"Most of all, though, it’s cool to consider that as one of the new Children of Cyberspace, her expectations about computing will be shaped by the fact that she’s growing up in a touchscreen world."
I was fascinated at how natural she seemed to scroll photos, and how fast she picked up doubling the screen size of iPhone apps.
I honestly don't think the simplicity is a good thing for kids. If you've watched little children become acquainted with technology before, you'll see that complicated is a good thing because they can pick it up and understand it relatively quickly. For an unfamiliar old person, yes, simplicity for a must. For kids, I think you need to set the bar a lot higher.
There was an article on Gizmodo that called it something like the Walmart-ization of computing.
On April 07 2010 20:29 Jibba wrote: I honestly don't think the simplicity is a good thing for kids. If you've watched little children become acquainted with technology before, you'll see that complicated is a good thing because they can pick it up and understand it relatively quickly. For an unfamiliar old person, yes, simplicity for a must. For kids, I think you need to set the bar a lot higher.
There was an article on Gizmodo that called it something like the Walmart-ization of computing.
The Gizmodo article refers to "Wal-Martization of the software channel" as in software distribution. Not computing itself.
It also makes a jab on the iPad not being tinkerer-friendly, which is a common complaint of Apple's business model by the naysayers.
On the other hand, where else do you see 13-year olds compete with giants like EA in a relatively even field?
The thing is, tinkering has moved to a different level. Not hardware wise, but software wise. Yes, you still need to thru Apple for distribution and selling, but nothing is stopping you from using the SDK and use Apple's development tools. Don't like it? You still got Mobile Safari which arguably has some of the best technology for web applications.
Some people call it dumbing down. I call it computers finally being the reliable devices they should have been years ago. Creating smart interfaces is *extremely* hard. And so far, Apple is the best at doing so. There is a difference between complexity by design and complexity by bad design. Let the complexity exist at the development and maintenance level; the user doesn't need it and shouldn't have to deal with it.
On April 07 2010 21:06 VManOfMana wrote: The thing is, tinkering has moved to a different level. Not hardware wise, but software wise. Yes, you still need to thru Apple for distribution and selling, but nothing is stopping you from using the SDK and use Apple's development tools. Don't like it? You still got Mobile Safari which arguably has some of the best technology for web applications.
You mean other than the fact that Apple refuses to release iPhone/iPad development tools for other operating systems?
The fact that I want development tools for my handheld device shouldn't place a limitation on my home computing.
I don't see MS Visual Studio available for Macs either, nor included with Windows for free. The iPad-specific SDK is not included in Macs, but XCode is. And the UNIX compilers. Whats your point?
On April 07 2010 21:21 VManOfMana wrote: I don't see MS Visual Studio available for Macs either. Whats your point?
If I want to develop something for MS-related hardware, Visual Studio is not a requirement. On the other hand, it's pretty clear that while the iPhone SDK may not be a requirement for development on the iPhone, Apple is doing a pretty good job of trying to make it one, given their repeated efforts to hamstring the functionality of non-Apple Store apps in successive iPhone OS versions. Microsoft doesn't provide you all the stuff to get things working, but once you've got it working, I don't see them trying to break what you've made.
Also worth noting that Windows is not my desktop OS of choice, but that's another discussion entirely.
There is a big difference between development and distribution. I am not going to contest Apple trying to make the App Store the unified distribution channel of applications, but that is how it is.
My main point was that if you want to tinker around and make your own programs, you are free to do so. Distribution is another story.
I believe there is a rather bullshit $100 annual fee for 'developer membership' or something to put your own apps onto your phone from XCode, bypassing the app store. No doubt you can get around that if you've jailbroken your phone.
My point is that it's not entirely free to tinker around with. Trying to think why they would do it this way, I guess it's a way to stop people from just releasing the source code to all their apps and having people compile onto their phones, avoiding the app store and apple's manual filter.
On April 07 2010 13:17 JWD wrote: (Latecomer to thread)
iPad has really impressive reviews, the word is that its interface makes it a totally new type of computing device that is way more intuitive and natural than a laptop, PC, or phone. Initially I thought I'd never buy one, but now I think that my ideal setup would be a powerful desktop, an iPad, and a cheap phone just for SMS and calling.
