Apple introduces the iPad

[brooklynite]

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. looks like an iPhone on steroids... nt

[Occulus]

46. Does anyone know if you can jailbreak this one the way you can the iPhone and iPod? n/t

[phantom power]

looks like an active display

wonder what its battery life is.

[Xithras]

8. Active display is NOT a good thing IMHO.

Excessive battery consumption, eye fatigue from extended use, etc. I expect that this will do very well and will chew into the netbook market, but I think that Apple's expectation that it will succeed as an eReader are a bit hopeful. I have yet to meet anyone who has used an ePaper screen device like the Kindle who wasn't completely blown away by the superior readability of the display and by the reduction in eye strain and fatigue when compared against LCD devices and other active displays. The difficulty of reading long bodies of text (like books) on an LCD screen is one of the reasons why PC makers attempts at turning Tablet PC's into eBooks have failed so miserably, and the embrace of ePaper technology is one of the reasons why the Sony Reader & Kindle are doing so well. I'm a bit shocked that Apple has decided to stick with the inferior LCD screen for this thing.

[phantom power]

13. One thing I truly like about my Kindle is what e-ink does for battery life.

However, this iPad thingy is not a dedicated ebook reading device. Current e-ink tech does not support the kinds of interface wizardry Apple is known for.

[comtec]

130. I bought my wife a low-end Ebook and it's really amazing

aside from 24-hours active use battery life, the E-ink is truly amazing!
I could read it in the plane (bought it in CA, I live in holland) with the most minimal amount of light, like reading an actual book!
While I applaud Apple for wanted to include E-books, that kind of thing has been around, in all honesty, since the modern computer was invented.

I've been reading books and stories for over 20 years now on my computer.

The E-book readers are unique because they are actual, viable, book replacements! (but I tell you there is still nothing like reading an old book)

I have the i-pod touch. and I like the screen, and it's nice for browsing late at night and not waking up my wife, but it's really too battery hungry to use to read a book or a manual on. it's also too small.
Anytime you back-light a screen, you are putting strain on the eyes (just personal experience)

but that's just me. i'm old fashioned in some ways - oh well.

[Codeine]

21. That has been my thought all along.

Active displays are simply a terrible technology for an eReader screen. I'd by the iPad for everything but the reader capabilities, and stick with a Kindle or Nook for my books.

[krabigirl]

108. I agree. I think it would hurt the eyes. I'd try a Kindle when the prices go wayyy down.

[Statistical]

111. Well hopefully the ipad will convince amaazon to cut the prices.

The build cost for a Kindle is about $100, the larger DX costs about $160.

Amazon has simply kept price high because there was no real competitor.
A $149/$249 Kindle would sell some serious units.

Maybe even a Christmas 2010 pricing of $99/$199?

A man can dream

[Yavin4]

115. I Hate The Kindle. Just Buy The Book and Read It.

The whole point of buying books is the experience of holding it in your hands. Putting it on the shelf. Sharing it with your family and friends. Getting it signed, etc. etc. etc.

[Tesha]

11. 10 hours active, *ONE MONTH* standby. (NT)

[MercutioATC]

27. They're claiming 10 hours of video, 30 days of standby power.

[NYCGirl]

58. According to the keynote, 10 hours, with one month standby. NT

[Touchdown]

72. 10 hours according to specs

Uses a led backlit screen. Watch movies all the way from LA to Tokyo according to Jobs.

[roguevalley]

123. 10 hours

[suffragette]

2. Live coverage here

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/?sort=newest&refresh=30

Can update 30 seconds or 1 minute

[brooklynite]

3. Live Audio of the announcement

http://live.twit.tv/

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

4. Looks like a picture of an "iPad" rendering on a screen.

no captions or article.
Wow, that's real reliable info there. :sarcasm:

[hlthe2b]

5. How much $$$?

[Donnachaidh]

6. $999 this week.

Once all the *gotta have that gadget* people have bought it, the price will drop to $699. :rofl: :sarcasm:

[gateley]

41. Oops -- your source was wrong. It's starting at $499. nt

[gateley]

7. It's amazing -- and he's not finished yet. Here are the specs:

10:28AM "Let's go back to the hardware." .5 inches thin, 1.5 pounds -- 9.7 inch IPS display

[comrade snarky]

12. I like the tablet idea

But from a design perspective I'd rather have a device that's 3/4 of an inch thick and get rid of most of that black frame.

