Doctorow on the iPad

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

Apple's marketing team sure does a great job of convincing the world they invented the phone and tablet PC.

They do? They have "convinced" me of that. Since I'm in the world... I guess they're not doing such a good job.

BOb

[ardeegee]

Apple continuing to decide what their customer's delicate sensibilities can handle and what they can't.:

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/04/04....html#comments

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by stustaff

isnt that weird in fact more apps than for any other equivalent device or in fact all other devices added together.

Android has about 30,000 apps (not counting apps available outside the app store), Windows Mobile 40,000-50,000 (estimated, since the apps are not all available from a single store), Blackberry '10's of thousands', and Nokia '10's of thousands'.

And that's not taking into account that the iPhone is notorious for having app spam (which Apple indirectly encourages, obviously so they can roll out big numbers), whereas other platforms don't suffer from that as much. Does 100 identical farting apps really count as 100 apps?

No one has to buy an iPhone or program for the iPhone if people were unhappy enough then they would do neither and apple would start making more open devices.

The problem here is the amount of free press the iPhone (and its apps) gets.

Unfortunately the general public seems to think that the iPhone is the only phone available that has a touch screen and apps because the iPhone gets all the press. When people see my phone (Motorola Milestone) they are generally amazed that it has a much nicer screen than an iPhone and a physical keyboard, tonnes of apps, etc. People generally aren't aware that there are several phones on the market that are better than the iPhone in every way, which is understandable (but sad).

Apple will not make any open devices until Steve Jobs leaves. He is well known to be a 'control freak', and what many people don't understand about Jobs is that he is at heart a luddite. He has a 'style over substance' attitude. He wants customers to be wowed by a shiny exterior. Look at all the advertising for Apple products. They never focus on what the technology can do, only how the product looks and feels.

However the market and apples success seems to say that as far as the majority are concerned tehy couldnt care less about walled gardens.

Not necessarily. I think ignorance is more the key. I've come across lots of people who are surprised to hear that Apple can prevent an application from being sold on their phones without prior warning or providing any reason. People don't understand the implications of closed systems, but I think that will change as people become more tech savvy in general (ironically largely due to the success of the iPhone).

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

They do? They have "convinced" me of that. Since I'm in the world... I guess they're not doing such a good job.

BOb

Hyperbole (pronounced /haɪˈpɜrbəli/[1], from ancient Greek ὑπερβολή 'exaggeration') is a rhetorical device in which statements are exaggerated. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.

Have you seen any of the press around the launch of the iPad lately? People are genuinely under the impression that the iPad is either the first tablet computer or at least the first tablet computer built to be simplified with a capacitive touch screen and run apps. The fact that devices essentially identical to the iPad have been on sale and announced before the iPad was announced is not widely known.

The same goes for the iPhone (and, in its day the iPod). A lot of people in the general public think the iPhone was the first phone that could run apps and the first with a touchscreen. The iPhone was simply a good phone (though with many flaws) that was brilliantly marketed.

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Apple continuing to decide what their customer's delicate sensibilities can handle and what they can't.:

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/04/04....html#comments

Apple needs to be given some kind of irony award for that old '1984' TV ad they did.

They also at one point banned dictionaries from the app store due to rude words (though I believe they overturned the ban eventually).

[Bremen Cole]

"Apple's marketing team sure does a great job of convincing the world they invented the phone and tablet PC"

You must be high or something,. I can honestly say I have never met even one person that believed Apple invented the phone. ..... And the iPad is not a tablet PC..... surely you realize that.....it is not even a "tablet computer" and not even a computer , at least in the traditional sense. Yes, there have been bulky, slow and ugly windows "tablets" for years.... but nothing like the iPad.....

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

"Apple's marketing team sure does a great job of convincing the world they invented the phone and tablet PC"

You must be high or something,. I can honestly say I have never met even one person that believed Apple invented the phone. ..... And the iPad is not a tablet PC..... surely you realize that.....it is not even a "tablet computer" and not even a computer , at least in the traditional sense. Yes, there have been bulky, slow and ugly windows "tablets" for years.... but nothing like the iPad.....

Crikey, hyperbole doesn't go down well here, does it?

