All The Apple Analysts Are Wrong About The iPad – It Is Revolutionary

I don’t think anyone will argue when I say: The iPhone was revolutionary. In a number of ways. For the first time, a phone maker set the terms of their deal with a carrier. Guess what, they did the same thing with the iPad. My bet, they told AT&T that the deal is off unless they give iPad customers what they want: a fairly priced data plan and no contract. The iPhone’s hardware and graphics were nothing short of industry changing. It’s not really a phone, it’s not a smart phone and it’s not a toy. It’s a very small computer. Capable of doing things that my first computer couldn’t even do. The iPad blows that away. But enough defending Apple, because the reason the iPad is revolutionary isn’t because of them.

At least not directly. The revolution they helped start is really two things: How we interact with computers and machines and how we interact with the physical world. When you go out to dinner, you now check in so your friends know where you are. It’s even a game for some to see who gets the most points. Sharing pictures, movies and audio instantly. You know you don’t look at books the same way. At least I don’t. Every time I reach for a book in the store I check to see how it was rated or can I get it cheaper with my Amazon Prime account? And these are dead simple examples. A local company built an iPhone app called FoodScanner that uses the iPhone to read a barcode and tell you the nutritional value of what your eating. In a decade or two we’ll be able to look at any object and the data about it will be streaming along side, if you want it to. Information, at your fingertips, anytime you want it. Not just information, basically ALL information. After all, everything is on the Internet now. They call this Augmented Reality and it goes well beyond my basic examples. The world will be very interactive in the future.

The second thing, and the more immediate way iPad has made a giant step in our technological evolution is how we interact with computers. Science Fiction has been showing us people using computers by sliding controls, swiping screens and using our hands to manipulate the virtual world. Some of them even got it right, movies like Minority Report. That wasn’t just some idea cooked up, that’s a real UI designed by a real UI designer. And that’s what’s coming because of the iPad. The iPod gave us a taste. Even my mouse uses this technology. Now the iPad is giving us a big space to work with. At almost a 10″ viewing area, all of which is touch sensitive, we can now do more complicated gestures to control our experience with the phone. It just so happens that Apple is the one using the technology the most, but some of the more amazing stuff is yet to come. Some of it will certainly be done by Apple, but other companies are coming. I’ve seen amazing proofs of concept and I’m just so excited about where mobile is headed, and it has nothing to do with tablets, smart phones or netbooks. Were headed for a whole new way of working with our computers.

And it’s going to be beautiful. It will make some of our most tedious, menial tasks on the computer seem like an after thought. How do you throw a pice of paper away in real life? We’ll, that’s how you’ll do it on a computer too. Move your fingers over it, pick it up, and then toss it into the trash bin. Poof. I think this amazing shift in how we do things is going to lead to even greater innovation. It’s coming and it’s coming pretty fast. And we can thank Apple for playing a huge role in that. The iPad is going to be marked in history as one of the devices that changed our lives. Like the first PC that wasn’t the size of a room did. Like the Internet did. Like the Web did. The technology in how we’ll use computers is the next big thing. Working with computers is becoming more natural and less mechanical.

That’s why I’m going to buy an iPad and why I’m excited about it. It’s why I think everyone is missing the big picture. Huge. It’s going to be huge. And it’s happening in my lifetime. I’m grateful that some of my dreams from Science Fiction are coming true and I get to see it. It’s so easy to forget or take for granted how advanced some of this stuff really is. I know I can be very cynical, right up there with the best of them, but oh man, take a moment to marvel at something now and then.

I’ve been watching the event live via engadget today and I’m so happy to report that the iPad is real. I’ll update this post later with pics and the actual specs once we have them. And the date when we can all start camping.

Specs:

• .5 inches thin
• 1.5 pounds
• 9.7 inch IPS display
• Full capacitive multitouch (naturally)
• Apple has it’s own chip for this: 1GHz Apple A4 chip
• 16, 32, 64 GB Models
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• WiFi 802.11N
• Speaker, Mic, 30 Pin connector
• Accelerometer
• Compass
• 10 Hour battery life, over a month on standby!!

And it’s very, very green by industry standards.

Apps

Apps will need to be updated to make use of the display. Some will be able to take advantage of faster processor, memory and graphics for gaming as well. All the current apps can be downloaded directly to the iPad already! They are releasing the SDK that supports the larger screen today. Of course, Apple’s native apps have all been updated already and look amazing.

