Apple Event - Live Blogging/Streaming Coverage

[sianon]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Ah ?
I was expecting it would do that all right.

Sadly not the case, it does do other things very well thogugh and as I said will tide me over until the Ipad concept matures somewhat,

[kacir]

Originally Posted by dioib

You've got to have an enormously big heart not to care for multitasking..

Well, define what a multitasking is.

There are several levels of multitasking.

level 0
you can have only one program open at the time. Like in good old DOS. If you want to copy a file, you have to close that word processsor you are using, go to DOS commandline, start Norton Commander, copy file, close Norton commander and go to DOS commandline, start word processor again, load document, find the place where you left off, resume work. Please note, that even with that super low level you had TSR programs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TSR_program , so you could use a mouse driver, or ansi.sys program to redefine keyboard shortcuts.

Level 1
best represented by a little known program called Dos Shell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_shell . This *did* have a kind of fake multitasking. You could run a text editor and if you needed to copy a file for a friend you pressed a secret key and the system would start a TSR that swapped your opened text editor away (it could not swap it to disk, that came with the first windows) let you copy the file and then you could return to your text editor and continue.
I call this fake multitasking, because at the time you were away from your text editor the application was completely inactive. So if you started, for example a "find and replace" process, and went away, it would not run in the background.
Another example is The famous Dos Navigator that let you run several of its components at once, even playing music in background or performing an operation when you were away.

Level 2
- the kind of multitasking offered by Windows 3.0

Level 3
- the multitasking in Windows 95, where you could perform several operations at the same time, as long as you were not formatting the floppy disk at the same time ;-), or copying file through parallel port using laplink cable, or using modem, or ...

level 4
- what we see in Windows XP. Many people would argue that even this is not the TRUE multitasking. Just ask any Linux, Solaris or even MacOSX fan. If one program seizes it can bring down the entire system.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_multitasking


To sum it up.
As long as each application remembers the state where you left of (switched to another application) and some applications would let you to, say, play an mp3 file in background you do not really need true multitasking MOST OF THE TIME. This is how most PDA-s operate.
You are not going to run an app to rip a DVD in the background, you are not going to watch video while working on a spreadsheet.

[drofgnal]

My wife and I were talking. She'd like a Kindle like mine. We floated the idea of me buying an ipad then turning my Kindle over to her. One down side I told her was that ibooks were not Kindle compatible and visa-versa, we couldn't share books. Not a real downside we have different tastes.

Then it occured to me. All the iphone apps are supposedly useable with the ipad. Why not then use the Kindle for the iphone app with the ipad. Will Apple kill that app to protect their ebook sales?

I'd sign up for the iPad tomorrow if I could use the Kindle for iphone app on it and use Amazon as my ebook source. As it is I'm going to wait it out and see what happens with the Kindle iphone app.

[drofgnal]

One thing that makes this fall a little short for me. No separate USB port. You can use the dock connector to connect to a computer usb port, but no usb port for you to input/output data, except through another computer.

Given what the ipad can do, I can see a day when a device like this could replace the need for a computer. In a handful of years, I can retire. Gone will be the need for a full up computer with Word, excel, etc and all that computing power. With an ipad and in home wi-fi, and a keyboard dock, one can surf the web, do email, shop online and download ebooks. For it to be fully functional, it needs its own usb port for an accessory DVD/CD drive, for music import (I almost never buy music from itunes almost always prefering the lossless CD music format) and other data input or archiving as required. You could literally not need a computer anymore. An alternate concept would be to incoporate a DVD/CD drive into the keyboard doc, wow that would solve everything.

An enticing device, I may order when available depending upon if apple allows the Kindle for iphone app on it. A couple of accessory ports better or a DVD/CD drive capable keyboard doc and all would be well. It will be interesting to see what happens in subsequent versions of this device.

[pagansoul]

I was thinking of how one would load a book not purchased through the ibook store then I thought I could just email a book to myself or use one of the book apps (have to find out if they all will work but I don't see why not. If Apple permits a Kindle app or Stanza on the iphone/itouch then it should lit the ipad use them). Another way is Dropbox. I may have to buy some more space on it for all my ebooks. With Dropbox I can set up my folders any way I want.

[llreader]

USB and SD are available, but you need the

iPad Camera Connection Kit

The Camera Connection Kit gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera. The Camera Connector lets you import your photos and videos to iPad using the camera’s USB cable. Or you can use the SD Card Reader to import photos and videos directly from the camera’s SD card.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

I hear it is $30.

Originally Posted by nekokami

I've been using a PogoSketch stylus on my iPod Touch and I'm very happy with it. Only US$10.


I've been using the PogoSketch stylus on my iPod Touch for about a month now. I'd say it's not as good as a calibrated Wacom tablet, but about as good as the resistive screens I've used. It's significantly better than my experience with the iLiad, which had a Wacom tablet but terrible calibration (even after the community developers wrote a calibration program).

It takes a bit of getting used to, because the tip of the stylus is bigger than what we're used to with Palm devices, etc. (and it's squishy), but it actually works quite well. On a par with the Newton, I'd say (and whatever other criticisms people had of that product, the stylus wasn't one of the problems.)

You can make a capacitive stylus with aluminum foil wrapped around a pencil, if you want to try it. Use the eraser end. It's not quite soft enough to shape itself properly to the surface, but you can get the general idea.