The fact is that the average person on the street tends to think that the iPhone is the only/first phone with a touch screen and apps. Whenever I show somebody my phone I am asked 'is it like an iPhone', etc. I ask people why the got or want an iPhone and the usual response is that it runs a particular app they like or that they like the touch screen. The fact that almost any app on the iPhone has an equivalent (or the same) app on Android/Windows/Blackberry and that most phones these days have a capacitive touchscreen genuinely surprises people because it's the iPhone that gets all the press and recognition. I read an interesting article the other day about iPhone apps. The fact discussed was that companies are rushing to get iPhone apps created for their services despite the fact that in this country, the iPhone only makes up about 5% of the smartphones, and creating apps for Windows or Symbian would service far more customers. iPhone just has a bigger 'mindshare', which is far out of touch with its actual penetration.

You say there is nothing like the iPad on the market? That's really proving my point. There are several tablet devices that were released and/or announced before the iPad. Many with capacitive touch screens, high resolution screens, etc. Those that run Android have a similar (though not quite as good) app ecosystem. Those that are full-fledged PCs run Windows and support a totally open, versatile, powerful platform. Some are larger than the iPad, some are smaller (such as the 6" internet tablets that have been available from several manufacturers for quite some time.

The Entourage Edge (not yet available as I understand, but announced before the iPad) has an e-ink screen as well as an LCD.

Apple's iPad is one of many, and it's no better than any of the dozens of alternatives out there (but the marketing and hype/snake oil salesmanship is far superior). In fact, the drawbacks of the iPad - closed system, no keyboard, middle-of-nowhere form factor (i.e. too big to be particularly portable, too low powered to be particularly useful compared to a netbook or laptop) cripple it.

The iPad is a device as powerful as a portable device with the portability of a cheap laptop or netbook. Worst of both worlds in my opinion (and that mostly is my opinion on most tablets, not just the iPad).

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

Apple's iPad is one of many, and it's no better than any of the dozens of alternatives out there (but the marketing and hype/snake oil salesmanship is far superior). In fact, the drawbacks of the iPad - closed system, no keyboard, middle-of-nowhere form factor (i.e. too big to be particularly portable, too low powered to be particularly useful compared to a netbook or laptop) cripple it.

The iPad is a device as powerful as a portable device with the portability of a cheap laptop or netbook. Worst of both worlds in my opinion (and that mostly is my opinion on most tablets, not just the iPad).

Unfortunately there arent any comparable devices yet! your completely wrong.

name me 2 other devices that are the same weight and size(within a reasonable tolerance) as the iPad, with a similiar battery life and access to as much software/functionality/games. with a capacative touch screen.

I bet you cant.

the iPod was a a very derivative product as was the iPhone whilst they both had unique for the time selling points AND good marketing neither were particularly unique.

I want an iPad because there is no other device of its size that allows me to consume media in the same way, they are either hamstrung with a physical keyboard I dont need for watching films or browsing teh web, or have too short a battery life(my dell mini) or have other problems that stop them being the device the iPad is, the archos PMP are closest but ata similiar price with poorer screens I cant choose one over an iPad.

[Gurvan]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

Gurvan - A /lot/ of effort is put into the precise lighting levels of ATC rooms and screens. (I've worked and am working on a board game owned by a company whose owner is an ATC controller in his day job, so I know a bit about this, heh)

That might be true for civilian and US ATC rooms... Most certainly not for the ones I work and worked in... Which are neither civilian nor US...

Originally Posted by djgreedo

And that's not taking into account that the iPhone is notorious for having app spam (which Apple indirectly encourages, obviously so they can roll out big numbers), whereas other platforms don't suffer from that as much. Does 100 identical farting apps really count as 100 apps

And, Of course, Androïd does not suffer from that same flaw ? Yeah, right...

Originally Posted by djgreedo

The Entourage Edge (not yet available as I understand, but announced before the iPad) has an e-ink screen as well as an LCD.

That is another point... A lot of Apple critics say that there is a better system available somewhere. Just give us examples that are on sale today (At least in the US, as in Europe, we are still waiting for the iPad...).

