New Apple Tablet

[dirk digler]

Cool stuff. On Engadget live right now

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/l...est&refresh=30

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Silock

Mass adoption of HTML5, especially from companies like Apple, will speed things up tremendously. I didn't say it was going to be overnight or anything, but up until now, there has been no real impetus to move to HTML5 quickly. There will be soon.

I'm not saying that in a few months, Flash will be replaced entirely by HTML5. What I AM saying is that for many thing, it simply won't matter, especially if companies just make their own iPad application.

I doubt much of ANYTHING usable will be out in a "few" months... yes, Apple will effectively speed up the process but that just means we will se more html5 in the next 1-2 years instead of 3-4... trust me, HTML5 is not at all ready for prime time.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I agree, but to say HTM5 is "months" away is wrong.. unless you means 12-24 months

Well that depends on your definition of when it's "ready". People squabbled over standards for previous HTML versions for years after they were standardized. Those squabblings didn't affect the mainstream browsers (people). Hell, it barely affected web designers. CSS has emerged in the same fashion. Ever evolving and implemented but as far as standards, there's always in-fighting.

So, if by "ready" for HTML5, you mean all squabbling is done, I agree. If, however, you mean usable to the end user, I disagree. It's imminent.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I doubt much of ANYTHING usable will be out in a "few" months... yes, Apple will effectively speed up the process but that just means we will se more html5 in the next 1-2 years instead of 3-4... trust me, HTML5 is not at all ready for prime time.

I agree and disagree.

The media components still need some tinkering. Hell, Firefox is convinced that Ogg is the way to go whereas everyone else thinks h.264 is the way to go. I lean towards h.264 because I don't see the point of "open" video codecs. I have VLC and it makes everything "open".

I agree in that it's not ready because not many companies have started shifting to it.


However, this is a side argument compared to flash being killed. Lots of sites already run flash alternatives for both videos and content.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I doubt much of ANYTHING usable will be out in a "few" months... yes, Apple will effectively speed up the process but that just means we will se more html5 in the next 1-2 years instead of 3-4... trust me, HTML5 is not at all ready for prime time.

We'll see in a few months.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

Can people stop mentioning vaporware. Courier isn't even a prototype. I mean Popular Science came out with a mock up of a PDA of the future with some seriously cool features. That was like 1999 or 2000 or so. Did we come close to it? No.

Same with Courier. I've never seen vaporware get so much attention.



What can't the iPad do?

Flash and a camera (not front facing, which I would call webcam, anyway) are not things I think are necessary. So what else would you put down?

And, for the record, I'm against the closed loop system. I wouldn't be if they allowed anything into the store, but since their rejection system is arbitrary and highly flawed, it's absolutely a big issue.

COURIER: Where do you get your information???? Courier is beyond prototype stage and is slated for a late Q3 release (which means Q1 2011). NOW, that said, all I said was I would wait for it to be out to judge if I wanted in this space... not at all certain it will fill my needs either.

IPAD: Things I can't do...

1. make phone calls
2. sms/mms
3. use external USB devices
4. watch 1080 HD video
5. use SD memory(great for easy storage of movie libraries)
6. no camera whatsoever... not a webcam or a "real" cam...
7. iR connect
8. GPS
9. carry an extra replaceable battery
10. not suck

[Silock]

Things I don't need an iPad to do:

1. Make Phone calls
2. Use SD memory (It has plenty of built-in storage)
3. Take pictures
4. Double as a GPS
5. Take movies
6. iR connect to . . . anything. I've had lots of computers with this capability and I have NEVER needed to use it. Ever.

There are apps that let you text. Lack of 1080 HD video sucks. It doesn't need an extra battery when the one it has lasts 10-12 hours. It will be able to use many external devices, although it does suck that you have to buy a peripheral to use it.

After using the iPad for a while, and previously saying that it was stupid, I changed my mind. It does not suck. There are some drawbacks, but the damn thing is very good at what it was designed to do.

