Apple Event - Live Blogging/Streaming Coverage

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

Apple controls which apps can run on its devices, and they traditionally don't allow competition with their own revenue streams. So if they act as they have in the past, all ebook apps will likely be banned from their app store.

I think it would be a mistake for apple to disallow the Kindle app on the iPad.

But, Apple does like its cake.

BOb

[dioib]

Originally Posted by kacir

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.

I think something in the vicinity of what Windows XP offers to users should be a reasonable norm to expect from a tablet. I think they stuck with iPhone OS rather than Mac to save some battery time for users on the go (apart from keeping their app store alive/booming) but that's a biased/imposed statement of what an OS on a tablet should look like.

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think it would be a mistake for apple to disallow the Kindle app on the iPad.

But, Apple does like its cake.

BOb

I don't think Apple will do this for a few reasons:

• I haven't read of Apple disallowing apps that compete with theirs if Apple introduces its app after the fact.
• Apple would alienate users who have already purchased Kindle or B&N books
• Disallowing established apps by major corporations like Amazon could draw addition focus by the FCC

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by akira28

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?)

I think I got mine at Amazon (oh, the irony!) but in any case, the tip is made of some kind of foam, and it slides easily across the screen. I read a lot of user reviews before I bought this, and I specifically avoided the ones that users said couldn't be used to write or draw. The Pogo Sketch is designed precisely for those two activities, which is how I use it.

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. "

Ok, that's a problem. I'm not getting into another DRM scheme-- at least, not until it's been cracked.

Originally Posted by cmdahler

Although it took a while, they did eventually get rid of DRM on audio purchases. So it's not inconceivable that DRM might go away for books as well. In any case, DRM is generally pretty easy to get around. It won't be very long (I predict about a week or two) before the iPad is jailbroken, and it may take a month or so before Apple's DRM is cracked. So if it's important to you to be able to de-DRM your book purchases, you'll likely be able to in short order.

Yes, we can usually rely on the hacker community when it comes to super-popular Apple products.

Originally Posted by dioib

I think something in the vicinity of what Windows XP offers to users should be a reasonable norm to expect from a tablet. I think they stuck with iPhone OS rather than Mac to save some battery time for users on the go (apart from keeping their app store alive/booming) but that's a biased/imposed statement of what an OS on a tablet should look like.

I think this isn't a tablet in that sense. It's a new category, a large iPod Touch, or, as someone else suggested, an "internet appliance." I don't know if I want one, but I see the appeal. A lot of people don't mind the rigid control as long as the unit keeps working-- and it's more likely to keep working if it's tightly controlled. Game consoles (e.g. Nintendo) operate on the same premise, and people buy those.

If I had one of these, I'd probably immediately want to jailbreak it, though. I haven't bothered with my iPod Touch, because I don't expect to be able to do all sorts of things with it, but then again, that was a gift, so I'm happy with the incremental value it offers. If I shell out hundreds of dollars for a piece of electronics, I want to be able to customize it as I choose.

[CyGuy]

To me personally, the very best thing about the iPad is the fact that it will cause other manufactures to create/copy/clone similar devices that will be far more user friendly. Can't wait for a device with a similar form factor as the iPad but with Win7, SDHC card reader, mini USB, etc.

[DawnFalcon]

I doubt you'll see many with a "similar" form factor. Both ASUS and MSI's prototypes are 16:9

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by CyGuy

To me personally, the very best thing about the iPad is the fact that it will cause other manufactures to create/copy/clone similar devices that will be far more user friendly. Can't wait for a device with a similar form factor as the iPad but with Win7, SDHC card reader, mini USB, etc.

I'll take mine with Ubuntu, thanks.

Or Android....

[scottjl]

@tallmomof2 err. skype runs just fine on my iphone. don't know where you're saying no skype.

@dawnfalcon as for adept being a "plus point" i honestly thing the general public could care less what version of DRM is used. you only want adept because you already have adept protected books. apple is using their own DRM for books they sell form their bookstore. no one says the ipad doesn't have, or won't get, an ebook reader application that will work with adept protected books. this device isn't a fixed-in-stone tablet. all it takes is another application.

also, i'd like to point out to everyone. this ipad runs already existing iphone/touch applications, including kindle for the iphone. i don't think apple's going to restrict the ipad and prevent that application from loading and running, can you imagine the negative press on that one? we'll just have to wait until people have them in their hands to see for sure, but saying it won't run kindle books or adept books or stanza is a little premature since no one here has one in their hands.

