Saturday, January 30, 2010

When Apple Runs Out of Ideas

As I'm sure you've heard, Apple's new iPad was announced a few days ago.  The concept appears to take an iPhone, make the screen huge, raise the price a bit, and take away the phone capabilities (as the video below describes it, a bigger iPod touch).

Or, the concept might be to make an underpowered laptop without a physical keyboard, and make it in tablet form.  As a side note, Apple is just asking to be made fun of with the "iPad." Maybe an "iTablet" would be a little safer?


"I was just going to make a tampon joke, but I figured, too easy"

I could go on and describe all the "features," so I think I will.

Internet:  The iPad will apparently use a 3G network like what the iPhone uses.  That means you will have to pay a monthly data charge to use it.  With an already expensive $500 price point, this slice of technology is not for dumpster divers.

Anyways, the interface is a big 'ole touch screen, which means you click with your finger, scroll with a flick, and zoom in with a pinch.  Same old, same old. As expected, the iPad also has an email feature, nothing really special.

Guess what?! It can display photos also!!!  Surprise! (not).  And it can watch Youtube videos...and other videos...

Hmmm as I go down the list I'm finding this very similar to an iPod touch.  But I guess a bigger screen is better, and it is full HD.  Watching Harry Potter in HD while taking a trip would be fun, not gonna lie. Oh wait, I forgot to mention, the iPad also plays music.  Thats right, you can just plug in your headphones, slip the iPad in your pocket, and rock out.  This is assuming you have pocket extensions.

As most Apple things these days, the iPad has access to the App store.  You can download bunches of Apps...just like on an iPod Touch or iPhone.  Other similar features include contacts, calendars, maps, home screen, etc.

One possibility that first came to mind was the capabilities as a Kindle type book reader replacement.  You can download books onto the iPad, and read them.  As The Panoptiblog mentioned, you could eventually download your textbook onto the iPad, and leave the books at home.  In my mind, this is what the future is: all our learning supplies in one place.  No more locker trips (sad...) and more technical problems.

The idea of clicking on an iPad to read your text book is revolutionary.  Each individual person could highlight in their book.  Everyone could take notes right on the iPad (with it's digital keyboard) and drop a couple of notebooks as well.  During lectures, you could simply type what he is saying, and have electronic copies of your notes. In the future I imagine a Nintendo DS type stylus that will come with the iPad, so you can write.  If someone likes to handwrite their notes, they still can.

The only downside to this is: no more bonfire material after each term :(

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I offered to give him speech lessons. He didn't respond.
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A hot dog is God's Toe.
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Best pickup line ever:

"I accidentally ordered an extra entree, can you come and eat if for me?"
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Statistically, I will live forever. I have been living for over 5,000 days. During each of those days, I have lived the whole time. Probability says I am immortal.

(Probability also said Michigan would beat Appalachian State)
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You know we're doomed if we idol a guy named "Young Jeezy." Funniest name ever.
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"You know what they say about assuming?"
"What?"
"Sometimes you're right... sometimes you're wrong"
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Dumb: "Quit being such a smart ass!"

Smart: "I'd rather be a smart ass than a dumb ass."

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-"Well, the short answer is no. But the long answer would be yes, it has one more letter."
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-Can you walk the streets without getting shot
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