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[Marty Chinn]

I strongly suspect that iOS 5 is going to be a very, very nice leap forward for the iPad.

I'm hoping. I'd get one of they actually make some nice distinction. It still sucks how the iPad is held back by the iPhone even if iOS5 makes great changes since they have to wait for more of an iPhone related announcement to reveal their cards despite having an iPad unveiling event recently.

 

[kinggroin]

You've been trolling the ipad for months now and you persist on posting these retarded comments. Nothings good enough for you. Move on buy a xoom. Stfu. Because im sick of your posts in these threads.

Holy shit man. Ignore function?

 

[badcrumble]

I'm hoping. I'd get one of they actually make some nice distinction. It still sucks how the iPad is held back by the iPhone even if iOS5 makes great changes since they have to wait for more of an iPhone related announcement to reveal their cards despite having an iPad unveiling event recently.

No, major iOS releases are presented in the spring, followed by release slightly before the new iPhone comes out; this is so that apps are ready to take advantage of the new APIs as soon as they become available to consumers. We'll probably see an April unveiling event (for new functionality, new APIs, et cetera) that'll also kick off the iOS 5 and iOS 5 SDK betas for final release in June.

It's last year that the iPad was held back because the iPad didn't get the new iOS 4 features until, like, October.

 

[Marty Chinn]

You've been trolling the ipad for months now and you persist on posting these retarded comments. Nothings good enough for you. Move on buy a xoom. Stfu. Because im sick of your posts in these threads.

What's retarded? I've always said I wanted something that took better advantage of the screen size on a tablet rather than making it a giant iPhone. Xoom has its own issues. I weigh each product on its merits and right now both have issues. Xoom's screen isn't as nice as the iPad, is heavier, lacks in software support at the moment, is rough around the edges, and I prefer the 4:3 screen aspect ratio. iPad lacks key things that take advantage of the form factor like widgets and tabbed browsing. Regardless how I feel about the tablet market as a whole doesn't change the fact that I'm interested in a tablet for specific usage behavior and am in the market to buy one. Currently neither is optimal but Apple can easily come quite a ways with iOS5. They certainly didn't at the iPad2 announcement. Ars Technica's review is spot on IMO.

 

[numble]

Anandtech's review is spot on IMO.

Ars Technica you mean? I don't think Anandtech has reviewed it yet.

 

[LCfiner]

Am I the only one that thinks Apple needs to really take advantage of the screen real estate of the iPad for iOS 5?

The home screen can't look just like the iPhones - just spread out. I'm sure they can take advantage of it a lot more.

I see where you're coming from. You want apple to make the non-app portions of the ipad OS more customized. But that's not what makes the ipad compelling. That's not why people like the ipad.

Apple has been focusing on making the apps way more capable than what you get on the iPhone.

GarageBand should be proof that apple knows this device is not just a phone - it's not a pocket device. To look at the homescreen and dismiss the ipad out of hand is a mistake. I know because that's what I did when I first saw it revealed a year ago.

What's interesting about the ipad is not whether or not it offers a lockscreen or home-screen with at a glance info about your calendar or emails. What makes it interesting is that it offers you apps that make you want to get lost in them for long periods of time.

They may, at some point, offer that glanceable info but it's not a selling point. It'll just be a bonus for people that happen to love checking their calendars and weather every five minutes.

The real meat of the ipad will always be the apps that you WANT to spend more than five minutes in.

 

[Meier]

I am waiting a few weeks to order mine.. can anyone explain what backlight bleed means?

Ahh, just read a quick article. Doesn't seem like it has much of an adverse affect if I am understanding it.

 

[Marty Chinn]

No, major iOS releases are presented in the spring, followed by release slightly before the new iPhone comes out; this is so that apps are ready to take advantage of the new APIs as soon as they become available to consumers. We'll probably see an April unveiling event (for new functionality, new APIs, et cetera) that'll also kick off the iOS 5 and iOS 5 SDK betas for final release in June.

It's last year that the iPad was held back because the iPad didn't get the new iOS 4 features until, like, October.