The Electribe application is freaking awesome. I can get rid of my REAL Electribe now (sadly).

[AustinChief]

Anyone care to make a bet regarding HTML5? I have been involved with the web since 1993 (anyone remember Viola on X windows?) I have heard this so many times I have lost count... "It's really only months away!!!"

Do any of you remmeber how long it took to get any kind of widespread adoption of XML???

Set some metrics and I'll make some bets...

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

COURIER: Where do you get your information???? Courier is beyond prototype stage and is slated for a late Q3 release (which means Q1 2011). NOW, that said, all I said was I would wait for it to be out to judge if I wanted in this space... not at all certain it will fill my needs either.

First of all, Microsoft has a track record of not shipping products on time, not shipping what they claimed to have built, and making their videos show an "idea" or "concept" rather than actual implementation. It's like how X3's trailer was phenomenal and then look at the movie using the same footage...

Secondly, I will reiterate the video that has created all this buzz was a "concept" video. It wasn't "here's the Courier and here's how it actually works". It was a "wouldn't it be cool if we built something like this...this is what we're aiming for".

IPAD: Things I can't do...

1. make phone calls
2. sms/mms
3. use external USB devices
4. watch 1080 HD video
5. use SD memory(great for easy storage of movie libraries)
6. no camera whatsoever... not a webcam or a "real" cam...
7. iR connect
8. GPS
9. carry an extra replaceable battery
10. not suck

1) Why would you want such an odd device to make phone calls? Also, it does have a mic, and it does have 3g and wi-fi, I bet it can be done.

2) I don't get sms/mms. You aren't on a plan, so it would be moot. Most plans don't lump sms and data together. So, I'm not sure I get that. Plus, if you want to, there are plenty of apps that send sms/mms via internet, which the iPad could do...

3) I've been over the USB thing before. I don't see it as a huge deal especially considering the cloud becoming more and more relevant. Perhaps if it had VLC player app or something I could see having a library you could bring along. Short of that, I don't see the need.

4) I agree but 720p is damn good.

5) I'd agree but it would only need that OR USB. Not both. And, frankly, I don't even think it needs that. Again, cloud relevance.

6) I said I count a webcam as a valid point. That's one of the things I'm waiting for in Version 2. However, I absolutely fail to see the point of an actual camera. Who wants to whip out something that big to take a photo? Seriously?

7) What do you mean? Like remotes and things?

8) Why does it need GPS? Almost any new phone now a days has GPS and you're carrying your phone with you. This doesn't replace phones and wasn't intended to. So what use is GPS on that unwieldily (for GPS) thing?

9) *sigh* It's both a valid point and a tiresome, stupid point. Plus, there will be accessories with this exact feature. I don't see why this is a big deal to people.

10) LOL, of all the things the iPad is and isn't, one of them is not suck. It's big and it's a game changer.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Anyone care to make a bet regarding HTML5? I have been involved with the web since 1993 (anyone remember Viola on X windows?) I have heard this so many times I have lost count... "It's really only months away!!!"

Do any of you remmeber how long it took to get any kind of widespread adoption of XML???

Set some metrics and I'll make some bets...

You haven't answered which kind of "ready" you're talking about.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by Silock

Things I don't need an iPad to do:

1. Make Phone calls
2. Use SD memory (It has plenty of built-in storage)
3. Take pictures
4. Double as a GPS
5. Take movies
6. iR connect to . . . anything. I've had lots of computers with this capability and I have NEVER needed to use it. Ever.

There are apps that let you text. Lack of 1080 HD video sucks. It doesn't need an extra battery when the one it has lasts 10-12 hours. It will be able to use many external devices, although it does suck that you have to buy a peripheral to use it.

After using the iPad for a while, and previously saying that it was stupid, I changed my mind. It does not suck. There are some drawbacks, but the damn thing is very good at what it was designed to do.

