sorry, Mpeg 4 and H.264, AAC-LC, M4v, MP4, and MOV, but not WMA. I stand corrected. Easy enough to convert WMA to MOV though... It would be nice if they'd add DivX, but we know that's not actually Apple's lock-in, but NBC/ABC/etc and the MPAA.
I'll add, by creating a less than perfect product, Apple doesn't need to spend billions on a risk that it won;t be perfect. It's not just about designing a great product, it;s about being able to meet the DEMAND for it, which is a huge logistics and manufacturing mess, and its simple not possible to build 30 million of a brand new, secret device, in it's first calendar year. It's also not possible to hire enough additional support staff, and train them to Apple's high standards, that fast.
Apple is VERY comfortable (and so are their shareholders) with steady 30-50% growth year over year. They can't handle the mass influx of millions of users in a short span. This is the PRIMARY reason OS X is not available in a full retail version. Contrary to the belief apple would make less money if the sold software only, the Economics of it show otherwise, assuming a $329/copy license fee for 3-5 machines), the issue is the doubling or tippling of the user base in a short span, most of which would not be existing Mac users, and be on disparate or incompatible hardware (Apple would publish a clear and concise HCL, but many people would ignore it and try installing on unsupported hardware or under-performing hardware), and a doubling in user base this way could be 4 or 5 times the support load. Apple simply can not accomodate that and remain on a high support quality level, and the will NOT saccrifice offering support on their OS just to put it in a box.
Apple is the 3rd largest tech firm in the world in terms of profit and cash in the bank. They're growing steady, stockholders like that, and eventually they'll convert larger and larger percentages as they comfortably grow the support staff.
A slight amendment. Apple's philosiphy may be "design for the user" but nowhere in Apple's culture does that exclude Power Users. No, you don;t need to be a power user of a phone, or an iPod, so we'll exclude that. Being said, the OS is the single most powerful, flexible, and scriptable OS I have yet worked with. Being able to flow seamlessly from a fantasic GUI, through a highly powerful automator, though full UNIX comand line scripting power, and free, included compilers and an amazing code development environment, is true power.
The core components of the OS are all plist files, easy to edit if you know how, and the underlying unix power (without being FORCED to use it for everyday changes) is amazing.
There are at least a dozen, full time, IT admins and analysts here in our firm, where we operate over 3,000 Servers, more than half windows, and those dozen or so admins use a Mac exclusively, even to manage the Windows systems.
By NO MEANS is Windows required. Short of a few games, and a few 3rd party apps, ANYTHING you can do on a Windows Box I can do on a Mac. no, I can't run the EXACT program you do, nor can i run every specific device you can, but I can FIND a device or an app that does the same thing (often better, and often free).
Saying Windows is required is a huge slap and a "fuck you" to every Linux admin in the world.
I didn't get my first PC until 2003. I ran Windows in a VM on a 486 daughter card in my mac only so i could keep up my knowledge on the half of the IT world I was forced to support, but never because I required it. I eventually bought a PC simply because I had a few roommates who had them, and we shared a lot of games. (pretty much, that was it, games).
No business level support? WRONG. Apple has a business sales division. You can't get their business warranty on a retail Mac, but if you order a few hundred from Apple's direct channel partners, yes, hell yes, you can get a business warranty. On notebooks and desktops, even businesses don;t pay for "business class" warranty, but on servers and storage, oh yes, it;s there. Everything else is "drop off" support, often with same day repair, and yes, Apple will prioritize genius time to handle a business service call. They don't do on-site, except for servers, but that's what vendors are for... (why pay for support when you can make your vendor do it for free).
No, it;s an always on convenience device and communication platform (beyond what a phone can do, but always on which a PC is not), that happens to also play video, games, and control your home theater system, and edit documents.
Sure, a netbook is just: 1) more expensive (all the ones that ho 720p or better video cost more than the iPad). 2) weighs much more 3) lasts far less on a battery (3-4 hours playing video, tops) 4) is not instant on 5) does not get e-mail when hibernating (the iPad has a 30 day standby time on Wifi, and is constantly collecting notifications and push e-mail!) 6) is less convenient 7) doesn't do portrait mode for reading sites and working on docs 8) has to be maintained, patched, secured like a PC 9) can;t share app licenses with more than 1 device 10) doesn't run all the iPhone apps I already own 11) wont; hang from the back of my car seat so the kids can watch movies 12) has no native streaming services (sorry, Windows Pro not licensed on netbooks). 13) doesn't require expensive PC software licenses. 14) netbooks don't do games.
This is a PC COMPANION device, something to sync from your PC, work with your phone, and be always handy, always ready to use, and always on. A netbook is another PC to babysit. If I wanted that, I'd get another REAL PC, one i can use, play videos and games on, for a few hundred more (I can get a Macbook 13" for example for only $850, more powerful than any Dell or HP in it;s class for a lower price, and only a few hundred more than a shitty ass netbook.
Did you not even read the 1 page white paper??? IT HAS A FRACKING FILE SYSTEM, Externally addressible, copy files over the network, copy files to/from both USB and SD.