A quibble I admit. :-)


Any word on battery life or if they're user replaceable?

[Fumesucker]

15. That's going to make it harder to hold without touching the screen..

The frame gives you a place to grasp the device without activating the touch screen inadvertently.

[comrade snarky]

69. A frame is a good idea I agree, but

That one looks a little wide to my eyes. I don't need an inch and a half all around to hold it.

I'd rather they save the height and width and go for something a little thicker. Better portability I think.

[gateley]

16. I think it said the standby is 10 hours -- I'll scroll back over the blog and get

the info if I can for you.

Understood about the 3/4 thick, but wow, this is just so purse-size or book bag friendly!

[suffragette]

17. 10 hours battery

[gateley]

22. I was wrong -- battery is 10 hours, over a month on standby: Some other stuff:

16 GB
654 GB flash storage
1GHz Apple 4 chip

Bluetootoh 2.1

and I can't read the rest of my scribbles.

They just showed the library -- leave it to apple, the books are on a shelf, just like in a book store, front cover facing you, rather than in a list.


Doubt if the battery is user replaceable, otherwise it prob would have mentioned it?

Back to the blog! :hi:

[comrade snarky]

70. No replaceable battery would be a problem for me.

Man, I hope they don't make that mistake again.

Makes me think they haven't learned anything from the old days when it took a special tool to open a Mac case. Always seems like Mac give us 10 examples of stunning design offset by 2 stupid ones.

[Tesha]

73. A replaceable battery is a trade-off.

You gain, well, a user-replaceable battery but lose:

o volumetric efficiency (so smaller battery or bigger case)
o rigidity of the case
o reliability because you now have a battery connector
o money because all the extra details cost more

You also have the problem of users buying counterfeit batteries,
intentionally or not.

Frankly, I have no objection to the "fixed" battery design that
Apple uses.

Tesha

[comrade snarky]

80. There are trade offs to be made for a replaceable battery

But in my opinion they're worth it.

I'd rather have a slightly thicker device and a spare battery rather than run out of power when I need it.

[Tesha]

113. I'd have thought that too, pre-iPhone...

I always bought extra batteries for my PowerBooks/MacBooks, and actually
use them from time-to-time, so I was dubious about the fixed battery in
the iPhone. But it lasts me all day every day, even with pretty heavy use,
even after almost two years of cycling. Ever since the early software update
that fixed a problem with the GPS sucking the battery dry, the worst I've
ever managed was to just hit the low-battery warning, and just in case, I
carry a combination car-cord and plug-in charger.

By comparison, my Nokia phones (to date) have all had removable batteries
but I've never had reason to carry a spare battery for those either. On the
Nokias, though, the removable battery is essential for a different reason:
it lets you unjam the phones when their firmware gets stuck. The iPhone
doesn't suffer from that problem.

Tesha

[gateley]

Cant' replace the iPhone battery, so I'm just assuming... Another disappointment

is no multi-tasking. But I'm still excited about this - especially at the price. I love the idea of tossing it into my purse and taking it with me.

[Dappleganger]

57. 1.5 pounds, wow!

That's gonna kill the netbooks for hauling back and forth to class.

[CBR]

9. Looks cool! nt

[earth mom]

10. I love my Mac and iTouch but IMHO this thing looks awkward to use.

:shrug:

[Touchdown]

83. Use...

[tridim]

14. iPad?

:rofl:

Is this a joke?

[DainBramaged]

20. Actually, no and I immediately see it's usefulness in industry

[gateley]

24. I immediately see its usefulness for ME! :- ) nt

[tridim]

25. Maybe so, but that name is just awful.

[DainBramaged]

33. But you can name your toys like I do.......

I call my car Connie, my gaming computer Brutus, my business system Pluto........

[DKRC]

86. My daughter named her laptop

Bitch!

So every time you shut it down it says Turn Off Bitch!

But then it is a PC. :evilgrin:

[dbonds]

18. Looks like a huge iPhone.

Bet it is bulky to hold up to your ear.

