The hullabaloo has died down following the launch of the iPad and the wild rumours have been put to bed so now it’s time to take a more considered view about the success of Apple’s latest launch. Opinion is divided over the product for good reason whether on lines of practicality or functionality. However, that is not an immediate focus – Apple will fine tune the product over subsequent releases. The iPad will sell and it will make a profit. The more important question is whether this will become a game changing product just as the iPhone did a couple of years ago, says FSN senior writer, Tony Crowhurst.
Product launches from Apple are unlike those of pretty much any other company – few companies neither have the aura nor are able to maintain the unquestioning reverence that Apple user’s exhibit. It’s almost like a religion and negativity is tantamount to treason amongst the aficionados. Apple prides itself on managing the whole user experience right from product design to delivery and beyond and with the iPad they succeeded once again in creating media frenzy.
It is also pretty amazing how quickly Apple has become mainstream. The return of Steve Jobs and with the phenomenal design capabilities of Jonathan Ive have combined to produce a team that have launched some exceptional products and created markets that previously did not exist. That does not mean that Apple always gets it right. There have also been some spectacular flops... do you remember the Newton handheld device or the Pippin games console? No, thought not.
With the iPad, Apple is hoping to “monetise” further the revenue potential of the Apps store. The Apps store for iPhone means that they not only have an ongoing revenue stream, they are also able to maintain control of the hardware and crucially the software on their devices. Apple has created a premium brand with long term customer tie-in - one that the likes of Nokia with its dominant market share can only wish to emulate with its own OVI store.
And this is where I believe the consumer focus that is intrinsic in Apple has missed a trick.
I do believe that the demand will come; not so much from the consumer space as from the business user.
Think of it like an iPhone that has been given a huge dose of growth hormones...
It is a truly beautiful device to hold – it’s smaller than a sheet of A4 paper and it weighs approximately 700 grams (1.5 pounds in old money). The iPad runs the same software as the iPhone which means you get access to all the Apps that you have on your phone. It’s not a phone but with Wi-Fi and optionally 3G versions you can surf the web, do email and if Steve Jobs has his way you’ll be voraciously downloading and reading books from the iStore.
So yes – first impressions are good – and you feel that you want to fall in love with the iPad just as you did (quite rightly) with your iPhone. Watching video and browsing pictures is a joy (provided you have iPhoto) and if you’re watching movies it really comes to life.
But if you want to do more than just watch music and video and view photos that love affair – sadly, for me, soon turns to frustration. The iPad is larger than a Kindle, Nook or similar e-book reader which means holding it in one hand becomes tiring. Technically also the iPad screen is backlit which is unlike electronic book readers whose screens user E ink technology.
Running the same OS as the iPhone does initially seem a good thing. Unfortunately, iPhone apps are optimised for well, the iPhone. That means when you stretch the application you may get that fuzzy view as if you were playing an old video arcade game. I’m sure that will change and that by launch there will be Apps configured for the iPad.
And this brings us to the business user...
Out of the box Microsoft Exchange synchronisation has meant that the iPhone is accepted on corporate networks. This has been a game changer and there are few software vendors in the business space that have not looked into creating products that work on the iPhone.
Think about looking at your stocks and shares on the iPad – size does matter! Likewise for applications such as expense claims, travel schedules and mapping technology Google Street View would come to life. If Apple plays their cards right and get the application sizing right then they will certainly convert many business users. In the service sector alone the user friendly nature of the iPad could revolutionise customer surveys, airline check-in could be made so much nicer and buying a car would become a much more interactive process. Imagine a world of estate agents running around with iPads! Taking it a step further...corporate presentations rendered for the iPad would also have huge resonance especially if groups could interact with the presentations using Google Docs.
These are just a few of the possibilities.
Sadly it’s its connectivity capabilities, which for me, as a business user let it down....
The iPad has Wi-Fi and 3G – I just wish they could have created a device that could seamlessly interact with computers and networks. But that does not appear to be the case. If I want to move data I need too sync using iTunes or with applications on the iPad do that via Wi-Fi. Why can’t I just drag and drop them onto the device? The next bugbear is the lack of ