iPad This sums up the iPad for me

[kjk]

Originally Posted by CyGuy

If you own a Windows 7 computer, you can find applications from a million different sources. If you own an iWhatever, you have one source for applications. The mystery to me is how can so many people fall for that? Having the hardware locked to installing only "approved" applications allows them to dictate what you can or can't install, and set the price to whatever they want. How/why would anyone fall for that?

No one is "falling" for anything. To imply that somehow you have enlightenment because you've come to this amazing realization, and everyone else "fell for it" is pretty insulting, but not unexpected.

[pshrynk]

Let's try to make the discussion about eReaders and not about personal attacks, please.

pshrynk (moderator)

[BWhite]

Originally Posted by CyGuy

If you own a Windows 7 computer, you can find applications from a million different sources. If you own an iWhatever, you have one source for applications. The mystery to me is how can so many people fall for that? Having the hardware locked to installing only "approved" applications allows them to dictate what you can or can't install, and set the price to whatever they want. How/why would anyone fall for that?

Lol! Really your comments are amusing.

I own a Windows Vista Computer which I built myself (and which I will be upgrading to Windows 7). I have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. I used to be a mid-manager of a thirteen programmer development team for a retail web site. Allow me to explain how the process works.

You find yourself a bit 'tech shy' at some point in your life. In my case I have no smart phone and my laptop has died (which is fine as I no longer travel). Reading eBooks on my Palm TX - tired of that, the heck with it even, it was a miserable experience (to me).

So you hear about the upcoming release of numerous eReader capable devices in the year 2010. Having professional experience in your past you put together your List of Requirements. I did this.

So I have a List (created BEFORE the marketing folks show up, mind you) and I am trying to ferret out specifications for the ASUS devices - looks like one or more will be a good fit! Then Apple comes out with the iPad and what do you know....

Battery Life - check
Weight - check
Web Browser - check
eMail (was classified as 'icing', not a requirement) - check
and so on down the list...
not locked in to a carrier - check

So you purchase technology according to your requirements, pretty simple process.

If YOUR list of requirements is YOU need a Netbook, then don't purchase the iPad. I have no need of a Smart Phone, I have no need of a Netbook. The iPad fits my needs.

The only way the iPad can be a mismatch to my List of Requirements right now would be if Apple were to tell me that 100% of my iPad eBooks have to come from Apple - and that question will be answered one way or the other in sixty days.

[Phogg]

[netseeker]

Let's try a clarification of facts regarding Apple's license terms:

Apps are licensed to a SINGLE device.

Not to my knowledge. Neither the developers (iphone sdk) agreement nor the end users license (both on my screen at this very moment) do require that.

devs can and are entitled to put "one device only" terms on their in-app content.

To my knowledge they are not even allowed to do so. From the "Instructions for Minimum Terms of Developer’s End-User License Agreement":

The license granted to the end-user for the Licensed Application must be limited to a non-transferable license to use the Licensed Application on any iPhone or iPod touch that the end-user owns or controls and as permitted by the Usage Rules set forth in the App Store Terms of Service.

Regarding the question whether Apple does reject Apps and why they do so:

From my experience it's well known in the developers community that Apple is rejecting applications occasionally. I've seen emails from (most likely) Apple stating that an application was rejected because of "duplication of the built-in application XY without providing sufficient differentiation or added functionality".

I really hope that the distribution of other reading applications than iBooks in the App Store will not be rejected by Apple.

Will i buy an iPad? I don't know yet. No Multitasking? Hmm...that's not so good. It was one reason why i didn't buy an iPhone.

Will Apple use a new DRM for ePub in iBooks as announced by Adobe? I really don't know it, though i think it's very likely. If yes, then it depends whether other reading applications (most important the new txtr application with support of Adobes DRM) will be available on the iPad or not. I wouldn't buy an iPad if i can't use it for reading purchased ePubs from other sources every now and then.

[fugazied]

Originally Posted by BWhite

The other 'nail' I noticed is how even some Apple fans are even disappointed. You can read flavors of this on engadget.com and gizmodo.com in analysis by blog writers, folks who write for those blogs.

I do enjoy Apple products (I have an iPhone and a Macbook pro). So I do come from a very positive experience with the brand, a change after 14 years of using Windows which always had some kind of problem. So I am probably pro-apple because I like the things I have bought from them before and find OS X to be superior to Windows.