Um, 32GB holds a lot more than 10 hours of video, i regularly compress 2 hours movies to less than 1GB at above VGA resolution. If lots of movies are your thing, 64GB should give you days of non-stop no-repeat music and 20-30 movies easy. plus, there's an SD card adapter and a USB adapter, both which can access external video and copy it to the central file repository and play from there.
32GB of class 6 flash is $80. a $100 upgrade to go from 32-64 is NOT bad.
Also, you'll STREAM most of your video. Do you really think Apple permitted high performance 3G video and spent millions buying a cloud media provider for show?
Cloud connected, always on. The ONLY reason you need local storage is for apps, current working files, your favorite playlists, and enough video and podcasts to get you through a few days... Everything else is streamed via either the cloud or your local network.
I'm considering only the 32GB model. Also, since you can add an SD slot to the dock connector, and move files between it and the internal local storage, and play video and photos from the card, expansion IS an option.
lets see: - Export video to HDTV, reportedly over a Wireless HDMI dongle sold seperately, or via cable connected to dock port. - EDIT documents, not just view them - actually PERFORM a presentation, via projector. - much better website utilization and navigation power. - local file system for downloads/sharing - highly improved streaming power - edit photos (to a limited extent) - Publish not just to Flicker/facebook, but also to Mobile Me, including creating new albums sites. iWeb is also an expected upcoming app for the device. - Manage your photo albums. - manage playlists without using the PC beyond the "on the go" playlist - better Calendar and Exchange integration - Whole new UI with overlay features and a much more PC-like experience working with complex apps like desktop publishing and slide presentations. - Full VoIP API integration, for taking calls over 3G, including backgrounding those calls to work on an app. (iPhone can only background 3G calls, not voIP calls). - greatly improved e-mail experience, multiple attachment support, universal inbox support, folder managemant, rich e-mail creation (not text only messages). more.
I can go on like this a lot longer. You lack understanding, imagination, and the will to do either. Quit spreading FUD until you get a clue. You post about people complaining, and YOU ARE ONE OF THEM!
Card slot did not fit bezel form factor. Also, why the need? It;s designed for streaming, cloud sharing, etc. Moving a few single files from one platform to another will be rare, hence the external adapter. Further, an SD slot or USB port would defeat the hermetically sealed design, making it less durable and no longer ideal for beach or foul weather use.
My iPHONE can print to my HP printer, both wirelessly direct, and as a shared device from my PC (again being accessed via WiFi. Some apps also seem to support BlueTooth printing, but I don;t have one. Certainly, as a document editing platform, it will have significantly improved printing functions....
Dead on for the use cases. It's MUCH more powerful than people think it is... Imagination is the key, and unfortunately, too many people have had their imagination surgically removed by Microsoft and Dell years ago.
right, right, right, right. Good on the first 4. Camera can not only be used via Dock, or probably even via tethered iPhone, but the bluetooth stack in the iPad SDK has camera support as well. BT 2.1 cameras can be found for as little at $50. Storage? It's not a repository, it's for STREAMING. Local storage is only required for what you want with you short term where you might not have network access (favorite play lists, a few videos, current podcasts, working documents). I don;t see much of a need beyond 32GB (I rarely fill my 16GB phone), though some people might want 64GB. More internal storage? Nah, use the SDXC adapter. Additional 64GB chunks don;t come cheap though, a couple hundred a piece, but that's the best way to have lots of video on hand without streaming (or a USB hard disk would be better, though less portable, and there is also a USB adapter....)
Multitasking. Big Safari downloads continue in background, check. E-mail in real time, check. Notifications for chat app, check (do you really need it hovering on top of your app while you're waiting for someone to chat, no.) The only multitasking I'm missing are A) iPod API plug-ins for 3rd party streaming (Apple confirmed development of this already, just have to wait). B) GPS notifications voice over running apps, also rumored in development, but requires new GPS hardware. note the iPad has NO GPS Hardware (only A-GPS via 3G tower location services, only accurate to about 200 ft if that). You're not expected (it;s probably illegal anyway) to put an iPad on your dash while driving, and it;s not exactly convenient biking/hiking as a GPS...
Locked down? Short of OS X itself, this is the LEAST locked product Apple ever sold, and it;s the ONLY tablet/ebook/anything that gets 3G data that does not require a contract... nice.
You can only use iTunes to do the syncing to the device. Outside of that, iTunes can support any file in a non-DRM format. The iPad will playt not just Quicktime, and AAC, but also WMA, MP3, and more formats that are not even available from the store, so yes, outside of being locked to the APP (which you don't have to use as your PC media player, just a sync platform) there is no iTunes lock-in. Nothing Apple does prevents you from using media from other sources (unless those sources use DRM themselves, which apple does not for music, and only does for video because the contract requires them to, and all the providers threatened to pull out if Apple forced them to go DRM free).
Document transfer? - they've discussed in DEPTH the central file store where multiple apps can access the same files, and also have details on the store redarding USB and SD card support through a dongle. Also, network sharing was discussed, as well as transfer of files via MobileMe. YES, you will be able to move files in and out easily, possible even through Bluetooth file sharing.
