You haven't seen anything until you've seen a small, low resolution screen display HD content.

4/6/2010 11:56:46 PM

Quote :

"The Weather Channel app was clearly rushed before it was ready, same as with the one from USA Today."

haha, those are two that impress me the most... havent had any problems... whats wrong with yours?

4/7/2010 12:12:06 AM

I'm waiting until these are paper thin and roll-able. About a decade you think?

4/7/2010 12:12:42 AM

^^ both are slow as balls. Press something, wait 5 seconds for the UI to respond.

4/7/2010 12:17:21 AM

odd... those have both been fine on mine, especially USA Today.

ibooks has been a little slow at times...

4/7/2010 12:21:11 AM

Quote :

"You haven't seen anything until you've seen a small, low resolution screen display HD content."

I have yet to watch HD content on a small low res screen but I have watched HD content on the iPad and I was blown away by how sharp it looks. I wasn't expecting much out of HD video playback but I am impressed. Star Trek was one of the HD titles i own that i tested it with.

Also I have USA today and have had no problems. It's my favorite news reader so far. I read in the comments that it's going to a subscription model in june or July?

4/7/2010 12:29:42 AM

damn, really?

I like it better than NYT or WSJ

4/7/2010 12:38:15 AM

Not sure if it's true but it does seem logical for them. I'd probably subscribe if its not too expensive. It is a really nice app and you do feel like you are reading a newspaper.

4/7/2010 12:53:45 AM

Best iPad review I've read. Actually, I skipped to the last page and skimmed a few others.

http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2010/04/ipad-review.ars

Quote :

"The iPad has numerous flaws—most of which can be fixed with software updates, and we hope that they will be—but it's still a device that will undoubtedly kick off a shift in how the general population interacts with software and content. As pointed out by Omni Group CEO Ken Case at the Macworld Expo, even if the first iPad doesn't end up being a hit, multitouch devices where users interact directly with what's on the screen is the future. "In five to ten years, there will be really big multitouch screens, like on an iMac or something, and we'll be touching and moving things around instead of clicking and dragging. This effort is an investment in the future. It's forcing us to look at our applications—for the iPad and the Mac—in a completely different way and improve upon it as user interaction changes," he said. We agree. But for today: can the iPad replace a netbook or a laptop? For some of you hardcore users, probably not. For those who use netbooks as a lightweight way to browse the Web, chat a bit, and do some light work: yes, it can. Does the iPad make a good weekending/vacationing computer? Sure. The way the iPad is designed, you are less likely to get sucked into doing work or accidentally wasting away hours of your life online than you would on a "normal" computer, but it's mostly capable enough so that you can do some work when necessary. Is the iPad easy and foolproof enough for your technologically challenged family member? Yes, if that person has at least $500 to burn. Does it make a good e-book reader? Depends on your definition of "good." Readers that use e-ink (such as the Kindle) may still be better in some situations, but for gadget consolidation's sake, the iPad as an e-reader is decent enough, even for those of us with sensitive eyes. Five hundred dollars (or more) is a lot of money to spend on a device that some people still can't figure out how to fit into their lives. So at this point, it's hard to say whether anyone should get an iPad, but for those of us on staff, even the most skeptical of us don't regret it. The best way for us to sum up our collective and unanimous conclusion on the iPad, is to say that it's the first device to substantially deliver on the promise made by the iPhone and, in some respects, the Newton. Both of these earlier Apple products gave us glimpses at what a real, usable, purpose-built tablet computer might one day look like, and the iPad at long last gives us the complete picture. So in a sense, the iPad is both the end of a long journey and the start of a new one. We can't wait to see where it takes us next."

A friend got an iPad and I was playing with it yesterday, I like the concept and definitely want something LIKE the iPad, but I think that the restrictive nature of Apple's platform is frustrating.

I am definitely looking forward to the next few years of tablet development.

4/7/2010 9:19:25 AM

Man, it takes so much more work to touch shit and move it around and whatnot. It's wasted energy. You're just begging for an RSI. I'll stick with the mouse and keyboard on anything bigger than a 10" screen.

