No. I used it though and I just find it uncomfortable, I can see why Jobs put it on his lap its impossible to hold this thing the whole time. Typing by pecking is really annoying, it would have been nice if they made two areas for game pad like text input. Everything else works like an iPhone, bar the iPhone specific apps nothing was really impressive and going online with its lack of flash is kinda sucky. It all looks shiny of course but a huge fingerprint magnet. Still have no idea what's it's use exactly.

Still waiting for the announcement of iPadEX.

No.

I think the fact that Apple had the momentum and brand awareness to launch something like this successfully is the most interesting part of the story. Microsoft have tried and failed, probably because they can't design but also because the timing wasn't right. Now that everyone accepts touch-screen phones (although I'm happy to hold out) the tablet market has a chance.

For me, I would like a tablet device to be more about interacting with the world and capturing voice/images/video in interesting ways. And it should be very easy to copy that data to your desktop PC where the real work is done. It's got to be more than just a web browser and shiny object of desire.

Let's hope that competition gives us tablets with the features that are missing from the ipad. At least add a fucking USB port.

Not yet. My budget calls for a lobotomy first, then the iPad.

I'm waiting for the iPed to reach europe. Damn, it even has USB!

Isn't a large portion of the content on the site you own unable to be displayed by the iPad? It seems like one of those things that's neat to play with for a few days until the novelty wears off. After that people force themselves to use it to justify having spent ~$600, despite the fact they have other devices that do the same thing better. I say wait for a the next version or more. Wait till it can multitask, view flash (or have a better alternative than 'well flash sucks anyways'), has a camera and usb ports.

I'm still having trouble justifying the Creative mp3-player I bought in 2004

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

I'm reading a few stories from prominent bloggers who were initially dismissive of the iPad but have now embraced it.

Say what you will about the closed nature of the OS, lack of ports (people said the same when Apple removed the floppy) or camera - Apple has once again changed the paradigm of how we use computers.

And for all the squealing about Jobs' choke-hold on the platform - it's good to remember that Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA. Good luck making a little game on other platforms - AND actually making dosh from it. The same kind of disruption-- upsetting the applecart of the big publishing companies-- appears to be in the works for self-published authors.

I tried to go check them out, but there was all these douchey half-panted dudes with backwards baseball caps at every station.

I can't believe you still want a product that you can't view your own site on.


Seeing as surely one of the biggest things it would have in its favour is web surfing (although at a god AWFUL 1024x768 resolution), how would you even manage without flash?

As said above, something to play with for a bit and then become amazingly bored with because you can't DO much with it.

And to try to compare removing floppy drives from a system (which had other input means in a CD drive) vs not having any USB or SD card slots is just not the same.

Whoop de doo that they can make crudloads of money selling something that has little practical use, but rather than being any 'paradigm shift' it will rather be seen as the first successful product that nevertheless had no use.

Only later will products appear that people actually will have use for.

The little lady has one. She's using it right now to look for apartments. It's pretty much what you expect: a large iPod Touch. But the touchscreen is extremely responsive and the battery life is insane.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

the vast majority of videosift is viewable on an iPad- (YouTube) besides I'm here for the flame wars- which work even on an iPhone.

>> ^spoco2:

I can't believe you still want a product that you can't view your own site on.

Seeing as surely one of the biggest things it would have in its favour is web surfing (although at a god AWFUL 1024x768 resolution), how would you even manage without flash?
As said above, something to play with for a bit and then become amazingly bored with because you can't DO much with it.
And to try to compare removing floppy drives from a system (which had other input means in a CD drive) vs not having any USB or SD card slots is just not the same.
Whoop de doo that they can make crudloads of money selling something that has little practical use, but rather than being any 'paradigm shift' it will rather be seen as the first successful product that nevertheless had no use.
Only later will products appear that people actually will have use for.

>> ^dag:

Apple has once again changed the paradigm of how we use computers.

Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA.


"Changed the paradigm"? What are you smoking, mate? They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the touch screen (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented a new, ultra-popular activity that we use computers for, like twitter or facebook or e-mail (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the mouse or a GUI like Windows (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented MS Office or at least an equal alternative to at least one of its products (they haven't). But a simple rework on an ages-old tablet device which is only becoming popular now because of the brand and the drop in price which they can take very little, if any, credit for? Puhh-lease.

And as for your second argument - try and compare Apple terms for iPhone devs to EA Partners terms or Valve's Steam terms. You'll find that there are few publishers with shittier deals for game and software devs than Apple. And by the way - moving into the social mini-game market isn't exactly "wresting power" from publishers of AAA console and PC publishers like EA.

It's on!
>> ^EDD:

>> ^dag:
Apple has once again changed the paradigm of how we use computers.
Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA.

"Changed the paradigm"? What are you smoking, mate? They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the touch screen (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented a new, ultra-popular activity that we use computers for, like twitter or facebook or e-mail (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the mouse or a GUI like Windows (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented MS Office or at least an equal alternative to at least one of its products (they haven't). But a simple rework on an ages-old tablet device which is only becoming popular now because of the brand and the drop in price which they can take very little, if any, credit for? Puhh-lease.
And as for your second argument - try and compare Apple terms for iPhone devs to EA Partners terms or Valve's Steam terms. You'll find that there are few publishers with shittier deals for game and software devs than Apple. And by the way - moving into the social mini-game market isn't exactly "wresting power" from publishers of AAA console and PC publishers like EA.

How the hell do you fix these quoted comments when they go wrong?

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

I'm sorry wait - are you saying that Windows changed a paradigm by inventing a GUI?