After strong showings from New York Times, EA and MLB, Apple is introducing it’s ebook reader: iBook. I’m hopeful they play nice with Amazon because it’s my favorite store for buying goods. Obviously apple prefers me to buy from them, so hopefully there will be some middle ground. The Kindle’s price will have to go way down, if you ask me, to stay competitive. It’s now a niche device thanks to the iPad and the iBooks app looks pretty good. They appear to have deals with plenty of major publishers so getting books shouldn’t be a problem.

They will also be releasing iWork for the iPad. The challenge seems have been horse power and user interface. They seem to be happy with what they’ve come up with and these would make great additions to the iPad, truly making it into something more office/mobile friendly. I hope they add the iLife suite as well. iWork looks pretty good on the iPad.

Pricing

• WiFi
  • 16 GB – $499
  • 32 GB – $599
  • 64 GB – $699
• WiFi + 3G
  • 16 GB – $629
  • 32 GB – $729
  • 64 GB – $829

There will be models with 3G, not just WiFi. Currently, it’s about $60/month for laptop data plans. The iPad has 2 pricing options:

• $14.99/month for up to 250GB
• $29.99/month for UNLIMITED!

Both are with AT&T, with no commitments! It also includes free use of AT&T WiFi hotspots. That’s slick.

I’m not sure what version I’ll end up getting. Most likely the 16 with the $14.99 monthly pricing. For what I want to use this for, that should be more than enough.

The iPad uses the GSM microSIMS and comes unlocked! You can use it on any carrier.

When Can I Buy an iPad

Apple says “We will be shipping these in 60 days. 3G models will ship in 90 days“. Emphasis added.

Wow! It’s going to have an external keyboard.

I predicted it wouldn’t have bluethooth keybaord support and I think I’m still right. But it will launch with a dock that does included a physical keyboard. Super slick. Which means there is hope for bluetooth keyboards for both the iPad and the iPhone. This means that the doc might actually work with the iPhone. Nice. Update Chris in the comments pointed out that Macrumors says “The iPad also supports Bluetooth keyboards.” I’ll be happy to be wrong on this one. Looking for sources on this bit, haven’t seen any other coverage of that point yet.

The iPad Site is now online. h/t to @beley.

Google has releases a new web version of it’s voice app enabling iPhone and and Palm users make and receive calls. Previously, the Google Voice native app has had nothing but trouble from Apple and as the ware between the two companies heat up it seems Google has decided to go around Apple and offer this app via the browser.

The problem, for me, is the browser is the weakest link on the iPhone. It’s feels slow, navigation is a pain and speed is a real issue compared to native apps. I’m not a fan of Safari, blasphemy for a Mac geek I know, but at least this gives me access to an app I actually want to use.

To get started, just head over to m.google.com/voice on your iPhone. Other than being browser based, I like the overall experience and how things work.

via Geeksugar

Apple has updated it’s wireless aluminum keyboard to fix power bleeding problems. When the device is paired along with another bluetooth device it seems to bleed power at an alarming rate and it seems especially pronounced with the Magic Mouse (also Apple). I just wish Apple would release a full size bluetooth keyboard. I don’t know what Apple’s obsession is with crippling touch typists, but that little keyboard is the worst.

Hopefully we’ll see a similar update for the Magic Mouse’s power issues. Apples previous bluetooth mouse was pretty horrible. From design to function, it was just a horrible. The only thing Apple like about it was it’s pearly white color. Apple is usually pretty slow to release these kinds of updates so it may be a while.

via Cult of Mac

Twelve South has a cool case for your Mac/Macbook Pro. The case is made to look like a book. Comes in a darker classic black or bright vibrant red. It’s got a very retro look and feel to it. And I’d have have to say would make a great case. You could easily hide your laptop right on a bookshelf!

Here’s what Twelve South has to say about it:

BookBook is a one-of-a-kind, hardback leather case designed exclusively for MacBook and MacBook Pro. Available in Classic Black or Vibrant Red, BookBook brings three levels of security to your prized Mac. First, the hardback cover and spine provide solid protection from the rigors of the road. Second, the vintage book design disguises MacBook for superior security. And third, the stylish case protects you from being like everyone else because BookBook is totally original, just like you.

