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The iPad Questions Apple Won't Answer
snydeq writes "Apple's reticence to reveal details prior to a product's launch is legendary. But when Apple extends this silence beyond a product's unveiling, historically this has meant that the product cannot deliver the functionality that analysts and journalists are asking about. InfoWorld's Galen Gruman lists eight key questions for the iPad, about all of which Apple has kept silent. Can you save and transfer documents to the iPad? Does the iPad support Microsoft Exchange email? Does the iPad support VPN? Configuration management? 'I have no doubt the iPad will be compelling to some users. But I now have major concerns that it will fulfill the potential beyond being an iTunes delivery screen that I and other industry observers saw,' Gruman writes."
The iPad is a natural device for playing back Flash files, both on the Web and as native files
really, a "natural device" for the ancient crud that is Flash
Yet another poor FUD article.
"I love my job, but I hate talking to people like you" (Freddie Mercury)
Uhm.. New to Apple's stuff? The answer is big NO!
How do you get that? There are plenty of media services/apps (Rhapsody, Pandora, etc.) you can use on the iPhone OS that are not connected to Apple. The author of the article complains there's no Netflix app - but how is that Apple's fault? Netflix is free to make such an app if they choose. The only issue is the inability to play in the background - something that primarily affects music apps.
How it has been before is that Apple has disallowed software that "duplicates features of existing software". I would see any competitor to iTunes being one.
(messed up the quote.. gets complicated on this level :)
Mark my words, Apple are renown for their PR-stunts.
By getting everyone upset, a simple thing like the obvious lack of Flash, which is severely needed for a proper Surfing Experience that the iPad is made for, this is nothing but a PR-STUNT, ingenious - I have to admit - because it'll make you and other RAVE on forever and critique iPad & Apple = Free publicity, and of course - shortly after iPad has been launched, Apple will timely announce that Flash is coming - after all, they have "listened" to their "audience".
What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
Nearly all Apple gear can be classified as "optional" in life and more often it is simply extravagant. PCs and (I can't believe I am saying this) and Windows is "necessary" in contrast. Apple is built around some pretty interesting ideas and concepts, but the moment they place limits on things, they immediately stop their growth and development. The angry public has to throw burning iPods at Apple's buildings before they get the message.
Apple is most definitely a "take it or leave it" company when it comes to consumer relations and I'm surprised that some people are only now beginning to see it. They offer no business level warranty support on their computers and notebooks. That's a strong indication of how serious Apple is.
I wish Apple would change its ways before the larger consuming public sees Apple for what it is. It's not "exclusive" any more -- it's just limited.
When will the Hackintosh crowd get around to porting regular Mac OS X to the iPad? We all know it will happen.
I have a need for a device like it but Apple is on my "don't buy their shit" list. .... what is this? Am I licensing Hardware now since they want to tell me what I can and can not do with my device.
Does not allow you to run
Apple users are Sheeps who are getting fucked by Steve, hope it feels good.
or at least a reacharound
Wrong. The Ipad isn't built for Apple's customers, it's built for Apple.
When you say it "doesn't carry the drawbacks of a computer", you're simply being dishonest: it would cost nothing in user experience to allow multitasking or free installation of software.
Wrong. Let's take multitasking:
How do you "minimize" an app in iPad? How would you close an app? How do you manage the apps that are running in the background? How do you bring an app to the foreground? How do you determine which of the apps is slowing the machine down?
You might have an answer to each of those questions, but fact is that it still adds complexity. And that complexity is something that lots and lots of people are not interested in dealing with. Fact is that computers are too complicated for lots of people. Yes, that includes Macs, which supposedly "just work".
What about free installation of apps? What if the user installs an app that screws the machine up? Tough luck? The app store might have it's share of problems, but it does give the user a safety-blanket. They can freely install apps from the app-store without having to worry that it's going to cause the machine to spontaneously combust.
A full OS X with the iPhone GUI would be fantastic, and relatively easily accomplishable.
says the armchair-technologist.
It would come with no extra draw-backs for the user whatsoever.
uh-huh.
The question is: why are you being dishonest?
Why are YOU being dishonest?
Apple probably doesn't pay you a cent for your work as a freelance advertising agent. And why is this bullshit so prevalent among Apple fanboys? There's a reason why you guys are called a cult: you are one.
Oh cut the bullsit. Whenever someone says something that somehow defends Apple and/or some of their product, some idiots start waving the fanboy-cultist card....
Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs - -all next week on Town Talk.
Will Apple make it even easier for people to buy their music from a service other than iTMS? Why on Earth would that want to do that?
Then why the FUCK should I care. I almost wish I never bought my Macbook Pro and iPhone, but then I wouldnt know these fuckers are worse than (not then, fuck you too if you say "then" ;-) MS. Fuck you Apple.
Average user will find out how to screw up anything.
- Don't be overconfident. 120'000 apps is still not a lot.
There will be document editing, therefore there will be crap in their filesystem.
Running, is one thing. Using is another. Document editing on small scale is possible, writing something will be a major PITA. You can't match typing speed on a touchscreen to a keyboard.
I agree that we shouldn't. But the actual question is still unanswered by Apple. And the only magical and revolutionary thing about the device is the price. Stop pretending that they have all the answers.
Then again, look around. No serious technology user would touch Apple products with a barge pole.
ORLY?
/. readers have (and love) Apple products, right...
Then I guess that explains why so many
What a tool.
Let's see a show of hands: Who wants to be able to give their PARENTS something they can use to browse the web, email, display pictures and video, and read the occasional book/magazine/newspaper, WITHOUT HAVING TO PROVIDE FREE TECH-SUPPORT FOR LIFE?
/.ers are some of the most anti-change people around...
I thought so... Well that's EXACTLY what the iPad will bring to us geek family-members.
Jeezus! For a bunch of so-called "tech-savvy" readers,
BTW, have you ever tried to actually USE a "laptop" computer in your lap while seated on typical livingroom furniture (recliner, couch, etc.)? There is NOTHING comfortable about it!
Go back and watch the Keynote. Notice that most of the hands-on was done SITTING IN THE COMFY CHAIR. That wasn't done because Steve-o gets tired standing up. He was demonstrating exactly WHY this is a "game changing" device.
And it is... Or rather, will be...
Quite frankly, this is the device I've been wanting for the past 20 years or so. What it can't deliver on it's own, my computer will sure be able to through a nice VNC client like > this, or this or this running on the iPad!
Now if only VNC supported AUDIO... Seriously, what's up with that???