The things that stand out to me as issues on this first iPad :
- No camera. Seriously very weird not to shove a cheap $25 camera in the front of it.
- The bezel looks a bit big for an apple product. You know that Jobs would be hating this and V2 will no doubt look nicer.
- Not 1080p

But honestly that's about it. They've gone for a cheap device which is unusual for Apple. They want to sell a lot of these, and I think they will.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by netseeker

devs can and are entitled to put "one device only" terms on their in-app content

This is actually correct for in-app purchases/upgrades (not the original app purchased thru the App Store), at least from what my experience has been.

[netseeker]

Originally Posted by kjk

This is actually correct for in-app purchases/upgrades (not the original app purchased thru the App Store), at least from what my experience has been.

Yes, that's possible. I don't know that much about in-app purchases because i never had to deal with it (from a developers point of view) and the developers agreement doesn't contain much information about that.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by netseeker

Yes, that's possible. I don't know that much about in-app purchases because i never had to deal with it (from a developers point of view) and the developers agreement doesn't contain much information about that.

I've done it a couple of times. For instances, when I purchased the Life Traffic service through Navigon, it appeared on both iPhones upon syncing.

I am not sure this deserves a discussion - it is the norm at the Apple store and there is nothing to the contrary coming up on Google.

Either out of ignorance, or willfully, there is a lot of clearly false information about iPad-related technologies pushed in this thread. Not just about Apple Store licensing, but also about the IPS screen technology employed in the iPad, and the CPU/GPU used in it.

If someone repeatedly sites as sources "reading between the lines" and "developers I know" for nonsensical claims, their competence on the subject must be dismissed, and at least their sincerity questioned.

[DawnFalcon]

Never mind

[netseeker]

Originally Posted by Sonist

I am not sure this deserves a discussion - it is the norm at the Apple store and there is nothing to the contrary coming up on Google.

Well, then let's move on to more interesting topics.

Originally Posted by Sonist

Either out of ignorance, or willfully, there is a lot of clearly false information about iPad-related technologies pushed in this thread.

Not all of those "pushed informations" appear to be wrong though. Different people, different opinions and a damn lot of guesswork as well in almost every case. This includes you and myself as well.
Anyway, let's get finally over it. The iPad with it's surprisingly low prices is an interesting and - just like most devices by Apple - controversially discussed device.

[DawnFalcon]

Never mind

[netseeker]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

Yes.. revenue for most apps is minimal allready, because of the way Apple have chosen to run their portal. It's a boom or bust market and it really didn't need to be.
....

It works ... for Apple. They don't need to change something because it just works and real competition is still missing as long as there are not enough *good* Android devices pushing the Android Marketplace.

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

(Heck, you realise that without iTunes installed you can't browse apps on the PC, right? Limit after limit...)

Yes. Also one reason why i bought a Palm Prè, with all it's assets and drawbacks. Anyway, Apple's ecosystem is working well and we don't have to accept these limits. I own an iPod touch too and all in all it's a good device for me with an amazing amount of Apps available for it. Though, it's not one of my preferred target platforms when it comes to software development.

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

I won't even go into how TN production has sharply dropped off, it's useless when you get accused of lying.

From my point of view nobody is lying here. We all know some things for sure and the rest is conjecture...given a little bit goodwill anybody can notice that.

[nbvanyoos]

I generally go for service pack 1 or 2nd generation devices before I make the leap, and with the iPad, I'll likely do the same. However, as an author I am intrigued by the device.

My Kindle is wonderful, but best for reading fiction. When I do research, as I currently am for my next novel, I need to read books that often include a lot of graphics. Likewise, I would love to have my magazines on my device, in color with all the images next to the text. Also, I often find I need to look up something on the web to get more information while I am reading about it . While my laptop can do these things, the size is limiting in bed and at the coffee shop.

If the iPad can do these things for me, I'll likely be a buyer! Playing games on it would simply be icing on the cake

[astra]

Originally Posted by kjk

No one is "falling" for anything. To imply that somehow you have enlightenment because you've come to this amazing realization, and everyone else "fell for it" is pretty insulting, but not unexpected.

Second topic where I notice that whenever someone dismiss Apple products you say they are insulting people. Care to change your attitude and make a peace with yourself and accept that many people despise products you might adore and they are no worse than you because of that?