With the Apple iPad due for release in just a few days, what better time is there to take a look at what you get for your money with the iPad. We will take a look at what comes preloaded on the iPad when you buy it, not the apps you can buy. The question is; is it really worth the money? Let’s take a look.
Safari: As with the iPod touch and iPhone the Apple iPad comes preloaded with the Safari web browser. Now there is not much difference between the browser on the iPad and the browser on the iPad but although this might seem like Apple is cutting corners, we think it is a good point. The fact that the browser is not much different to the previous version we have seen will mean that it will be extremely easy to use and will not require the user to learn anything new. It will also be possible to sync your bookmarks from your Mac to your iPad meaning that if you update something on one of the devices, it will automatically update it on the other devices.
IPod: Now we are all familiar with the iPod and what a revolutionary invention it was and the fact that they have put this technology into the iPad is another great reason to buy it. The iPad, which comes in two different models, one with 32GB of memory and one with 64GB of memory. This will really make good use of the iPod feature. The fact that the iPad has such a vast amount of memory will mean that it will be possible to store thousands of songs and videos on the device for you to watch and listen to using the iPod. The iPad’s 9.7 inch screen will take watching videos on a mobile device to a whole new level also and will allow you to watch better quality videos on a larger screen, so no more squinting at that tiny iPhone display.
Mail: The iPad will also come with the Mail App preinstalled. We have seen this previously on the iPhone and iPod touch and it has worked well. However the iPad will make this app seem even better. Having such a large display when compared to the iPhone or iPod touch will make viewing email attachments (PDF files, Images etc) much more pleasurable. The larger pop up keyboard that the device features will allow make it much easier to type when compared to the iPhone, which a lot of users found to be quite fiddly and awkward.
Of course these aren’t the only apps you get preinstalled with the iPad, you will also get the usual Contacts App, Calendar App and pretty much everything else we have seen previously on the iPhone device. And don’t forget that from the launch date there will be thousands of apps available from the app store that will really make use of all the iPad’s features. So should you buy one? Well that’s entirely up to you.
Here is a very interesting piece I found about apple’s reasoning of not to include Flah or Usb:
The real reason Apple won’t allow Flash on the iPhone/iPod/iPad isn’t because it’s buggy or because it’s technically difficult. It’s the same reason Apple doesn’t put a standard USB port or expandable memory on it’s devices – it’s all about Apple Lock-In.
Flash is a huge threat to the App Store because with it you can play games, run apps and even build an “app store” that competes with Apple’s.
The same goes for USB, Apple doesn’t want you connecting a flash drive to your iPhone/iPod/iPad because they want you to get your content from iTunes, not to simply copy or play it from an external drive.
Do you think what the iPad offers makes up for what it doesn’t?
I planned on buying a new computer soon becuase its way too slow and outdated. (Intel P4 @ 3.0 GHZ) lol. But then I considered buying an iPad instead of a computer. It can do that basic functionality of a computer like web browsing and the new Pages App will let me type of documents and such. Im aware of the price and capacity on it and such. But does it have enough capability and a large variety of apps on it that I can buy it instead of a computer? And another factor is that I cant take a desktop anywhere and I’m not a big Laptop person either.
FFBBHB8Q88F9 UK bookies are predicting that the iPad will be nowhere near as successful as the iPhone. The iPhone went on sale in June 2007 and within 74 days of release it had sold 1 Million units. This was probably due to the touch screen technology being a novelty at the time. With the iPad however experts are predicting that it won’t sell anywhere near as many units as the iPhone due to it being less practical and basically being an oversized iPod touch.
Apple is doing its best to prevent this from being a reality and today came news that Apple has signed a deal with Perseus Books who are one of the largest book publishers in the world. Perseus Books also have 330 smaller imprints such as Zaget and Harvard Business School Press and as of today Apple has secured the deal to resell its books in electronic format on the iPad.
Both Apple and Perseus Books have confirmed that this rumour is in fact true and that they will follow the same business model that Apple currently uses for its App Store. This is where the publishers set the retail price for all of their products and Apple makes their money by keeping 30% of the sales as a form of commission.
This latest partnership between Apple and Perseus Books could prove a much needed boost for Apple. Recently we have seen a variety of products being developed by other manufacturers designed to be competition for the iPad such as the Amazon Kindle and the HP Slate. Amazon currently holds a 90 percent share of the market for eBooks.
Some experts have predicted that with news of this new partnership between Apple and Perseus Books that the iPad could threaten Amazon’s dominance in the eBook market. One analyst suggested that Amazon could see this market share fall from its current rate of 90 percent to just 15 percent. This would be a huge blow for Amazon and if true then it could mean that the iPad would become the market leader for portable eBook readers.
We must remember that at this point these speculations are just that; speculations. There is no telling who will come out on top; we will just have to wait until the iPad is released to find this out. There is no doubt that the iPad will be a huge success for Apple as it seems that everyone cannot wait for the product. Since Apple announced its release there has been a huge hype surrounding the product and the scale of its success will depend on a variety of factors such as how it compares against the Amazon Kindle, one of its main competitors.
With just a few weeks until the release of the iPad in the US we shouldn’t have to wait long to find out who comes out on top and from what we have seen, the iPad is a fantastic product and is well worth the hype.”
There is a lot of hype surrounding the iPad at the moment and how Apple hopes it could revolutionize the industry. Apple plans to open a new store along with the iPad called the iBook store which will allow the customer to download and purchase eBooks directly to their iPad. Today came news of the Kindle App that has been developed by Amazon especially for the iPad.