This would look pretty killer in one of the Saddleback Leather Briefcase (I’ll have my own video review up of that bag soon!). The book is $79, well within the norm for a any type of quality sleeve/case for your Mac, and on the low side for such and artistic piece.

via Unpluggd

Apple is planning an announcement on Jany 27th and the some thing and others hope that the news will be the tablet. I’m in the hopeful, but skeptical camp. Here’s some of the more interesting rurmors on the Apple tablet from today:

• A Third OS for the Apple Tablet?
• To Keyboard or Not to Keyboard, That is the Question – I’m betting against The Apple Blog here. Read my last post : Will the Apple Tablet Have Bluetooth Keyboard Support?
• Amazon Prepares for the Arrival of the Apple Tablet: Gives Authors and Publishers a Bigger Royalty Cut for E-Books

You can expect the rumor mill to start churning over time with the event only a few days away. We’ll post the more interesting and likely ones as we run across them. Feel free to send tips!

Is Apple Really Going To Announce A Tablet on January 27th? Unless you’ve been on mars chatting it up with Dr. Manhattan the last few months then you’ve no doubt seen the slew of rumors about the possibly impending tablet announcement. Most seem pretty set on the basic idea is that we are looking at something along the lines of a bigger version of the 1st generation iPhone. Nicer looking and updated hardware, of course. But I take it more to mean this is Tablet 2G. It’s going to be be pretty amazing, but it’s an initial release and I think we’ll see a very similar product cycle with the tablet, or iSlate if you buy the rumor, where we’ll see a newer in several months and then a minor update to that one.

But the real question for me is will the tablet support bluetooth keyboard profiles? Right now, the iPhone os does not have the bluetooth keyboard driver profiles. I’m sure the experts will all give different reasons, but I think it comes down to Apple being stubborn thinking that the software keyboard is good enough and that if they did allow external keyboards, would that have any impact on laptop sales? I highly doubt it’s the latter. At least with the iPhone. Could you imagine one of those silicone roll up keyboards that was bluetooth, with a small foldable stand for your iPhone. Put that puppy in landscape and you could do some serious writing. But will the Apple tablet have a bluetooth keyboard profiles? No.

Why would they? If they software keyboard is good enough on the iPhone then why wouldn’t it be good enough for the tablet? In theory it should work much better. Lots more space and less fat fingering for those of us who are still normal human sizes. Again, I doubt this would ever cut into the notebook market. The netbook market perhaps, but no chance on notebooks. The tablet will be seriously under powered to be a real laptop of any kind. If it turns out to be real, it could be a serious contender for a primary mobile device though. With a keyboard it could be a threat to lower end laptops and netbooks, possibly even the Macbook Air.

Regardless, I think this initial release stands no chance of having those bluetooth keyboard profiles I so desperately want. But I hope I’m wrong, because if it does run on the iPhone OS, that also means the iPhone may get those profiles too! So lets hope that come Jan 27 Apple announce the tablet, which will launch with the iPhone 4.0 OS and have, among many other improvements, bluetooth keyboard profiles.

Every Apple fanboy (me included) is waiting for the 27th. Much of the fervor is over the rumored apple tablet. But could the announcement be just another iPhone update? There’s really not much to buzz about in these rumors. It looks like gestures will be available throughout the OS and not just certain apps. Get used to the idea of gestures for using devices, we are going to see this more and more.

The rumor that has me excited most is the possibility of finally having some sort of multi-tasking with the iPhone. Other phones can do it and the batter life is ok, the by Jobs, the iPhone better too. Other changes include some UI updates that hopefully include a better way to organize and launch apps on the iPhone. Seriously, it’s like navigating a giant folder of images at this point which is very un-mac like. I’d love to see some major improvements in how the phone handles that. Some of the hacked iPhones I’ve seen have some slick utilities, like a springboard on the bottom dock.

via The Apple Blog

The eBook reader wars are heating up with the anticipation of a tablet from Apple. Rumors have Apple working with publishers to give them a bigger royalty share further hinting that the tablet may indeed be real. If true, we may find out January 27.

Amazon isn’t just sitting back and waiting to be steam rolled by Apple. Amazon recently upped their royalty split with publishers and authors and now we have news they are introducing an app platform for the Kindle. Lets face it, single use devices days may be numbered and apps really changed the game for Apple and paved the way for other companies to follow suit. Amazon’s apps will be in limited beta starting next month and there are some limitations, but this is a smart move in what’s becoming a very competitive market. Besides, wouldn’t it be cool to be able interact with twitter, blogs and other apps out there with your Kindle?

Paid Content has more details on the apps and limitations. Moco News has further news that Apple is meeting with top publishers in New York. They hint that it’s not about the yet to be announced tablet. I personally thing Apple’s ebook reader plans are software based and that it’ll work on the Mac, iPhone, iPod Touch and, if it ever becomes a reality, their tablet.