With Apple critics, the world will always be better someday... Just not today ! It took nearly three years for Androïd to start making a difference. 3 years... In computing that is like a century ! Just think that about 10 years ago (About 3 time longer than the iPhone has been out...), we were just seeing the first generation of the Palm OS...
Of course Androïd is probably better... It had 3 years to capitalize on the iPhone success and, frankly, they don't seem to be doing that great as some people are already saying that the momentum is slowing and that Androïd Phones don't live up the hype...
As for Windows mobiles... Don't get me started on those...

Apple Phone OS was radically different 3 years ago and that is what moved people... How is Androïd different ? It is more open ? "La belle Affaire" ! That does not mean anything to the people in the street who are still happy to find whatever they wants on his phone. And the fact that there are dozens of "fart App" on the Appstore says probably more on humanity at large than we care to realize !

Sure, it will make some "experts" sad... But frankly, they are not the ones who counts as far as the companies are concerned. Apple, Google, Microsoft and others don't make software for "experts"/Geeks or whatever else. They try to make software for the masses because this is where the money is. You may lament that fact, but the fact is that right now, the iPad is the ONLY slate/tablet/big iPod Touch/eReader poised to make a success. Bar none...

Originally Posted by djgreedo

The iPad is a device as powerful as a portable device with the portability of a cheap laptop or netbook. Worst of both worlds in my opinion (and that mostly is my opinion on most tablets, not just the iPad).

And do you realize that this is exactly what some people (And Apple is banking on that "some" as being "most"...) need/want ? They are not marketing an "Oeuvre d'Art", but a mass-market appliance. And the choices they made are the one they expect will work... I bet they are right. In fact, FOR ME, they are...

[Jaime_Astorga]

I applaud Doctorow for this article. I've recently been reading his other essays and I can see how his ideas of censorship and gatekeepers resurface again in this fashion.

[Logseman]

I've read this already. Prior to Cory Doctorow, exactly these points have been made, and thoroughly examined, in "Intellectual Property: A Libertarian Critique" by Kevin Carson. The fact that Doctorow doesn't mention Carson seems strange, given that he does quote Doctorow multiple times in that paper.

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by stustaff

Unfortunately there arent any comparable devices yet! your completely wrong.

name me 2 other devices that are the same weight and size(within a reasonable tolerance) as the iPad, with a similiar battery life and access to as much software/functionality/games. with a capacative touch screen.

I bet you cant.

1.
MSI announced a device witha 10-inch capacitive screen (running Android) in the same week Apple announced the iPad. It has a Tegra 2 chip inside, which is probably quite a bit more powerful than the iPad's chip.

2.
The Notion Ink Adam (announced last year but not available until later this year) has a 10-inch Pixel QI screen, capacitive touch, works in direct sunlight (with colour) and runs Android, Linux, and Chromium.

Both the above tablets will be out very soon and both blow the iPad out of the water with specs (and prices are expected to be very similar to the iPad's price on both). I'm unsure of the MSI tablet, but the Adam weighs 0.2 pounds more than the iPad and has a reported 60% more battery life than the iPad.

Specs for the Adam: http://gizmodo.com/5471559/notion-in...pecs-finalized

And there is a Lenovo laptop that has a detachable screen that beomes a capacitive touchscreen tablet similar to an iPad. Dell make a tablet PC with a capacitive screen that is not much larger/heavier than an iPad yet functions as a full PC (i.e. vastly more powerful and functional than an iPad).

The iPad has more software available, but you'd be hard pressed to find anything available on the iPad that doesn't have an equivalent on Android. Android tablets are, of course, more capable in that there is no censorship of software (e.g. you can replace the default apps, run widgets, use USB peripherals, etc.). Multitasking is available on Android as well, which is more important on a tablet than on a phone.

And there are, of course a whole bunch of available and announed tablets of various sizes and specs, most of which address the various shortcomings of the iPad (e.g. its size being too big to carry around and not powerful enough to replace a netbook or laptop or tablet PC, Orwellian app censorship, inability to multitask, etc.)

[Gurvan]

In both cases, the operative word is announced...

I am sure that if I wait 10 more years, there will be something better...

