Should I get the iPad or iPad 2?

After seeing the 1^st generation iPad, I decided to do a little research on the newest iPad.  I found that the second generation iPad (the iPad2) that was just released on March 2, 2011 and was said to have many improvements over its predecessor.  It now has a much better Dual-Core Apple A5 processor vs. the 1^st generation iPad.  Apple is stating that this new processor is twice as fast for CPU operations and up to nine times faster for GPU operations.  It also has a bigger battery, weighs less and is about 33% smaller in dimensions than the original iPad.  The memory was bumped up from 256 MB to 512 MB, and now has a 720p HD still and a 30fps video camera with a 5x zoom and a new type of environmental sensors.  It also has a much steeper price tag.

iPad:    16GB Wi-Fi only model was selling for $299 & the 16GB model for $399.

iPad 2: 16GB Wi-Fi only model was selling for $499 & the WIFI+3G 16GB model $629.

Are the improvements on the iPad 2 worth it? … Should you run out and get the newest biggest thing out in the iPad technology?  Well, I guess that would be up to you and how you value the dollar for these types of upgrades.  However, for me… I don’t believe it would be worth running out to get one for almost double the price of the original. Especially when they are now talking about the iPad 3!  Just think, you run out and get you iPad 2 and pay the extra funds just to find out that the iPad 3 will be release in a few months.  As for me, I think I’ll wait for the iPad 3.  Keeping up on technology is expensive!

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/ipad-2-vs-original-ipad-whats-changed/

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

My 1st visit with the iPad

When I was first told that we would be exploring the iPad device, I was intrigued.  I had not used one yet and was curious about all the hype I was hearing on this device.  I know its been around for a while ever since Steve Jobs used it to demo a project on stage, and every one was asking “what was that device you used to control this presentation?” 

After getting my hands on an iPad I saw that the layout and controls were much like my smart phone (G2).  The touch screen and apps were very similar in design with just slight difference.  I could see how this would be the way to the future for most customer orientated businesses as it is very portable and programmable with a variety of applications.  It’s also much smaller, lighter and thinner than most laptops, which would make it essential for business meetings.  It is also great for recreational use, but in my opinion this type of technology would be better suited for the business parameters. However, both sides of the coin (business and personal recreational users) would be well taken care of with one of these devices, especially with the upgraded 3G versions.

One of my favorite recreational apps on the iPad was the Urbanspoon.  This app would tell you all the restaurants in the area of your choosing by cost or review.  Or you could find them by reviews on a restaurant.  You can also download and watch a movie peace.  Also the Angry Birds app is pretty fun and addicting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad

http://www.macworld.com/article/147051/2010/03/ipad_details.html

Who really invented the tablet? The reflective power of Apple

Is the Apple iPad the very first tablet to hit the stage? 

Computer scientist Alan Kay mocked up the first one in 1968 – Dynabook. It was never actually built, but it was designed and conceived to be an educational tool for the future, for children. Tablet computers have physically been around for a good 20 years. In the late 1980s early pen computer systems were mostly built around handwriting recognition and they generated a lot of excitement. In 1991 the pen computing hype reached a peak: the pen was seen as a challenge to the mouse and pen computers as replacement for desktops. Microsoft saw a potentially serious competition to Windows computers, so it announced Pen Extension for Windows 3.1 and called them Windows for Pen Computing. Between 1992 and 1994, a number of companies introduced hardware to run Windows for Pen Computing or PenPoint, and among them the IBM ThinkPad. The initial enthusiasm soon turned to criticism because of disappointing sells. The problem was that most of the pen tablets resulted difficult to use and weren’t able to compete with desktop PCs. Pen computer companies went bankrupt and by 1995 pen computing was dead in the consumer market.

That, however, wasn’t the end of pen computing. Bill Gates had always been a believer in the technology, and in multiple occasions he has stated that slate computers were going to be the “future of computing”. In 2002 Microsoft reintroduced pen computers as the “Tablet PC”, but they proved expensive and clunky to use, failing to gain foothold in the market. Even so, this move opened the market for slate computers, mini-laptops, notebooks and netbooks. Then in 2007 came the Amazon Kindle, which lacked web surfing and computing capabilities, but it renewed the interest for super-slim format leaving the field wide open for Apple.