[suffragette]

19. iBook store

10:54AM "It has a bookshelf. In addition there's a button which is the store -- we've created the new iBook Store. You can download right onto your iPad."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. I'll have to pass. Love my ibook and have no need nor the money for another toy.

[gateley]

44. Love my iBook, too. This WOULD be just a toy -- although a toy I could more

easily take with me (I'm obviously already trying to justify it. :7)

[brooklynite]

26. Included Apple's "Office" apps

Word processing, spreadsheet and presentation s/w

[gateley]

28. Earlier in the presentation I was saying to my friend, so it'll do just about

everything except probably spreadsheets, word, etc. Wrong! I'm loving this!

[suffragette]

35. This is great, yeah.

Really eager to hear about accessibility options for it.

[TCJ70]

31. Sweet!

I love iWork.

[Dappleganger]

61. This is where they'll shine...

If it can run a those kind of apps it's gonna kill everything else in its category.

[Toucano]

29. I want my Newton! Long live the Newton! n-t

[Tesha]

64. I've always viewed the iPhone as "Revenge of the Newton". This carries that on. (NT)

[northzax]

74. Speaking as someone who had a Newton

Brilliant, but five years too early.

[ddeclue]

30. Yawn.. I'll stick with my happy little netbook thanks but no thanks Steve.

[Touchdown]

96. I looked at netbooks. They were slow, underpowered, flimsy and were stingy with the memory.

I yawned at netbooks. This thing is wicked fast with a custom built 1g RAM chip and 64gig of memory. Not yawning anymore. This is great.

[comtec]

132. what have you been looking at?

I have a mark I, so i'm not going to brag much, but what you describe is odd.

I can get online, type a report, or make a full on presentation. I have used an external screen when I needed to, and used it for presentations to clients.

As far as under-powered, its' already 60% faster at 1.6 Ghz, 1.5 GB or RAM and 160 GB hard drive (which I will happily replace with a much smaller SSD as soon as my warranty is up and I can open it).

I can play any game I want and run firefox with 10 tabs open no problem, run skype, AND MSN, AND Yahoo, AND word process all AT THE SAME TIME without having to jump between tasks, closing each one as I go along.

The original battery only had 2.5 hours on it (3-cell LiOn), so I got an aftermarket battery. This one is 9 cell, and the thing goes for 8 HOURS at full power (in max battery, about 5/6 in full performance) AND I can still use the original battery as a backup.

The CURRENT generation of netbooks (essentially the same stats, but refined firmware/OS) run 8-10 hours OUT OF THE BOX AND have 3G capabilities for internet (A common thing here in Europe. I use my STANDARD USB-mini-B to get internet from my phone with no problems). Imagine how long they can run with after-market batteries like mine?

Now, I admit that I'm lugging around a 1.7? pound laptop with me, but I have everything I need on that. It's not a toy, it's a real laptop... only smaller.

Will I get a imaxi-pad.... probably, when the price comes down and I can use a real currency, to buy it in dollars (1.6 exchange rate when I got my ipod touch).

I think it's a good idea. I don't like that it's a over-sized iTouch however. I would have had it a under-sized I-book to be totally honest.

[RedCappedBandit]

128. Agreed

No keyboard, no real operating system, lack of USB ports, etc etc.. and more expensive than a typical netbook. No need for it.

[salguine]

32. Yaaay! Another gadget to keep the People distracted.

[gateley]

37. Or to keep people up to date with the news and goings on in the world. nt

[Touchdown]

82. Oh' yeah. Show up here to piss on this, but...

Where were you in the American Idol threads?;)

[TheWatcher]

109. Indeed. Between this and American Idol,The Oligarchs should have an unadulterated field day.

But at least we will be numb, dumb, and gadget soaked.

We won't feel a thing. :)

[EnviroBat]

34. That will never fit in a back pocket.

Just like everything else in society, it's bigger, fatter, and un-necesary, but a few slick commercials down the road, and you're going to have to have it!

[gateley]

36. It'll fit in my purse - and my laptop doesn't. iPhones are pocket sized. And I

don't need slick commercials, I've been a first-hand Apple fan and to me, it's worth it.