Right, but it really is all focused around the iPhone though. They tease part of iOS in the spring to get developers ramped up for the new iPhone release with the software is just released days before the new iPhone comes out. It really is centered around the iPhone which seems like you limit how much you can unveil about new functionality of the iPad at the moment. It was just really disappointing that they didn't really have anything for the new iPad as far as the OS/software is concerned.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Ars Technica you mean? I don't think Anandtech has reviewed it yet.

Sorry, that's what I meant.

 

[Yaboosh]

I am waiting a few weeks to order mine.. can anyone explain what backlight bleed means?

It manifests as a glow mostly seen on black backgrounds around the edge.

 

[numble]

I am waiting a few weeks to order mine.. can anyone explain what backlight bleed means?

A defect on some screens. Most noticeable when you're looking at black. The backlight is leaking out of the edges.

 

[numble]

just a heads up, I did some preliminary testing between the motorola xoom and ipad 2. stuff like web browsing, camera quality and youtube playback. so far I'm quite surprised; things are a lot closer then I would have thought. as soon as I write everything up and get the videos uploaded (as well as get more testing done ), I will post in here for everyone to see.

What are the early results/thoughts?

 

[jon bones]

any brave souls going ipad hunting in NYC this weekend? i'm thinking of going to the apple store on 14th around 8 am (assuming i am not hung over) and hoping i can cop one.

 

[badcrumble]

Right, but it really is all focused around the iPhone though. They tease part of iOS in the spring to get developers ramped up for the new iPhone release with the software is just released days before the new iPhone comes out. It really is centered around the iPhone which seems like you limit how much you can unveil about new functionality of the iPad at the moment. It was just really disappointing that they didn't really have anything for the new iPad as far as the OS/software is concerned.

Eh, I dunno. I think you can't call that a pattern when it's only been one year. If anything, the iPad's got more room to grow, so it's more likely to do so.

Anyhow, the biggest needed improvements (notifications, improved lock screen, MAYBE some kind of non-shitty widgets) will, if anything, have more of an impact on the iPad than on the iPhone, if only because they're so tied to real estate. And don't forget that it seems like we might be getting more gesture controls (which a lot of people have already enabled in iOS 4.3).

 

[jon bones]

What's interesting about the ipad is not whether or not it offers a lockscreen or home-screen with at a glance info about your calendar or emails. What makes it interesting is that it offers you apps that make you want to get lost in them for long periods of time.

The real meat of the ipad will always be the apps that you WANT to spend more than five minutes in.

yeesh, this makes me cringe to read

 

[numble]

any brave souls going ipad hunting in NYC this weekend? i'm thinking of going to the apple store on 14th around 8 am (assuming i am not hung over) and hoping i can cop one.

You're going to need to go earlier. Especially if it is the weekend. The line at the UWS store this morning was at least 1.5 blocks at 8:15 AM, and this was in pouring rain (fewer people because of the rain, and the line was much more bunched up since it was 2-3 people huddling under umbrellas at each spot instead of a single file line).

 

[badcrumble]

I'm probably a boring person but I intend to use my iPad mainly to check email, surf the web, and watch movies through Netflix.

 

[bodyofanamerican]

any brave souls going ipad hunting in NYC this weekend? i'm thinking of going to the apple store on 14th around 8 am (assuming i am not hung over) and hoping i can cop one.

I'm seeing the Pogues on Thursday and have the day off on Friday. Part of me is seriously considering going to the bars till they close at 4am and then just waiting 5 hours, getting an ipad and then crashing. But I probably will not do that.

I will say though, I don't see the hong kong reselling contingent going anywhere anytime soon, thus screwing most of us NYC folk.

 

[dskillzhtown]

Anyone using the iPhone 4 as a hotspot for their iPad currently? I was interested to hear about speed.

 

[LyleLanley]

I will say though, I don't see the hong kong reselling contingent going anywhere anytime soon, thus screwing most of us NYC folk.

They really are screwing it up for everyone else. Resellers are the worst!

 

[Tobor]

yeesh, this makes me cringe to read

Why? He's completely right.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Eh, I dunno. I think you can't call that a pattern when it's only been one year. If anything, the iPad's got more room to grow, so it's more likely to do so.

