Not What I Was Expecting: The Apple iPad
Available in 60 days, the somewhat "revolutionary" Apple iPad will attempt to bridge the gap between mobile phones, and laptop computers.
Like most Apple products, there is a degree of pure sexiness that can be a deciding factor when it comes time to purchase Apple gear. Fresh from cancer-ridden Job’s himself, the new Apple iPad (no, not the iSlate) is, in the most blunt terms, a giant iPod Touch. Its got a huge 9.7″ beautiful touchscreen and got the same home button, lock button, volume controls, and dock connector. And instead of watering down Mac OS X, they decided to vamp up the iPhone OS, reinventing all the default apps for your viewing. productivity pleasure. And they even highlighted a custom edition of iWork ‘10 designed to go right on your iPad.
Unfortunately, Apple did not quite address the factors that would even make it comparable to a netbook. With no multitasking, nothing more than the same old boring homescreen (though you might be able to customize the background image), no camera, and nothing new than what the iPhone’s got, the only thing that impressed me was the price. Half of what was estimated, a base model will run you $499… pretty reasonable for a giant iPod Touch.
On a good note, Apple announced the iBookstore, which, as you guessed it, sells digital versions of popular books! Almost like Apple is trying to challenge the Kindle or Nook, I just don’t see true reading getting a solid footing on the iPad. And lets face it, the video on that device looks stunning! But that’s something we’ve come to expect from Apple and they didn’t really “wow” today. What I’m curious to see about is what hackers can do. Maybe George Hotz, after successfully cracking the PS3 just days ago, can get on the job in a few months and get the iPad jailbroken the same way a iPhone can. Imagine the possibilities.
In the end, it didn’t really disappoint, but it fell short from the same engineering excellence we expect from Apple. And to me, it looks like the hardware is there! But, why are we still forced to play around with “mobile” applications on a device meant to be the equivalent of a netbook? It’s questions that can probably be answered in a software update, but until the iPad software 2.0 or 3.0 comes out, I don’t think customers will be too amused with Apple’s lack of software development. Good job to the hardware team… 10 hours is quite impressive for the speed this unit has, but Scott Forstall, I expect more from you. I’ll be going a little more in depth on what I think of Apple’s latest, but for now, make your own conclusions and let us know using the comments below!
App Spotlight: Labyrinth 2 for iPhone
Posted by Ben in Application, Software on January 25, 2010
Enjoyed by children and adults alike, Illusion Labs really hit the mark when trying to reinvent a classic childhood favorite.
App Name: Labyrinth 2
Platform: iPhone
Price: $4.99
Overall rating: 5/5
Remaking a classic childhood game onto the iPhone is no easy task, but it can be accomplished. First completed by Codify AB with the original version of Labyrinth for iPhone, Illusion Labs reinvented the game with new features galore! Game elements that only a digital version could provide, it brings the idea of a labyrinth game to a whole new level. With things like cannons, bumpers, magnets, fans, lasers, etc. you can imagine how much time your could kill with this application for just $4.99.
The game play doesn’t even stop there; complete with over 20 default packs, each with 10 mazes each, even without the internet you have 200 courses to take on. And when even a small connection is available to you, you can jump into the download section and browse a infinite selection of user created courses. One of the only downsides it that you have to design your custom maze from your computer, not right on your iPhone like so many had wished. And with awards in the game, you can always feel like your working toward something… even if it doesn’t matter.
Using the accelerometer to control the board has its ups, but if your going to try and play this game while on your morning commute to work, you better try another game. Even the slightest movements can cause your ball to roll all over the place, even right into traps! On the other hand, this could make for some more action between you and your buddies. That’s right, not only single player is available, but multilayer is available via bluetooth or WiFi, allowing you to stretch the game even farther!