Exchange Support. - Duh, hell yes. ALL of Apples current products have Exchange support out of the box (Even Microsoft's don't!). There's a whole new e-mail client, so likely greatly improved Exchange calendar support will be added, as well as improved meeting creation/management.
VPN? - Again, the iPhone does this, why would the pad, that uses the same OS, not support this?
Other Media Sources? - Pandora, many others already available. Any unencrypted MP3 or WMA file will play on it, same as the iPod. Hulu and Netflix have apps in development (admitted openly) however, they're not yeat ready for release, and they considder it low priority compared to other current ventures and code development. Before End 2010 we should see this certainly, but this is not APPLE'S restriction. What more do you mean by "sources" since no other media source out there are themselves "open" unless they're distributing in DRM free, in shich case YES, their files can be used on the iPad.
Videoconferencing? the device has no internal camera, but it DOES have a full call centric SDK, including VoIP tie backs through API, and the Bluetooth stack as well as the dock port have Camera support. It was developed with a camera, but 1) the user testing proved the location of the camera has both problematic (put it on side, top, what?, and you're fingers are right on it in many positions), and 2) it does not point at your face unless you hold it above your lap at an angle. Also, only about 20% of people are interested in video calls, even iChat use is low with Mac Users, it's just not that popular of a platform except for porn. making this an OPTIONAL accessory makes the price lower AND the camera you buy more useful (put it where you want, point it where you want, use a larger lens pack and better hardware, etc).
Intertnal storage? - It's only needed when you do not have a network/3G connection. The device is designed only for limited internal storage, everything else is in the cloud or streamed from other PCs, You only need such storage as to hold enough video and music for a few days use tops (if you even use it out of the house at all). I'm fine with a 32GB model, might get the 64. Also, an SDXC card will likely be able to transfer non-DRM video files in/out or simply play from the card.
Multitasking? - It already does this, to an extent. Many apps are "always" on. The rest use notifications. Dowloading already continues in the background. The iPad does NOT restrict this, the OS does. OS 4 is coming with MUCH improved multitasking. It will still be a "suspend to background" system, which is essentially what the iPhone already does (except the iPhone saves the state and closes the app, the new OS will essentially suspend live in RAM), but there will be more overlay options. There still won't be drag n drop between apps, but yes, you'll be able to be working on a doc, get e-mail in real time, and see new chat windows pop-up in real time, even under OS 3.2. OS 4 will make this feel much more PC-like.
Flash? - never, not per Apple. Adobe is dying, there's nothing in Flash that can't EASILY be written as a native app or as a webkit page in HTML5. Also, Java is fully supported. Microsoft is also rumored to be working hard on Silverlight for iPhone OS. There is NO REASON to use Flash anymore. YouTube and NetFlix are in beta using HTML5 (YouTube already works on the iPhone, did since day 1 using H.264). Now that the MPEG LA extended royalty free use of H.264 until 2016 (for those who don;t directly profit or sell access), we'll see a LOT more people move to this FAST. MPEG wants Flas
The 2.5" caddy is for the SSD and includes the controller card. A traditional drive bay is required in ADDITION to this caddy (which fits a second 3.5" bay adjacent to the HDD).
The man with the foul mouth is correct.
total internal PC space required is 2 x 3.5" bays. You can absolutely use a 2TB drive and a small SSD with this kit.
However, Wendy's DOES PAY to play that free OTA radio... (actually, typically they don;lt even do that, but pay for MUZAK or cable radio, as negitiating rebroadcast deals with local radios is complex when you're talking about hundreds of cities. Also, even hooking a radio to you line-in jack on your PBX to use as "hold music" is illegal, and you're not charging ANYTHING for people to be on hold...
Also, at any location where a game is aired, you can not profit, PERIOD, on ANYTHING, or else it is a business location or a business function (if nothing more than temporarily, and even if there is no registered business).
What you THINK is right, or what should be, has nothing to do with the existing law. I don't agree with it, but I can't argue it's application and its reality. All i can do is lobby to CHANGE it.
The rolling in this is handled more like Risk. You roll a bunch of D6 attack dice equal to your power, they roll a bunch of defense dice (which usually is not the same number). Match up high to low, negate ties. Both sides can loose troops in melee, only one side in ranged.
movement is based on the unit as a whole, and it;s power is based on what kinds of units are in what slots on a card that sits on the base (4-20 units per base). Everything is easy to measure in terms of 1 "square" of movement equals one side of a base. Giving "orders" to move, attack, or reorganize troops, or use a special ability, cost points, of which you have far fewer to give than you have troops, which implies the strategy.
I'll warn you, it takes a decent table to play a game with 2 players, and usually we use the whole living room floor for 3-4 players. But that's something you should be used to with hero Quest or Warhammer.
Another cool thing: the "board" is just a simple area. Obstacles like cover providing outcropings or trees, or victory point areas which are the goal to control, are simple pieces of paper printable from the web site.