Anyhow, the biggest needed improvements (notifications, improved lock screen, MAYBE some kind of non-shitty widgets) will, if anything, have more of an impact on the iPad than on the iPhone, if only because they're so tied to real estate. And don't forget that it seems like we might be getting more gesture controls (which a lot of people have already enabled in iOS 4.3).

Right, it's a bit early to call it a pattern, but it just seems like it so far. Just with the way multitasking and other iOS4 stuff came so late and now with the iPad 2 announcement, we got nothing and we're all betting/hoping for iOS5. It seems silly that a new product just launched and we have to wait later to get the software improvements that are timed for a new iPhone.

I agree with you outside of notifications. Those will have more of an impact on the iPad than the iPhone which is why I want some differentiation that does impact something of that form factor size. I think notifications will heavily impact both platforms and not more towards the iPad though. Using Notified Pro is a god send right now and I had forgotten how annoying iPhone notifications were until I used my wife's iPhone the other day.

So you're right, it's too early to say it's a pattern, but for what looks like two years in a row, shortly after the iPad is released, rather than when the iPad is released, do we get major software changes to the device. The only difference this time around though, is it seems like that we're hoping that these software changes will be more differentiating on the iPad this time around compared to iOS4.

I accept that the first iPad was the foundation and they only had so much time to distinguish the iPad as a tablet form factor, but I can't help but feel disappointed they said nothing with the unveiling of the iPad 2. So I'm really hoping that iOS5 will bring those changes. I'm ready to buy one if they announce widgets, tabbed browsing, and other things that make the iPad a bit more unique in usage. I'm assuming that notifications are a given at this point but I hope that doesn't somehow become the focal point and Apple thinks they did enough because of that for this iteration.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Anyone using the iPhone 4 as a hotspot for their iPad currently? I was interested to hear about speed.

I've been doing this with a jailbroken iPhone and it works great. Doesn't feel that different than the speed on the iPhone itself.

 

[Of All Trades]

I think it's alright. Simple enough the. Buttons are finger sized. And the spacing means yo u get to wipe pages (accessing the ui/interface) and it just works.

You can put a finger on an icon and wipe. The home screen could be much, much better, and not just in a "lulz android so cluttered" trolling attempt. Instead it's locked to the lowest common denominator user.

 

[badcrumble]

Right, it's a bit early to call it a pattern, but it just seems like it so far. Just with the way multitasking and other iOS4 stuff came so late and now with the iPad 2 announcement, we got nothing and we're all betting/hoping for iOS5. It seems silly that a new product just launched and we have to wait later to get the software improvements that are timed for a new iPhone.

I agree with you outside of notifications. Those will have more of an impact on the iPad than the iPhone which is why I want some differentiation that does impact something of that form factor size. I think notifications will heavily impact both platforms and not more towards the iPad though. Using Notified Pro is a god send right now and I had forgotten how annoying iPhone notifications were until I used my wife's iPhone the other day.

So you're right, it's too early to say it's a pattern, but for what looks like two years in a row, shortly after the iPad is released, rather than when the iPad is released, do we get major software changes to the device. The only difference this time around though, is it seems like that we're hoping that these software changes will be more differentiating on the iPad this time around compared to iOS4.

I accept that the first iPad was the foundation and they only had so much time to distinguish the iPad as a tablet form factor, but I can't help but feel disappointed they said nothing with the unveiling of the iPad 2. So I'm really hoping that iOS5 will bring those changes. I'm ready to buy one if they announce widgets, tabbed browsing, and other things that make the iPad a bit more unique in usage. I'm assuming that notifications are a given at this point but I hope that doesn't somehow become the focal point and Apple thinks they did enough because of that for this iteration.

Notifications would be playing catch-up, so yeah, Apple ought to do more than just fix notifications and call it a day (and I think they will do more).

 

[Marty Chinn]

Notifications would be playing catch-up, so yeah, Apple ought to do more than just fix notifications and call it a day (and I think they will do more).

I'm hoping, but I'm also trying to not set expectations too high to get disappointed. Maybe waiting for iOS5 is a good thing because then the initial rush will be gone and it'll be easier to get one when I know for sure what iOS5 will offer.