4/7/2010 9:21:54 AM

the option to do it either way would be nice

4/7/2010 9:31:11 AM

Quote :

"In five to ten years, there will be really big multitouch screens, like on an iMac or something, and we'll be touching and moving things around instead of clicking and dragging. This effort is an investment in the future. It's forcing us to look at our applications—for the iPad and the Mac—in a completely different way and improve upon it as user interaction changes," "

lol this is so wrong. Touch screen UIs and mousing Uis are vastly different. Not to mention this is nothing new. The technology has been around for a while, but it hasn't caught on because touch is useless for anything involving data entry. People aren't going to ditch their keyboards and mice for a touch screen mac with a vritual keyboard because it would take forever to get anything done. You also dont have anything close to the precision provided by a mouse when you use a touchscreen.

The only way a touchscreen can truely be useful is if you have a stylus to go with it. The ipad's touch is for basic tasks and light typing. Anyone claiming touch alone will be the future of input is the biggest idiot fanboy.

4/7/2010 10:23:21 AM

i agree with ^^^

i would be more interested in one if it ran osx and was a real computer.

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 10:45 AM. Reason : ]

4/7/2010 10:23:30 AM

So it looks like the components in these things take up around 50% of the price.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/07/isuppli-pegs-ipad-component-costs-at-as-little-as-259-60/

Makes me wonder how long it will stay at that price point. I think at $299 you'd see a load more impulse buys. I know I'd have been first in line at that pricepoint.

4/7/2010 10:47:06 AM

yeah i'd buy one at $299 right now

4/7/2010 11:00:43 AM

ibgloveco ranting about how Apple is a company and not a NPO

4/7/2010 11:21:30 AM

^^^ that's the apple way! get the early adopters who will pay darn near anything, then drop the price down to get everyone else.

i'll probably pick one up for 3-400

4/7/2010 12:48:57 PM

Quote :

"The only way a touchscreen can truely be useful is if you have a stylus to go with it. The ipad's touch is for basic tasks and light typing. Anyone claiming touch alone will be the future of input is the biggest idiot fanboy."

I'm not disagreeing or agreeing but just pointing out that these exact same things were said about the mouse when apple came out with the first computer with a mouse input device. You are still using it today roughly 25 years later. It's hard to imagine another form of input until it's been done and you've used it. The iPad is a stepping stone but isn't quite there. Same applies to other similar devices.

You're also thinking of using your software that was designed with keyboard/mouse inputs. Obviously that's a no go for touch.

Quote :

"Makes me wonder how long it will stay at that price point. I think at $299 you'd see a load more impulse buys. I know I'd have been first in line at that pricepoint."

I sure hope so! I want to see these types of devices succeed and it will make it cheaper for me to equip my rents, brother and sister with one. Haha.


[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 12:55 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 12:56 PM. Reason : .]

4/7/2010 12:51:47 PM

touch software is a move backwards in capability though. Im not saying touch is bad by any means, but touch by itself is not capable enough. The fact that apple sells a docking station w/ keyboard for it is a pretty good indicator. You could have a combination keyboard/touch screen desktop system, but there are alot of places where people will still want the precision of the mouse or stylus that a finger simply cant physically accomplish. The result of touch is you'll end up need much less busy interfaces with larger contact areas. For some applications this is probably fine, but for anything with complex menu systems or more options, you're going to run into problems.

For mobility, the stylus is the best input device possible. Its much more natural to hold a device in one hand and write on it with the other. Pecking out words, while possible, is not as nice. In additon with a touch only interface you have to have that virtual keyboard taking up screen real estate.

Again, for the ipad and its role, its not a big deal. For browsing the web and looking at pictures its pretty good., but people do more than that with their computers.

4/7/2010 1:06:44 PM

Uh-OH

Slate by HP looks WAY more promising

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeDalRBjyJo&feature=player_embedded

4/7/2010 1:08:09 PM

what is "way" more promising about it?

4/7/2010 1:12:49 PM

I am guessing that you did not see the USB ports, extra storage, camera...

Read a little http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100406/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1480

Quote :

"Of course, one of the biggest selling points for the Slate (and yes, this we know for certain) is Windows 7, a full-on, multitasking, desktop-caliber operating system."

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 1:16 PM. Reason : /]

4/7/2010 1:15:15 PM

I guess IMO i already have a netbook with windows 7, and the appeal of the iPad is mainly the app store. It's obviously not going to be the best in regard to hardware (aside from the capacitance touch-screen) but when it comes to what i'd be doing on a tablet i'd want to have access to the app store. Android would suffice, but there's just so many cool apps coming out for the iPad.

