..But should I BUY an iPad??

That's the other question most people seem to be asking me.

The simple answer is: it depends.

In my last post, I wrote about a lot of the negatives, so it's only fair to write about the positives.  This post takes for granted that you've read my previous posts so don't flame me for not mentioning the lack of Flash support. (There I said it ok?!)

First of all, this thing is mad sexy.  Seeing an iPad presents an almost irresistible urge to touch and interact with it - something no other laptop or netbook can achieve.  But the real point is that when you do interact, it's extremely enjoyable.

There's no way to overstate the benefits of an instant-on computer device.  No boot-ups, no messy "sleep/standby" issues, and with a battery that can handle it all makes the iPad the preferred device you will turn to when you need something done quickly and easily.

The screen is magnificent.  It's bright, clear, (a little too glossy) and makes images and video POP.

Browsing the web in general on the iPad for me has been of the most enjoyable mobile web browsing experiences I have ever had, period.  Aside from the speed (overall, and rendering) the general stability as well as the overall experience are just unmatched for a number of reasons.  For instance, the fact that you can turn the device and go from portrait to landscape at any time just makes so much sense.  For example, news sites and info heavy sites are best in portrait, while graphic rich sites usually work best in landscape.  Being able to switch on the fly is a great boon to browsing.

On that topic, I said I wasn't going to, but here comes the issue of Flash Video.  Yes, it's disruptive.  However! Many sites are now offering video in H.264 native (without a Flash wrapper) that works perfectly on the iPad. There's no issue of speed of videos or of the device itself like you can sometimes encounter on various websites with Flash Video. And I sort-of understand Jobs' point with this.  In-line video on websites on the iPad work so perfectly because they are standardized and built into the OS.  Once again, as I mentioned in a previous post, Apple is standardizing content and content delivery, allowing for an optimized experience.

Next, I'll talk about the iPhone - iPad crossover.  While text based apps don't look great at double size on the iPad, believe it or not, games actually look pretty good;  definitely acceptable in my opinion for a casual gamer.  In related functionality, going from Kindle iPad to Kindle iPhone and back is super convenient.  Going back and forth between We Rule by ngmoco iPad (free!) to We Rule for iPhone is smooth as silk.  I truly believe that as more developers connect their apps to sync between the 2 devices, every iPhone user is going to be hard pressed to not purchase an iPad.

There is much more I can write, but I'll end with reading.  While I mentioned that the iPad weight is somewhat restrictive to long reading, when it comes to books that are normally large, the iPad really shines.  I have 3 large, heavy manuals in my Kindle app and they look great.  Using Goodreader, I've downloaded many PDF's of texts that are normally large-format pages and the experience is unmatched.  It's not that I can't do it with a computer or a laptop.  It's the ability to easily carry and view the pages on a portrait-format device that happens to look great, that makes it so wonderful.

So the question remains: should you buy an iPad?  As you've read, there are many plusses and minuses.  In my humble opinion, I see no reason for existing iPod Touch/iPhone users to rush to purchase YET, at least until developers start lowering their app prices.  For others new to the platform and looking for a great way to do the things mentioned, I say go for it.  You won't regret it.

Initial Thoughts on the iPad iPay

So after spending the last few days with the iPad, people are all asking things like "is it what you were expecting?!" and "is it really that revolutionary?" etc. etc. etc.

The easiest thing for me to do is write up my initial thoughts, and see how close it has come to my expectations.

My initial posting will be about the gripes I have. Why? Because I'm a cynical pessimist by nature.

As I wrote in a previous post, it has been my opinion that the Apps were what would make or break the device.  One of the key draws in my opinion for the iPad was its interconnectedness (is that a word?) with the iPhone/iPod touch and their apps.  There are 75 million+ users of those devices already out there, and a seemingly great potential customer base for Apple. Out of those millions, the number of satisfied and very satisfied users is very high according to almost all surveys.  I can't help notice that they represent a very attractive customer base for the iPad - especially when, as Apple said, they could use all of their paid apps on the iPad without shelling out any more dough!  But what I've found is not what I expected.

