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IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

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Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is something I also don't understand. Many people were opposed to introducing DRM, TC etc into Windows and PCs by Microsoft, Intel & co. But when Apple comes and takes the trusted computing much further than the original TC alliance dared to go (they didn't even think about not allowing running unsigned executables or being the only entity with root certificate), it makes eveything allright? Makes me wonder what…

On the contrary: I've heard nothing but criticism from "techies" about Apple's trusted computing model, but it doesn't matter: the majority of the people that pay for Apple products don't care because it Just Works(tm) for them.

Exactly. Provide a "rootable" platform that works as well and is as delightful for average customers as iPhone OS is and then you've got my interest. But until somebody shows that, this theoretical world of 'total device freedom' with users still having a worry-free experience sounds to me just like more of the same "Linux on the desktop is going to happen when the next release of Gnome comes out!" that I've been hearing for over a decade now.

Users are asking for easy to use, fun devices. Not root.

It's astonishing how many people working in the software industry look at something their customers are clamoring for, say to themselves "I don't want that!" and, because of that, ignore it.

I used to think that this industry was worse off for being largely run by business/marketing people instead of techies, but the older I get, the less strongly I think that.

The point of business is to make things for your customers.

When you make things for yourself, that's a hobby.

Yes, obviously, when you're your own customer and thus your work is also your hobby, that's a wonderful thing: for you and for your work.

So here's a hint for techies: quit taking so much pride in how superior your taste is and how much smarter you are than your customers. That just means it's harder for you to "get into their head" and build what they want in a way they'll want it.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#32
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

kind of like a cintiq, only without pressure sensitivity

When the iPad was first announced it seemed like it could be a great digital sketchbook... until I found out it lacked pressure sensitivity. I know a lot of people have shown off the drawing abilities of the iPhone/iPod Touch but as long as it lacks this Apple is pretty much snubbing artists.

Do the touch APIs let you look at the actual dimension of a finger press, or is it just an x/y coordinate? I mean, does the information come across as a circle or as total surface area lit up by the touch or anything? I don't know the tech behind the Apple touch stuff at all.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#33
post #2

Most people that have handled an iPad dismiss that it's just a larger iPod Touch - the old axiom a picture is worth a thousand words certainly applies here. For education / gaming / medicine / industrial / etc etc the apps we see for this format are going to be incredible.

A friend of mine at JHU is working on iPad integration in health system informatics. It's a great device and all, but the first thing doctors ask:

Can this thing be autoclaved?

I don't think Steve Jobs is thinking about that one. Android might be better off.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is something I also don't understand. Many people were opposed to introducing DRM, TC etc into Windows and PCs by Microsoft, Intel & co. But when Apple comes and takes the trusted computing much further than the original TC alliance dared to go (they didn't even think about not allowing running unsigned executables or being the only entity with root certificate), it makes eveything allright? Makes me wonder what…

On the contrary: I've heard nothing but criticism from "techies" about Apple's trusted computing model, but it doesn't matter: the majority of the people that pay for Apple products don't care because it Just Works(tm) for them.

I don't get this idea of "just works". My blackberry died last week, and I decided to try out an iPhone as a replacement.

Just works? As in I can get my email to sync more often than 4 times an hour without jailbreaking it?

Just works? As in I can install the grooveshark iPhone app without jailbreaking it?

Just works? As in I can listen to pandora and browse the internet without jailbreaking it?

Just works? As in I can stop the screen from rotation while I'm trying to use the thing in bed without jailbreaking it?

Just works? As in I can use my google voice app without having to resort to the workaround the google coded up?

Just works? As in I can use any song or sound stored on the filesystem as a ringtone, alarm, or alert?

The iPhone might "just work" if you're looking for something that is slightly worse than a netbook for updating your twitter status, but as far as seeing the iPad be anything more than paying $600 for the privilege of then paying to run apps from the iTunes store, well, I don't see it.