I would argue that Apple - yes, has invented a paradigm changing GUI - (again). Flicking to scroll around a capacitive touchscreen all seems very passe in perfect 20/20 hindsight - but so-called smart phones weren't doing it before the iPhone. Have a look at a Nokia or Windows Mobile phone from that era- and it's pretty clear. static icons, optimised for a stylus or control pad, nothing harnessing the power of your finger. The Android phones are very good- I might get one some day - but they owe a debt of innovation to Apple for blazing the trail.

I'm sure that getting a game distributed through EA or Steam would be great, and they may have better terms than Apple - but I'd argue that single hacker working in his basement to make something cool has a very slim chance in brokering a deal with EA or Valve. The App store is making a lot of these single programmers very rich - and I think that's a good, disruptive thing.

>> ^EDD:

>> ^dag:
Apple has once again changed the paradigm of how we use computers.
Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA.

"Changed the paradigm"? What are you smoking, mate? They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the touch screen (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented a new, ultra-popular activity that we use computers for, like twitter or facebook or e-mail (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the mouse or a GUI like Windows (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented MS Office or at least an equal alternative to at least one of its products (they haven't). But a simple rework on an ages-old tablet device which is only becoming popular now because of the brand and the drop in price which they can take very little, if any, credit for? Puhh-lease.
And as for your second argument - try and compare Apple terms for iPhone devs to EA Partners terms or Valve's Steam terms. You'll find that there are few publishers with shittier deals for game and software devs than Apple. And by the way - moving into the social mini-game market isn't exactly "wresting power" from publishers of AAA console and PC publishers like EA.

Apple, Microsoft, bah.

--Posted from Ubuntu.

I would really like to have one to see if it could convert my dad to using a computing device - any computing device. He just can't handle them and refuses to use them, not even for the web where I'd know he'd gain real benefits. A simplified approach that doesn't require him to squint to see small icons.

Problem is I'm not willing to spend over £400 as an experiment. And certainly not with the usual useful features deliberately omitted to create a faux upgrade path.

Oh and another thing - no direct printing from the ipad? That's just ridiculous for everyday use. But a logical Apple decision given that they don't want to create something that can totally replace Mac computers.

I'm waiting for a well priced and usable Windows 7 pad. Unfortunately most of the ones out right now really aren't up to scratch. Something like this would fit the bill quite nicely, but it doesn't come out until next year:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/asus-eee-pad-official-intel-culv-processors-windows-7-and-a-1/

Proprietary OS besides purely a Windows 7 overlay just isn't going to cut it. Just seems like an unnecessary hassle to have to learn an entirely new OS, and potentially buy software you already have on your desktop for it when familiarity is around the corner.

The iPhone's OS makes sense. It would be impractical to consider either attempting to run desktop applications or a desktop UI on such a small form factor. Hell, I'm considering getting one now that the older models can be found for very cheap. But when you're in 10" territory, inching (apologies) towards the lower end 13" laptops, there's really no excuse. Besides exploiting their Apps Store for revenue, and besides wanting to not encroach on their other product ranges that is.

Right now Apple is doing well because besides being a marketing and cultural behemoth it's tapped into a niche which previously barely existed, certainly not in the mainstream. Sure tablet PCs have existed for years but not relatively lightweight, compact and highly functional, or at least not all at the same time. I have no doubt when the other big manufacturers start rolling out their Windows 7 alternatives, assuming they get their touch interfaces right, the iPad as it is now, will be forgotten.

>> ^dag:

The App store is making a lot of these single programmers very rich.

I doubt that very much, but your definition of "alot" and "very rich" may differ from mine. The only one getting rich from the Apple App Store is Apple, while also giving them the power to block any piece of software designed for their devices. The iPad itself wouldn't be half bad, missing USB port aside, if it could run a real OS, like Windows 7, Linux, or even OSX. I'm already bored by my iPad nano and barely use it for anything else than listen to music (and it ain't exactly great for that either).

Just to stir things up some more, here's an example today of Apples's app approval process going mental again. They're blocking an app they already approved previously. And no rhyme or reason for it as usual...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/jun/01/apple-app-store-rejection-groundhog-software

>> ^NordlichReiter:

Apple, Microsoft, bah.
--Posted from Ubuntu.


I've got Ubuntu on my spare Thinkpad and it feels rock-solid. Wish it was slicker to look at but it's good. And finally works wirelessly without any coaxing.

I use a few flavors of Linux most notably, Backtrack 4, but all of my machines run windows at the moment; because of my need for DirectX.

Eventually I'm going to build a $500 machine to run a stand alone distribution on; I need a good processor and NIC. But I can pass on a state of the art video-card.

I may be a geek, but I like machines where I can choose the OS that is running. I wish it were easier to devote whole resources at any time to a different OS at the flip of a switch. Instead of using VMware, Dual boot, or video switching from computer to computer.

For now Virtual Machines, extra machines, and Cygwin will have to do.

I could never get into the Ipad because I will drop it. That alone is to much of a hassle for me.

dag is just still pissed about the commodore 64

>> ^dag:

I'm sorry wait - are you saying that Windows changed a paradigm by inventing a GUI?
I would argue that Apple - yes, has invented a paradigm changing GUI - (again). Flicking to scroll around a capacitive touchscreen all seems very passe in perfect 20/20 hindsight - but so-called smart phones weren't doing it before the iPhone. Have a look at a Nokia or Windows Mobile phone from that era- and it's pretty clear. static icons, optimised for a stylus or control pad, nothing harnessing the power of your finger. The Android phones are very good- I might get one some day - but they owe a debt of innovation to Apple for blazing the trail.
I'm sure that getting a game distributed through EA or Steam would be great, and they may have better terms than Apple - but I'd argue that single hacker working in his basement to make something cool has a very slim chance in brokering a deal with EA or Valve. The App store is making a lot of these single programmers very rich - and I think that's a good, disruptive thing.
>> ^EDD:
>> ^dag:
Apple has once again changed the paradigm of how we use computers.
Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA.