[suffragette]

38. iPad pricing starts at $499

:D

[gateley]

40. Holy shit -- they'll sell millions. Too bad for the snarkers who love to slam

Apple for their high prices.

[1awake]

42. I'm not a fan of apple

computers.. never owned one.. never will... but I'd buy this, at least so far. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since I'm very pleased with my iphone. Can't wait to take a closer look at this.

[suffragette]

50. Sweet price point

Hmm, wonder if we'll be able to Skype with this.

Also, I looked up EPub format and there are tons of public domain books available in that format.

Ok, I'm drooling now.

[gateley]

63. My friend and I were thinking Skype --

Jobs said it fills the gap between a laptop and smartphone, but with Skype... :shrug:

[suffragette]

68. Skype has an app

And the presentation said it would run apps, so it will be interesting to see if that's viable.

Wonder if multi-tasking will come in 2nd gen.

Also, am wondering about accessibility.
They didn't bring that up at all.
There are text-to-speech apps, but will they work with iBook? Epub?

[slutticus]

121. Unfortunately, doesn't look like there's a camera...

So no video chat.

[comrade snarky]

71. Is that with a cellular plan? (nt)

[Tesha]

114. This isn't a phone, so there's no "voice" plan. The data plan comes in two flavors.

250 MB/month for $14.99
Unlimited for $29.99

AT&T, no contract.

Note that the 3G radio for the iPad (required if you want to use
cellular data) adds $130 to the price of the 'Pad.

Tesha

[1awake]

39. starting at 499.00......

ok.. im interested now.

though.. 64 gb for all it says it does.. not sure thats going to be enough.

[TCJ70]

43. 64GB iPod holds:

14,000 songs
80 hours of video
90,000 photos

That's quite a bit for a .5 inch thick tablet that can also do word processing, presentation and everything else. $499? Sounds like plenty to me.

[1awake]

47. agreed...

if we were talking about a smart phone.. but we are not. Its the "can also do" part that worries me. We will see.. they did good so far, maybe I'm jumping the gun for no reason.

[truebrit71]

62. Except the 64GB iPad is priced at $699, not $499...

..and you need to ad another $130 if you want the 3G capability (plus $30/ month)...

If if was $499 all inclusive it would kill everything else out there, as it stands now, it will be like every other apple product, nice to look at, does everything that all the other products do, but costs 50% more...

[comtec]

134. for 300 Euros I can buy a netbook, that lasts 10 hours, AND has 3G

you just need to provide a SIM card with a data plan (and most do)
klant and klaar.
My problem with this, aside from the usual apple-cult stuff, is that it's actually horribly limited in what it could do.

Say what you want about PCs (and I know the cult of apple will) but the possibilities are far greater than Apples.

For example, putting OSx on a Netbook (it's been done, tho not my idea of a good time - OSx on a older Mac is almost unbearable, and it's only gotten bigger since then)

But the ipad is limited to whatever apple danes is ok for us mere surfs to do.

Apple, is apple's biggest problem at the end of the day.

[arcadian]

45. Will never work, looks like an Etcha-sketch

people want their magical box to have some weight to it. That doesn't

[gateley]

52. We'll see. I'd be just fine with the weight it is. I'm guessing I'm not the only one. nt

[Touchdown]

88. And yet... The Etch-A-Sketch is what... 70 years old now?

You'd be better to use Light Brite or the Easy Bake Oven. They're only 45 years old.:rofl:

[MadBadger]

48. Can you multitask with the iPad?

[1awake]

49. appears not...

which is a huge downer for me.

[gateley]

51. Does that mean, for example, I wouldn't be able to be on the internet while

working on a spreadsheet? Thanks.

[MadBadger]

53. Yep, gotta use one app at a time and close out of one to go to another

at least that's my understanding of it.


Now back to my music player, word document, power point presentation...all that I've been working on at the same time with my now pointless dell Laptop :sarcasm:

[1awake]

54. if thats the case its useless to me.. I hope not. N/T

[MadBadger]

56. I've read it on a couple sites

Nothing for sure yet, cuz everyone is saying "it appears it doesnt have multitasking."