Oh, the website also has a "unit builder" that allows you to customize and print any arrangement of troops on a base. It calculates all the point totals, and gives you a card to print that sits on the base. These are tournament legal cards:) (a code number is printed on the card, and stored in their database. A tournament director need only type in the number to see it on their PC and validate it is legitimate).
We have 2 local shops here in my town already hosting tournaments regularly (including prizes in the form of unique units that can not be bought).
I don't watch to see who wins, I watch because it truly is entertaining to see people perform feats i can not, to feel the tension in the players, and to see guys get SMEARED, and to see some truly great plays.
I read books from beginning to end to see HOW it got the the end, though it would be equally easy to just skip to it. Heck, lots of books I read I know the end before I begin. Same with watching movies.
With a "big" game, it;s not only the excitement of the game itself, but the other people you;re capable of bringing together to watch it with, and its even more entertaining when there's a good split of people rooting for different sides. There's also the pre and post game conversation and mingling to be had.
i do enough most of the days of the year, it's completely OK to pick a few nights on occasion to enjoy someone ELSE doing something, especially when you can appreciate the effort it takes for them to do it so well.
If you think sports is about "watching" something, you truly do not understand either sports or society at all. (then again, you are reading/. so maybe that should have been assumed, my bad...) Also, without watching some football, how do you expect to have a clue about how to play it yourself outside?...and there's a lot of us that are either incapable of doing so, or who lack the scope of friends to pull off a game, and we can live vicariously through the players when necessary.
I've been to a lot of big game parties, and hosted several. I can say in all my years, no one has ever said "we" won. I hear a lot of "way to go Giants!" and "nice job SC!" and "Dallas sucks!" but no one I know considers themselves any more a part of the team then the towel or water guy. no one thinks their cheering had anything to do with the victory (aside a few superstitious folks). That said, by SUPPORTING a team, you are actually making it possible for them to exist, and thus to win at all.
You need to look into Arcane Legions. It's a new game from the former guys who though up BattleTech and Shadowrun years ago. Kinda like Warhammer, with lots and lots of pieces, but it's "formation" based, not unit based, so it;s quick to play (kill a few hundred units in 2 hours). The pieces are cheap, a tiny fraction of WarHammer's costs. (to get the complete set for 1 army, it's about $120).
It's nice as the "random" army packs are actually sold in a set of 8, and if you buy the set, you;re guaranteed the whole set. Also, commons are sold SEPERATELY, so you can bulk up on gernal units cheap, or buy special packs.
Looks like there's opportunity for lots of expansions. Play style is nice too, lots of options in combat.
You naturally get to paint your own pieces too. For about 3x the price, they're available direct from the manufacturer pre-painted if you're not into that.
Sorry, they're pretty specific here. Even OTA TV picked up at a place of business and displayed to the public has in fact been illegal for decades, without the consent of either the broadcaster, content provider, or both.
OTA TV is free to individuals, but not free to businesses that charge for or profit from its display. You've never heard of a "not for commercial use" license? LOTS of COMPLETELY FREE software and other consumer goods are illegal to use in places of business or for profit without compensation being paid to someone.
With Satellite or Cable TV, it's even tougher. Having worked in restaurants for years forwarding my IT education, and later supplementing my early years of low-income IT positions, I can attest. If you have a business, and TVs, what you pay for service is based on your square feet of space for which a TV is viewable, and you max legal occupancy. They charge extra if they allow more than news/weather channels, and even more for you to even be able to turn on the volume. Big games, even on regular TV, cost extra. A PPV even can cost THOUSANDS to air inside of a business.
It;s clearly spelled out, just before the game begins being aired, and usually several times during it, that public broadcast/simulcast/rebroadcast of the event is not permitted without written confirmation (which allways costs money).
It;s about the business making money showing their content without them getting a cut. The FCC and FTC have backed this up for years, as have the courts. This is NOT for debate unless you're talking about CHANGING the law. (which won't happen without them simply moving the content to pay-only channels).
Develop? no, it's not for that.... but neither is any netbook or low cost portable computer at all, so that is not a valid argument against the class of machine or it;s viable use cases. Edit, fix a bug, yea if you had to. Read an error log? yea. Diagnose issues? yea. Use it as a production machine? hell no.
I don't develop when I'm not at work (at work does sometimes include at home, but I'm on the clock doing something productive). When I'd be out and about with an iPad, I'd expect I'm NOT on call, and not planning on any active work. If I was on call, I'd have my desktop replacement 17" machine with me. If I'm headed to be beach or the pool, or just to lounge in the back yard, no. Also, hanging a 17" laptop from by back seat so the kids can watch a flic on a long trip is not quite as ideal, nor it trying to tie it into my home theatre system as an HTPC (as getting a call and needing to do some work would interrupt the movie for everyone else beside me, when i could simply leave the iPad plugged in).
Slashdot Mirror
sorry, Mpeg 4 and H.264, AAC-LC, M4v, MP4, and MOV, but not WMA. I stand corrected. Easy enough to convert WMA to MOV though... It would be nice if they'd add DivX, but we know that's not actually Apple's lock-in, but NBC/ABC/etc and the MPAA.