All this history made me realize where the power of Apple truly lies. Apple has been able to see the potential of old discarded technologies and put them back in the market at the right time. Apple understands what these technologies can do, it updates them, and it makes them more user friendly and practical, while giving them a very attractive look. Apple’s secret weapon is its marketing and branding strategy: Apple products are considered to be “cool” and “trendy”, and if you buy them that’s how they will make you feel. That’s how it’s been for the iPhone, the Macbook, and the iPod, and that’s how it’s going to be for the iPad and iPad2: shiny “new” stylish toys.

Links:

• http://www.smh.com.au/multimedia/digital-life/tablets/who-really-invented-the-tablet-20100527-wfob.html
• http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/encryption/222300080
• http://www.ruggedpcreview.com/pdfs/tablet_past_and_future.pdf
• http://www.sql-servers.com/?p=1136

Anatoliy Ivanov reflective response

The IPad has had a lot of success because it is like a laptop, and an e reader. On the IPad and IPad2 you can get access to PowerPoint’s, worksheets, and word documents, you can have Internet access through 3g networks and Wi-Fi hotspots. IPads can also let you enjoy many books that you can easily download eliminating the need for an e reader. Here is an article that supports this: http://www.silicon.com/technology/mobile/2011/03/17/ipads-success-cuts-laptop-and-e-reader-sales-39747148/

I think that tablets well eventually eliminate the need for laptops, because they well become just as powerful, and have the same capabilities. IPads are small and compact, and the touch screen just makes it fun and entertaining to use. IPads in business would be great because people have fun and are working at the same time, both aspects are good for businesses and the employees. Ipads are also very appealing and in some cases very simple to uses making it a great tool to have in a business. Imagine having access to the internet, power points, word docs, excel sheets, and much more on a cool device. IPads also have a very long battery life which is a big factor when a sales person is traveling, or a business person is traveling, that way you have access to the things you need for long periods of time.

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/01/27/ipads-are-booming-in-big-business/.

The Ipad2 is a great addition to a business because you can have a business conference anywhere now. The hd camera on the front of the ipad2 is great when you use skype or other software for video conferences.

Take a look at the specs of an Ipad 2:http://osxdaily.com/2011/03/02/ipad-2-specs/

To use the Ipad with its apps take very little resources making it an efficent device, i think that because of this it is very successful and also that is why laptops might be a thing of the past.

http://www.spetnik.com/a/news-story/id:800478010,story:analyst_ipad_2_success_means_trouble_for_competitors_in_pc_tablet_markets

My iPad Experience

With all the fuzz surrounding the iPad, from here to Italy and a little everywhere, I was quite curious of interacting with this new tool. The first time I actually held one iPad was last quarter, for another class, so this one was my second time touching one. My very first response was “this is way heavier than I expected”: for some reason, considering its portability characteristics, I imagined it to be way lighter and easier to hold with my hands, almost closer to a phone than to a laptop. It is lighter than a portable computer, but it sure is far from a smartphone’s light weight and it therefore needs to be set on a table or laid in your lap for a comfortable use.

Right after this very “sensorial” response, I started playing with it and figuring out its main features. Browsing through the different applications came pretty instinctive to me, maybe because I’ve been around touch screen technology before, so I knew how to click on the icons, write text, turn pages, drag objects, zoom in and zoom out, and so on. Those movements are all pretty natural and, in my opinion, don’t involve a lot of thinking. The only action I remember being told about was the finger movement to scale an image up or down, by spreading or pinching, something I didn’t really figure out on my own when using a smartphone. And after having seen the “Touch Gesture Reference Guide” by lukew.com, I have found out there are way more movements than I thought there were, when dealing with touch screen technology.

While interacting with the iPad, I have been able to find a big flaw: there’s no back button. Or, to be more specific, the back button is not very easy to find: the only button located on the front of the iPad is placed on the bottom (if held vertical) or on the side (if held horizontal) of the tablet. This button brings you back to the desktop, taking you out of the open application. For some reason this button doesn’t seem very intuitive to me: the first time I saw it I asked someone what it was for. On the other hand, if you have an application open, and you just want to go back to the previous screen without closing the app, it’s quite hard to find a way to do so. Every app is different, so some do have a “back” link you can tap, but some don’t… and that’s exactly when, on a smartphone, you would click the phone’s back button. This important button is missing on the iPad, or maybe I haven’t found it yet… and if that’s the case, they should make it more visible.

