Apple iPad : Revolution or Just Evolution? Back on The Announcement of The Apple iPad Tablet. The Keynote tonight has finally fulfilled its promises. Steve Jobs has unveiled its tablet, now officially known as the iPad. Heralded as a revolution by some, the iPad can really claim that title?
Back on the characteristics
The iPad is broadly in line with expectations. It has a 9.7 inches slab, an operating system derived from that of the iPhone and a form factor similar to that of the famous smartphone. A smart Wi-Fi 802.11 n is of course present, Bluetooth (2.1 + EDR) as well. Some versions are equipped with a 3G chip. Note, however, the format of the SIM card will not be identical to that of models present in our mobile phones. The question of compatibility arises then. It will also wait to see the deals offered by European operators of mobile telephony. Storage is provided by the flash, like the iPhone or iPod. Three storage capacities, respectively 16, 32 and 64 GB will be offered.
The processor is designed by Apple. It is clocked at 1 GHz and has an ARM architecture. According to initial reports from people who already have taken the tablet in hand, the performance would be met. Apple announced a range of up to ten hours of use and one month old. Numbers to verify in practice prior to rejoice. Autonomy was clearly not the strong point of the iPhone.
The good news
The first comes from the Price. Many rumors suggested a price approaching $ 1,000, the entry model range will be sold eventually to $ 499. Count $ 829 for high-end version with 3G of disk space and 64 GB.
Second interesting news, Apple said to have opted for a slab of IPS technology. A very good point, this type of tile with a faithful reproduction of colors but also angles of vision wide enough. More surprising, however, the resolution of the slab 1024 × 768. Remember, this is the definition present on most of our old CRT monitors at a time when the format 4: 3 was still the norm. If this ratio has undeniable advantages in the context of an office use, however, it necessarily implies the presence of black bars when playing videos, the last being at 16: 9 for the great majority. As we mentioned in our previous article, Apple has emphasized the fun aspect of his tablet. The films will therefore be important. Somewhat surprising in its terms to opt for a slab 4: 3.
The choice of an operating system based on that of the iPhone is also an interesting news. Firstly, it can benefit all applications already available on the smartphone. Another advantage, and perhaps most importantly, the OS displays a speed unmatched. A few seconds to access all features where Mac OS X would need at least a minute. Disadvantage, it is not possible to install software designed for Mac OS. Given the number of available applications and characteristics of the iPad, few people would be affected by this limitation.
Apple iPad Tablet
Disadvantages
Strangely, no webcam. Also some people may regret the lack of USB ports. Given the position and intended use of the tablet is not too surprising. For most users, only the shared folders on the computer to exchange data easily. In addition, online storage solution, type MobileMe, now a lot. Finally, Apple offers an adapter to plug into the dock port for people who really need to plug a USB key.
More problematic, the notable absence of support for Adobe Flash technology. Rather embarrassing on a device whose purpose is to surf the Internet and provide additional content for publishers of eBooks and magazines. These are generally fond of animation or video in Flash format to enrich their content. Unless Apple we reserve this feature for the actual output of the iPad. In sixty days, the Cupertino company has plenty of time to support the flash. Ditto for the support of multitasking as expected and mentioned in many rumors and totally absent from the Keynote.
Users of the iPad?
Two types of users should be interested in the Apple tablet. Of course, geeks and technophiles other followers of the latest High-Tech who will find no doubt uses the tablet. But with the iPad is without doubt the general public-which is referred in the first place. Apple seems to place his pad in the heart of the home, especially in the lounge. Of course for entertainment (games, videos, …) and to a lesser extent, reading. Offer eBook and other magazines as yet too limited and prices too high to justify a massive adoption. The iPad will participate undoubtedly moving in this area, but will probably wait several more months.
The Apple Tablet might attract some people, however little concerned at first by the tablet: all those who need a very limited computing and more generally to a computer. For a relatively affordable sum, the iPad would allow such persons to timely access to the Internet, send and respond to two or three emails per week, or take some notes. With the dock and keyboard optional, these uses should be quite feasible. In addition, the touch interface is intuitive, especially combined with a simplified operating system. The owners of the iPhone may have already noticed, even for someone totally foreign to a computer, the grip is very fast. The fact of having simply efflorer the screen to find its feet in just a few minutes, where several days are sometimes needed to master the movement of a mouse.
Apple iPad Tablet
The iPad sounds the death knell for netbooks?
Certainly not! The iPad is designed primarily for entertainment (movies, eBooks, magazines, games). The netbooks will retain a significant advantage for anyone looking for a machine designed for industrial and office uses, particularly those involving heavy use of keyboard. Moreover, even if the price of the iPad is ultimately more affordable for an Apple computer, netbooks, with prices ranging typically around 300 / 350 euro, will retain a significant advantage for many people.
Outlook
Beyond the ad itself, one of the important information of this Keynote from Apple’s choice to return to the processor market. A very bad news for Intel and Nvidia, both deprived of very important opportunities. This also means very certain that other models will ship shortly processors designed by Apple.
Why Apple has not updated its MacBook and MacBook Pro. These models still boarded platforms with Intel Core 2 Duo while all PC Laptops are now gone (or will do soon) new model Intel Core i. Why Apple does not travel? The Core i7 processors are yet perfect for the MacBook Pro, top models theoretically at the forefront of technology. Should we see a sign in the announcement of a processor designed by Apple? Difficult to imagine, however, the Cupertino company to compete with Intel. No, Apple should probably provide an update of its discrete Stores.
A revolution or evolution?
A few hours after the keynote, and after a ride on the canvas and its different sites, blogs or forums, the iPad obviously does not unanimous. Especially among some fans boys, these people completely dedicated to the cause and Apple products. For them, the disappointment is great. Many expected an announcement of a revolutionary product is finally a kind of giant iPhone that appears.
A priori, the iPad is not up to most rumors. For sure, no OLED tile (even if this hypothesis was unlikely as we have pointed out), no port or USB interface revolution. Perhaps, but so far do not bury the new product from Apple. The revolution is not valid but the iPad could however trigger a change in behavior, increasing another notch we need information and our addiction to be continuously connected. As noted by Steve Jobs, the tablet is in a global environment. It opens up new needs and makes sense in an environment heavily networked with computers, a server and a media center. The iPad would then serve as a gateway but also the control center.
Finally, we should not kid ourselves, the choice of the Apple iPad are primarily financial. The tablet will be a new source of substantial revenue by broadening the AppStore books and magazines, while reinforcing the importance of play and certainly videos. Beyond the hardware aspect of the tablet, it may be more toward content and tariffs that should be addressed. And since the U.S. raised rates, it is doubtful that most users are willing to pay between twelve and fifteen dollars to acquire a digital version of the latest best-seller.