I'll add, by creating a less than perfect product, Apple doesn't need to spend billions on a risk that it won;t be perfect. It's not just about designing a great product, it;s about being able to meet the DEMAND for it, which is a huge logistics and manufacturing mess, and its simple not possible to build 30 million of a brand new, secret device, in it's first calendar year. It's also not possible to hire enough additional support staff, and train them to Apple's high standards, that fast.
Apple is VERY comfortable (and so are their shareholders) with steady 30-50% growth year over year. They can't handle the mass influx of millions of users in a short span. This is the PRIMARY reason OS X is not available in a full retail version. Contrary to the belief apple would make less money if the sold software only, the Economics of it show otherwise, assuming a $329/copy license fee for 3-5 machines), the issue is the doubling or tippling of the user base in a short span, most of which would not be existing Mac users, and be on disparate or incompatible hardware (Apple would publish a clear and concise HCL, but many people would ignore it and try installing on unsupported hardware or under-performing hardware), and a doubling in user base this way could be 4 or 5 times the support load. Apple simply can not accomodate that and remain on a high support quality level, and the will NOT saccrifice offering support on their OS just to put it in a box.
Apple is the 3rd largest tech firm in the world in terms of profit and cash in the bank. They're growing steady, stockholders like that, and eventually they'll convert larger and larger percentages as they comfortably grow the support staff.
A slight amendment. Apple's philosiphy may be "design for the user" but nowhere in Apple's culture does that exclude Power Users. No, you don;t need to be a power user of a phone, or an iPod, so we'll exclude that. Being said, the OS is the single most powerful, flexible, and scriptable OS I have yet worked with. Being able to flow seamlessly from a fantasic GUI, through a highly powerful automator, though full UNIX comand line scripting power, and free, included compilers and an amazing code development environment, is true power.
The core components of the OS are all plist files, easy to edit if you know how, and the underlying unix power (without being FORCED to use it for everyday changes) is amazing.
There are at least a dozen, full time, IT admins and analysts here in our firm, where we operate over 3,000 Servers, more than half windows, and those dozen or so admins use a Mac exclusively, even to manage the Windows systems.
By NO MEANS is Windows required. Short of a few games, and a few 3rd party apps, ANYTHING you can do on a Windows Box I can do on a Mac. no, I can't run the EXACT program you do, nor can i run every specific device you can, but I can FIND a device or an app that does the same thing (often better, and often free).
Saying Windows is required is a huge slap and a "fuck you" to every Linux admin in the world.
I didn't get my first PC until 2003. I ran Windows in a VM on a 486 daughter card in my mac only so i could keep up my knowledge on the half of the IT world I was forced to support, but never because I required it. I eventually bought a PC simply because I had a few roommates who had them, and we shared a lot of games. (pretty much, that was it, games).
No business level support? WRONG. Apple has a business sales division. You can't get their business warranty on a retail Mac, but if you order a few hundred from Apple's direct channel partners, yes, hell yes, you can get a business warranty. On notebooks and desktops, even businesses don;t pay for "business class" warranty, but on servers and storage, oh yes, it;s there. Everything else is "drop off" support, often with same day repair, and yes, Apple will prioritize genius time to handle a business service call. They don't do on-site, except for servers, but that's what vendors are for... (why pay for support when you can make your vendor do it for free).
No, it;s an always on convenience device and communication platform (beyond what a phone can do, but always on which a PC is not), that happens to also play video, games, and control your home theater system, and edit documents.
Sure, for $1100, not for $499.
Sure, a netbook is just:
1) more expensive (all the ones that ho 720p or better video cost more than the iPad).
2) weighs much more
3) lasts far less on a battery (3-4 hours playing video, tops)
4) is not instant on
5) does not get e-mail when hibernating (the iPad has a 30 day standby time on Wifi, and is constantly collecting notifications and push e-mail!)
6) is less convenient
7) doesn't do portrait mode for reading sites and working on docs
8) has to be maintained, patched, secured like a PC
9) can;t share app licenses with more than 1 device
10) doesn't run all the iPhone apps I already own
11) wont; hang from the back of my car seat so the kids can watch movies
12) has no native streaming services (sorry, Windows Pro not licensed on netbooks).
13) doesn't require expensive PC software licenses.
14) netbooks don't do games.
This is a PC COMPANION device, something to sync from your PC, work with your phone, and be always handy, always ready to use, and always on. A netbook is another PC to babysit. If I wanted that, I'd get another REAL PC, one i can use, play videos and games on, for a few hundred more (I can get a Macbook 13" for example for only $850, more powerful than any Dell or HP in it;s class for a lower price, and only a few hundred more than a shitty ass netbook.
Did you not even read the 1 page white paper??? IT HAS A FRACKING FILE SYSTEM, Externally addressible, copy files over the network, copy files to/from both USB and SD.
TROLL.
Um, 32GB holds a lot more than 10 hours of video, i regularly compress 2 hours movies to less than 1GB at above VGA resolution. If lots of movies are your thing, 64GB should give you days of non-stop no-repeat music and 20-30 movies easy. plus, there's an SD card adapter and a USB adapter, both which can access external video and copy it to the central file repository and play from there.
