The Apple Tablet

[Matt Timson]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/shiny-thing-make-it-all-better-201001282420/

Pfft.  Stupid and predictable.
 

My Mum was moaning about the fact that she wanted her own laptop for the internet the other day- this looks tailor made for her.  If she babysits for us a bit more often, maybe I'll get her one...

[Tiplodocus]

Two threads have scared me recently; Pat Mills is on TV - which I thought would consist of people saying "Look at his luxuriant mane" and this one.

I'm still gutted that PSION died and my lovely REVO didn't keep getting upgraded till it was gorgeous and full colour and everything.

Am I the only one skeptical about software keyboards? I really like the feedback from a real one.

This looks like it might be a nice toy though*. And, I'll be in the market for a new toy next year so this could be it.

*But not as cool as my DS with Frank Quietely Batman sketched on it.

[pauljholden]

SO, I've been mulling over the iPad.

From a resolution perspective, it could be better - 1024x768 isn't perfect, even if the ratio is better for 2000AD. On the other hand, 1024x768 is IT. I will be amazed if the res changes anytime soon (ie, MAYBE four or five years from now) - in my mind this ISN'T a first generation device, this is what the iPhone has turned into - and the iPhone res hasn't changed a jot since launch. Apple will be more concerned with battery, width and weight than changing the res (and, thereby upsetting tens of thousands of apple developers - not that they wouldn't hesitate to do that - but still - res is, I imagine for them, perfect for now).

(MAYBE they'll change the display technology to something better, but the res is a pretty much industry standard thing).

So, where does that leave us...

Software - there are, as mentioned, a couple of CBR/CBZ readers - expect this number to increase. There were some particular problems with doing the same on the iPhone - screen size, speed of the processor (wasn't great at handling larger images - in fact would take a fraction of the second to load them) and getting CBR files INTO the reader required developing both windows and mac software to move them.

Here's what's different:
Bigger size (obv) means the solution for displaying full pages is to ... display full pages. Double Page Spreads still represent a particular problem - I'd deal with it by showing half and allowing you to move around the page (rotate the page to see the full double page - and/or double tap to zoom out the full double page spread)
Faster processor can, presumably handle the bigger images.
And... the new iPhone OS allows you to give the user drag and drop into a directory of files - so plug in the iPad and drag your CBRs over to the correct directory...

Personally, I'd love 2000AD to create an own brand 2000AD CBR reader - something that lets you buy the Meg and 2000AD as CBRS that you could then drag out on to the desktop. And I'd like the reader for free. Apple's in App purchasing would allow you to buy from within it, or, if you prefer, you could buy the CBRs from ClickWheel (though I think, again, if I were the Mighty Tharg, I'd be selling the CBRs directly from the 2000AD website...). I'd price the CBRs at $1.49 in the app (with apple taking 30%) and I'd price them $1.20 from the website - giving you an incentive to make the little extra effort and 2000AD get a little cash.

(And, if I made a 2000AD reader, I'd pack it full of stuff - for example, I'd modify the CBR and add things like links to next issues, details of creators, etc - should be easy enough to include a text file within the CBR)

I'd half a neat interface like the iPhoto app - can you imagine a big pile of 2000AD issues laid out on a virtual floor ...

(And... futurequake, zarjaz, where's your cbr files?)

Anyhue, those are some thoughts...

[COMMANDO FORCES]

How much power does something like this use?
I only ask as the Tree Huggers might get upset if you have to keep recharging the bugger each day.

[pauljholden]

No idea about power consumption, but I do know that they're quoting 10 hours of web browsing time. If you're out of wifi range, you could turn that off and get a decent 12-15 hrs of comic reading I'd imagine. That's plenty of time to catch up.

How much would you pay to buy a 2000AD branded iPad complete with the entire 2000AD archive on it?

-pj

[COMMANDO FORCES]

You know the price would be the least of my worries pj, you tease

[Krakajac]

Couple of questions about the iPad...

1.Will I be able to directly connect my external 500GB USB hard-drive (which is about the size of a cigarette packet) to transfer files to/from the iPad?

2.When I'm on holiday, etc. - will I be able to connect my digital camera directly to the iPad and transfer jpg files for viewing by family/friends, etc.?

As much as I love the concept of the iPad (especially with regard to comics), I don't want to have to connect it to my desktop computer every time I want to manipulate/transfer files.  The ability to directly connect external HDD's and digital cameras will be the crucial factor for me.

Cheers,
Craig.

[pauljholden]

1.Will I be able to directly connect my external 500GB USB hard-drive (which is about the size of a cigarette packet) to transfer files to/from the iPad?

No. The OS on the iPad doesn't really have any where to manipulate files - even if plugging a USB drive in allowed it to be recognised, there'd be no way to transfer the files. Plugging the iPad into a computer appears to expose a directory for apps that have specifically allowed it, so, for example, you might have a CBR reader - plugin in the iPad and it will reveal a directory that you could drag and drop to. But if you want music on there, I imagine you'd have to go through iTunes.

2.When I'm on holiday, etc. - will I be able to connect my digital camera directly to the iPad and transfer jpg files for viewing by family/friends, etc.?

Yes and no. I think they're selling an extra device to plug in memory cards or cameras.

-pj

[Krakajac]

Thanks very much for the reply, PJ!

[Pete Wells]

While reading to my little girl this morning I had a brainwave, admittedly quite a shameful one, but a brainwave nevertheless!

What about a nice bedtime stories app for the ipad for lazy or techy parents? Just think, sleepy fairy tales with soothing lullaby music and a soft voice that reads to the kids. Gentle animation and twinkling stars perhaps? It'd be a winner!

C'mon PJ, let's do it!

[Marbles]

I have to say if I was not a comics fan then the appeal of the ipad would be limited.

But as a comics fan, this is a no-brainer.

Being able to read all my digital comics on a nice big tactile digital display, drag 'n drop my .cbr collection - yes please! Awesome piece of kit, we just need Longbox to actually produce something and the future will be here!


 

[pauljholden]

I think if I wasn't into comics or generally techy stuff and if I hadn't got a
computer, I'd be thinking of the ipad as the easiest, most direct way to get on the Internet. Essentially this does for the web what tv do for digital/analogue transmission. I'd sit on my sofa, watching telly and browsing the net on a device that would be, for most people "the Internet"

[Jim_Campbell]

I think if I wasn't into comics or generally techy stuff and if I hadn't got a
computer, I'd be thinking of the ipad as the easiest, most direct way to get on the Internet. Essentially this does for the web what tv do for digital/analogue transmission. I'd sit on my sofa, watching telly and browsing the net on a device that would be, for most people "the Internet"

TBH, after watching the keynote and thinking about it for a few minutes, I found myself thinking: "I bet I could get my Mum on the internet with one of those ..."

Cheers!

Jim

[Jim_Campbell]

Further to the above, John Gruber had a remarkably prescient piece on Daring Fireball in December. It'll be interesting to see how things pan out when the iPad starts shipping, particularly given that all those iPhone developers will have had a month or so re-task their iPhone apps for the iPad.

Cheers!

Jim

[Light Surfer]

I am quite keen on getting one.

Not being able to have lots of apps running at the same time doesn't bother me, personally I Like it quiet when I read so that's not a problem.
 
I can see the advantages with reading comics on it - at the moment I use a netbook, which is fine, but of course the screen is in landscape. So easily turning it to a portrait view, I would imagine, be better. Would like to see how the screen compares to the current readers.

The bedtime story idea is great too! My kids would love this.