With yesterday's iPad announcement, Apple set the stage for a new product category, one that according to Apple is the mobile device missing in its product lineup between the iPhone and the MacBook. Although it wasn't said explicitly, it seems the iPad was to be a product that melded some features of each into a new product type.
Courtesy of Apple
Did Apple succeed? Well, only time will tell, but from my viewpoint, it missed at least four important features that would have set the iPad apart from the iPhone. As it is now, the iPad is just an iPod touch with a larger screen and a 3G option
What's Missing
Multi-tasking: By using the iPhone OS, Apple has doomed us to the single-app-at-a-time routine that bugs iPhone and touch power users. If the iPad is a step up from the iPhone, then I would have expected an improvement here.
No User Accessible File System: Once again, the iPhone OS, which hides its underlying file system from users, proves to me that an OS for smartphones does not belong in the iPad. Without access to the file system, you're stuck being able to only access files from within applications or to sending files to apps a developer thinks is suitable. For instance, while I can send a photo from the Photo app to Mail, can I send a photo to application xyz? Only if the developer thinks I should.
Camera: Let me be clear here. I think a still camera on the back of the iPad would be a bad idea. I can't imagine how unwieldy it would be to use the iPad as a primary still picture camera. But a forward facing web cam is a different thing altogether. With a built-in web cam, the iPad would make a great video conferencing platform. Being able to sit in your big comfy chair and chat with friends and family around the world would be a great application. Think mobile iChat.
I/O: Aside from a docking connector and earphones, there really is no input/output on the iPad, at least nothing like the MacBook. I won't hold my breath waiting for that add-on camera that could have clipped to the top of the iPad. It would have been nice to at least have a built-in SD card slot. Without robust I/O access, hardware developers can only turn to Bluetooth and the docking connector. Some micro USB ports would have been a nice touch. Or maybe that SD card slot could take a USB adapter.
The lack of a (forward facing) camera is what makes me hesitate in buying one. If they refreshed the iPod touch with a camera (forward or back facing), I would be hard pressed not to get it and forget the iPad for now. And that’s with the larger form factor being something that I would really like, as I find it very hard to type long documents on my iPod.
I was really disappointed with the lack of I/O as well. It was a real head scratcher for me as I dont undestand why they would not include them. I thing they intentionally leave things out so they can have things to add to the future versions.
An I/O accessory you seem to have overlooked is an external keyboard and its own dock. That’s certainly an input device.
You’re disappointed iPad doesn’t have a web cam for video conferencing or those chats w/ family & friends, I see. Well, the Ojo (www.ojophone.com) is a fantastic alternative (& I don’t work there OR own stock)!
The Ojo 900 & Ojo 1000 are simply great! Built-in cam, speaker, great audio & SCREEN AT EYE LEVEL (no need to bend down or hold it up) make it a joy to use! Excellent resolution! VoIP! The Ojo 1000 has a cordless handset so you can walk away & continue the call from a distance! Only $9.95 per month for the Ojo connection AND if you’ll be away for a month, they’ll suspend service so you won’t be billed!
Sure, the iPad works anywhere, but you wanted to chat from your couch….the Ojo is MY recommendation!!!
Only drawback is calls only go to other Ojos, but, many of my family & friends have one! At $9.95 a month, it’s MUCH better to and for me than a couple of copamochajocas!!
(You’d think I was a rep! I’m not!).
My best!
Hi Greg,
You’re right about that, and if I buy an iPad (haven’t made up my mind yet) I will certainly buy the external keyboard.
But the reason I didn’t include it is because the iPad is meant to be mobile, and in mobile use, you won’t have a dock or keyboard attached. That’s why I would have preferred an SD card slot, so I could take along extra storage while maintaining the mobile feel of the iPad. The same for a micro USB port or two, which would let me carry along a cam or other portable device.
You may like a camera on the front of the iPad, but I don’t think the person viewing you’re image would. Think about it. What would that person see if you were holding the iPad like a book down near your lap? They would see the ceiling or the sky with you looking down on them. Every time time you looked up for a moment they would get to see whatever is hiding in your nose. If the lighting was not very good, your face would be illuminated from below by the iPad screen. Nobody’s face looks good when lit from below. The camera would be quickly known as the Apple Booger Cam.Take your MacBook and try it.
ipad is underloaded (i.e. lacking a swivel camera,no input output slot, no connector for external keyboard) for the simple reason that it enables Apple to introduce more variants at later stage. its risky proposition considering peoples’ mega expectation from the new device just launched.