 

[Of All Trades]

Why? He's completely right.

It's a meaningless lowering of standards because it applies to almost every electronic information displaying device on the market. Kindle, Xoom, Nook, PC, Mac, iPad, PSP, Nintendo DS, etc. Phones are the only object that really shy away from that concept.

As for GarageBand... from the time I've played with it (haven't plugged in a guitar yet, though) the message that Apple seems to be sending is "develop $5 apps and don't aim higher". I certainly don't see how it fits in with a "post-PC" philosophy.

 

[jon bones]

I'm seeing the Pogues on Thursday and have the day off on Friday. Part of me is seriously considering going to the bars till they close at 4am and then just waiting 5 hours, getting an ipad and then crashing. But I probably will not do that.

funny you mention that, i was half considering grabbing an 8 ball and dancing until the bars closed and then take a walk over to the apple store. but that would require me to party in meatpacking soooo.... no.

sucks that i have to get up EVEN EARLIER. wish my laptop didn't break so i'd at least have a computer to use in the mean time : |

Why? He's completely right.

The home screen could be much, much better, and not just in a "lulz android so cluttered" trolling attempt. Instead it's locked to the lowest common denominator user.

thank you.

 

[Blackhead]

Oi, did anyone get that Instagallery app? It's really nice.

Eh, I dunno. I think you can't call that a pattern when it's only been one year. If anything, the iPad's got more room to grow, so it's more likely to do so.

Anyhow, the biggest needed improvements (notifications, improved lock screen, MAYBE some kind of non-shitty widgets) will, if anything, have more of an impact on the iPad than on the iPhone, if only because they're so tied to real estate. And don't forget that it seems like we might be getting more gesture controls (which a lot of people have already enabled in iOS 4.3).

The biggest needed improvement for the iPad is scheduled background downloading. It would cut down on the load times for a lot of news and content apps and encourage more engagement with those apps.

Sidenote: The advertising for Xoom is a huge fail for not picking up on this advantage over the iPad. *smh*

 

[Tobor]

It's a meaningless lowering of standards because it applies to almost every electronic information displaying device on the market. Kindle, Xoom, Nook, PC, Mac, iPad, PSP, Nintendo DS, etc. Phones are the only object that really shy away from that concept.

Developing apps like Garageband and iMovie is far more important than an update to the homescreen. That's not a lowering of standards, it's a raising of the standard of what's possible with a tablet. Garageband in particular is a fantastic demo of software that isn't possible on any other form factor.

This is what the competition is lacking, frankly.

 

[kehs]

I'm hoping they implement multi user support with iOS5. I'll probably jump on the ipad if that happens.

 

[jon bones]

Developing apps like Garageband and iMovie is far more important than an update to the homescreen.

you're right, i edit movies and produce music all the time. how often do i even use a homescreen?

 

[Husker86]

Anyone using the iPhone 4 as a hotspot for their iPad currently? I was interested to hear about speed.

Speed is as fast as the phone can push out. I usually get about 300-500 KB/s.

 

[esquire]

Because it sounded like you didn't understand.

And no, I don't like making my App purchases on the computer as I like the avoid getting to my computer, booting it, loading iTunes, purchasing, then syncing to iPad. It's very rare that I do.

I've done multiple app purchases many times on my iPad and iPhone in the past, the extra hoop of jumping back to the App Store and searching for the other Apps, is the only annoying thing about the process.
Adding a "cart" would be a dream come true.

...

Reinstating my previous call of shenanigans.

 

[numble]

The biggest needed improvement for the iPad is scheduled background downloading. It would cut down on the load times for a lot of news and content apps and encourage more engagement with those apps.

Sidenote: The advertising for Xoom is a huge fail for not picking up on this advantage over the iPad. *smh*

Their whole advertising concept right now is based on techno, robotic Sci-Fi junk, making it look like you need to be an amped-up fighter pilot simultaneously handling multiple complicated tools. The Kindle ad works because it said, "Hey, this is simpler and less clunky than an iPad, and you can enjoy the device while relaxed by the pool."