I also use a stylus from time to time, one that has a smooth, soft rubber tip. Unfortunately dragging rubber across glass is not smooth and it can stick. Is the Pogo Sketch tip made of rubber too? (BTW it sells for $14.95 on the web site unless you know where to get them cheaper?)

[deltop]

http://blogs.adobe.com/digitaleditions/

Although just a blog entry it seems that the iPad won't be using Adobe's drm but Apple's own flavour. So no good for library books or ebooks bought from other stores. Unless we do see some 3rd party apps with that capability.

"Although Apple has standardized on the EPUB format, because it employs its own DRM to protect eBooks consumers will lose out on much of the benefit of an interoperable format simply because they won't be able to transfer content across devices. "

[DawnFalcon]

And it probably cant read ADEPT-protected ePub's at that... (or library books...)

[Yojinbo]

"It's in the way that you use it."

I am very interested but I would not jump on this first generation for anything (OK, I would take a freebie). The price point is great. I like my iphone.

I need to know a lot about how Apple certifies apps for it. Are we going to see more Google Voice foolishness?

PDF support sounds like it will be wonderful. Zooming on my DX is awkward and my DR1000 is really slow.

I need to know a lot about how DRM works. Standard Epub or some Apple variation? Public library books or not? (I sadly suspect not)

I don't need a camera (no one wants to look at me!).

Multitasking I need. I want to listen to Pandora while surfing the web or checking email. If this is going to replace my Fujitsu tablet, it has to perform.

10 hour battery life sounds great but I need to see real world data from actual users. I like many of you, am spoiled by an eink device that does not see a wall socket in a week or more of use. Plus some of my existing devices don't get the stated hours after a few months of use.

I want a lot of you to go buy this. I need at least some of you to go buy this and report back. But I am saving my powder for the 2nd or 3rd generation.

[pilotbob]

BTW: The iPad Keyboard dock is $69 not $399 as someone here joked.

From engadget:

including the admittedly intriguing keyboard dock ($69), case ($39), iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter ($29) and camera connection kit ($29).

BOb

[cmdahler]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I'm sure you are also well aware what I mean. I think I've made my point about what I am looking for. I'm not "most people"... and even still, the features may be adequate for me, I'm not really sure. I do know that pen based annotation and note taking is an important feature to me for a large format reading device... which as also something that this device doesn't' offer.

BOb

I'd be willing to bet that you won't have too long to wait for this sort of thing from Apple. Apple under Jobs has been a disciplined corporation with a lot of forward vision and long-term plans, not a company that just tosses a product out there and then moves on to the next thing. In other words, when they spend the time and money to develop something relatively new like this, it's only the beginning of a plan for years on out. I'd bet the iPad has been on the conceptual drawing board ever since the iPhone/iPod Touch was first developed. As such, assuming the iPad is a commercial success (which it's practically guaranteed to be), I expect that within a few years, the 13" MacBook will mostly be replaced by a larger version of the iPad, and likely that larger version will have a more robust OS that will fit your needs better. This product fills a niche (which actually comprises a vast swath of general consumers) who actually have no need or desire for a full-up computer. Clearly there is an equally large segment of the market that does want/need a full on computer, but would probably happily take it in the form of a tablet like this. Just give it a little more time.

Originally Posted by deltop

http://blogs.adobe.com/digitaleditions/

Although just a blog entry it seems that the iPad won't be using Adobe's drm but Apple's own flavour. So no good for library books or ebooks bought from other stores. Unless we do see some 3rd party apps with that capability.

"Although Apple has standardized on the EPUB format, because it employs its own DRM to protect eBooks consumers will lose out on much of the benefit of an interoperable format simply because they won't be able to transfer content across devices. "

Very disturbing news, if it winds up true. This means that Apple's use of DRM is not due to concern with protecting the rights of authors but only with locking you into its own platform. Where's that protest form?

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by deltop

Although just a blog entry it seems that the iPad won't be using Adobe's drm but Apple's own flavour. So no good for library books or ebooks bought from other stores. Unless we do see some 3rd party apps with that capability.

Adobe would certainly know if Apple was using Adobe DRM. There is a good reason why Apple is not using Adobe - licensing fees. They had to use ePub because publishers demand it, but publishers don't care about interoperability of DRM only that DRM be present. It is cheaper for Apple to use its own DRM rather than Adobe's DRM.

Don't forget that Apple bans 3rd party apps that compete with its own revenue streams. So it isn't clear that there will be any 3rd party ebook readers for the iPad that use DRM. This would exclude Stanza (eReader DRM), Kindle, eReader, B&N, and any Adobe DRM ebook reader (e.g. the one from txtr).

[scottjl]

protest all you want. do you think the publishing houses are going to even consider letting apple sell their books without DRM? you're barking up the wrong tree i suspect. i highly doubt the publishing houses said "apple, we'll let you sell all our books in an open freely exchangable format" and jobs came down with a heavy hand "no! we will sell them with DRM locking them into itunes and apple products forever! muahahahaha!"

don't get me wrong, i'd like to see an open world where i could freely transfer my purchases between any device at any time but companies need to make money to survive. selling a single copy of an open format book and having it pirated everywhere isn't going to last too long as a business model.

if nothing else i suspect apple's drm process will be far smoother than the trouble many people seem to have with adept.