Maybe this will change when I get my hands around an iPad, but I very highly doubt it.

Although perhaps I'm just a tad bitter about how absolutely dreadfully horrible the iPhone is at just about everything I've tried to do on it. (Okay, that's a lie, my niece really enjoyed playing with the guitar chord app I downloaded)

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#35
post #32
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the iPad was first announced it seemed like it could be a great digital sketchbook... until I found out it lacked pressure sensitivity. I know a lot of people have shown off the drawing abilities of the iPhone/iPod Touch but as long as it lacks this Apple is pretty much snubbing artists.

Do the touch APIs let you look at the actual dimension of a finger press, or is it just an x/y coordinate? I mean, does the information come across as a circle or as total surface area lit up by the touch or anything? I don't know the tech behind the Apple touch stuff at all.

Just coordinates.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#36
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the contrary: I've heard nothing but criticism from "techies" about Apple's trusted computing model, but it doesn't matter: the majority of the people that pay for Apple products don't care because it Just Works(tm) for them.

I don't get this idea of "just works". My blackberry died last week, and I decided to try out an iPhone as a replacement. Just works? As in I can get my email to sync more often than 4 times an hour without jailbreaking it? Just works? As in I can install the grooveshark iPhone app without jailbreaking it? Just works? As in I can listen to pandora and browse the internet without jailbreaking it? Just works? As in I c…

Just works as in does everything it does without fuss, not just works as in does everything full stop.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#37
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get this idea of "just works". My blackberry died last week, and I decided to try out an iPhone as a replacement. Just works? As in I can get my email to sync more often than 4 times an hour without jailbreaking it? Just works? As in I can install the grooveshark iPhone app without jailbreaking it? Just works? As in I can listen to pandora and browse the internet without jailbreaking it? Just works? As in I c…

Just works as in does everything it does without fuss, not just works as in does everything full stop.

I'm not asking the phone to do everything. My gripe is that it can do all of these things, but they have been artificially restricted.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#38
post #33
post #2

Most people that have handled an iPad dismiss that it's just a larger iPod Touch - the old axiom a picture is worth a thousand words certainly applies here. For education / gaming / medicine / industrial / etc etc the apps we see for this format are going to be incredible.

A friend of mine at JHU is working on iPad integration in health system informatics. It's a great device and all, but the first thing doctors ask: Can this thing be autoclaved? I don't think Steve Jobs is thinking about that one. Android might be better off.

Very interesting observation. This thing will be useful for "commercial/industrial" clients with a job to do e.g. people who already go around holding a clipboard. Its NOT a wanna-be IPod/IPhone/Kindle/Laptop.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#39
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the iPad was first announced it seemed like it could be a great digital sketchbook... until I found out it lacked pressure sensitivity. I know a lot of people have shown off the drawing abilities of the iPhone/iPod Touch but as long as it lacks this Apple is pretty much snubbing artists.

This could be solved with a wireless pressure sensitive stylus with a capacitive tip. I think such a product would make digital artwork a killer app for the iPad.

This is pretty smart. I was thinking about cannibalizing an old Wacom and making a case for the iPad to sit in for drawing - your solution sounds more elegant.

Re: IPad screenshots make this thing seem less like a giant iPhone

#40
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just works as in does everything it does without fuss, not just works as in does everything full stop.

I'm not asking the phone to do everything . My gripe is that it can do all of these things, but they have been artificially restricted.

You're an edge case. Most users don't know or care that these problems are there.

Among other things, if you have an Exchange server or an IMAP server that supports IDLE, you get push e-mail automatically, which for me solves that problem in its entirety.

Things like background apps can be done, but the practicality of allowing background apps without draining the battery far too fast is an issue that (to date) they haven't solved effectively. Perhaps in the next generation of apps.

Finally, the rotation - I agree with you wholeheartedly. Rotation inhibitor is the biggest reason why I jailbreak. I hope this will be solved in a future OS release, but who knows.

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