iPad accessory of the decade

Running around with an iPad in hand?

(Source)

There are a few new competitors to the iPad coming out soon, from HP, Asus, Lenvo and Blackberry, all within the next 6 months. But how have you guys been using them?

Here’s, we’ve not had much cause to switch to using an iPad for anything, they’re just cool bits of tech to play around with. Businesses on Wall Street are apparently testing them out, and Apple’s CFO Tim Cook is quoted as saying that half the Fortune 100 are testing it, but these types of story only seem novel, testing new equipment to see how it could be used, rather than an industry wide standard being set.

However, that’s just the iPad, are companies more likely to adopt the use of tablet pcs when there is a lot more choice in the market?

Is it going to take Google’s Web Store of mobile apps to really open up the market and make it competitive to Apple’s App Store?

If they are going to use it, I think it’s going to take the form of more of a universal remote device, such as Dell’s idea of a device that you can dock to your laptop. Using it as a true extension of your main computer/netbook, to control things on it, to enhance your user experience and make it easier to do what you want, not just another toy to play with.

Mouse or Touchscreen

A recent Mashable poll showed that the traditional mouse was still favoured over the new kid on the block , the touchscreen.  But only just. Evidently more and more people are choosing to switch to touchscreen technology, posing the question, how long will it be until the trusty mouse and keyboard are obsolete? Ever increasingly mobile phone designers are creating touchscreen phones and with the hugely current iPad hype it doesn’t seem long before this type of hardware will be put in the same storage box as where the black and white TVs have gone to rest.

Jailbreaking

I am loving the term ‘jailbreaking’ it perhaps sounds much cooler that what it actually is, but hey i’ll go with it.

The website JailbreakMe.com is now providing easy freeing of your iPhone from the App Store prison.  Reports state that the process isn’t completely perfect, but it is incredibly easy, just a slide, a couple of minutes wait and voila! You’re unlocked!

There are of course always problems, and the JailbreakMe.com website has alerted security experts to the possibility that such a process could be used as a blueprint by hackers to find ways to exploit Apple users through their device’s web browser, according to the Telegraph.

The flaw can allow a hacker to remotely control an Apple device, including iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices, with a little bit of trickery by deceiving a user into opening a PDF file loaded with a malicious code – so keep an eye out for this devious document, and if you see it, you know, don’t open it.

Apple is releasing a software update in an attempt to solve this problem but have not let users know when the update will actually be available to them…we are waiting on tenterhooks!

iPad Reality Part Deux

As i get tossed around on the Virgin 006 flight coming back from Miami, 3 ipads in my man-bag, I’m considering early adopter reviews in the media. Meaningful balanced opinion is still sparse as the device is only a few weeks old at TOP and polar headline grabbers are still choice.

Speaking from my own experience, I’m sold, but I shouldn’t be.  It’s not a business tool and I so need it to be. Steve Jobs promised me personally that it would revolutionise my life.

Draw a line with ‘fun and frivolous’ on the left and ‘serious business machine’ on the right. Guess where it sits? Yup, you’re right. It’s a beautiful multimedia tablet, not a laptop replacement. Keynote and Pages ARE available (Albeit in cut down form), iWork beta sharing platform is running well, Mail/Cal/Contacts perfecto and this big iPhone screen shouts ‘leave the laptop at home, I can do it all, I promise i can’. But sadly, it’s just not so.

On the flip, the iPad has so many workarounds already that I’m doing just that. Converting that file type to upload there, downloaded & translated so it plays here. All the forum scouring, twisting and contorting eats into my valuable business day but I just cant help it. I will make it work. And if I can’t, I’m going to lie to you anyway, I’ve had 10″ pockets sewn into my jacket.

I have no doubt our children will be typing on glass. I have no doubt gesture based computing is the future and I have no doubt that it will be an Apple device trail blazing the way.

Just stand down for the moment, we’ll have to wait for the water walking moment, but as with most revolutions they often occur in the rear view mirror.

Sent from my iPad. Get me!

UK Release 28th May. Do pre-order now..

iPad Reality

It walks on water and feeds the poor. No, it’s not Bono. Ladies and gents I bring you the iPad… Tadaa

All hype aside, here are some practical tips & thoughts after my first 3 days:

1. It’s heavier than you think it should be
2. The keyboard is really easy to use
3. iWork apps have limited functionality but a must have if you want to use the iPad for business
4. The iPad marks the ‘real’ beginning of cloud computing
5. Great apps on the iPhone are not necessarily great on the iPad
6. iPhone apps run but are annoyingly small on the iPad
7. US iPads don’t work on the UK App Store (it isn’t open yet, but there are workarounds)
8. The Apple case is the only one to have (Folds into a wedge shape which helps lap usage as it’s a flat device) but is globally sold out (if you can find one, buy it)
9. WiFi is not great
10. The screen needs wiping all the time (but only because you want it perfect)
11. HD video playback is crystal
12. Battery lasts for ages
13. Flash is really missed (bring on HTML5 and sharpish)
14. No webcam is criminal
15. WordPress app is really buggy (used here ;))

So, Gen 1 iPad, I have to say I love it. It’s understandably not ‘there’ just yet but you can buy one now without disappointment.