"Changed the paradigm"? What are you smoking, mate? They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the touch screen (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented a new, ultra-popular activity that we use computers for, like twitter or facebook or e-mail (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented the mouse or a GUI like Windows (they didn't). They might have changed the paradigm if they invented MS Office or at least an equal alternative to at least one of its products (they haven't). But a simple rework on an ages-old tablet device which is only becoming popular now because of the brand and the drop in price which they can take very little, if any, credit for? Puhh-lease.
And as for your second argument - try and compare Apple terms for iPhone devs to EA Partners terms or Valve's Steam terms. You'll find that there are few publishers with shittier deals for game and software devs than Apple. And by the way - moving into the social mini-game market isn't exactly "wresting power" from publishers of AAA console and PC publishers like EA.


Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis? Hahaha...see what I did there? I said that thing Gary Coleman used to say and now he's dead. Just as dead as the horse you guys are kicking...

"Apple has once again changed the paradigm of how we use computers."?

Thats the most obnoxious thing i ever read. I don't see anyone in computing creating paradigms as all development is evolutionary to me, the GUI would have occured anyway, its like the misconception that Darwin's Origins of Species was that revolutionary as the theory was there at his time and he was the first one to seriously put work in to it.

Apple's attack on Flash and its restrictive nature only makes sense viewed from a business prespective of creating closed ecologies of applications to force people to use Apple products. If apps for Apple products were avaliable on Andriod over time their hold on the market will falter.

Your ardent Apple support is hilarious however. Especially when it comes to the fact that VS won't really work that well on the iPad.

Windows is the World of Warcraft of OS'es, while Apple (Mac OS) is Ultima Online. They did all the right things first, but windows actually sold.

edit: Nah, my analogy is shit. Apple does a lot of what blizzard does too, by stealing with both hands and polishing like crazy. You can say what you will about apple, but they sure do know how to polish.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

@Farhad2000 - looking back it's easy to declare that the GUI would have happened anyway, but I would posit that there are certain crucial points where innovation has moved everybody forward in a big leap. I know that Windows has been around for most of your life - and must seem like it always has been - but I remember when "windowing" didn't exist - and the joy of discovering how a mouse works, trash cans, WYSIWYG, etc, etc. I also remember what platform that was on. All credit to Xerox PARC - but Apple brought you the window metaphor, mice and pretty much all the symbology on your Windows® desktop. (wallpaper, screen savers, draggable icons, control panels, paint programs). If Apple didn't change the paradigm of how we use computers at that point, then I would argue with your definition of paradigm changing.

I would also posit that the same thing has happened, albeit in a smaller way, with the iPhone and iPad. finger optimised UI, Flick to scroll, bounce back scrolling, pinch to zoom and more are innovations out of Apple's skunkworks. These innovations exist on Android and Pre phones - but to assume that this would have happened without Apple is naive.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

In 1985 - I got an Apple IIe - Deathcow got a Commodore 64 - and so the war began.

Just remember, Apple had Ultima III and Wizardry way before it was ported to the 64.
>> ^deathcow:

dag is just still pissed about the commodore 64

Yes, because selling independent games was never profitable until Apple offered to play morality police and charge you 30% for the privilege.

>> ^dag:

And for all the squealing about Jobs' choke-hold on the platform - it's good to remember that Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA. Good luck making a little game on other platforms - AND actually making dosh from it. The same kind of disruption-- upsetting the applecart of the big publishing companies-- appears to be in the works for self-published authors.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

We can argue the economics all day- I would say that the scale of the Apple App environment dwarves any bright spots you find for particular independent game developers.

Look, there is one very big mistake that Apple has made. They are losing the culture war. VideoSift skews a bit younger than me - I think the median age is about 29 - and the dislike and mistrust of Apple seems to be pretty universal among you all. We can blame the closed nature of the iPhone OS, those douchy "Mac vs. PC" ads, or maybe just that Apple is no longer the beleaguered, scrappy underdog. For whatever reason, hearts and minds are not with Apple at the moment.

>> ^xxovercastxx:

Yes, because selling independent games was never profitable until Apple offered to play morality police and charge you 30% for the privilege.
>> ^dag:
And for all the squealing about Jobs' choke-hold on the platform - it's good to remember that Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA. Good luck making a little game on other platforms - AND actually making dosh from it. The same kind of disruption-- upsetting the applecart of the big publishing companies-- appears to be in the works for self-published authors.

>> ^dag:

I would also posit that the same thing has happened, albeit in a smaller way, with the iPhone and iPad. finger optimised UI, Flick to scroll, bounce back scrolling, pinch to zoom and more are innovations out of Apple's skunkworks. These innovations exist on Android and Pre phones - but to assume that this would have happened without Apple is naive.


Nope sorry, Apple did not "invent" all of these things. I know about flicking and pinch to zoom being around before the iPhone, there's even a video of a desk-sized tabled demo employing those tecniques around here, but I can't find it right now.

Good thing Apple did not invent the mouse cursor, or else we all would have to use some weird thingy like a crosshair or sth because you can bet your ass they would've patented it.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

I'm sure you could find some technology demo out there that had something similar. And you're right that Apple didn't invent the mouse, or even the windows metaphor - but my point is that we (the people) weren't using mice and windows before Apple came out with the Mac - and likewise we weren't pinching and zooming or flicking to scroll until Apple invented the iPhone.