32GB of class 6 flash is $80. a $100 upgrade to go from 32-64 is NOT bad.
Also, you'll STREAM most of your video. Do you really think Apple permitted high performance 3G video and spent millions buying a cloud media provider for show?
It's a STREAMING PLATFORM YOU MORON!
Cloud connected, always on. The ONLY reason you need local storage is for apps, current working files, your favorite playlists, and enough video and podcasts to get you through a few days... Everything else is streamed via either the cloud or your local network.
I'm considering only the 32GB model. Also, since you can add an SD slot to the dock connector, and move files between it and the internal local storage, and play video and photos from the card, expansion IS an option.
What can it do?
lets see:
- Export video to HDTV, reportedly over a Wireless HDMI dongle sold seperately, or via cable connected to dock port.
- EDIT documents, not just view them
- actually PERFORM a presentation, via projector.
- much better website utilization and navigation power.
- local file system for downloads/sharing
- highly improved streaming power
- edit photos (to a limited extent)
- Publish not just to Flicker/facebook, but also to Mobile Me, including creating new albums sites. iWeb is also an expected upcoming app for the device.
- Manage your photo albums.
- manage playlists without using the PC beyond the "on the go" playlist
- better Calendar and Exchange integration
- Whole new UI with overlay features and a much more PC-like experience working with complex apps like desktop publishing and slide presentations.
- Full VoIP API integration, for taking calls over 3G, including backgrounding those calls to work on an app. (iPhone can only background 3G calls, not voIP calls).
- greatly improved e-mail experience, multiple attachment support, universal inbox support, folder managemant, rich e-mail creation (not text only messages). more.
I can go on like this a lot longer. You lack understanding, imagination, and the will to do either. Quit spreading FUD until you get a clue. You post about people complaining, and YOU ARE ONE OF THEM!
Card slot did not fit bezel form factor. Also, why the need? It;s designed for streaming, cloud sharing, etc. Moving a few single files from one platform to another will be rare, hence the external adapter. Further, an SD slot or USB port would defeat the hermetically sealed design, making it less durable and no longer ideal for beach or foul weather use.
My iPHONE can print to my HP printer, both wirelessly direct, and as a shared device from my PC (again being accessed via WiFi. Some apps also seem to support BlueTooth printing, but I don;t have one. Certainly, as a document editing platform, it will have significantly improved printing functions....
Dead on for the use cases. It's MUCH more powerful than people think it is... Imagination is the key, and unfortunately, too many people have had their imagination surgically removed by Microsoft and Dell years ago.
right, right, right, right. Good on the first 4.
Camera can not only be used via Dock, or probably even via tethered iPhone, but the bluetooth stack in the iPad SDK has camera support as well. BT 2.1 cameras can be found for as little at $50.
Storage? It's not a repository, it's for STREAMING. Local storage is only required for what you want with you short term where you might not have network access (favorite play lists, a few videos, current podcasts, working documents). I don;t see much of a need beyond 32GB (I rarely fill my 16GB phone), though some people might want 64GB. More internal storage? Nah, use the SDXC adapter. Additional 64GB chunks don;t come cheap though, a couple hundred a piece, but that's the best way to have lots of video on hand without streaming (or a USB hard disk would be better, though less portable, and there is also a USB adapter....)
Multitasking. Big Safari downloads continue in background, check. E-mail in real time, check. Notifications for chat app, check (do you really need it hovering on top of your app while you're waiting for someone to chat, no.) The only multitasking I'm missing are A) iPod API plug-ins for 3rd party streaming (Apple confirmed development of this already, just have to wait). B) GPS notifications voice over running apps, also rumored in development, but requires new GPS hardware. note the iPad has NO GPS Hardware (only A-GPS via 3G tower location services, only accurate to about 200 ft if that). You're not expected (it;s probably illegal anyway) to put an iPad on your dash while driving, and it;s not exactly convenient biking/hiking as a GPS...
Locked down? Short of OS X itself, this is the LEAST locked product Apple ever sold, and it;s the ONLY tablet/ebook/anything that gets 3G data that does not require a contract... nice.
You can only use iTunes to do the syncing to the device. Outside of that, iTunes can support any file in a non-DRM format. The iPad will playt not just Quicktime, and AAC, but also WMA, MP3, and more formats that are not even available from the store, so yes, outside of being locked to the APP (which you don't have to use as your PC media player, just a sync platform) there is no iTunes lock-in. Nothing Apple does prevents you from using media from other sources (unless those sources use DRM themselves, which apple does not for music, and only does for video because the contract requires them to, and all the providers threatened to pull out if Apple forced them to go DRM free).
Document transfer?
- they've discussed in DEPTH the central file store where multiple apps can access the same files, and also have details on the store redarding USB and SD card support through a dongle. Also, network sharing was discussed, as well as transfer of files via MobileMe. YES, you will be able to move files in and out easily, possible even through Bluetooth file sharing.
Exchange Support.