Anatoliy on the visceral and behavioral aspects of using the iPad.

Using the Ipad was very entertaining, relaxing, and understandable. When you first start using the Ipad you get the screen that tells you to slid the arrow to open up the user interface. Once your on the main screen everything is very simple to understand. You got you web browser and you different apps. The biggest surprise that I had was that the more you played with the Ipad the more you got to understand the device, but then again i used the iphone and I have had interaction with the iMac. There could be problems with this device if a user has not ever touched a computer or smart phone. Now days almost everyone has had some kind of computer interaction so I think that learning the iPad would not be too difficult. It was entertaining and relaxing because it has some functions of computers like for example view photos on a large screen, sending emails, and having internet access on a large screen.

iPad, the next generation?

When you see an iPad commercial they make it quite clear that you buy an iPad for the apps. For good reason too, the apps that run on the apple platform are far better in quality and overall experience than those on other platforms. But Apple did not create these apps, and there is no reason why the quality of apps on other platforms such as android can't eventually reach the same level. Eventually it will come down to the interface of the device itself to determine a leader in the tablet industry. IOS has been an extremely solid platform ever since its release on the iPhone in 2007. But for a company that prides itself in its innovation, I find it interesting that Apple has only made minor changes to the basic interface since it was introduced. The iPad 2 only adds cameras and a slimmer chasis, with very little changes to the interface (making it hard for some to justify paying extra for). While it's always good policy not to fix what isn't broken, there are some very efficient elements on other platforms that Apple could take note from. For instance, the android platform features widgets or in other words simpler versions of a larger app that simply run on your home screen; So you can check the weather, check your facebook, or even post to your facebook, and many other functions without actually entering an app and waiting for it to launch. While this feature is not supported for all apps, it is convenient for basic information and communication apps. It would be nice to see Apple implement some form of quick access of information to their interface. Also, IOS recently featured the ability to multitask between apps, but I feel like the multitasking could have been better designed like that of WebOS running on the Palm (now HP) devices. In conclusion, I think that IOS does extremely well what it was designed to do, but its simplicity isn't always the most efficient design for a platform created for media consumption. At four years old it may be time for an interface overhaul; preferably one that makes media consumption even easier while retaining the simplicity that Apple is famous for.

Ipad Alternatives

It seems at this point that the Ipad is the gold standard of tablet technology but I wanted to look at some of the alternatives. In my looking for alternatives I found that people don't even want to admit that there are other things out there. People love the Ipad so much that it is an insult to say there might be flaws. It comes down the typical computer battle: are you a MAC or a PC? The biggest drawback people see with the Ipad is they don't want to be tied to apple and its closed platform. They want the freedom to create new apps without apples permission. Most of the Ipads competitors are running a version of android.

The top 4 "other " tablets

• 1. BlackBerry PlayBook (Research In Motion)
• 2. Galaxy Tab (Samsung)
• 3. Slate/PalmPad (HP, Palm)
• 4. OpenTablet 7 (OpenPeak)

tomsguide.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/11/ipad-alternatives-android-tablets

iPad 1 or 2

What is the difference between the iPad and the iPad 2? Well there aren't a a whole lot as seen here. BUT if those extra cameras is what makes you happy, then you need and iPad 2! Basically it's "newer", a bit smaller, comes in white, has a hardware update, and is around $100 cheaper.
I believe the reason the iPad 1 and 2 have been so successful, is because people simply trust Apple to get there the first, fastest and most reliable. I think people find security in the fact that they know that no matter what is happening in the world, Apple will always have something new for us to have fun with. While sure, the iPad doesn't replace your laptop, it does do what a lot of people use their laptops for: Facebook, Twitter, movie streaming, music and videos, surfing the web (yes even without Flash), calender, and of course games (which I think are much more fun on the iPad). Over all there is just this feeling of seamlessness you have when using the iPad, since you don't have to worry about bringing a big power cord (like you do for your laptop) you feel free to put in in your purse and walk out the door.

ipad, we have some work to do

The ipad is a device that I can see being around for a long time. The size and weight of the ipad is great for any age, from young children to older adult. Some people seem to think that that ipad is the future of business; it is portable and has many applications that could be useful. In reality when sitting down at a meeting, it is important to be looking at the presenter not down at the virtual keyboard trying to take notes. Although the ipad may seem like a good idea for business I think the most use will come from recreational users. Applications such anger birds and various cooking applications provide a recreational user with all that they could need in a device. Both groups will benefit from the ability to pull up documents in a flash on their ipad, and both professional and recreational users will like the layout of the applications such as ical. Overall I think the current version of the ipad is coming very close to meeting its full potential, with a few small changes.

