Apple’s iPad to be released soon
The Apple iPad is a laptop and iPod all combined into one machine. (Photo courtesy of Appmodo)
By April 3, a 9.7-inch LED screen that weighs about 1.5 pounds may be seen throughout the halls in the hands of students.
Apple’s latest technology is the iPad, or the Apple tablet. The device is similar to the iPod Touch but larger and with more features. In addition to the iPod touch’s fun and popular characteristics, the iPad has applications for word processing that may be useful for students.
On the iPad, you can surf the web as easily as you could on a desktop computer. But with its easy touch screen, you can simply tap photos to view them like the iPod Touch. The iPad allows you to email and preview photos as well. The touch screen gives the ability to pinch, preview, or open folders completely.
HD Videos shown on the iPad are clear and crisp on the high-resolution screen. The iPad also works as an iPod with the Apple’s iTunes application and online store.
The new gadget uses high-resolution satellite imagery to show maps in an easy-to-use fashion. For students who can drive, this can potentially replace the need for pricey GPS systems and create less of a hassle.
The calendar and the contacts applications can store dates, addresses, notes, and numbers. The new, large screen should make it easy for students to take notes in classes and to keep a digital planner. The iPad also has an application store to buy other applications that work with the device.
Also serving as an eBook reader, the iPad will be a direct competitor to other book readers, such as Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, and Sony’s Reader.
The iPad’s new iBooks application lets you read books with sharp, high-resolution color. The iBook store allows you to instantly buy an iBook and immediately download and read it on the iPad.
Another set of applications that helps the iPad be as accessible as any computer and relates to students is the iWork feature. The three applications are Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Keynote is the equivalent of the presentation application PowerPoint; Pages acts as a mix between word processor Word and page layout software InDesign. Finally, the spreadsheet application Excel is replaced on the iPad with Numbers.
“It sounds convenient and easy to use,” Kate Pan (’11) said.
Apple intends to introduce the iPad at an inexpensive price. The base model will sell for $499.
As of now, the iPad hasn’t been released, so neither students nor the press have had a chance to actually see and/or use one. But if the product lives up to its promise, it could fill a new niche situated among a laptop, iPod Touch, and an eBook reader.
The iPad is really just an enlarged iPhone with a bit faster of a processor, and a few tweaks in iPhone OS which include some new features in some of the native applications on the device. Until Apple really does something new with this device, maybe even allows/ships with OSX, I think the step between smartphone and laptop (which is what they were going for) is still not filled. I feel like they haven’t done a very good job of meeting that goal by just blowing up the iPhone to a 9.7-inch screen with a few extra little features and UI Tweaks.
If I had to give any advice on whether or not to purchase this device, I would say wait until the 2nd or even 3rd generation of the iPad when they actually add some features that aren’t currently implemented on their other devices.
I forgot to add that Apple is really stubborn about adding support for Flash, and until they do, they will never fill the space between smartphone and laptop.