>> ^campionidelmondo:

>> ^dag:
I would also posit that the same thing has happened, albeit in a smaller way, with the iPhone and iPad. finger optimised UI, Flick to scroll, bounce back scrolling, pinch to zoom and more are innovations out of Apple's skunkworks. These innovations exist on Android and Pre phones - but to assume that this would have happened without Apple is naive.

Nope sorry, Apple did not "invent" all of these things. I know about flicking and pinch to zoom being around before the iPhone, there's even a video of a desk-sized tabled demo employing those tecniques around here, but I can't find it right now.
Good thing Apple did not invent the mouse cursor, or else we all would have to use some weird thingy like a crosshair or sth because you can bet your ass they would've patented it.

http://cs.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/


So basically Apple saw multitouch, stole it and now it counts as their innovation? Isn't that pretty much what Microsoft did?

>> ^dag:

the vast majority of videosift is viewable on an iPad- (YouTube) besides I'm here for the flame wars- which work even on an iPhone.

Don't you find it kind of wrong that the only way that you would be watching the youtube content though is via sidestepping youtube's interface and going to the raw files as the youtube player for ipad/iphone does? Don't you find that as a method of interacting with the web kind of arse backwards and ridiculous?

Surely, if it just had Flash like every other tablet that's coming out (not that I actually want any of them) then ALL sites would work rather than one or two that they decide to make a special workaround for?

Just shits me... shits me to tears that people can defend Apple's stance on this, as it's reducing the iPad's appeal to many... AND, being that it's marketed to those who are not tech savvy, they'll get the iPad, with it's promise of all it can do and then be really surprised that a heap of sites they like to go to don't work on it because it doesn't support flash.

They've got rid of the douchey ads, that's a plus.

Now if they can just get rid of this douchey attitude and perhaps be a little f*cking humble, then maybe they'd start winning back the support of those who are turning against them.

(Although, really, while they make money hand over fist, why would they?)

I can't help but think of this
http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/215176820_eHZ2P-L-2.jpg

I don't universally scorn Apple, but they have been systematically tarnishing their own image for the last several years. I think the "vs" ads were the last positive thing they did in that regard.

Historically, Mac's bread and butter were the creative industries and now they're stifling the creativity of their users. They're driving off their faithful user base and now they're primarily left with the "snobby douchebag" market who only buys their stuff as a status symbol.

Then there's the lawsuits. They shut down Think Secret, went after Psystar and BluWiki, and most recently they've threatened Xiph. They're behaving like the RIAA.

Speaking of which, there's the DRM. They eventually caved and went DRM-free on their music, but not video content.

They're doing all these things as the free and open mindset is taking hold. They're fighting trends which are good for consumers and they still have the audacity to act like their shit don't stink. The iPad probably wouldn't be such a huge joke if they hadn't hyped it up like the Segway.

Just a few years ago they launched the iPod. MP3 players had been around for a while and other companies even had far superior products, but they marketed the iPod well and managed to become ubiquitous. They were the epitome of "hip"; now they look out of touch. The iPad unveiling reminds me of McCain's green screen speech.

>> ^dag:

Look, there is one very big mistake that Apple has made. They are losing the culture war. VideoSift skews a bit younger than me - I think the median age is about 29 - and the dislike and mistrust of Apple seems to be pretty universal among you all. We can blame the closed nature of the iPhone OS, those douchy "Mac vs. PC" ads, or maybe just that Apple is no longer the beleaguered, scrappy underdog. For whatever reason, hearts and minds are not with Apple at the moment.
e>> ^xxovercastxx:
Yes, because selling independent games was never profitable until Apple offered to play morality police and charge you 30% for the privilege.
>> ^dag:
And for all the squealing about Jobs' choke-hold on the platform - it's good to remember that Apple has empowered a whole generation of "little guy" developers to make good money from the app ecosystem - wresting power from the established game behemoths like EA. Good luck making a little game on other platforms - AND actually making dosh from it. The same kind of disruption-- upsetting the applecart of the big publishing companies-- appears to be in the works for self-published authors.

Hang on here. Let's be fair. I don't know who invented touchscreens or pinch to zoom or whatever and I don't much care.
But it's Apple who have come along and made mobile devices that are nice to use - very nice. No one else was rushing to take a chance on making an iphone. If it wasn't for them I reckon we would still be stuck with devices like my Nokia 6680, which is admittedly rubbish and with each passing day becomes more annoying to use. I've stuck it out for ages but gradually, very gradually, I can hear the call of an HTC Desire.

Before this I experimented with a Palm Tungsten PDA - overall it wasn't great. You had to use the stylus and learn that grafiti thing. And there was no itunes equivalent, no desire to connect with the customer and installing programs was tedious and would be buggy when you did. It didn't make me productive and it wasn't much fun either.

Isn't the digital landscape that more fertile for everyone now thanks to Apple?

@Farhad2000 - just to be clear there's no way they're forcing you to buy their products. I'm not using any - the limitations just rub me the wrong way.

>> ^campionidelmondo:

>> ^dag:
I would also posit that the same thing has happened, albeit in a smaller way, with the iPhone and iPad. finger optimised UI, Flick to scroll, bounce back scrolling, pinch to zoom and more are innovations out of Apple's skunkworks. These innovations exist on Android and Pre phones - but to assume that this would have happened without Apple is naive.