Doing not Thinking

One of the things I love about the iPad is how easy and self explanatory it is to use. Give it to any child and they'll have not problem knowing what to do with it. It's those of us who are older, and already have preconceived notion because of our past experience with technology, that can have a harder time knowing what to do with it. While sure we get the main stuff, it's things like not having a "back button", like on our other devices, that makes it harder for us to get used too. But once you get into the mind set of "doing" not "thinking" it's then that I believe that you can really enjoy the iPad the way it was intended to be.

IPAD Visceral and Reflective Experience

IPAD2

Post 1 Visceral/Behavioral
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/ipad-2-review/

The IPAD is a fun, expensive gadget and probably not just another fad. But like fads, it will be followed enthusiastically till another version takes its place. The geek consumer has just got to have the latest at all cost in spite of deliberate design flaws that can be improved upon in the next version if the public protesteth loudeth. An example of a deliberate flaw is the lack of a changeable battery or a USB drive. Yet one in five consumers in the USA plans to buy an IPAD despite additional flaws like no flash, or multi- tasking and video conferencing capability, plus several other shortcomings. Still, like any other love hate relationship, love prevails and the consumers’ addiction with the newest and the greatest will be fed. How about a carbon footprint offset like a solar powered IPAD, Apple?

Post 2 Reflective
http://www.netqin.com/en/security/newsinfo_3611_3.html

IDC analyst Scott Ellison wrote in the report. "The extension of mobile apps to every aspect of our personal and business lives will be one of the hallmarks of the new decade with enormous opportunities for virtually every business sector."

There seems to be little doubt that IPADs will ride the wave into the future, unlike predecessor gadgets of a similar genre that gave the public too little, too soon. The advanced micro chip technology and the explosion of app development and availability really made a difference as more and more people entered the digital world. According to a new report from IT research firm International Data Corp, mobile application downloads will soar by more than seven-fold in the next five years, totaling more than $35 billion in sales worldwide. The implications of this are staggering and putting all aspects aside, it is the looks and appeal that grabs the consumer every time with descriptions like “sexy, sleek and feels good to the touch” when referring to the IPAD2. While the IPAD is not exactly a clone between an IPhone and a Notebook it does puts utter control of the device at one’s fingertips in the form of a caress through a whole new language - not sign but gestural. Who can resist. Sold! Cha Ching!

touch screen- Upgrade or downgrade?

I have had a lot of experience with touch pad devices in my life. In my career in the navy I worked on touch screens as a maintenance tech and they have always given people problems. I find touch screens are fun to use when you are in a relaxed state of mind, when it doesn't mater that the wrong button is pushed. When there is a pressure situation it is really frustrating to have miss clicks and end up on the wrong screen or having to start a long process over because the infernal machine reads your finger wrong. The ipad is no different from other touch screen devices. It still has a lot of miss touches. on a visceral level I think there is two main reactions fun and happy or angry and frustrated. The fun can change to frustration pretty quickly when something that looks like a button doesn't respond like a button or the touch screens response isn't fast enough.

My Reflective Response to the iPad

During my experience of using the iPad, I was extremely excited to see for myself what all the hype was about in regards to the new iPad. After navigating around and looking at a few of the many apps available for the iPad I found that this could be technology I would use for different features than I use my iPhone for. Some of the features I found most interesting and useful were the day planner and bookshelf. With that said, I have to tell you I really enjoyed playing Angry Birds on the iPad with a larger screen opposed to my iPhone with a smaller screen. I am curious to read more to find out what additional features may be available to meet my personal needs. I have heard some talk about the iPad2 being capable of more than the original iPad therefore spiking my curiosity even more to do some additional research on all that they both have to offer.

