"720p mode"

720p is 1280×720, which isn't possible on a 1024×768 screen. 1024×576 isn't 720p, it's just "widescreen" in a non-native resolution.

Yes, I know no one cares.


The device does look very responsive though, which is a big plus.

No Flash support. Still.

>> ^Psychologic:

"720p mode"
720p is 1280×720, which isn't possible on a 1024×768 screen. 1024×576 isn't 720p, it's just "widescreen" in a non-native resolution.
Yes, I know no one cares.

The device does look very responsive though, which is a big plus.


Yup that annoyed me too. I guess "the fake-widescreen-with-black-bars mode" doesn't roll off the tongue though.

Also, no mouse? At all? Retarded.

It's a big iPod Touch. Quaint. Here's my Pros/Cons just looking at it.

Pro:
1. Apple's touchscreen is the best. Hands down. Very responsive.
2. It's a touchscreen television. That's kind of cool. Hell, it's probably the future.
3. The games and apps are nice. I doubt you'll find any hardcore games interested.
4. Price point. It's not "Apple" expensive.

Con:
1. Not a true browser. No Flash.
2. How often did you read books on your laptop? Exactly. I don't care if you can swipe the paged with your fingers; it's too bright. There's a Kindle for that.
3. It's not portable enough to buy for music.
4. Typing on it looks impractical. Seriously, would you really do spreadsheets on that thing?

If I wanted a portable TV, it's probably okay. Other than that, I'll stick to my laptop.

Considering what it does, I would call it "Apple" expensive.

16GB 32GB 64GB
Wi-Fi Available April 3.
$499 $599 $699
Wi-Fi + 3G Available late April.
$629 $729 $829

$500 is too much, and that's the cheapest one.

>> ^KnivesOut:
$500 is too much, and that's the cheapest one.


Haha. Someone is poor.

>> ^blankfist:

>> ^KnivesOut:
$500 is too much, and that's the cheapest one.

Haha. Someone is poor.


Well, not wealthy by any stretch. All my money is tied up in vast videogame-library investments. They'll pay off one day, I know it.

Full disclaimer: I'm bitter because I already bought 2 macs and an iPod touch (for app-store development) and I'm tired of buying Apple shit so I can play in their playground.

Cory wrote a great rant about the iPad that captures my angst about the device here:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/04/02/why-i-wont-buy-an-ipad-and-think-you-shouldnt-either.html

If you don't have an iphone or a laptop (like me) then this actually isn't that bad of an option. This basically does all the stuff I'd use a laptop for but doesn't cost as much as I would likely end up spending on one. The deal breaking is no flash though. I use Hulu and other flash sites way to much for me to get this, and those sites are pretty much a lot of what I would be using this for as opposed to my actual pc. Till AT&T drops the "only us" thing and the load gets spread around to other carriers so that flash is actually viable, then I would consider it. Bonus : by then the price will probably have dropped a bit anyway.

^ Right, blame AT&T for the lack of flash. =P

If you aren't scared of computers in general then you can get a 12" netbook with HDMI and the ability to play 1080p for less than $500, though it might not have those cool page turn effects.


Edit: I hear you can install apple OS's on laptops/netbooks if you're into that sorta thing. There are lists out there of the best ones to use, and they're a hell of a lot cheaper than buying through Apple.

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

Seems quite funny that the same type of people who lament about the lack of Flash are generally also the same type of people who gripe about the use of Flash in websites. Oh god- won't someone please think of the animated pizza menus!

Yes, Flash is used for video on the web- but HTML 5 video is progressing faster than you think. You can thank Apple for getting us out of the corner we painted ourselves into in making a video format "standard" that is completely proprietary and owned by one company, Adobe®.

So yeah- thanks Apple.

^ I'd still rather have a browser that could play both, but that's just me.

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

Yeah, I suppose so. And the reason Apple is Flashless is definitely not to promote open standards. Why buy games off the App store, when there are thousands of free Flash games on the web. But still ...>> ^Psychologic:

^ I'd still rather have a browser that could play both, but that's just me.

That's my #1 gripe with the iPad/iTouch/iPhone and the App Store. You're locked into a distribution channel. It's a false, synthetic market-place, governed by apple design snobs.

I wonder if we'll see Google team up with some of the hardware vendors and build a truly open, android-based touch-screen tablet to respond to the iPad.

^ Supposedly Google is designing a netbook based on Android with a touchscreen, accelerometer, etc. I'm not sure whether they're actively designing it or just setting minimum design requirements. It would still be a netbook, but maybe it will open 180 degrees or flip around into a tablet like the Lenovo ones.

We're just getting to the point where tablets are feasible from a hardware standpoint, and I salute Apple for pushing the tech forward (despite the intentional limitations). Over the next few years we should see multiple versions from different vendors, along with increasing power and longer battery life.

My personal ideal computer would be something the size of a Droid/iPhone with similar interactivity, but with the ability to sync with a wireless mouse/keyboard/whatever and full-size external display... and of course enough horsepower to use any operating system comfortably. That might be 10 years away though. =)

@KnivesOut: The closed distribution channel, or ecosystem as it's usually called, is part of what makes the iPhone app store great in the mind of many users. The feeling of the consistency, the standards of quality etc. The downside of that is, of course, the monopoly (like the Google Voice thing).

And as for an Android tablet, I'm looking forward to the Adam: http://videosift.com/video/Hands-On-With-Notion-Ink-s-Adam-Tablet - goes for @Psychologic as well.

The App-Store "ecosystem" is there to keep porn out, so says Apple.

Gizmodo Liveblog
via Boing Boing

Q: Are there any plans for you to run unsigned applications, like on Android?
A: There is a porn store for Android to go to. You can download them, your kids can download them. That's a place we don't want to go. We're not going to go there.

It's tripe, total bullshit. The standards of quality? Yes, you're guaranteed to get the best flash-light or fart-simulator possible.