[charleski]

Originally Posted by scottjl

ok. let's see. Apple can license Adobe's DRM, sharing some of their profits with Adobe and be forever in their control.

or

Apple can use their already existing DRM, keep their profits and keep their own control.

kind of a no-brainer isn't it? i doubt the book publishers care who's DRM is used as long as some form of DRM is used. so why would Apple go with ADEPT?

Apple could have worked with Adobe to cross-licence the technology and integrate FairPlay's book DRM just as B&N did with their variant. This would have allowed the iPad to work with books using current schemes at the very least, while using FP for new books bought from Apple's store. It wouldn't have given Adobe control over Apple's store, and it would have benefited the consumer.

But no, Apple wants it all. To quote Apple COO Tim Cook, "We believe that we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products we make." Their megalomanic obsession with vertical integration will merely harm the market they claim to be promoting.

[Barcey]

Kobo has a press release that they've already been working on an updated app for the iPad so they certainly believe Apple will allow it. I don't know why Amazon would be different.

http://blog.kobobooks.com/2010/01/27...kobo-is-ready/

[DawnFalcon]

Originally Posted by scottjl

also, i'd like to point out to everyone. this ipad runs already existing iphone/touch applications, including kindle for the iphone.

We do not know this. It's competing with core functionality, and previous Apple policy is to disallow that!

And darn straight people care when they can't read ePub's from elsewhere on the iPad, or can't read books from the iPad on other devices. They hit once, then in many cases they go straight to the darknets forever after. Wonderful you think that's a good idea, but I think it's a terrible one!

Barcey - I bet Google thought their apps would make it to the iPhone too.

[scottjl]

actually we do know it is technically capable of running existing iphone apps. so there is no reason the kindle app won't run from a technical standpoint. they were running existing iphone apps in the demo yesterday.

now, apple may set up a new policy and prohibit the kindle app from running for corporate reasons. that's an entirely different ball of wax. it would be a huge black eye to apple because you can bet amazon would be spitting out quite a few press releases "apple prohibited our existing application because it competes with their store". the media would be all over this, and the FTC might decide to take a look too.

apple has the lockdown on the music and video stores on the iphone/ipod because they set it up first. but there were ebook stores and reader applications on the iphone from 3rd parties before apple set theirs up. apple isn't going to have much choice in allowing others to run their ebook readers. so they give up one market segment to competition and maintain control over music and video.

with apple's new SDK policy of allowing VOIP apps, there isn't really any reason for apple to keep out google voice any longer either as they all will duplicate core functionality.

[DawnFalcon]

From a technological standpoint, right. But Apple do a lot of filtering of apps for "acceptability".

And you make a bunch of points, but...if you're right, why did they go to the expense of making their own deliberately incompatible DRM scheme? They have plenty of scope for stopping other readers, by simply rejecting them from the appstore. Again, they did it to Google without blinking.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by akira28

I don't think Apple will do this for a few reasons:

• I haven't read of Apple disallowing apps that compete with theirs if Apple introduces its app after the fact.
• Apple would alienate users who have already purchased Kindle or B&N books
• Disallowing established apps by major corporations like Amazon could draw addition focus by the FCC

Agreed. Having the Kindle app will be a draw. I'd be more likely to buy a tablet device that I can read my Kindle books on and that I can access Kindle books from since the Amazon store tends to have the best selection and prices for the stuff I read.

It's not a deal breaker as I don't have any books on my Kindle that I have any interest in re-reading, and will keep it around for novels anyway.

A future tablet would be for academic reading, marking up documents and the multimedia features. But a Kindle app would be a nice bonus I'd use occasionally. Like I'll occasionally use the Kindle for PC app to read some at my girlfriends or in the office.

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by Barcey

Kobo has a press release that they've already been working on an updated app for the iPad so they certainly believe Apple will allow it. I don't know why Amazon would be different.

http://blog.kobobooks.com/2010/01/27...kobo-is-ready/

That's extremely good news. (Not because I like the Kobo app, because actually, I don't, but because it means other ebook apps, like Stanza, will probably also run.)