Some apps like Logmein Ignition have upgraded their apps to make them device aware, so you can buy the same exact app on the iPhone or iPad, and the app when run, looks and behaves differently depending on the device running it. These apps are connoted in the app store with a little "plus" sign next to its price. Buying Logmein Ignition once, entitles you to use the same app on either device, and each device will run the app optimized for that device.

Unfortunately what I've found is that most of the apps I already own have iPad "HD" versions - and they're WAY MORE EXPENSIVE, many times with no added features!  In fact, all of the paid apps seem to be way more expensive.  Whereas with my iPhone I got used to paying 99 cents to 3 dollars per app, the iPad mean seems to be around 10 bucks! It seems the iPhone to iPad transitional user should expect to spend *a lot more* than they may have thought.

My hopes for leveraging my iPhone app investment on the iPad has vanished before my eyes.

On a similar note, app developers need to understand that they shouldn't be simply porting their apps over to the iPad willy nilly as the iPad is a different medium.  They need to take advantage of the iPads strengths and make their apps more robust.

The rest of my gripes don't really need as much explanation, so here goes:

1. I can't for the life of me figure out how games will be as fun and playable as on the iPhone.  Holding this fairly large device and tilting it to play accelerometer based games is a chore, and on-screen controls are awkward because of the large bezel of the device. 
2. The keyboard, the same as on the iPhone, has to be used as it does on an iPhone - meaning you look at the keyboard while typing instead of what is actually being typed.  It's also awkward trying to type with thumbs while holding it in a standing position, again, because of the bezel.
3.  It's extremely light - unless you hold it for an hour while reading a book.  If you're not sitting and leaning it on your lap your arms will definitely tire.
4. We know there's no Flash support, but to add insult to injury many studios are blocking their sites from streaming - *only on the iPad and not the iPhone!* NBC.com allows iPhone users to watch any of their content for free on an iPhone but iPad users must purchase the same content!
5. No easy way to get files off.  C'mon, at least let me get my notes off without emailing them to myself!
6. It's made to be held casually, but I'm constantly scared of scratching it etc.

To be continued...

It Puts the "App" in Apple

I read a line recently by Alan Kay to Steve Jobs: 

When the Mac first came out, Newsweek asked me what I [thought] of it. I said: Well, it's the first personal computer worth criticizing. So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you'll rule the world. [via Gizmodo - thanks Joe]

If you don't know who Alan Kay is, take a moment to read the article from Gizmodo.  I think I understand exactly what Alan meant.

I've been pretty adamant in my support of the iPad, despite the fact that I have been a very vocal critic of all things Apple.  Some of my thoughts on the iPad and its potential success were written here previously from a general industry point of view.  This post explains my feelings from a user's point of view, because, I'm an admitted iPhone addict today.

One of the most major achievements that Apple has accomplished with their mobile platform, in my assessment, is something that is often overlooked.  I'll call it, simply, the Standardization of the Web. To illustrate it clearly, I'll write about an experience I had on a recent trip.



With an overseas trip to Israel weeks away, as any good OCD tech would do, I purchased an Israeli SIM with unlimited data, and used Ultrasnow to unlock my iPhone.   The thinking was simple: I'm a data hog, and AT&T charges $200 for 200 mb of data.  That wouldn't fly. For $50, I could use a local SIM and get unlimited data.  The problem arose after arriving at my destination to find that the SIM's data plan wasn't active.  Uh oh.  Of course I knew I'd be able to sort it out later, but I needed data *now*. So of course, back in went my AT&T SIM, and the fear of the cost of data since I never subscribed to any AT&T World data plan.  Luckily, the airport had WiFi and I quickly launched the AT&T app for the iPhone - myWireless.  In 3 clicks, or roughly 25 seconds, I added 20 mb for $25 - enough to juice me until I had the SIM issue sorted out.  How long would it have taken me to do it via the AT&T wireless website?  Try it yourself.  A heckuvalot longer.  The simple fact was that the AT&T app was *better* for my use, than the website.  And I don't mean better for a mobile device.  I mean, it was better than sitting in front of a laptop and trying to add the feature from their website.