- Duh, hell yes. ALL of Apples current products have Exchange support out of the box (Even Microsoft's don't!). There's a whole new e-mail client, so likely greatly improved Exchange calendar support will be added, as well as improved meeting creation/management.
VPN?
- Again, the iPhone does this, why would the pad, that uses the same OS, not support this?
Other Media Sources?
- Pandora, many others already available. Any unencrypted MP3 or WMA file will play on it, same as the iPod. Hulu and Netflix have apps in development (admitted openly) however, they're not yeat ready for release, and they considder it low priority compared to other current ventures and code development. Before End 2010 we should see this certainly, but this is not APPLE'S restriction. What more do you mean by "sources" since no other media source out there are themselves "open" unless they're distributing in DRM free, in shich case YES, their files can be used on the iPad.
Videoconferencing?
the device has no internal camera, but it DOES have a full call centric SDK, including VoIP tie backs through API, and the Bluetooth stack as well as the dock port have Camera support. It was developed with a camera, but 1) the user testing proved the location of the camera has both problematic (put it on side, top, what?, and you're fingers are right on it in many positions), and 2) it does not point at your face unless you hold it above your lap at an angle. Also, only about 20% of people are interested in video calls, even iChat use is low with Mac Users, it's just not that popular of a platform except for porn. making this an OPTIONAL accessory makes the price lower AND the camera you buy more useful (put it where you want, point it where you want, use a larger lens pack and better hardware, etc).
Intertnal storage?
- It's only needed when you do not have a network/3G connection. The device is designed only for limited internal storage, everything else is in the cloud or streamed from other PCs, You only need such storage as to hold enough video and music for a few days use tops (if you even use it out of the house at all). I'm fine with a 32GB model, might get the 64. Also, an SDXC card will likely be able to transfer non-DRM video files in/out or simply play from the card.
Multitasking?
- It already does this, to an extent. Many apps are "always" on. The rest use notifications. Dowloading already continues in the background. The iPad does NOT restrict this, the OS does. OS 4 is coming with MUCH improved multitasking. It will still be a "suspend to background" system, which is essentially what the iPhone already does (except the iPhone saves the state and closes the app, the new OS will essentially suspend live in RAM), but there will be more overlay options. There still won't be drag n drop between apps, but yes, you'll be able to be working on a doc, get e-mail in real time, and see new chat windows pop-up in real time, even under OS 3.2. OS 4 will make this feel much more PC-like.
Flash?
- never, not per Apple. Adobe is dying, there's nothing in Flash that can't EASILY be written as a native app or as a webkit page in HTML5. Also, Java is fully supported. Microsoft is also rumored to be working hard on Silverlight for iPhone OS. There is NO REASON to use Flash anymore. YouTube and NetFlix are in beta using HTML5 (YouTube already works on the iPhone, did since day 1 using H.264). Now that the MPEG LA extended royalty free use of H.264 until 2016 (for those who don;t directly profit or sell access), we'll see a LOT more people move to this FAST. MPEG wants Flas
Of course, you don't need DDRII/DDRIII RAM, as even the worst performance, cheapest, high capacity sticks you can get are still much faster than SSDs.
But actually, he said DRAM, not SDRAM or DDR SDRAM, but actually I think he means NAND, since SSD drives in fact ARE DRAM!
The 2.5" caddy is for the SSD and includes the controller card. A traditional drive bay is required in ADDITION to this caddy (which fits a second 3.5" bay adjacent to the HDD).
The man with the foul mouth is correct.
total internal PC space required is 2 x 3.5" bays. You can absolutely use a 2TB drive and a small SSD with this kit.
However, Wendy's DOES PAY to play that free OTA radio... (actually, typically they don;lt even do that, but pay for MUZAK or cable radio, as negitiating rebroadcast deals with local radios is complex when you're talking about hundreds of cities. Also, even hooking a radio to you line-in jack on your PBX to use as "hold music" is illegal, and you're not charging ANYTHING for people to be on hold...
Also, at any location where a game is aired, you can not profit, PERIOD, on ANYTHING, or else it is a business location or a business function (if nothing more than temporarily, and even if there is no registered business).
What you THINK is right, or what should be, has nothing to do with the existing law. I don't agree with it, but I can't argue it's application and its reality. All i can do is lobby to CHANGE it.
The rolling in this is handled more like Risk. You roll a bunch of D6 attack dice equal to your power, they roll a bunch of defense dice (which usually is not the same number). Match up high to low, negate ties. Both sides can loose troops in melee, only one side in ranged.
movement is based on the unit as a whole, and it;s power is based on what kinds of units are in what slots on a card that sits on the base (4-20 units per base). Everything is easy to measure in terms of 1 "square" of movement equals one side of a base. Giving "orders" to move, attack, or reorganize troops, or use a special ability, cost points, of which you have far fewer to give than you have troops, which implies the strategy.
I'll warn you, it takes a decent table to play a game with 2 players, and usually we use the whole living room floor for 3-4 players. But that's something you should be used to with hero Quest or Warhammer.
Another cool thing: the "board" is just a simple area. Obstacles like cover providing outcropings or trees, or victory point areas which are the goal to control, are simple pieces of paper printable from the web site.