I don't know if they can advertise that if there are no tablet-optimized apps that use that feature yet though (don't know if there actually are). False advertising and what not. But they could show newspapers being downloaded overnight or something, wake up and your paper's ready--kind of hard to convey in a 30 second spot where you want to highlight other things though.

 

[Marty Chinn]

I'm hoping they implement multi user support with iOS5. I'll probably jump on the ipad if that happens.

I'd like this, but somehow I doubt we'll see it anytime soon, if ever. Apple wants everyone to have their own iPad rather than share it. Profiles on a tablet makes a lot of sense, so I hope if Apple doesn't do it, Google will.

 

[LCfiner]

It's a meaningless lowering of standards because it applies to almost every electronic information displaying device on the market. Kindle, Xoom, Nook, PC, Mac, iPad, PSP, Nintendo DS, etc. Phones are the only object that really shy away from that concept.

As for GarageBand... from the time I've played with it (haven't plugged in a guitar yet, though) the message that Apple seems to be sending is "develop $5 apps and don't aim higher". I certainly don't see how it fits in with a "post-PC" philosophy.

lowering of standards? the apps for the iPad are raising standards for what you can do on a consumer tablet.

Garageband and iMovie are not apps that's are designed with the "5 bucks and don't aim higher" ideal. that's bullshit. they're apps that are as well designed as anything you see on the Mac for significantly more money.

Again, I'm sure Apple is working on ways to make iOS more robust but power user widgets and other fancy OS level bit are not what people are buying the iPad for.

they're buying it for the other apps. and that's what Apple is rightly focusing on.

basically, the difference in opinion is about what you, personally, find more exciting: a fun music creation tool or a homescreen calendar widget.

 

[dskillzhtown]

I've been doing this with a jailbroken iPhone and it works great. Doesn't feel that different than the speed on the iPhone itself.

Speed is as fast as the phone can push out. I usually get about 300-500 KB/s.

Thanks for the speedy responses.

 

[kehs]

Their whole advertising concept right now is based on techno, robotic Sci-Fi junk, making it look like you need to be an amped-up fighter pilot simultaneously handling multiple complicated tools. The Kindle ad works because it said, "Hey, this is simpler and less clunky than an iPad, and you can enjoy the device while relaxed by the pool."

I don't know if they can advertise that if there are no tablet-optimized apps that use that feature yet though (don't know if there actually are). False advertising and what not. But they could show newspapers being downloaded overnight or something, wake up and your paper's ready--kind of hard to convey in a 30 second spot where you want to highlight other things though.

Moto is just keeping their droid marketing style, and I don't blame em, it brought them back to life afterall.

 

[krypt0nian]

I'm hoping they implement multi user support with iOS5. I'll probably jump on the ipad if that happens.

Get ready for disappointment. This is so never happening.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Garageband and iMovie are not apps that's are designed with the "5 bucks and don't aim higher" ideal. that's bullshit. they're apps that are as well designed as anything you see on the Mac for significantly more money.

I think his issue is, and maybe I'm misinterpretting him, is the price point of $5. Maybe Apple can get away with it, but Adobe doesn't charge hundreds of dollars for Photoshop purely on high profit margin; there are development costs. How many companies can get away with really robust and well developed software with a price point of $5? It's the same issue that Nintendo was highlighting at GDC. When the expected price point is so low, in a crowded market, it's hard for companies to make money with any type of extensive development. Apple can get away with it because well it's their platform and they have a bigger stake that they're banking on, but every other developer can't rely on those other sources of revenue to offset a $5 app.

 

[dallow_bg]

...

Reinstating my previous call of shenanigans.

Ok.
I honestly don't know what you're saying.

The others got it.

 

[Tobor]

you're right, i edit movies and produce music all the time. how often do i even use a homescreen?

I use the homescreen for exactly as long as it takes to touch the icon for the next app I want to use. Apple has so far resisted complicating that experience as much as possible, and I can't say I blame them. It's a winning philosophy. I'm sure they will add functionality over time, but only as they come up with solutions that work for the majority of users.

Garageband and iMovie are perfect examples of Apple's bread and butter. Aspirational software that helps sell hardware.

 

[esquire]

Ok.
I honestly don't know what you're saying.

The others got it.

Wow! I was being facetious. That was a South Park reference. Lighten up a bit dude.