That simple experience drove the point home for me.  I started realizing that I had felt this way about other apps.  Shutterfly, who, in my opinion has one of the best websites around, is more enjoyable in its App incarnation as long as I don't need any advanced features like their new Album creator.  The Facebook app is faster, sleeker and more intuitive in practical use than its website counterpart.  The Weather Channel app give me what I need most in less time.  And all if not most of these apps present similar info and content in a very similar presentation.  Facebook and Shutterfly for example present photos in much the same standard way that the iPhone Photo app works. 


Aside from that, using some of the built-in functions of the device, an App version of a website can offer an even more robust experience than the website. Let's take for example the Yelp app.  Here's a website that was begging to be a web app.  Using location services, the app offers better search results.  And a built in augmented reality mode offers a "monocle" that overlays results on top of a camera view of the world.  Even Amazon's app offers unique functionality.  Their app features something called "Remembers." With it, you take a snapshot of just about anything, and Amazon will try to match the snapshot with a product from Amazon.


To summarize in 1 line: it's the Era of the Apps.


That's not to say that I believe that Apps will supplant the Web, or that Apple has figured out the best way to get these apps to the consumers (don't get me started about their App reviewal policies!!)  But it is to say that with the cost of app development dropping and the popularity of these devices increasing, more and more websites will be releasing app versions of their website.  And these app versions will take the core of their site and present it in the same standardized, optimized, integrated way the other apps do.


So what happens when you take the app experience and expand it to exist on other planes, such as those traditionally held by desktop or laptop computers? I think Alan put it best.

And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you'll rule the world. 

Perfect..

Thanks Ari..

iPhone Tip: Quickly Crop Photos for Email and MMS

Well, it might seem like an obvious one, but here's a quick tip for cropping photos before emailing or MMS'ing.

Open the photo as usual, and zoom to your preferred cropping area. Touch the screen to remove the toolbar and status bar. Take a snapshot by holding the Power and Home buttons. A snap of the zoomed in/cropped photo is now ready to be sent from your camera roll.

I Pad, therefore I Am

So the pad is taking a real beating from tech pundits and the media in general, but is it really as underwhelming as they are making it out to be?

To put things into perspective, we need to first compare apples to apples (no pun intended.)

Unfairly, most in the media are comparing the iPad to a netbook. But it isn't meant to replace your netbook. Not exactly.

Let's start by comparing it to what I believe it was meant to compete with first and foremost: the Amazon Kindle DX. Don't take my word for it. Read the news about the battles now ensuing between publishers and Amazon due to Apple's entry into the game.

From a technology perspective, in my opinion there's really no comparison between the DX and the iPad. Yes the Kindle has always available included (free) Internet, but what use is that Internet access if the browsing experience on the device itself is horrible? And yes it has the great E-ink screen that makes reading in sunlight phenomenal, but what about the tradeoff? Everything else except the printed word looks terrible. Last, agreed the battery power of the Kindle is impressive, but the majority of us are used to charging a device daily and it isn't that big of a deal. So for starters, at the same price point I believe the iPad beats the Kindle hands down as an ebook / enews reader plus type of device.

Now, imagine a Kindle on steroids. The browsing experience on the pad is smooth, quick, and everything it should be with multi-touch. True, it lacks Flash support but with HTML5 becoming more standard daily, Flash is becoming less important by the day not least because of the fact that it is a resource hog. Witness the new YouTube beta site that uses no Flash whatsoever.

Anyone who's used an iPhone or iPod Touch can't help but enjoy it.
It's a smooth experience from one of the best ui systems ever made. It also runs quick, stable (3gs) and simply works. True, it lacks some very important features like multi-tasking (available if you jailbreak) but these features are surely forthcoming in an OS update.