Apparently when Jobs was showing it off, he closed one app to go to the other, instead of just opening another one.

[tomm2thumbs]

125. totally agree, and with out flash for websites and no cam, netbooks beat it hands down

its merely a large iPod as far as surfing the web is concerned

[gateley]

59. Thanks! Reminds me of pre-Windows!

That IS a problem -- we've become so accustomed to doing it ALL at ONCE! :hi:

[Tesha]

66. Many Apple-provided apps (such as the iPod music player) *DO* background.

We don't yet know what will and what won't background on the iPad.

Tesha

[Dappleganger]

94. With such a small screen, why would you?

IMO the apps will launch so fast to where you were last that not having two screens open at once will hardly be noticeable.

[TCJ70]

112. I've never understood the problem with that...

...for example, if I use google maps on my iPhone for directions then go out of it to start my music and go back to google maps, it doesn't forget my directions it shows me the last screen I was looking at. The safari app on the iPhone remembers what pages I was on when I go back to the home page...so I don't get what the problem is...

[slutticus]

122. Some people like to have something like skype or gChat open while browsing the web

(for example)

I also often switch between word processor files and spreadsheets (and sometimes power-point). If this thing wants to have a legitimate use in the office, it will need to multi-task (IMO)

[tridim]

67. Looks like the Commodore Vic-20 has some new competition.

It's pretty mind-blowing that it doesn't multi-task. I did a double-take.

[tonysam]

55. Apple needs to call it something else

The name sounds like a brand of sanitary napkin.

[MadBadger]

60. I think it sounds like a brand of Women's products.

[jgraz]

79. How about the iPon?

Better?

[tonysam]

92. Good one. You'll have to suggest that to Jobs.

[coffeenap]

106. My first reaction too--no women on the testing panels???

oy.

[truebrit71]

65. How are you supposed to use that? Hold it with one hand and hunt-and-peck with the other?

:shrug:

[Fleshdancer]

133. That's what I'm wondering too

It doesn't look like it would be comfortable to use.

[Rosco T.]

75. Wait 3 months for the version with the 12" screen... the MaxiPad n/m

[no limit]

87. lol

[DKRC]

90. No you didn't

:spray: :rofl:

[tonysam]

102. +1,000 n/t

[Touchdown]

76. Promo video link

http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video

[cherokeeprogressive]

77. My wife took one look and with absolutely no hesitation said: It won't fit in my purse.

So much for that.

[mainer]

78. Same problem for me.

it won't replace my e-reader because it's too big.

And it won't replace my Macbook Air because I hate screen typing.

[Touchdown]

81. Your wife must be the only woman in the world with only one purse.

:rofl:

[cherokeeprogressive]

105. There is a bushel box in her closet that is chock full of purses.

I can guarantee not a single one of them is as big as that ipad thing.

[NYCGirl]

93. I'd buy a new purse. NT

[Dappleganger]

95. Tell her to buy a bigger purse, LOL.

I'm always looking for excuses to buy a new one. :D

[tridim]

97. I'm sure Apple will sell her an iPurse to go along with it..

For the low-low price of $199 + Applecare fees.

[here_is_to_hope]

84. Man, if I had a job or even the wife did, I would so

buy this thing.
499.00 eh?
Hmmm...if we don't eat till March, I think I can swing it.


Cue Joe Jackson's "Im the Man".

[no limit]

85. Meh, this thing really is kind of disappointing.

[Touchdown]

89. The hype over the past year was really over the top.

As long as I can drop my shots from my camera into it and start editing them, I'm good. They also announced a camera connection kit, and there's hundreds of photo editing apps in the app store including Photoshop. That's really all what I was looking for and they delivered. Everything else is gravy.

[tridim]

98. How much does the camera connection kit cost?

Do you have to buy a new version of photoshop? Adobe is VERY strict about licenses.

[Touchdown]

103. The iPhone version is free, and it should work on the iPad

I expect Adobe to offer an iPad custom PS, probably for $10, like Apple's custom software. Seems $10 per app is the goal. Much better than $499 for cs or $120 for Elements.

[no limit]

124. They will have photoshop on this? That would imply you can also use a stylus

if thats true I take back everything bad I ever said about Apple, but I haven't seen this anywhere.