This new app is Amazons version of the iBook store and will be Apple’s main competition for eBook downloads on the iPad. Amazon already has a Kindle App available for the iPhone but the new iPad app has had a lot more work put into it and a complete redesign. Instead of simply porting the existing app that they have available for iPhone, Amazon has hired a team of 14 developers to make the new iPad app something really special. The developers have worked on making the iPad Kindle app look great on the bigger screen that the iPad features.
Amazon has given a demonstration of this app to the New York Times who has actually worked with Apple to create its own app specifically for the iPad. In the demonstration Amazon showed a completely reworked and redesigned home screen which displays the covers of all the eBooks against the image of a silhouetted boy sat reading under a tree. The sun in the background both rises and falls depending on the time of day.
Amazon also claims that as well as the features that Apple will offer in their iBook store, such as swiping the finger across the screen to turn a page, their app will offer much more. For example Amazon claims that with the new Kindle app it will be possible for the user to highlight text in different colours as well as alter both fonts and sizes of the text.
Along with these extra features and tweaks Amazon has made they will also include a variety of features that we have previously seen available on PC, Mac and the iPhone. These include the ability to synchronise bookmarks, notes and page information across multiple devices. You will also be able to import your Kindle library and access the Kindle Store.
With Apple’s iPad set for release in just a few weeks in the US it will be interesting to see how this pans out for Amazon. If this App is more popular and more refined that the iBook store that Apple is going to offer then it could see the end of this dream for Apple. Both companies are going to have to battle it out for number one spot. If you are currently in the UK however I’m afraid you are going to have to wait a little bit longer for both this App and the iPad as Apple plan to release both in late April.
I was thinking, many people have complained that using the ipad as a e-reader will hurt the eyes. However, the screen is bigger, has more memory and more features than the kindle. With the bright screen, to prevent strain of the eyes, couldn’t you just put the brightness of the ipad at it’s lowest, would that have the same effect as the kindle’s e-ink technology? Plus books will be in colour and the distractions of the apps isn’t a problem for me. Which one should I buy? (I already own an iPod touch if that helps, but would like a bigger screen for reading books).
I need to figure out the costs of shipping an IPad overseas in its original packaging (i.e the box it comes in including charger, manual, IPad, etc…), so I need to know the exact dimensions of the box itself, as well as the total weight of the package and its contents.
I heard that the iPad is not good for business but what if you’re a fourteen year old girl?
I don’t really need something all business-ish. I just want something that I can listen to music, play around with some cool apps and enjoy. I heard that it does not have Flash. That is one thing I am worried about though. Does that mean that I can’t use youtube or open files that are sent to me by email? Can I use email without it at all? The iTouch seems more like what I’m looking for, but I just don’t want to get it, and then not be able to get the next big thing. Should I get the iPad? Remember, I do not need all the business stuff. Just stuff that your average teenage girl loves! I don’t want it as a replacement for my phone either.
Oh and one more thing..
To Charge it.. Do you need to plug it into another computer? And I heard that it only lasts ten hours?
I was thinking of getting an Ipod touch mainly for the apps and the ease of access to the internet around the house without having to boot up the laptop. My decision towards getting one could be changed to getting an Ipad.
For the casual browsing it seems great apart from the no Flash or Java support and the apps showed in the presentation seem good and I like the way you can use all the old ones 2 but are the Iworks apps compatible with Microsoft office? (I mean the formats for when i sync it too my laptop for printing or more editing).
If they are and if apple bring in Flash support I will definitly get one, so does anyone no is Iworks compatible With Microsft office on a pc and will they bring in Flash support?
I am not an apple hater or a microsoft fan boy, but I truly think the ipad is overrated. It is an iphone/ipod touch on steroids. It might have a better web/interface interface because of the screen. The only thing special is the ibook store. I think the ibook store might come to the iphone. It looks cool and everyone talks about it because its a freaking apple product. I have an ipod touch and love it. I am getting a mac because I like them too and the high school I want to go to uses them. No one was hyped up about the Sony Ereader or Amazon Kindle. The Ipad does do things the other 2 dont such as Internet, apps, and the media. I might get one, but as a computer, no. It might be good for someone who wants a book, movie, internet on the road. If you want really nice internet, doesnt need to run multiple apps at the same time, and can sacrifice flash player then get it Otherwise get a Touch or iphone.
I already have a laptop for schoolwork/etc and I am looking for a great computer for web browsing/applications/movies/emailing. Some document typing would probably happen as well.
I am torn between the Ipad and the Mac Mini. The Ipad would be a bit cheaper and would be very fun for me considering I don’t have an iphone/itouch but I feel like I could probably do more with the Mac Mini.
i am debating over wether to get the ipad and wanted to know what people think about it. i dont think it classifies as a laptop but as like a entertainment system because it has games (apps), movies, book, and so on. what do you think?
Apple launches the ipad. Kindle killer? Netbook killer? Or just a giant ipod Touch? iphone and ipad: todaysiphone.com Forums forums.phonedog.com Win Free Phones www.phonedog.com
I don’t know if I should buy an iPad, but if it does not include Office, well I think is not worth it. Besides that Apple should have put more time to their iPad to make a better pruduct; I mean no camera, no multiple running applications, iPhone software instead of mac, ATNT only, common apple!
You are right there’s nothing cool about it, besides I already have an iTouch it’s not worth my money. But as long as it fits on an yellow office envelope…jajajaja