Nope sorry, Apple did not "invent" all of these things. I know about flicking and pinch to zoom being around before the iPhone, there's even a video of a desk-sized tabled demo employing those tecniques around here, but I can't find it right now.
Good thing Apple did not invent the mouse cursor, or else we all would have to use some weird thingy like a crosshair or sth because you can bet your ass they would've patented it.

http://bit.ly/bHQxiX

>> ^Deano:

Hang on here. Let's be fair. I don't know who invented touchscreens or pinch to zoom or whatever and I don't much care.
But it's Apple who have come along and made mobile devices that are nice to use - very nice. No one else was rushing to take a chance on making an iphone. If it wasn't for them I reckon we would still be stuck with devices like my Nokia 6680, which is admittedly rubbish and with each passing day becomes more annoying to use. I've stuck it out for ages but gradually, very gradually, I can hear the call of an HTC Desire.
Before this I experimented with a Palm Tungsten PDA - overall it wasn't great. You had to use the stylus and learn that grafiti thing. And there was no itunes equivalent, no desire to connect with the customer and installing programs was tedious and would be buggy when you did. It didn't make me productive and it wasn't much fun either.

The iPhone is no doubt a nice phone, but it's not exactly like Apple invented the wheel here. In any case, I thought this thread was more about the iPad and whether any of us would buy it. I have to confess that I don't like flash, but even I have to admit that it's become part of the web experience. Somehow I feel the iPad would be great for things like playing Hapland on your couch, but obviously Jobbo takes it personally when it comes to Adobes format and won't allow it.

With the far superior Asus tablet coming out next year there's absolutely no reason for me to buy the iPad. Besides, I'm trying to get away from buying products of corporations that are into torture and restriction of free speech.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

haha. This is my blog- wherein I give my opinion and then enjoy vigorously defending it. Some people like talking about sports- I enjoy a little Apple smack talk - so sue me.

>> ^kronosposeidon:

http://bit.ly/bHQxiX

http://bit.ly/9HsODA >> ^dag:

haha. This is my blog- wherein I give my opinion and then enjoy vigorously defending it. Some people like talking about sports- I enjoy a little Apple smack talk - so sue me.
>> ^kronosposeidon:
http://bit.ly/bHQxiX

Here you go, Comrade Dag, news directly from Pravda: Apple Sells Two Million iPads in Less Than 60 Days.

I believe some sort of fanfare is in order.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

I think you'll want to speak to my attorney.>> ^kronosposeidon:

http://bit.ly/9HsODA >> ^dag:
haha. This is my blog- wherein I give my opinion and then enjoy vigorously defending it. Some people like talking about sports- I enjoy a little Apple smack talk - so sue me.
>> ^kronosposeidon:
http://bit.ly/bHQxiX

I like the turn this has taken.

Good article on the DailyBeast the other day talked about how Apple's economic performance is basically carried by the top tier earners in the US accounting for most of it's consumer base. Essentially the company is targeting a very rich part of the populace in this current time this is certainly unsustainable.

Apple also recently became larger then Walmarts and Microsoft in terms of market capitalization. This is a good and bad thing as we have the occurrence of abnormal profits which in a business cycle has always lead to a turn for the worst (personally I think Apple can weather this due to it's rabid consumer base).

But most of all, can Steve Jobs keep running it like this? certainly he won't be there forever. Can someone really replace Jobs?

Read more...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-05-31/steve-jobs-wont-live-forever-so-short-apple-stock-now/

Does this mean when Ballmer goes MS share price will rocket?

>> ^Farhad2000:

Good article on the DailyBeast the other day talked about how Apple's economic performance is basically carried by the top tier earners in the US accounting for most of it's consumer base. Essentially the company is targeting a very rich part of the populace in this current time this is certainly unsustainable.
Apple also recently became larger then Walmarts and Microsoft in terms of market capitalization. This is a good and bad thing as we have the occurrence of abnormal profits which in a business cycle has always lead to a turn for the worst (personally I think Apple can weather this due to it's rabid consumer base).
But most of all, can Steve Jobs keep running it like this? certainly he won't be there forever. Can someone really replace Jobs?
Read more...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/b
logs-and-stories/2010-05-31/steve-jobs-wont-live-forever-so-short-apple-stock-now/

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I Read the article - this line gave me a chuckle "Apple Inc. might be America's most beloved company."

... I'm not feeling the love here.
>> ^Farhad2000:
Good article on the DailyBeast the other day talked about how Apple's economic performance is basically carried by the top tier earners in the US accounting for most of it's consumer base. Essentially the company is targeting a very rich part of the populace in this current time this is certainly unsustainable.
Apple also recently became larger then Walmarts and Microsoft in terms of market capitalization. This is a good and bad thing as we have the occurrence of abnormal profits which in a business cycle has always lead to a turn for the worst (personally I think Apple can weather this due to it's rabid consumer base).
But most of all, can Steve Jobs keep running it like this? certainly he won't be there forever. Can someone really replace Jobs?
Read more...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-05-31/steve-jobs-wont-live-forever-so-short-apple-stock-now/

I have two computers - a desktop and a laptop. They're bother hooked to the same screen, mouse and KB via KVM switch. The laptop was purchased in late 2005 so is now QUITE underpowered with it's P4 3.4GHz CPU, 256MB gfx card and 2 GB RAM. The battery will no longer charge, so I mounted it to the modesty board on the underside of my desk. It's the computer I use for all of my 'net surfing, and it does it quite well. I only turn my desktop on when I want to game, as it uses a lot more power. This laptop is on it's last leg, and when it shits the bed, I do not plan on replacing it unless there is a win7 or Andriod tablet out. I haven't looked at the upcoming, but I just saw the article for the ASUS pad, and that looks like it would be a winner. No flash or any ports? You've GOT to be kidding me. Only an idiot fanboy would buy one or think it's the next great thing in computing.

