Apple’s Latest Product Reveal

The iPad…

After seeing the reactions regarding the iPad’s reveal I thought I’d express mine… Having looked at the product and its features, I can’t help but think it all seems a bit rushed to me. As a product I think it has great potential, don’t get me wrong, it’s just I think it’s been announced a little early.
This being the case, as far as I can see, at the moment, it’s just a larger, jazzed up iPod Touch.

Here’s what I was hoping for:

A Macbook Air type device,
Running OS X (although a slightly limited version)
Re-shaped & re-sized,
Re-positioned iSight camera,
Added USB port/SD slot,
Screen, keyboard and trackpad replaced with a multi-touch screen

Voila!

However, what we have is an entertainment device that functions in a similar fashion to a tablet computer, not a tablet computer.
It’s not exactly what I was expecting for something that has been in development for so long.
Yes it looks good and has a nice multitouch UI, but what does it really do that I can’t do on an iPod Touch, or a top end Smartphone.

I can’t help but think to myself its a rehash of a failed eBook reader attempt.

iPad Vs. Netbook

It’s been claimed that the iPad is more useful than a netbook – I really can not see that at all…

There’s no camera… Video chat/conference is out of the window.
You can currently run only one application at a time.
Software choice is limited.
There’s no Flash support.

Net books do so much more straight out of the box.
If its primary role is an entertainment device, I can’t really see why it’s being compared to netbooks in the first place .

Missed Opportunity or Intended Omission?

What I can’t understand is why there isn’t an SD card reader or USB port built-in. Imagine the possibilities/extendibility of the device if there was and that access was open to developers.
It would mess up the clean lines I here you yell… How about a trap door similar to the one on my Macbook Pro’s ExpressCard port.
There’s no reason it can’t be flush.
There is however, the iPad Camera Connection Kit, but seems to me just another accessory Apple can charge for. Could it not have been built-in?

In my opinion its a shame that the device wasn’t designed with both entertainment and other uses in mind. Hopefully there will be sufficient development to get around this. It could be a great on-site tool.

Possible Development

What I would like to see is further development of the Photo app. Or indeed development of a separate app, my reasoning is as follows.
Yes, you can import photos on the go with the Connection Kit, but wouldn’t it be fantastic if we had automated sync with Aperture over WiFi.
For example, say I’ve been out on a Social photography gig, I could upload my RAW photos to the iPad (providing there’s RAW support) there and then. When I get home the iPad detects my home network /Macbook Pro and the set imported into Aperture.
As photographer that alone could be a selling point.

I’ve had a few more ideas for the iPad which may possibly be implemented via software whilst writing this post, but I’m going to save those for another time…

Personally I hope this isn’t Apple’s only stab at the tablet market.
Here’s hoping for a Macbook Touch or iPad Pro.

If you wish to watch the keynote you can find it here on Apple’s website.

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