Sulli, the lack of multi-tasking (which is honestly a very big deal, much bigger than not having it on a phone) has nothing to do with hard limitations, it's simply a design choice. I honestly wouldn't expect it out of the next iteration, given Apple's record with the iPhone. It doesn't multitask because they don't want it to.
You do have to credit Apple's ability at selling their design though. Before the iPad, even though tablet PCs existed, no one recognized the potential and marketability of such a device. The people pointing out the lack of Flash, multitasking, etc. and those looking at the competition are the exact people who suddenly realize the potential for the iPad. They WANT the iPad and they WANT to take advantage of the concept that Apple is selling. However, they're also the exact people that realize that Apple isn't targeting their own segment. Apple isn't out there to sell this to the technology gurus; they're out there to market it to the masses and they want it to become the next iPods and iPhones that everyone can make good use of.
A lot of the general public aren't really aware of what people are criticizing the iPad for. Because the general sentiment seems to be that "iPad is just a bigger iTouch" and it easily makes sense, a lot of people are just jumping on the bandwagon and being submissive to the negative sentiments. However, Apple's marketing is brilliant. In my opinion, Apple doesn't need to implement multi-tasking to sell this thing. If you consider how many people are still using first generation iPods and iPhones, which I doubt are high in numbers, one can see how minor flaws won't matter in the long run. iPad still looks and feels sleek, and the first generation doesn't need to be perfect as long as the general public gets exposure on the concept. A few friends showing off their new toy might not be convincing enough for you to go out there and purchase this thing because you'll have reasonable doubt. However, all they need for this to really take off is polishing the little flaws, adding a camera on it and then re-releasing it as iPad 2nd generation and I bet Apple will be very happy with its new market.
It's actually the little things like using AIM while surfing or checking email that highlight the lack of multitasking the most. Or things like missing access to file structure. People put up with it on an iPhone because it's a phone, but when you use it as a a tablet/laptop hybrid, the problem isn't so easily dismissable. Credit Apple for actually making iWorks pretty good on the iPad, but it falls apart on that one piece of oversimplification.
I think it's just as pretentious to say what the general public is or isn't thinking. It's been on the market for less than a week. The only people who have had serious time with it are stuffy newspaper editors, the rest of the world is still figuring out what they're going to do with it.
On April 07 2010 21:06 VManOfMana wrote: On the other hand, where else do you see 13-year olds compete with giants like EA in a relatively even field?
Watch the next 3 months for Android. The app store is gaining by 5000+ per month (I think it was 9k in March) and they're making the biggest jumps in the smart phone market.
Funny thing but the back of the ipad isn't even flat, so when you try to type while it's on a table or something you'll end up pushing it along the top.
I laugh at people I see with this money-sucking tool.
On April 07 2010 21:34 VManOfMana wrote: My main point was that if you want to tinker around and make your own programs, you are free to do so. Distribution is another story.
This isn't even true. The other thing about the MS Visual Studio analogy is that in the case of MS Visual Studio (or non-Microsoft alternatives), you are, in a large percentage of cases, developing on a machine on which your software is intended to run (e.g. you are developing for PC on PC). Transfer to an appropriate device for testing is not an issue. Apple repeatedly interfering with non-SDK apps prevents even proper development of those apps--without being able to actually run the app from the device, you can't do live testing.
On April 07 2010 22:57 On_Slaught wrote: Funny thing but the back of the ipad isn't even flat, so when you try to type while it's on a table or something you'll end up pushing it along the top.
I laugh at people I see with this money-sucking tool.
You are doing it wrong. You are supposed to be sitting in the iPad bullshit position.
optionals: be in a room with white walls and hold a cup of coffee with your other hand.
On April 08 2010 00:42 RoosterSamurai wrote: I would say no. I heard that it has no USB ports, and if it is any more than 10 ft. away from an access point, it will drop the connection.
Proof?
At my workplace there is an iPad to play around with during breaks. Trust me, there is no access point within 10ft from where we sit.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4b6184a20000000000b29c66/steve-jobs-ipad-apple-ap.jpg)