My Visceral Response to the iPad

My first experience using the iPad was that it for the most part was very similar to my iPhone in terms of navigating around the pages and apps with the finger swipe touch interactivity mehod. The main difference I noticed between the iPad and iPhone was that you can’t make phone calls or browse the web. I can really appreciate that as technology improves so does the functionality and overall capabilities. I would have liked to see the iPad with some additional capabilities that would appeal to my personal needs such as USB but overall really enjoyed exploring the iPad. After spending a short amount of time with the iPad, I would like to do some additional research on additional functionality it provides that I was unable to get during the time I had given. I am torn on my decision on whether to purchase the iPad or not at this point. I can see where technology like this could be something I would really enjoy and the fact that I love all the products Apple produces, I’m sure I will purchase one in the near future.

Touch is the future

touch technology is the future now just for computing but for everything, it’s easy to use and people have a better interacting feeling then do they with pushing a button. Touch tablets like the Ipad and other devices are the future. They are Portable, you can take it anywhere you want to go. And you don’t have to use a mouse at all. because with a mouse you have to hold it a certain way on a flat surface. The touch screens eliminate that. Making it easy to use anywhere. You can walk from one room to the other holding your device with no problem. Business meetings and hotels and other type of companies use touch tablets because of how fast everything is. Some faults to touch is on the hardware u use. Such as WIMP. Windows doesn’t work well with touch because its program isn’t fit for it yet. But with the power of technology it wont be far from achieving that technology into there software. So from what I see touch is the way to go and we will start seeing it everywhere.

http://www.russellbeattie.com/blog/touching-the-future-more-thoughts-on-the-coming-tablet-revolution

http://tobyho.com/Tablets_are_the_way_of_the_future

Wow its an ipad!!!

When I first heard that we were going to play around with the ipads I was excited because I havent had a chance to check one out, not even at a store. So if what I been hearing about it is all not hype then I got to see it for myself. When I first had it in my hand I noticed how comfortable it felt in my hands. I liked the touch feature, it was different then on my phone which the screen isn’t nearly as big as the pad . But it was refreshing, from how the pages fade in and out and how you can zoom in and out by moving your fingers away and towards each other. All the apps are cool from the food destinations to angry birds, I liked that game, I never played it before so I kind of got caught up in that game for a minute. The only thing though was that the back button was a click button, not touch. I did catch my self moving around the ipad with no problem once I got the hang of it. it’s a awesome piece of technology, now I wonder how all the other tablet devices are.

Doodle App

I had also had fun with an drawing app, and I think that it was called Doodle but I could be wrong about the name.  I liked this app for the drawing purpose, because that would so make making my video game designs (sprites) so much more easier.  It had a full color wheel and could change the thickness of the lines.  Unfortunate I could not figure out how to erase part of some previous work.  Oh well, it was  still fun to doodle on it, maybe next time I try the app again I will try it with my stylist.

Angry Birds App

One of the apps that I played with was the Angry Birds game and I was pretty hooked on to it.  There is just the simplicity of destruction of things that is just fun to do.  I had a sling shot when I was a kid and I loved to shoot it at trees; though in Angry Birds on the sling shot was a bird on it rather than a rock.  Just the simple pull back and let it fly was fun for this game.

Old ape with a new toy

For apple to keep the same user friendly interface through out thier tech line has enabled people to go from one new item to the next in line with a low learning curve. The user can navigate by instinct from one device to the next almost at will. Now each device (ipod, ipod touch, iphone, ipad) has improved on what the last one did and added lots of new functions as well. The ipod was mainly for music, the ipod touch added a video screen with pda capabilities, then the iphone that could make calls and surf the web, now the ipad can do everything that the others could do but make phone calls. But the ipad 2 can do some sort of video call with other ipad 2's, not sure how yet, maybe over the web. Will I break down and get one now that i've been seen some of what they do, yes. Not sure yet when or how much memery I would want, or even the color. Yes the new ones come in black and white, for att service and verison service.

To IPAD or not to IPAD A reflective tale

When I was using the Ipad it acted pretty much like my iphone in how to navigate the apps, so getting with just a flick of my finger was no problem. Where Ipad differs from my phone is that you can use it for so much more; a large PDA in organizing your information with a contact list and day planner.And with the new Ipad 2 they created a new port cable so you can link your ipad to most HD tvs and every thing you do on your ipad will be seen on the tv screen. So playing movies or youtube can be watched by all. This port cable can also be used by the first Ipad as well. I'm going to research the buisness apps to see how I can view documents from my laptop to an Ipad, using google doc and the cloud.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2010/04/ipad-review/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PROcYV6HSLU