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by Gurvan

And, Of course, Androïd does not suffer from that same flaw ? Yeah, right...

Android does suffer from 'app spam', but not nearly as much as the iPhone. Typically there are a hanful of Android apps for any given thing. On the iPhone there tends to be dozens of similar or identical apps for any given thing. That's not a bad thing, but it illustrates that using the total number of apps as a comparison is a bit misleading.

That is another point... A lot of Apple critics say that there is a better system available somewhere. Just give us examples that are on sale today (At least in the US, as in Europe, we are still waiting for the iPad...).

There are tablets available today that are vastly superior to the iPad, such as the Dell XT2 tablet PC. Some people find the slimmer build of the iPad to be a benefit (though it doesn't make the device any more portable, so I don't really understand that). There are smaller tablets similar to the iPad that have the benefit of being as powerful as the iPad but able to be carried around more easily. The iPad form factor is a major criticism of it. It's not small enough to lug around wherever you go, but it's not powerful enough to replace a laptop or netbook in the home. There are lots of devices that don't have that problem.

And of course when it comes to 'openness' of the platform, pretty much anything you can buy beats anything that Apple makes.

Of course Androïd is probably better... It had 3 years to capitalize on the iPhone success and, frankly, they don't seem to be doing that great as some people are already saying that the momentum is slowing and that Androïd Phones don't live up the hype...

Android devices are selling as well as the iPhone now. Android is projected to overtake the iPhone in terms of actual marketshare within the next 12 to 24 months.

The iPhone got its start from geeks buying it and showing it to people. Geeks have since flocked to Android due to its superiority in choice, openness, etc.

As for Windows mobiles... Don't get me started on those...

Windows phones are great. The HTC HD2 is one of the best phones available now. Windows Mobile 7 is a great phone OS and makes the iPhone and Android both look seriously dated.

Apple Phone OS was radically different 3 years ago and that is what moved people... How is Androïd different ? It is more open ? "La belle Affaire" ! That does not mean anything to the people in the street who are still happy to find whatever they wants on his phone. And the fact that there are dozens of "fart App" on the Appstore says probably more on humanity at large than we care to realize !

You're not wrong. But what makes Android different is that it allows for choice. Want a phone with a physical keyboard? Want a phone with a small or large form factor? Want a cheap phone? A phone with a high resolution screen? Want to pay more for the absolute best? With Android and Windows you have those choices, and people will exercise them.

Part of Apple's way of doing business is the 'one size fits all' philosophy. But people like their phones to suit their own needs.

Sure, it will make some "experts" sad... But frankly, they are not the ones who counts as far as the companies are concerned. Apple, Google, Microsoft and others don't make software for "experts"/Geeks or whatever else. They try to make software for the masses because this is where the money is. You may lament that fact, but the fact is that right now, the iPad is the ONLY slate/tablet/big iPod Touch/eReader poised to make a success. Bar none...

You're right that tech is now being made for the mainstream. It's a shame that the iPad gets all the press when it is clearly not the best product, simply the product that is marketed most successfully.

And do you realize that this is exactly what some people (And Apple is banking on that "some" as being "most"...) need/want ? They are not marketing an "Oeuvre d'Art", but a mass-market appliance. And the choices they made are the one they expect will work... I bet they are right. In fact, FOR ME, they are...

Well they have succeeded in making a product that doesn't really have any use.

I have read a whole bunch of discussions on the iPad and the common thread is that the people defending the product can never actually give examples of what they are going to use it for, and when the (occasionally) do, they are things that are better suited to a different form factor.

But fortunately for Apple there are people willing to buy their product first and only then work out something it can actually do for them. I prefer to work the other way around buy buying tech that solves problems I have.

[djgreedo]

Originally Posted by Gurvan

In both cases, the operative word is announced...

I am sure that if I wait 10 more years, there will be something better...

Announed to be released in a couple of months. Of course if they wanted to release something with very little flexibility and power they could have had a product identical to the iPad on the shelves already.

The iPad is arguably an iPod Touch with a larger screen and slightly more power. The devices I mentioned have new technology, such as the Pixel QI screen on the Adam.

Of course you ignored the examples of tablets already available that don't have the iPad drawbacks.