I mean seriously, what would you do if you had a tablet with windows 7? Or even OSX? Touch support sucks and it's not like there's any cool apps that take advantage of a large touch screen compared to the app store.

4/7/2010 1:19:51 PM

Actual mobile computing and means of storage when compared to the iPad. The iPad is almost like a huge toy or watered-down gaming device and Youtube viewer.

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 1:23 PM. Reason : /]

4/7/2010 1:22:46 PM

Quote :

"touch software is a move backwards in capability though. Im not saying touch is bad by any means, but touch by itself is not capable enough. The fact that apple sells a docking station w/ keyboard for it is a pretty good indicator. You could have a combination keyboard/touch screen desktop system, but there are alot of places where people will still want the precision of the mouse or stylus that a finger simply cant physically accomplish. The result of touch is you'll end up need much less busy interfaces with larger contact areas. For some applications this is probably fine, but for anything with complex menu systems or more options, you're going to run into problems. For mobility, the stylus is the best input device possible. Its much more natural to hold a device in one hand and write on it with the other. Pecking out words, while possible, is not as nice. In additon with a touch only interface you have to have that virtual keyboard taking up screen real estate. Again, for the ipad and its role, its not a big deal. For browsing the web and looking at pictures its pretty good., but people do more than that with their computers."

I don't know whats to come, I've just got an open mind about it. I've designed interfaces for keyboard/mouse input and i've designed interfaces for touch screens (traditional) and for iPhone. Its a completely different way of thinking for each.

I'm not a fan of the stylus for a mobile device at all. But for a stationary desktop with multi-touch that might be a good alternative to a mouse. Some designers already use a stylus in replace of a mouse although not on a touchscreen but on a pad.

With what we see now in multi-touch I can't see myself using it to code or making any serious UI mock-ups in Photoshop. Using a finger in photoshop instead of a mouse or stylus is difficult especially when you need to be accurate and connect lines. I'm sure with practice I could get better but I don't know that it would be as good as with a mouse. But this is now...we're stuck in thinking how we use things today and with what we already have. Just like when the mouse was first introduced we were stuck in our ways then and dismissed the mouse as the next best thing. But the mouse also came with a significant UI change as well to accompany it. Multitouch has also come with UI changes to accommodate it and that will further evolve, who knows if it will ever replace the mouse, we'll just have to wait and see.

Quote :

"I am guessing that you did not see the USB ports, extra storage, camera... "

Scroll up to what I linked last night if you want to see something that will seriously give the iPad a run for its money. This however isn't one of them. I've looked at the Slate, JooJoo, Notion Atom Ink, and a few others and only one really stood out on paper other than the iPad. Of course this is not factoring in user experience which is the most important feature to look at. Everything else on paper just wows tech geeks.

Quote :

"Of course, one of the biggest selling points for the Slate (and yes, this we know for certain) is Windows 7, a full-on, multitasking, desktop-caliber operating system."

To me and should be to anyone who has used a touch device, this should be its biggest weakness. If it were running Windows Phone 7 or another OS designed from the ground up with multi-touch then it would be a different story.

Quote :

"Actual mobile computing and means of storage when compared to the iPad. The iPad is almost like a huge toy or watered-down gaming device and Youtube viewer."

Have you used one for a significant amount of time? Or is this based on biased towards apple and their OS?

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 1:30 PM. Reason : .]

4/7/2010 1:24:07 PM

iPad's name is really the only thing making this a successful venture. Its already reports of these shits shutting down outside because they can't stand to be above 95 degrees, and a as poor e-reader. I mean come on there is not a built-in USB port on this thing, and thats just ass.

^ Dude do you really think as much shit as you talk on here that anyone really taking anything you say seriously?

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 1:30 PM. Reason : /]

4/7/2010 1:29:35 PM

Quote :

"I mean come on there is not a built-in USB port on this thing, and thats just ass."

lol

^U MAD?

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 1:35 PM. Reason : .]

4/7/2010 1:34:19 PM

I don't want to use it for serious mobile computing. I just want something bigger than my iPhone to play with that has lots of cool apps and a big touch screen. I'll do my serious computing on an actual computer or my netbook. I don't think Apple intended the iPad to be used for serious computing atleast not for the majority of people buying it.

4/7/2010 1:37:27 PM

stereotype fulfilled

4/7/2010 3:25:22 PM

what does his shirt say? The Mac ___ ____ BACK?