If you're an iPhone or iPod touch user you have an even bigger impetus to purchase: Apple has announced that any purchased apps will be available for your iPad for free.

But what about productivity, and office applications? So, it's hard for me to comment yet, as I haven't used an iPad and don't know how it will deal with it. I can't imagine working with a spreadsheet being difficult on the iPad. But for those that are worried, there are a few very important apps to assuage your fears. First, Logmein Ignition for the iPhone is just great, as well as the various VNC apps, like Mocha VNC. Citrix has also announced new software to bring Windows 7 to the iPad (using virtualization.) So, when you absolutely must have certain desktop functionality, as long as you're connected to the cloud, you will be able to make do. And let's face it: 90% of the time you're going to be spending on the iPad will be out of the office, when the majority of that time is spent browsing, replying to emails, watching video, etc. all of which the iPad excels in.

Let me conclude with the example I posed to a friend. Imagine you heard nothing about the iPad - no hype, no anticipation, no nothing. You're walking down the aisle at Best Buy when you happen upon an iPad on display. Curious, you pick it up and start playing. Wow! Fun, and practical! How much would you spend for such a toy productivity device? Well, the price is actually less than what you'd spend on an iPhone without contract - and only $150 more than an iPod Touch 64. Are you telling me you'd walk right by without a second thought? I didn't think so.

RIM is finished. Unless...

Even though they dominate among business users, RIM and the Blackberry are not even considered real players in the Smartphone market of today for a few very important reasons, but most importantly, because of Apps, or its lack of them.

The importance of smartphone apps can't be underestimated at this point.  Apple has turned the industry upside down with the iPhone for the most part because of their introduction of a simple to use, always available, chock-full-of-instant-gratifying applications called the App Store.

Until they introduced it, we mobile geeks with our Windows Mobile devices, riding the crest of mobile technology, were smart  geeky enough to get apps on our devices - even our storage cards.  But creating a market of apps that are instantly available to all users simultaneously and easily installable made it a new, viable, medium for marketing for developers of their applications.  Developers had an instant market so they were spurned to develop, and the platform benefited from the selection, dubbed, "There's an App for that" by Apple.

And as a devoted iPhone user, I can attest, that there really is an App for a vast amount of things. Believe it or not, I actually use my iPhone to do everything from measuring (yes, as a ruler App:Apple-O-Meter) to taking stunning panoramic photos (App: Pano.)  It's not just about games.  It's about having a device with the power (almost) of a laptop computer, and using it to its fullest.  And it's precisely in this area Android, Palm and even Windows Mobile are trying heavily to compete and catch up. And it's precisely in this area that RIM is failing miserably.

To start, the devices themselves are underwhelming, and a big part of it is their OS.  The stability of their OS has been repeatedly put to the test and failed.  The simplest example is this: try installing a few apps (if you even can) and watch as your emails begin to magically delete.  Also, installing apps is a challenge since the devices have very limited memory as compared to other Smartphones (which all have at least several gigabytes worth, for media and apps.) To their credit, RIM tried to fix the problem, but the "Blackberry App World" can feature all the apps it likes, but the device doesn't lend itself to using Apps.

But here's the crazy thing.  The solution for RIM is simple.  And if followed, it could send shockwaves through the industry.

... drumroll ...
Build a Blackberry interface (a la BB Connect) for Android OS.

Imagine that. Overnight, the entire devoted base of Blackberry users are converted to Android users, and they reap the benefits of both platforms. They'll have an interface (read: skin) and functionality that they're used to, but on a platform that has over 30,000 apps and an OS that can handle it.  Top it all off with the backing of Google, and it's a match made in heaven.  The only thing they would need to work out is how to divvy the revenues from downloaded apps from Blackberry devices, but that doesn't seem insurmountable to me.  They need to learn from Palm's mistake, and instead of trying to recreate the App Store, capitalize on the existing one.

Are you listening RIM? you've dropped the ball. It's time to pick it up.