How about a stylus and OCR? If this thing is to be used as a business as well as leisure device, then the addition of a stylus would make it easier to take notes, and draw pictures/diagrams which could later be downloaded to your real computer or uploaded to the “cloud” for sharing with others in your workgroup…
I have to agree with your comments about what can only be an oversight by Apple, something that early adopters will have to live with eventually. When I first heard the news about the iPad, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, that was short lived. After plodding through the hype, the videos and then delving into the specs, I too was disappointed by the absence of a forward facing camera, better access to applications and the lack of any input connectors. The ability to connect a USB flash drive or hard drive is almost a necessity, especially if the device is to be used as specified by all the hype. It is a glitzy device with a lot of potential, but it needs the additions that have been left off of it. The specs on what is included in the box did not mention any software included with it, even though news bytes mentioned that Apple was bundling iWorks with it. Does this mean that they will also be including iLife apps? The uncertainty of these omissions will have me wait on the sidelines. I’m certain that Apple will eventually include them, because of their intended application for the device. It’s nice to see that Apple is finally taking advantage of its purchase of the chip maker and putting their engineers to good use. Apple is also continuing its policy, as with its iPhone and laptop lines, of limiting access to the device and forcing users to send in their device to replace aging or dead batteries. The device is really very slick and is full of potential. I just wish Apple wouldn’t force users beg for and wait for that potential as it doles them out piecemeal.
I honestly thing ICR would have been nice for people that want the speed of a pen type of device.
wowowowowowoooo!!!
this is simply UNbelievable and AMazing how everybody are increasingly picking on Apple for bad badbadbadbad ipad…
missing this…missing that…not good this…not good that…
WHY you people are all so NEGATIVE ????
WHY don’t you concentrate on all POSITIVE things that iPAD is going to give us ????
You haven’t even touched the iPAD, you haven’t even saw it, and already millions of “conclusions” and stupid “analysis”..
WHO cares about the stupid camera in iPAD ???
You want iPAD to do everything ?
Do you realize that if there are toooo many features in a device, non of them work well ?
If you need a camera, use your iPhone or iPod, or a small tiny pocket camera.
…”multitasking”…??? again, what’s that…???
how many tasks do you want to do simultaneously???
do you want to drive yourself crazy ?
isn’t the world already over saturated with information and with new devices, phones…etc. coming out every day ???
How many “tasks” do you want to do at the same time ???
CALM down, and relax, think…slow down.
iPAD is more than PERFECT. No more features are needed.
Period.
…I had to add few more comments, just noticed somebody’s “UNDERloaded”…and “stylus”…!!!??
maybe to add to these requests also an “eraser”….”marker”…highlighter…
People, enough of that! really…you all are like zombies, wish lists, and wish lists…more features and more options…
NO NEED FOR ANYTHING ELSE!!! Period.
Believe me, TRUST Apple Geniuses, they know what is best for you, for us. No need to push and create senseless fantasies. Relax..enjoy life!
Smart blog, and I agree with your critique, espec. re. memory-stick plug-in. Needs external keybd option. Still thinking about camera.
Wow, Zal. Better living through chemistry, eh?
Most of us don’t blindly accept the products companies release as perfect. And we sure don’t trust anyone else — Apple Geniuses, Microsoft, the government, Amazon, whoever or whatever — to “know what is best” for us. If you do, that’s more than a little scary.
Customer feedback, such as the comments here, are what help and push companies to make their products better (not all companies listen to customer feedback, of course, and not all feedback is useful or even realistic).
You don’t have to perform hands-on testing of a product to comment on some of the features it might be lacking, or some of the features it has that are superfluous.
As far as your “isn’t the world already over saturated with information and with new devices, phones…etc. coming out every day” comment, if you believe that, then what is the purpose of the iPad? What need does it serve that isn’t already met, or met well enough, by other products?
Another review and comments without watching the video or looking at the specs.
There is a keyboard dock accessory or you can pair with any Bluetooth keyboard.
There is an SD card adapter for photo import and a USB camera adapter.
The iWork apps do not come with the iPad, they are purchased separately at $10 each.
Good article although I would beg to differ on the need of a camera. I do find a real need for an SD / MicroSD / or USB slot. I’d like to quickly move pictures from my cameras and get them uploaded or shared. Granted I could be a WiFi SD card and connect the iPad and camera.
Attaching a hard drive wouldn’t be that big of a worry. Apple seems to be great at networking, so connecting to an existing computer on your network and transfering files should be easy, if not automatic.
Multi-tasking is my main problem. I can see working with email and having a browser open with multiple tabs and my VPN connection to work and Instant Messenger and a document or spreadsheet. That’s the way I work.
This would be the device for me on the bus to and from work and on the airplane since my laptop is hard to open when the guy in front of me leans back.
My 2 cents (equal to $499 Apple Dollars) is Mutli Tasking and SD / USB slot.