Apple's marketing team has done their job well. I mean, have you ever seen anyone drive around with a Kenmore sticker on their car? How about Maytag? Oster? Craftsman? What kind of complete reject must one be to buy a product and then claim to be part of a "culture" or "community" in relation to that product? It's absurd. I don't have a HP (my laptop) sticker on my car, because it's just a fucking computer. It's nothing to be proud of.

^I drive around with a Kenmore sticker on my car. You just don't get it, Kenmore hater.

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People adopting brands is certainly not unique to Apple. Nike hats, DKNY shirts - Calvin pissing on Chevy logos. You could even extend this to sports logos and band t-shirts in that they are both businesses.

I'm not going to seriously begrudge people's choice in computers, phones or pads. As a good friend of mine said- hating stuff that other people love, just because they love it is something that most people grow out of.

>> ^MarineGunrock:

I have two computers - a desktop and a laptop. They're bother hooked to the same screen, mouse and KB via KVM switch. The laptop was purchased in late 2005 so is now QUITE underpowered with it's P4 3.4GHz CPU, 256MB gfx card and 2 GB RAM. The battery will no longer charge, so I mounted it to the modesty board on the underside of my desk. It's the computer I use for all of my 'net surfing, and it does it quite well. I only turn my desktop on when I want to game, as it uses a lot more power. This laptop is on it's last leg, and when it shits the bed, I do not plan on replacing it unless there is a win7 or Andriod tablet out. I haven't looked at the upcoming, but I just saw the article for the ASUS pad, and that looks like it would be a winner. No flash or any ports? You've GOT to be kidding me. Only an idiot fanboy would buy one or think it's the next great thing in computing.
Apple's marketing team has done their job well. I mean, have you ever seen anyone drive around with a Kenmore sticker on their car? How about Maytag? Oster? Craftsman? What kind of complete reject must one be to buy a product and then claim to be part of a "culture" or "community" in relation to that product? It's absurd. I don't have a HP (my laptop) sticker on my car, because it's just a fucking computer. It's nothing to be proud of.

Duh. You make a very good point there. But at least none of those people think they belong to a "community" or "culture"

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

Steelers fans and Ford truck owners would probably disagree with that.

>> ^MarineGunrock:

Duh. You make a very good point there. But at least none of those people think they belong to a "community" or "culture"

54th.

>> ^MarineGunrock:

Duh. You make a very good point there. But at least none of those people think they belong to a "community" or "culture"


Oh, man... yeah they do...

Here in Australia the two largest versions of this are Ford vs Holden (now owned by GM), people will seriously beat the hell out of others based on liking the wrong car brand.

I completely don't get it... my first real car that I bought when I was 20 or so was a Holden Commodore, and then the first car my wife and I bought when we became a serious 'family' as such was a Ford Falcon

So, yeah, not limited to Apple whatsoever. People like to show that they are 'Apple' overtly as a 'sticking it to the man' against MS I would say. And the fierce arguments between both sides is very similar to the fights between people with different consoles. A lot of it comes down to fear that you've backed the wrong horse... at least I reackon when I was a kid with a ZX Spectrum it was... 'Nah, the Spectrum is better than the C64... yeah... is... nerrr'

My distaste for Apple as a company is their smarmy fricken attitude and those vs ads predominantly. IF they had been doing ads about how great their machines are all this time without the bullshit pissing on MS then I'd be far more happy for them.

Oh... I know another thing that gets me riled up... the users themselves. We have a couple in our company, and they're forever trying to convert you over to Apple... Argh. Shuttup. Be happy with your Apple, and I'll be happy with my PC.

So that's where my bleating comes from, others trying to tell me how wrong I am to like Windows.

Hell, I LIKE Macs. Last two laptops I bought I wanted them to BE Macs but could not come at the huge price difference.

Still... that doesn't mean I can see the point in the iPad still Useless lump that it is

You people are fucking idiots.

Who gives one shit what kind of a computer someone else uses? Do you also care that I'm wearing OsPop shoes? REI socks? a SanDisk SD card? Drinking a mexican coca-cola out of a hand blown glass? I love how I innocently buy a product, and now I'm some sort of delusional fan, who was tricked into buying expensive nonsense by clever advertising.

Did you ever think that maybe I would personally find it useful to me? Oh no, that would only be fucking logical, so there MUST be something more sinister here!!

And this straw man "fanboy" talk is as retarded as it is childish. It's like saying I'm a Gloucester fanboy because I like the way their cheese tastes more than other cheeses.


I have an iPad and I love it.

Wanna know why? Because of stuff like TouchOSC:
http://hexler.net/software/touchosc

And AC-7 Pro:
http://www.saitarasoftware.com/Site/Home.html

And iTap VNC client:
http://www.jokeandbiagio.com/ipad-for-film-and-tv-production-final-cut-pro-screen-sharing

And iElectribe:
http://www.korg.com/iElectribe

And Air Display for FCP:
http://www.canonfilmmakers.com/2010/05/ipad-controls-final-cut-pro-audio.html


Yeah. Open-source, using Open Sound Control messaging, wifi to my desktop, use it in Logic Studio, Final Cut, Max, Reaktor and pretty much whatever else I want. But I guess I'm a "fanboy" because of my increased functionality in my production studio?

Really? Seriously? I should just not have better functionality to soothe the poor babies fee-fee's out there who want to claim that we're all just delusional?

