Apple's iPad - My Way

Apple's iPad is a great example of what a forward thinking technology company can achieve.  And, it has finally arrived in Canada.  Actually, it took a lot less time for the iPad to reach Canada than it took the iPhone.

While there are critics of the device, no other computer manufacturer has been able to market a tablet computer to the masses.  What is sad, these kinds of devices can not be brought on by surprise.  The days of Steve Jobs ending a keynote with "...and one more thing..." may be losing it's impact with the recent examples of leaks about upcoming products.  Yet the hype still builds.

As Apple creates the best computer operating system, designs the best notebooks and desktop, and gave a much needed kick to the mobile phone industry, it is also seeking too much control over its products.  There seems to be less and less respect for developers and users, especially when its mobile devices are concerned.

For developers, it stems from the iPhone developer agreement, and the approval process for iPhone/iPod Touch applications, which will extend to the iPad.  Let developers create the application they want, whether it duplicates and official Apple app or not, and let users decide.  Users will chose the best application for their needs.  The only criteria there should be applications is that it does not contain any malware.  Apple's own applications are very intuitive to use from the beginning, yet if a developer creates an application that duplicates some functionality of an Apple application, it is usually filling in a missing link not covered by Apple.

As for users, buying an iPad, or iPhone/ipod Touch, means being locked into Apple's iTunes service.  Which is far from losing its music market share.  The stability and integration that comes with combining an Apple mobile device with an iMac or MacBook is huge advantage, and solves many problems with trying to sync data between mobile devices and computers.  However, those mobile devices can only play certain formats, which are inconvenient if a collection already exists in a format not endorsed by Apple.

Where the iPad is concerned, it is right now a giant iPod Touch.  It needs more features of a notebook.  A proper file viewer, a preview application, multitasking taken to a level farther than the iPhone, and the ability to play a broader variety of video and audio formats; whether built in or via a plugin such as Perian.  Those simple additions would make the iPad much more attractive.  Otherwise, I will wait for the next generation.