The Bottom Line: For $5, a game that can kill countless hours of time is always a plus. And when you can link with friends and never run out of levels to play, I don’t imagine your become bored of this game anytime soon! It’s quite a challenge to play if your on a bus or in the car, but sitting at your desk or a table makes the game just a little easier…. but it can make you frustrated quite easily when you become stumped on certain levels, but just don’t let the game get to you. A game I’d recommend to anyone, the re-invention of this classic childhood game is a game I’m glad came to the App Store!
Apple “iSlate” (Tablet) Major Rumor Round-Up
Apple's invitation that went out to the media regarding their "latest creation". Scheduled for the morning of January 27, we can probably expect to see Apple's first version of the portable tablet computer.
When it comes to Apple, its always a structured set of rumors that makeup our minds on the next Apple wonder, and the latest “creation” from Apple will be shown off (mostly likely by Steve Jobs, with the assistance of key designers/ coders such as Johnny Ives) on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. What I’d like to do is review some of the major rumors, show some sources, and let you make your own opinion about what you think your going to see.
———————————-
Name
Probably the most common and obvious question you could ask about this “product”, but the truth it that there is no definitive name. One of the first guesses would be the “iSlate”. This name comes from the iSlate.com domain name that Apple secretly registered awhile back. And not just a domain name, but private communications with a company called Slate Computing has the named “Magic Slate” trademarked as well, oh, and don’t forget the latest trademark from Apple: the iPad. You can make your own assumptions, but if I was to make a guess, iSlate sounds the most reasonable. Realastically thinking, when was the last time Apple released a product that didn’t start with an “i”? The Apple TV maybe? Following a pattern of naming, it would only make sense that its going to be the iSlate… or iPad a suppose.
Release Date
Don’t be confused, chances are that even though Apple will demo there new product next Wednesday, it will not be available for at least another month or two. From a couple of different sources; the Wall Street Journal made a direct connection to an Apple Tablet and wrote that the product would be shipping in March. Another popular source for everything Apple, iLounge, came out and said that it would only make sense that the product be released in May or June, similar to how the iPhone was launched. And to conclude time-related rumors, Reuters came out and said it will be launched in the second quarter of 2010. And on a business calender, that could be anywhere from May to August.
Price
This recent Apple patent, though complicated, illustrates a new screen technology that merges the "touch" part to the screen itself, instead of laying them on top of each other. Allowing Apple to create touch screen devices at huge savings with more space to spare inside the device.
Like every gadget, hitting the right price point is crucial in attracting customers, obtaining sales, and have a nice profit at the end of the day. Of course, the Wall Street Journal was quick as always to cite other analysts in speculating the $999 price point. Following a similar pattern of price drops (iPhone $600 -> $400 ->$200, and the Macbook Air $2200 -> $1800), I think we can assume that $800 might be as low as the price is going to go, at least while the gadget is still smoldering hot. After that, I’d assume we could expect $100-$200 price cuts on all models. But that’s assuming it starts at some crazy number like $1200 doing some crazy math that apparently only Apple knows. And with that in mind, we might even see a $1400 baseline price… but I sure hope we don’t.
Size
Bigger than an iPhone, but smaller than a Macbook seems to be a comparison in which most analysts are using. The WSJ went ahead and mentioned that it would be sold in a size from 10″-11″. But with a sharp contrast, TechCrunch says it’s going to be 7″ or 9″ respectively, assuming there is more than one model available with different sizes. But Digitimes was the only ones who specifically mentioned that there will be multiple model, one that’s 9.6″ with an OLED screen, and the other being 10.6″. Honestly though, whats an extra inch or two going to matter? I mean, 7″-12″ of screen won’t fit in your pocket anyway, but at least it’ll fit in your handbag.
———————
Obviously there is a lot more ins-and-outs of this device that no one is absolutely sure about, and if I started to go into everything that the community believes is going to be there, it probably won’t be at all right to the real product. So with all the sleep your loosing, maybe you could use your imagination for the next for days and just dream up whatever you think Steve put in the tablet.