Posted from my iPhone, lol.

 

[jon bones]

basically, the difference in opinion is about what you, personally, find more exciting: a fun music creation tool or a homescreen calendar widget.

guess i just want some functionality along with all this excitement

 

[badcrumble]

The biggest needed improvement for the iPad is scheduled background downloading. It would cut down on the load times for a lot of news and content apps and encourage more engagement with those apps.

Plus podcast subscriptions!!!

As for the apps vs. OS thing, I reaaaaally don't think they're in opposition to one another. OS improvements help to make better apps. Background downloading, better notifications, or allowing apps to display information in their icons would result in apps that are capable of more things.

 

[Marty Chinn]

I use the homescreen for exactly as long as it takes to touch the icon for the next app I want to use. Apple has so far resisted complicating that experience as much as possible, and I can't say I blame them. It's a winning philosophy. I'm sure they will add functionality over time, but only as they come up with solutions that work for the majority of users.

Garageband and iMovie are perfect examples of Apple's bread and butter. Aspirational software that helps sell hardware.

The question is, why do you constantly want to hop between apps when you don't always need to? Do you use a RSS reader?

 

[dallow_bg]

Wow! I was being facetious. That was a South Park reference. Lighten up a bit dude.

Posted from my iPhone, lol.

I don't get it. :-(
I thought I was conversing about the App Store.

(I'm posting from my W7Phone)

 

[LCfiner]

guess i just want some functionality along with all this excitement

I get plenty of functionality on my ipad.


edit:

I think his issue is, and maybe I'm misinterpretting him, is the price point of $5. Maybe Apple can get away with it, but Adobe doesn't charge hundreds of dollars for Photoshop purely on high profit margin; there are development costs. How many companies can get away with really robust and well developed software with a price point of $5? .

other companies don't need to match Apple on pricing. Omnifocus is 40 bucks (you other guys want to talk about functionality and getting shit done? OF is the real deal. you don't need a PC app to complement it at all)

djay is 20 bucks. beatmaker is 20. most of the indepth art, music and todo apps are >5 bucks. a lot of them are over 10. the iPad, more than the iPhone, supports these higher pricepoints. companies don't need to drop down to Apple's lower prices.

 

[japtor]

It's because they're all going to Hong Kong (though I think I also saw some Eastern European/Russians and Indians/Pakistanis too, though). This time around, Apple's not trying to control this (which sucks, but they were skewered for it, both here and in the press). Apple accepts cash now, doesn't require an Apple ID, and they let people make multiple trips (though they still limit it to 2 per trip).

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/03/14/inside-the-ipad-2-gray-market/

Everyone bitched about them limiting purchases before, it's like they let it all go this time just to be like "See? This is why we did it!"

I'm hoping. I'd get one of they actually make some nice distinction. It still sucks how the iPad is held back by the iPhone even if iOS5 makes great changes since they have to wait for more of an iPhone related announcement to reveal their cards despite having an iPad unveiling event recently.

They weren't going to show iOS 5 to be released after an x month beta cycle in the same event as new hardware being released in the next week. "Here's this awesome new hardware, and this awesome new software! (but the software won't be out for a while so just ignore that for now)."

Their whole advertising concept right now is based on techno, robotic Sci-Fi junk, making it look like you need to be an amped-up fighter pilot simultaneously handling multiple complicated tools. The Kindle ad works because it said, "Hey, this is simpler and less clunky than an iPad, and you can enjoy the device while relaxed by the pool."

I don't know if they can advertise that if there are no tablet-optimized apps that use that feature yet though (don't know if there actually are). False advertising and what not. But they could show newspapers being downloaded overnight or something, wake up and your paper's ready--kind of hard to convey in a 30 second spot where you want to highlight other things though.

The problem is that it probably wouldn't be easily advertised. When you pick up the tablet the news is there...but the effect isn't that different from an iPad for people that don't know what it's talking about. I guess show a loading screen on the iPad but then you also run the risk of making people paranoid about Android downloading things on it's own.

God knows Moto would probably show thousands of little Matrix bug like things invading your tablet with new news stories while you're sleeping to demonstrate it.