The Electribe application is freaking awesome. I can get rid of my REAL Electribe now (sadly).

Great minds, you know.....

[Shag]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

COURIER: Where do you get your information???? Courier is beyond prototype stage and is slated for a late Q3 release (which means Q1 2011). NOW, that said, all I said was I would wait for it to be out to judge if I wanted in this space... not at all certain it will fill my needs either.

IPAD: Things I can't do...

1. make phone calls
2. sms/mms
3. use external USB devices
4. watch 1080 HD video
5. use SD memory(great for easy storage of movie libraries)
6. no camera whatsoever... not a webcam or a "real" cam...
7. iR connect
8. GPS
9. carry an extra replaceable battery
10. not suck

Not a very convincing list, IMHO. FYI, I don't own an iPad, and currently have no plans to buy one.

I don't get the desire to be able to make phone calls or sms/mms on a tablet device - it's not a phone replacement. Do you really want to carry an additional cellular contract and phone number, just for a tablet? I sure as hell don't. Even if I owned a tablet device, I'd still carry my cellphone for use as, well, a phone. The iPad has a mic, so I assume VOIP would be possible via an app.

I'd be surprised if you could notice much screen resolution difference at the screen sizes in question.

IR connect? Really?

I believe the 3G-equipped iPad will have GPS capabilities.

I think removable storage is a push, depending on the user. 64GB should be sufficient for just about any user, unless you really want to carry around your entire video library. I can see it being an issue for some, though.

External USB storage is a valid complaint. Will be interesting to see if that is addressed at some point. They offer a way to connect cameras directly to the iPad, so I'd be surprised if we didn't see a way to connect USB devices.

No camera is a viable complaint, though the only real use for that I could see would be for video chat.

[irishjayhawk]

It can't make breakfast. Strike one for iPad.
It can't make lunch. Strike two.
It can't make dinner. Strike three.

iPad sucks!

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by Shag

No camera is a viable complaint, though the only real use for that I could see would be for video chat.

Which is a front facing camera, which just about everyone agrees it should have.

I, like you, don't see the point of a regular camera on the back.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Silock

Things I don't need an iPad to do:

1. Make Phone calls
2. Use SD memory (It has plenty of built-in storage)
3. Take pictures
4. Double as a GPS
5. Take movies
6. iR connect to . . . anything. I've had lots of computers with this capability and I have NEVER needed to use it. Ever.

There are apps that let you text. Lack of 1080 HD video sucks. It doesn't need an extra battery when the one it has lasts 10-12 hours. It will be able to use many external devices, although it does suck that you have to buy a peripheral to use it.

After using the iPad for a while, and previously saying that it was stupid, I changed my mind. It does not suck. There are some drawbacks, but the damn thing is very good at what it was designed to do.

The Electribe application is freaking awesome. I can get rid of my REAL Electribe now (sadly).

For me it doesn't do anything I can't do on my phone... especially when the HTC EVO comes out... I am not a fan of the OS AT ALL, so it really offers me nothing. IF MS Courier lives up to its hype , I may look into it, but it will probably be too much of a niche device as well...

If I can't have a REAL OS, then I'd rather just use my phone... which is why I won't even buy a device like the Gemini... why build a bulky not too portable device that uses the SAME OS as a phone and offers MARGINAL performance increases? NO THANKS

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

For me it doesn't do anything I can't do on my phone... especially when the HTC EVO comes out... I am not a fan of the OS AT ALL, so it really offers me nothing. IF MS Courier lives up to its hype , I may look into it, but it will probably be too much of a niche device as well...

If I can't have a REAL OS, then I'd rather just use my phone... which is why I won't even buy a device like the Gemini... why build a bulky not too portable device that uses the SAME OS as a phone and offers MARGINAL performance increases? NO THANKS

Out of curiosity, if the next iPhone matches the HTC specs pretty closely, would you still be ruling it out?

It sounds like you just don't like iPhone/Pad OS.