Have Apple Done it Again?

Published on Monday, 12 April 2010 11:40

Apple are known for their innovative products and with its newest product being shipped to these shores, the iPad has been met with mixed reviews. As Apple have kept details about the iPad very much under wraps, as always, rumours about the name and what it could do have been circling the web.

The name of the iPad didn’t go down too well. Many Internet users and journalists were making jokes about the name and even videos were posted mimicking the product. Many people were expecting the name to be Apple Tablet but Apple as I expected wanted the product to go along with the i brand.

The iPad features are very similar to other i products, including Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, YouTube, iTunes, iPod, App Store, Maps, Calendar, Contacts, Notes and also the Home Screen is listed as a feature.

One of the two most interesting features is the Spotlight Search, which will allow you to search through all of the inbuilt apps in just a touch. The second is the Accessibility feature; this will enable screen reader, support for playback of closed-captioned content and other universal access features. These features will make it easier for people who have vision impairment, hard of hearing or deaf, or have a physical or learning disability.

The most surprising part about the iPad was the depth. The iPad is an incredible 0.5 inches in depth, which is quite remarkable considering this is the first attempt at such a product.

When Steve Jobs, owner of Apple, was unveiling the iPad, he made it clear that it was not trying to be an iPhone or a MacBook but something in the middle. Despite this, the unveiling showed the iPad using apps just like the iPhone but on a larger scale.

This left people thinking, I could just do this on my phone?

To find out more about the iPad, Simon Hamalienko asked Dean Johnson MCSD, Creative Director at Brandwidth, based in London, who will be working with the iPad, some questions on Apple’s new product.

SH - With many people expecting the iPad to be called Apple Tablet or iTablet, why do you think the iPad name was finally chosen and what did you think it would be called?

DJ - iTablet was always considered the platform reference by Apple ('a tablet', rather than 'the tablet'). The iPad name was a natural fit with iPod. The paper-based connection (note pad) relates to the potential for digital publications. We successfully predicted the name, with our preview video launching 24hrs before the official keynote, with the iPad title.

SH - Some people are saying that the iPad is just a larger version of the iPhone. What makes it different?

DJ - Physically, it is a bigger iPhone but this added real estate allows the iPad to deliver a completely different user experience. The iBook Store will prove a success as this allows digital publishing to become the media-rich experience current e-book readers could only hope for.

SH - Do you think other companies will be bringing out their own versions of the iPad?

DJ - LG and Google will all provide competition but nothing compares to Apple's UI (User Interface) and established content channels such as the App Store, iTunes and new iBook Store. It's all about content and usability.

SH - Do you think the iPad is almost like a prototype, and then a couple of years later if all goes well, there will be an iPad two? similar to the iPhone development.

DJ - The 1st gen iPad will be testing the water (and we will all be rushing to Apple Stores to pay to become guinea pigs). 2nd gen (complete with camera) will appear 12 months after March launch (or earlier) with a software update this July at the launch of iPhone 4G and iPhoneOS 4.0 software update (addressing the absence of multitasking).

SH - From the unveiling, it looked like gaming was one of the iPad’s main features. Is that going to be the iPad's main use?

DJ - Gaming will feature heavily on the iPad. Many unit purchases will be shared amongst family members and will serve the purpose of a gaming/music/video/book hub. Large format board games and multi-player, multi-touch games will feature heavily.

SH - The iPad uses touch screen typing, do you expect this to be the first signs of switching from a keyboard to typing touch screen?

DJ - Virtual keyboards will become more widely accepted. I would expect Apple to launch a reconfigurable digital Bluetooth keyboard, with virtual keys that can change layout depending on program use, i.e. jog/shuttle, piano keyboard, etc.

SH - What do you think we can expect from the iPad/Apple in the future with Updates etc?

DJ - We will eventually see video conferencing, but not until the networks can deliver the required bandwidth. 3D screen content. Additional connectivity (USB, memory card). Potential for a stylus for accurate drawing input.

The iPad will come in two different versions, Wi-Fi and 3G. Then you must decide whether you prefer a 16GB, 32GB or 64GB flash drive.

At the moment the iPad is still one of the most talked about products in the world. Good or bad publicity, everyone knows about the iPad. I think that most of the population will be going down to their nearest Apple Store to have a closer look at the possible must have item of 2010.

Editors note: Have you bought an iPad yet, or are you thinking of purchasing one? What questions would you like to ask our experts?

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