Last night's event was a 1 and a half hour "preview" for the new iPad, a device expected for about 2 years from the Cupertino giant, a device that arrived today but most people were left with a bitter taste after the "big launch" . According to a poll released tonight on mashable.com, one of the largest technology sites of the more than 4300 votes about 50% were given by people who will not buy the new iPad, and I rightly believe them, iPad it's mostly eyecandy, a iPod touch oversized, positioned by Steve Jobs between iPhone si MacBook, iPad unfortunately it left the feeling of a device that is weaker than a laptop, better than an iPhone but that offers too little to be bought.
Here are some of the expectations of many who, again, were ignored by Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), and they are strongly felt in the general public's conception of the iPad:
- Camera : for an Internet tablet at least a webcam should have been added, I understand why Apple did not place a camera, but not even a web camera for conferences? A big minus point for many;
- multitasking : for a device with a 1GHZ processor and a battery with an autonomy of 10 hours, we would have expected to be able to run more than 1 browser or a movie at once. The lack of multitasking is a BIG BIG minus, multitasking would have completely changed the face of the iPad, but Apple decided that we don't need such luxury. If multitasking was introduced on the iPad automatically, it should also be introduced on the iPhone/iPod Touch, but maybe we will see it in OS 4.0.
- Notifications : nothing, zero, nada. No notifications from Apple this time, maybe in the summer, or maybe not, those with iPads are waiting.
- Complex multitouch gestures : benefiting from such a screen and the new multitouch technology, I would have expected the iPad and the multitouch system to be somewhat more complex than the iPhone, but from what was seen at the event, it is exactly the same thing;
- tethering : the WiFi only version of the iPad will allow tethering from the iPhone, but nothing is known about the one with 3G, nor do I think it will allow you to tether for other devices, we are only talking about Apple here.
- FLASH : Apple knows what is good for us and like a caring parent dictated that flash is for the weak! Why do you need flash, why can you see absolutely any format when you can sit on the iPad and you don't need half of the sites! Why can you watch movies in any player? No no! Youtube is for you! The rest have nothing to look for.
- Movie : Are we limited to the same formats imposed by Apple on the iPhone/iPod Touch? Of course! Why should we be able to see almost anything? No baby! Movies passed through iTunes only. BIG FAIL! again…
To be honest, I would have expected it to run Mac OSX, iPhone OS, "futuristic" as it is, it still has its limits and it's mobile phone software, not internet tablet software. I would have expected Apple to bring something revolutionary, that's how they boasted all week, but they broke a soap bubble again. It's the last time I fall prey to Apple's PR.
I personally wouldn't buy an iPad because to be honest I don't see the point, it costs as much as a grand laptop that would be just as portable, of course with a weaker battery but with almost unlimited options. Touchscreen is fun, on a phone, on a 10 inch screen it gets tiring quickly.
I have to admit, however, that the operating system is very nicely animated, if I didn't know how, I'd probably spend money on an iPad just because you can work with it, but knowing how limited the new product is, I'll definitely say PAS.
The all-in-all iPad will require a PC next to it to play music/movies/etc and will leave you with the feeling that you'd better get a laptop for the money spent on it.
