Apple Event - Live Blogging/Streaming Coverage

[dioib]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Why do they insist on not having downloadable movie. I don't have Quicktime installed on my PC...

BOb

me neither, you can watch it here

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by dioib

me neither, you can watch it here

here where?

BOb

[phenomshel]

LOL Moejoe, I'm having more fun reading your comments than anything else in this thread.
Watching you go from "Meh to must have" has been pretty cool! It still isn't a must have for me. But it's a lot more than "meh"....

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

The pool on when MoeJoe will pre-order an iPad is now open.

Put me down for... before the end of the day!

BOb

Well I promised myself a netbook and a color e-reader if they came out this year, so I have the money saved. Now, we just have to see the UK price for this thing. If it's any more than £500 I'm out, but they price it below and I'm in, I think. Damn, I'd really like to take Angelina Jolie to bed with me.. and now with Apple, I finally can!

[Greg Anos]

Makes me think of a souped-up CyBook Gen 1....

[Duiker]

Originally Posted by Hellmark

Rotate it, it senses the tilt, and will automatically become widescreen, just like the iPhone does.



Says who? No price information has been released so far. Only a little bit of info has been gleaned from the screenshots, which show that they look to be on par with Amazon's pricing.

They have release pricing. Books will be $9.99-$14.99. I wish I knew why they think they can get away with higher prices then anyone else especially since they are using the epub format.

[ColdSun]

I have been waiting for this day a long time, for many reasons. First and foremost, it brings to the forefront the enormous potential of multifunction devices. Second, it shows how over-priced e-ink devices have been all along! Third, because of this device, we can count on more devices like this to be released and at even better prices, and in various sizes by major companies instead of only having Chinese tablets to choose from.

I'm getting one simply because I collect all kinds of portable devices, but from the look of it, the device will offer a selection of ebooks unseen on any device. It has its own store for iBooks, but it can also run the Kindle for iPhone application so you can buy your books through it if you can't find them on iBook. For couch web-surfing, which is all my wife does really with her netbook, this thing will be awesome. I'm guessing she will want one.

I guess it just proves to me that single-function devices really need to be properly priced. E-ink is an awesome technology for reading (if you don't read in the dark much), and the battery life is amazing, but I use my portable devices for all kinds of things and this is finally a step in the right direction. The price is perfect for the size and capability. Apple hit a home run in my opinion.

[EowynCarter]

I guess it just proves to me that single-function devices really need to be properly priced. E-ink is an awesome technology for reading (if you don't read in the dark much), and the battery life is amazing, but I use my portable devices for all kinds of things and this is finally a step in the right direction. The price is perfect for the size and capability. Apple hit a home run in my opinion.

Personally, I will not read for extended period on anything but e-paper.

[Krystian Galaj]

It's a great netbook, possibly does enough to replace laptop for some people, but I don't feel it competes with eInk readers. I bought my Cybook to be able to read without eye strain, and it works. Why would I read on screen that would give me headache in an hour?

Anyway, some thoughts:

1) Tech specs say: processor - 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip. I read somewehre that Apple bought a company making such processors a year ago. That might be quite hard to hack...

2) Since Apple controls all apps on App Store, it can make sure that only books bought at iBooks will work on the device, with an iDRM It can still be ePub, just not compatible with anything else. It can also make sure that all ePub reader apps are unavailable for iPad.

EDIT:
3) Tech specs also say clearly: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music So if the screen doesn't eat up all the power, it might be possible to get more of reading books.
and if it's possible to turn the backlight off and still be able to read, it might be easier on the eyes...

[ColdSun]

Originally Posted by EowynCarter

Personally, I will not read for extended period on anything but e-paper.

I've been doing it for years (since around 2000), starting with my RCA eBook reader and my eyes are fine. To each his own though. Heck, I've been using computers since like 1982 and I still have 20/20. I'm not sure I buy into that whole eye strain thing, but its a great sales point. I do however buy into the great battery life and screen quality with e-ink devices, but for me personally, I need a backlit device and I want my device to do more.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by ColdSun

I have been waiting for this day a long time, for many reasons. First and foremost, it brings to the forefront the enormous potential of multifunction devices. Second, it shows how over-priced e-ink devices have been all along!