4/7/2010 3:26:10 PM

Quote :

"FROM WAY BACK"

4/7/2010 3:35:27 PM

I actually think the HP Slate looks pretty bad ass. If I were HP, I'd be running ads on that nonstop. I know it isnt available yet, but I bet there are a lot of people that would rather have the slate rather than the iPad if they saw what the slate is going to be able to do very shortly.

4/7/2010 3:52:12 PM

Just downloaded goodreader for 99 cents

Paired with drop box and some PDFs (books), this device is awesome

4/7/2010 4:07:16 PM

Quote :

"I actually think the HP Slate looks pretty bad ass. If I were HP, I'd be running ads on that nonstop. I know it isnt available yet, but I bet there are a lot of people that would rather have the slate rather than the iPad if they saw what the slate is going to be able to do very shortly."

The people that understand the specs of these devices are people like us. They don't make up a significant portion of consumers...and in addition to that they don't generally shell out money for stuff like this because they'd rather spend $200 on a netbook.

Everyone here says 'oh if it only had this...or that...i'd buy it' but the truth is they wouldn't.

4/7/2010 4:16:37 PM

Well, I would agree with you to a point, but HP is going to make you want to video conference really badly with the camera that is on this thing. HP must make people really want to do that...

I think that is 'the' killer app that Apple fucked up royally on. Had they built a camera, and built i video conference software, I think it would have been unstoppable.

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 4:26 PM. Reason : .]

4/7/2010 4:25:48 PM

Quote :

"Well, I would agree with you to a point, but HP is going to make you want to video conference really badly with the camera that is on this thing. I think that is 'the' killer app that Apple fucked up royally on. Had they built a camera, and built i video conference software, I think it would have been unstoppable."

in all honesty that is the one feature that I do desire when i read the specs on all these other devices because just think how awesome it would be to be able to video conference on something like that? I'm fairly confident that Apple will include one in generation 2 along with other features.

While the Slate sounds good and all...this is what I'm really excited about:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/icds-tegra-2-powered-gemini-is-the-most-feature-complete-tablet/

4/7/2010 4:27:48 PM

I still don't know why you would want 3G on this device, especially if you already have an iPhone.

The only time i could see it being useful is if you are a passenger on a long car ride. I guess it would be a nice options to have just in case but I know i wouldn't ever pay AT&T twice for data in one month.

4/7/2010 4:54:50 PM

I haven't felt the need for 3g yet but I haven't had it that long and haven't taken any road trips or traveled yet. That might change when I fly to New Orleans next month.

I might just have to jailbreak my iPhone for that so I can tether.

4/7/2010 4:57:33 PM

One of the Apple fanboys at work jailbroke and bricked his 3Gs He knows what he is doing, so it convinced me that I'll never try it.

[Edited on April 7, 2010 at 4:59 PM. Reason : .]

4/7/2010 4:58:40 PM

lol...how'd he manage that?

4/7/2010 5:09:52 PM

^^You can't jailbreak the 3gs with the new software (3.1.3). How'd he do that though? With newer jailbreak software you can't really brick it anymore. Anything you do can be fixed with a restore.

4/7/2010 5:12:43 PM

Quote :

"One of the Apple fanboys at work jailbroke and bricked his 3Gs He knows what he is doing"

I doubt the validity of the first statement. Considering the fact that the first statement exists however, I can promise you the second statement isn't remotely true.

4/7/2010 5:41:36 PM

I can't believe I'm saying this. I agree with ^

4/7/2010 6:06:07 PM

Anyone seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGUppxoJUVg

4/7/2010 7:15:30 PM

much better:

http://www.blendtec.com/willitblend/videos.aspx?type=unsafe&video=ipad

4/7/2010 7:18:41 PM

seems every time some next big thing comes out a few attention whores make a video like ^

4/7/2010 7:18:45 PM

Isn't that kinda dangerous breathing dust from a battery and shit?

4/7/2010 8:28:49 PM

The only one i've watched was the iPad blending and it looked fake as hell. One minute its huge solid pieces then you see the screen flicker and all of a sudden its powder?

4/7/2010 8:56:05 PM

It's a really good blender.

4/7/2010 9:06:48 PM

Quote :

"If you just bought/use an iPad and you are interested in a paid study next week email me ASAP, I need 3 or 4 people (2hours $150). Thanks!"

Patty Snow

4/7/2010 9:20:29 PM