[Touchdown]

126. Don't know anything about a stylus.

There is an iPhone version of Photoshop. It's a free app, and it's VERY limited. This new iPad can use it now, no stylus needed.

I imagine that Adobe would make a more expanded on the go Photoshop for this thing, and charge $10 bucks for it at the app store. I seriously doubt they would ever make a finger touch full blown $400 Photoshop CS for this... but it depends on how fast this iPad is and whether there's demand from pro photographers and Swamp Rat for it.

Personally, iPhoto can knock out 80% of the editing work I need to do with my work. It's so much quicker than Photoshop. The other 20% I put through Photoshop to see if I can salvage the fuck ups I did. I know my camera pretty well after 4 years now, so my fuck ups are getting fewer. Biggest key to great shots... Make them great in your camera, then you don't have to Photoshop them.

[Touchdown]

91. In other news. Man Purses are the new must have style for 2010.

:D

[tridim]

99. IT'S EUROPEAN! nt

[Initech]

119. HAHAHAHA...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y8e7_or5PI8/SdJiYKi5_DI/AAAAAAAAAeE/Jsj7A9UKlsY/s400/seinfeld+purse.jpg

:rofl:

[SallyMander]

100. iTampons is now a trending topic on Twitter

So I wasn't the only one who thought it... :rofl:

Did they have any women in the room when they picked that name???? hahahahahaha

[tridim]

101. I commented to a FB friend that for only $199 extra you can upgrade..

to the iMaxi-Pad.

And she replied.. "Now with wings!" :)

[tonysam]

104. Unless you're Nadya Suleman, I don't think it'll fit.

n/t

[bamacrat]

107. It is a giant iTouch. Lacks phone component,

but like the iTouch if you use Wi-Fi you can talk over skype. Super cool i want one. Good to see it isn't that expensive compared to most new Apple products.

[ThomCat]

110. My only gripe with ereaders is accessibilty.

The maximum font size isn't large enough for people with vision problems. You can't increase the line and Kerning (text spacing) so that dense blocks of text are easier to read.

The controls on e-readers also tend to be tiny little buttons that someone with a hand-mobility problem is going to have difficulty with. Never mind constantly hitting the wrong side buttons on the Kindle because of tremors.

Can you set up a style on this I-Pad to do these text changes? Are the controls large enough, easy enough, yet secure enough that people with disabilities can handle them, but won't keep hitting them accidentally? Will this finally be an e-reader that will accommodate people with disabilities?

We are a large market. It sucks that we have been deliberately ignored.

[Tesha]

116. One of the blogs showed a screen shot of the book reader selecting the font.

Besides selecting among several fonts, there's also a font size
control as well.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/



Tesha

[ThomCat]

117. I see that.

So you change the font, there are only two font sizes, and the change appears to be minimal. That won't help anyone. :(

Yet again, a device that is intended Only for people who can see small stuff clearly and work small controls.

[Touchdown]

118. Actually I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss. The device has ability to zoom

If the e-reader software allows it, it's should be capable of zomming in with a pinch or spread of two fingers like the iPhone. iPhone's readers allow for zooming... well with only a 3" screen, it's necessary even if your eyesight is perfect.

[Tesha]

120. Why do you assume there are only two sizes? I see a "make it bigger" button and a...

..."make it smaller" button.

Or did you come here just to take offense? In which case, by all means,
carry on!

Tesha

[RedCappedBandit]

127. Anyone else sick of the touchscreen fad?

I don't see myself ever getting another device without a physical keyboard.

Of course, for people who actually have a need for a tablet PC, looks pretty nifty. I'll stick with my laptop though.

[Touchdown]

129. You just reminded me of The Divinyls

"I touch Myself, I want you to love me..."

[tabbycat31]

131. not a fan of touchscreens

I like my keys. Besides I'm so anal about scratches on screens, and most of my electronics, the screen is covered.

[Tesha]

135. Just FYI, my iPhone's (glass) screen has no scratches after a year-and-half...

...of daily use. I'd expect the iPad's screen to be just
as durable.

Tesha

[Elwood P Dowd]

136. Same with my 2-year-old iPod Touch. (nt)