And yes, there's lots of rabid Apple fans, and I don't get the whole sticker-on-the-car thing. But then again, I don't wear logos of any kind. But it seems to me that for every rabid Apple fan, there's 100 internet idiots who froth at the mouth with seething hatred every time Apple makes a new product.


blaaargh!

btw: I'm currently Art Director for a very small video game company, and we're working on a new video game for... iPad! (and iPhone/iPod Touch)

The company is owned/run by a few ex EA guys, and we're estimating a pretty hefty return on sales. This has provided me a revenue stream that's well beyond what I've normally made the past few years, and we're already phasing in some R&D for the 2nd iteration.

This is all due to the overwhelming success of Apple's App store, and the millions of people who use these devices. I think Apple has some seriously shitty policies with their App store, but then again I've never worked for a company that I didn't hate, so what's the difference?

Jesus @volumptuous, you seem to care a great deal what other people think. If you really didn't think it mattered, then I think your post may have been a little more even tempered and more just a 'hey, I have one, think it's cool, I use it to do this stuff and it's really good at it'.

But instead you rant... weird.

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One could say though, that @volumptuous rant is just a reaction to a lot of the overwhelming negativity - and downright hostility expressed herein. I have to say I kind of agree with him. Apple users cop a lot of shit - some of it justified, some ... not so much.

>> ^spoco2:

Jesus @volumptuous, you seem to care a great deal what other people think. If you really didn't think it mattered, then I think your post may have been a little more even tempered and more just a 'hey, I have one, think it's cool, I use it to do this stuff and it's really good at it'.
But instead you rant... weird.

Yes it was a heated rant, and I could've been a lot more diplomatic and easy-going. But as dag said, I tend to go off on this because it seems to be exactly the opposite of what Apple haters think it is. And being called delusional, tricked, fanboy or other negative comments doesn't help my itchy trigger finger one bit.

Dag - I hope you see that there's an entire universe of possibilities being opened up to a lot of people with the advent of the iPad. Checking my email was never a priority for me with this thing (although taking this on flights instead of a laptop has changed my travel habits for the better). But if you let your brain extrapolate from things like TouchOSC, you see where this future is heading and it's pretty damn exciting, whether it has an Apple logo or whatever other company wants to make one.

I can definitely see the cool things you can do with it @volumptuous, hell, I can see a number of things it would be good for. BUT... my issue is what it's being marketed at, and therefore what it's being bought for in the most part:
The ads tout these things as being great to do on it:
* Emailing/writing: except if you're holding it you can only one finger peck, or if you're sitting on the couch you have to sit with your legs on an angle so you can have it at a comfortable angle for typing. Jobs showed how awkward it is on stage.
* Movie watching: It's a horrible resolution at a 4:3 aspect ratio... just horrible all round. (Although it is a nice quality screen)
* Photo viewing: Ok... yeah, I can see it would be great for showing your photos to people
* Book reading: I'm still out on the whole e-book thing, but it is kinda pretty. But my GOD I hate how excited people get about the whole page turning thing, like that hasn't been in pretty much every flash catalogue reader on the web for years...
* Surfing the web: Jobs has the gall to say it's the best web surfing experience you'll ever have. Bullshit. Without flash it is not. He tries to put HTML5 as the solution for everything, but that's utter crap for at least another couple of years. THIS is my space, I code rich internet applications, have been doing so for more than 10 years. And I can tell you right now that Flash is a godsend. Once you are forced to have a gazillion little bits of code that switch based on which browser your targeting because each damn browser handles html slightly differently and displays things a bit differently... THEN you will never want to do anything remotely complex in html if you can help it.

Bloody current HTML is still like this. If the previous version of html is not handled the same across all browsers, how can we expect HTML5 to? So screw him for just saying 'Nope, HTML5 can do it all, we're not supporting Flash, even though it gives you a consistent experience across all platforms... NOPE, that's TOO EASY'.

So.. yeah... That's why I don't like the iPad. For what it's MARKETED as, it's shit.

For all the other things you could use it for over and above that... it's nice tech

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I agree completely - I'm not excited because it's Apple - I'm excited because a flat, touchable slate is a SF fantasy come to life. Probably comes with having lived through the '80s and the amazing advancements that have happened since.
>> ^volumptuous:

Yes it was a heated rant, and I could've been a lot more diplomatic and easy-going. But as dag said, I tend to go off on this because it seems to be exactly the opposite of what Apple haters think it is. And being called delusional, tricked, fanboy or other negative comments doesn't help my itchy trigger finger one bit.
Dag - I hope you see that there's an entire universe of possibilities being opened up to a lot of people with the advent of the iPad. Checking my email was never a priority for me with this thing (although taking this on flights instead of a laptop has changed my travel habits for the better). But if you let your brain extrapolate from things like TouchOSC, you see where this future is heading and it's pretty damn exciting, whether it has an Apple logo or whatever other company wants to make one.

>> ^spoco2:

So.. yeah... That's why I don't like the iPad. For what it's MARKETED as, it's shit.
For all the other things you could use it for over and above that... it's nice tech



Ahhh, so the truth comes out then. It's what it has been marketed for that bugs you and a lot of other people.

My only question about that is, Why Do You Give One Shit?

I mean, marketing is the very last thing I ever pay attention to in anything that I purchase. Hell, the entire hacker manifesto is based on using things the way you want, to achieve something other than its intended purpose. Marketing is the darkest form of evil, in my book. (Cue Bill Hicks rant about marketers). But then again, I don't have cable television, so I never see any advertisements anyway, and even when they're online, I just don't watch them.


I'll quickly debate your points:

1- Emailing/Typing - Yes, it's a bit awkward at first, but then again I learned the weird graffiti language for PalmOS back in the day, and we all learned T9. Putting this thing on my lap at an airport isn't the best experience ever, but it beats the hell out of using my phone, or having to lug a laptop around everywhere.

