iPad Anyone else NOT like reading on their iPad?

[John F]

Originally Posted by stustaff

Isn't the internet the best example that multimedia has taken off?

Facebook- text photo video music live chat
YouTube
Books online
Movies
Music
Live cams showing theatre

Etc
Etc

How anyone can deny multimedia is now BIGGER than ever is unbelievable to me.

I assume you're refering to me.

I'm trying to limit the scope of the argument to the desirability of things like the Alice iPad app. Out of the things you listed, I don't really consider any of them "multimedia" (maybe in a strict definition, but not in a "the future of multimedia" definition). Just because you can click on something and get some video and audio, doesn't make it multimedia, IMO.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by John F

Thank you for the nice history on multimedia. I think that is the jist of my argument (or what I've been trying to get across), i.e. multimedia applications like the Alice iPad app have been possible for quite a while, and I don't think that just because we have some nice mobile devices that are a little bit bigger, and a little more transportable, that "multimedia apps" (like the Alice iPad app), will be all that big, IMO. There will probably be a window while they are the "must have/demo app" for the iPad's capabilities, but in the long term I think they'll be a niche market.

We simply disagree then, time will tell......

[kjk]

Originally Posted by John F

Just because you can click on something and get some video and audio, doesn't make it multimedia, IMO.

Well, if you get some video, audio, pictures, and text...isn't that multimedia? Multimedia doesn't assume its going to be good, just...more than one media

[John F]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

We simply disagree then, time will tell......

yeah, and I don't disagree that strongly, really.

As an aside, I love the functionality that kjk posted, with the dictionary support, it almost makes me want to use iBooks as my main reading app. But it always seems like it's two steps forward, one back; Why can't they also have something to pronounce the word - the functionality that was available ages ago, back in the darks ages of CD-Rom multimedia that Bremen spoke about.

[scottjl]

Originally Posted by leebase

Ah...ok, makes sense to me. I agree with you that all reading devices do not need to be multi-media devices. I think that dedicated readers will continue to have a viable nice even if slates like the iPad over take them as "the" most used eReading devices (which I think they will).

eInk is it's own killer feature. And they will always be cheaper.

Lee

the ipad is not an ereader. the sony 600 is an ereader. don't confuse the two devices. and that's not meant to be a slam against either device. comparing them is never really going to work. the ipad is capable of so much more.

eink is a display technology. just like LCD is. and it isn't any more or less "killer" than a crayon drawing on a piece of paper. both have their advantages and disadvantages.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by John F

yeah, and I don't disagree that strongly, really.

As an aside, I love the functionality that kjk posted, with the dictionary support, it almost makes me want to use iBooks as my main reading app. But it always seems like it's two steps forward, one back; Why can't they also have something to pronounce the word - the functionality that was available ages ago, back in the darks ages of CD-Rom multimedia that Bremen spoke about.

Yeah, that would be pretty sweet-it would make language study books pretty awesome as well.

I think iBooks feels very unfinished at this point...not just the store, but the whole app approach as well. I'm curious as to how polished the next version (next week) will be-and how they intend to keep improving it. If it's just another app to Apple to sell iPads, then it will probably get cursory updates. But if Apple is serious about grabbing that market-I think we'll see some pretty great stuff in the future.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by scottjl

the ipad is not an ereader

I think that's rather I'll considered. If you read ebooks on a device, then it's an ereader.

Lee

[scottjl]

i guess it's a matter of semantics then. i could take notes on my sony 600, that didn't make it a notebook. i could listen to mp3's too but i'd hardly call it an ipod. the primary purpose of my 600 was to read on, i called that an ereader. the primary purpose of my ipad is to consume media on, why i think it's more of a media pad/tablet.

tomato.. tomato..

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by djgreedo

What you want is irrelevant. .....

Of course it is, along with everyone else.

Originally Posted by djgreedo

There will still be traditional words-only books, but I think a new medium will evolve out of the new technologies, .....

It already did, it's called radio, movies, the internet. Books are still there.

Originally Posted by djgreedo

I would be surprised if we don't see several 'choose your own adventure' type books on the iPad in the next 12 months .....

Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt.

The cost/benefit/sale ratio is too low for "publishers" to invest in.
There may be some done for the art, but as far as mainstream, don't hold your breath.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

.....
The new surge in "multimedia" is being fueled by the iPad, ..........

Please.......this is one of the sillier things I've heard yet. The iPad is singlehandedly rebirthing the internet....

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by stustaff

Isn't the internet the best example that multimedia has taken off?
....

Yes it has, but that is really irrelevant particularly to a device that doesn't even include the standard multimedia display technology - Flash.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by leebase

Ah...ok, makes sense to me. I agree with you that all reading devices do not need to be multi-media devices. I think that dedicated readers will continue to have a viable nice even if slates like the iPad over take them as "the" most used eReading devices (which I think they will).

eInk is it's own killer feature. And they will always be cheaper.

Lee

Thanks, I agree.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Please.......this is one of the sillier things I've heard yet. The iPad is singlehandedly rebirthing the internet....

Perhaps you should read what I said in context of the posts I was responding to.... Just an idea for you think about, before you call someones ideas silly, change the words to what I said, and then laugh.....

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

Perhaps you should read what I said in context of the posts I was responding to.... Just an idea for you think about, before you call someones ideas silly, change the words to what I said, and then laugh.....

I did and it is still a silly statement. The internet is evolving and had been moving in more "portable" directions for several years now. It silly to claim that the iPad is revolutionize the internet. Yes it is time for portable wireless tablets and yes the iPad does answer that need but that's all, it is part of the more mobile change that has been underway with smartphones for years now and in the last year or so with netbooks. It's part of the next logical step. That's all.

[Bremen Cole]

What in the world are you responding too? Where did I say the iPad is revolutionizing the Internet? What is your problem?