that, for the sort of money this will cost.
It looks like a device more for consuming rather than creating.
Personally the Microsoft Courier concept seems much more interesting to me, but I want something for sketching on and doing detailed stuff.
I think a tablet netbook with W7 will be perhaps more useful.
Then again Cpt Picard always seemed quite productive with his 🙂
[img] 
[/img]
It looks like a device more for consuming rather than creating.
Agreed. If I wanted to seriously "create" then I'd use a proper computer, not sit in front of the telly with this (or any other portable device) that has a low res, uncalibrated screen.
Then again Cpt Picard always seemed quite productive with his
Indeed and he didn't need a stylus!
Engage!
the best thing about apple hardware is how much it annoys non-apple users.
a bit like why i buy rapha cycling clothing, it's the consternation from non users that's the attraction.
Flash is dead? It's bloody everywhere.
Not for me it's not 😉 Unfortunately web designers still seem to love it, and there are some things which don't work without it, but the sooner it gets killed the better IMHO. Apparently at least one site has had Flash removed after the company boss found he couldn't access it from his iPhone, so a big thumbs up to Apple (even if the rest of the iPad looks rubbish).
Flash sucks if the entire website is written in it, but it is also very useful for certain tasks. YouTube and iPlayer were both built on flash.
And there are a ton of flash games (and game programmers) out there. If it ran flash then all of those could be playable and the bar for entry would be lowered as existing flash programmers wouldn't need to go learn the considerably more involved XCode and iPhone SDK.
The first iPhones were slammed because they were 2G, had no copy and paste, no GPS, limited tarrifs, etc., etc., etc. I'm sure the iPad will fade into obscurity just like the iPhone did.
Well when Apple re-release the iPad having fixed all the things wrong with it I might be a bit more enthusiastic. Excuse me for not getting that excited about something which has features which "will be included in a software update".
Starting from $500
For the bottom of the range version nobody will actually buy because it's crippled.
Not that I'm really the target market for this sort of thing even if it was perfect. The thing is, for all you saying it will be great to sit in front of the TV on the internet - where do you go and what do you do on the internet? How much fun will it be using the STW forum without a proper keyboard?
Flash sucks if the entire website is written in it
Flash sucks if any unnecessary part of the website is written in it (or the site hosts ads using it). The thing is I'm still very unconvinced that it's even that efficient at what it does in things like iPlayer (which could work without it). Maybe I'm just prejudiced because it comes from the same company as the single worst piece of software you use regularly when browsing the web.
The way I see this device succeeding is for the female market (small generalisation there), all my wife uses her laptop for is facebook, youtube, email and Lolcats. This device is perfect for that type of market seeing as she doesn't have a smart phone, or use her laptop to its full potential.
But like I'm sure has already been said (not read all pages sorry), I can't see there being a significant enough gap between my Palm Pre and Macbook.
The thing is, for all you saying it will be great to sit in front of the TV on the internet - where do you go and what do you do on the internet? How much fun will it be using the STW forum without a proper keyboard?
Well outside of work hours, 99% of my posts on STW are currently made from my iPhone while sat in front of the TV on the internet.
[img] 
[/img]
The thing is, for all you saying it will be great to sit in front of the TV on the internet - where do you go and what do you do on the internet? How much fun will it be using the STW forum without a proper keyboard?
I often use my Nokia for STW, and usually for Twitter and Facebook. I'll take a touch screen keyboard over a diddy thumb keyboard any day. For reading forums, Facebook, Twitter, RSS reader, news websites, watching iPlayer, etc. the tablet form factor makes a lot more sense than screen+keyboard+trackpad.
It's not 1999 anymore, so I don't go to sit at a desk to use the internet.
iPad has multitasking for Apple apps only, 3rd party ones are limited to single tasking. e.g on iPhone I can start music off and then switch to C25k and have a music based workout or use trailguru over top of music on a ride.
It's not 1999 anymore, so I don't go to sit at a desk to use the internet.
Me neither.
Seems a rather disappointment price looked ok until it turns out it can do less than a notebook or a laptop that costs less. As always with Apple stuff it looks very nice.