Oh, the website also has a "unit builder" that allows you to customize and print any arrangement of troops on a base. It calculates all the point totals, and gives you a card to print that sits on the base. These are tournament legal cards :) (a code number is printed on the card, and stored in their database. A tournament director need only type in the number to see it on their PC and validate it is legitimate).
We have 2 local shops here in my town already hosting tournaments regularly (including prizes in the form of unique units that can not be bought).
I don't watch to see who wins, I watch because it truly is entertaining to see people perform feats i can not, to feel the tension in the players, and to see guys get SMEARED, and to see some truly great plays.
I read books from beginning to end to see HOW it got the the end, though it would be equally easy to just skip to it. Heck, lots of books I read I know the end before I begin. Same with watching movies.
With a "big" game, it;s not only the excitement of the game itself, but the other people you;re capable of bringing together to watch it with, and its even more entertaining when there's a good split of people rooting for different sides. There's also the pre and post game conversation and mingling to be had.
i do enough most of the days of the year, it's completely OK to pick a few nights on occasion to enjoy someone ELSE doing something, especially when you can appreciate the effort it takes for them to do it so well.
If you think sports is about "watching" something, you truly do not understand either sports or society at all. (then again, you are reading /. so maybe that should have been assumed, my bad...) Also, without watching some football, how do you expect to have a clue about how to play it yourself outside? ...and there's a lot of us that are either incapable of doing so, or who lack the scope of friends to pull off a game, and we can live vicariously through the players when necessary.
I've been to a lot of big game parties, and hosted several. I can say in all my years, no one has ever said "we" won. I hear a lot of "way to go Giants!" and "nice job SC!" and "Dallas sucks!" but no one I know considers themselves any more a part of the team then the towel or water guy. no one thinks their cheering had anything to do with the victory (aside a few superstitious folks). That said, by SUPPORTING a team, you are actually making it possible for them to exist, and thus to win at all.
You need to look into Arcane Legions. It's a new game from the former guys who though up BattleTech and Shadowrun years ago. Kinda like Warhammer, with lots and lots of pieces, but it's "formation" based, not unit based, so it;s quick to play (kill a few hundred units in 2 hours). The pieces are cheap, a tiny fraction of WarHammer's costs. (to get the complete set for 1 army, it's about $120).
It's nice as the "random" army packs are actually sold in a set of 8, and if you buy the set, you;re guaranteed the whole set. Also, commons are sold SEPERATELY, so you can bulk up on gernal units cheap, or buy special packs.
Looks like there's opportunity for lots of expansions. Play style is nice too, lots of options in combat.
You naturally get to paint your own pieces too. For about 3x the price, they're available direct from the manufacturer pre-painted if you're not into that.
Check out arcanelegions.com
Sorry, they're pretty specific here. Even OTA TV picked up at a place of business and displayed to the public has in fact been illegal for decades, without the consent of either the broadcaster, content provider, or both.
OTA TV is free to individuals, but not free to businesses that charge for or profit from its display. You've never heard of a "not for commercial use" license? LOTS of COMPLETELY FREE software and other consumer goods are illegal to use in places of business or for profit without compensation being paid to someone.
With Satellite or Cable TV, it's even tougher. Having worked in restaurants for years forwarding my IT education, and later supplementing my early years of low-income IT positions, I can attest. If you have a business, and TVs, what you pay for service is based on your square feet of space for which a TV is viewable, and you max legal occupancy. They charge extra if they allow more than news/weather channels, and even more for you to even be able to turn on the volume. Big games, even on regular TV, cost extra. A PPV even can cost THOUSANDS to air inside of a business.
It;s clearly spelled out, just before the game begins being aired, and usually several times during it, that public broadcast/simulcast/rebroadcast of the event is not permitted without written confirmation (which allways costs money).
It;s about the business making money showing their content without them getting a cut. The FCC and FTC have backed this up for years, as have the courts. This is NOT for debate unless you're talking about CHANGING the law. (which won't happen without them simply moving the content to pay-only channels).
Apology accepted. Thanks for the nice comments.
formal anoucement was last Thursday with the 3.2 SDK. YES, VoIP over 3G and WiFi now openly supported, several apps are already approved.
Develop? no, it's not for that.... but neither is any netbook or low cost portable computer at all, so that is not a valid argument against the class of machine or it;s viable use cases. Edit, fix a bug, yea if you had to. Read an error log? yea. Diagnose issues? yea. Use it as a production machine? hell no.
I don't develop when I'm not at work (at work does sometimes include at home, but I'm on the clock doing something productive). When I'd be out and about with an iPad, I'd expect I'm NOT on call, and not planning on any active work. If I was on call, I'd have my desktop replacement 17" machine with me. If I'm headed to be beach or the pool, or just to lounge in the back yard, no. Also, hanging a 17" laptop from by back seat so the kids can watch a flic on a long trip is not quite as ideal, nor it trying to tie it into my home theatre system as an HTPC (as getting a call and needing to do some work would interrupt the movie for everyone else beside me, when i could simply leave the iPad plugged in).