2- Movies - Again, it's not as awesome as my 52" 1080p at home. But it's not supposed to be. It's a smaller screen, and maybe not your ideal aspect ratio, but again, in bed or on the train it's a hell of a lot better than a laptop.

3- Photos - Yep. It's awesome, and I'm an avid photographer. Thing looks stunning.

4- Books - Again with the traveling thing. Being able to carry 100 books on a plane is fantastic. Doesn't beat an actual printed book, but it's a fanastic in-between.

5- Web - You and I can argue about Flash all day (I used to use Flash to build websites too, even worked on one of the very first Flash cartoons ever, through Macromedia/Spumco) Sometimes it's a bummer you can't watch a video, but I just change my browsing habits. I don't really miss Flash at all. Again, this is while traveling, or sitting in my garden, where I just read some blogs and visit videosift, respond to some emails, etc.

But, these are all complaints you have with the way Jobs likes to run his marketing. Me, I just don't pay any attention, and figure out how these bloody things can be integrated into my life. Again, I don't care one shit if the thing has an Apple logo, a Dell logo, or a freakin' McDonald's logo. Just give me the technology and I'll use it the way I want.


btw: This is all coming from a jailbroken T-Mobile iPhone PineApple user.

@volumptuous

You have found it to be a nice thing for you, and that's great, I just have this sneaky suspicion that a large portion of those buying them will fiddle with them for a while and then realise that it's too big to carry around with them every day, so will use their phone, or not featured enough to use for other things they want, and so use a laptop or desktop. It's a suspicion of mine, and it may well be proven to be wrong.

I don't care where any given piece of tech comes from. I think the iPhone 4 looks like a very nice phone indeed... I won't get one because a) They are on plans that are over what I spend for a mobile phone, and b) I really don't like the whole app approval, must use iTunes, do things our way malarky... and no, I don't want to Jailbreak my phone to get around that, I'd prefer to support an OS that doesn't require it to be circumvented to be useful.

But I can see that it's an awesome phone that'll make many people really happy... very nicely designed too.

I just don't think this middle ground between a laptop and a mobile needed by as big a section of the population as is being touted. People think the idea is cool... this flat piece of tech that looks like it's from the future... but I think the huge success of the iPhone is that it's all those things, and it can fit in your pocket.

That's the kicker for awesome touchscreen phones... they fit in your pocket... they can be with you all the time. I guess I just don't see the use for one myself for the large portion of the population... for a smaller subset, like yourself, sure, they're wonderful...

Again though:

Macs... pretty awesome machines, and if Apple themselves, and their users, didn't go around pretending they were faultless and never crash and were god's gift to the computer world, then I'd like them even more. I still want one, sure, but can't afford one.

iPhones: Nice phones indeed, absolutely a revolutionary device with it's interaction and the App Store... I just have the better option of Android now, and want to go with that instead

iPad: To me... just lacking any real purpose for the the population at large. Yes, great in certain situations... just not that many.

Anyone else use LogMeIn on their iPhone? I curently use it to do basically use my iPhone like it's a Windows Vista PC. I've used 3D Studio MAX, Flash, Photoshop etc. all through my iPhone. Probably won't get an iPad but if I did I'd probably use LogMeIn to control my Windows computer with the iPad interface.

I liked Tycho, of Penny Arcade,'s comment:

" I can accomplish virtually any electronic task that needs accomplishing with the iPhone, and do it anywhere, a statement of unassailable fact that the new iPhone imbues with even greater truth.

There might come a day where I don't feel like a twat using an iPad in a public place, but that day isn't here yet. It's a little too ostentatious, like toting around a scepter. I don't like it. The only thing it can do that my iPhone can't is be more expensive."
from: http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/6/9/

So something has to be useful "for the population at large" to be of any value? Hmmmmm...

*frontpage the Apple lovefest

Printing this post atop the VideoSift homepage - frontpage requested by kronosposeidon.

Meh.

dag, I'm sorry you are trying to justify a wasted $600USD to yourself. It is just a big iPhone with zero improvements in technology.. maybe slightly overclocked processor.

The iPad isn't anything more innovative then an iPhone.

It's like design by committee.... "Hey they like this iPhone thing" "What if it was bigger, they would like it more".


HTC with eventually own this crap as Apple always fails because of locked in stalinistic approach to software. The only thing Apple has going for it is a zombie, fashion fad userbase with expendable income. Apple users are the gays of technology. (And by gay I mean akin to the niche targeted specialized economic buying bloc of consumers)

The only time I can imagine myself owning an iPad is if I attain it in a way in which I don't pay Apple for it. I'd hope by then there would be an open source alternative OS that I would be able to load onto it so that I don't have to go through all of Apple's "proprietary bullshit"

Posted from Ubuntu.

>> ^kronosposeidon:

frontpage the Apple lovefest


Whoa, when did this become possible? That giant iPad picture on the front page is kinda annoying.

No terminal (not talking about an ssh client), no sell. Recently got an n900, been enjoying scripting all kinds of nifty stuff immensely. Now running my IM services on my server at home, piping notifications to the phone when I receive a message. Result - always-on IM with nearly zero battery cost. I've been making my own photo filters with imagemagick, too. Freedom is nice.

Just for your statistics Dag:

Any Sifters bought an iPad?

No and not going to. But i'm not hater, i have an iphone. I just don't see the use of an ipad.

I got one last week and love it. Good browsing, great e-book reader, fun games, some actually useful productivity apps (e.g., SketchBook Pro), and NetFlix Streaming work great.

It's an appliance and it does what it's suppose to do extremely well.