I disagree. When look at the Kindle2 price with 6inch eInk, 3G radio, free wireless access to the book store and Wikipedia and the basic web browser for $250 then compare it to the iPad which is $629 for the basic model with the 3G radio and you have to pay [at least] $15/mo for a data plan which adds $180 a year to the price. I don't see it as over priced.

I don't see the iPad competing with a dedicated reader at all. Will there be people that read ebooks on their iPad... sure. Is it the reason that 95% of people that buy one will have bought it, hell no.

BOb

[dioib]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

here where?

BOb

Sorry Bob, I fixed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g92Yg79Of1s

[kjk]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I disagree. When look at the Kindle2 price with 6inch eInk, 3G radio, free wireless access to the book store and Wikipedia and the basic web browser for $250 then compare it to the iPad which is $629 for the basic model with the 3G radio and you have to pay [at least] $15/mo for a data plan which adds $180 a year to the price. I don't see it as over priced.

I don't see the iPad competing with a dedicated reader at all. Will there be people that read ebooks on their iPad... sure. Is it the reason that 95% of people that buy one will have bought it, hell no.

BOb

I agree, but I think this is going to put price pressure on Amazon's DX..which is $489.

[ColdSun]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I disagree. When look at the Kindle2 price with 6inch eInk, 3G radio, free wireless access to the book store and Wikipedia and the basic web browser for $250 then compare it to the iPad which is $629 for the basic model with the 3G radio and you have to pay [at least] $15/mo for a data plan which adds $180 a year to the price. I don't see it as over priced.

I don't see the iPad competing with a dedicated reader at all. Will there be people that read ebooks on their iPad... sure. Is it the reason that 95% of people that buy one will have bought it, hell no.

BOb

What was the price of the Kindle when it was first released? Have they not lowered the price a few times since then? I would think they knew this day was coming. I'm not saying $250 isn't worth it (for Kindle 2), but if you compare it to the DX it sure is. Its a matter of perspective I guess. No matter where you sit on the preferred reader debate, I predict this will be the big xmas present this year for many people.

[freecia]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I was considering getting a Netbook at one time. but, I would prefer this.
BOb

Really? Can I ask the people who'll be using this rather than a netbook - what would YOU use a netbook for?

The things I want a netbook for is to emulate a subset of my laptop, but more compact for travel.

• check work email via Exchange and REPLY QUICKLY - iPod touch reads, but I'm slow to write | netbook should be better for this
• surf the net - both do it ok. iPad should be fine for this, too
• watch video - Touch and iPad both do this, but the Touch is small and not a lot of free tv shows via iTunes | netbook could stream hulu and netflix which I already pay for
• log in to work via VPN and use remote desktop - netbook only at this point (after all, work pays me so I can buy nice gadgets. I like to be prepared for the times when responding promptly to an urgent action can show you're not only necessary, you're awesome.)
• cache photos to clean off my SD cards - netbook with an SD card reader
• read ebooks? - I usually use my kindle. I don't love to scroll on the touch and dislike the page advancement swish needed on the sony touch reader. Don't expect to use this too much on a netbook either.
• execute stock trades - netbook only it seems (for those I'm traveling with that want this feature)

I do like to use the touch to quickly check email and calendar, but that's mostly due to the handy size and startup times than anything else. I'm unsure that the iPad would be as handy to keep with me, while jaunting around and in different rooms at home. The iPad looks like a two handed device due to the size and touch screen.

BTW, I'd agree that the iPad will prob. be much quicker to read e-mail on or spot check something than a netbook from the powered off state.

Suffice to say I'm a sucker for Apple styling, without getting into what I actually own. Just wondering how this product can fit into the lives of other people who use similar devices to me (ebook reader very helpful to daily amusement, bookstores get lots of my money)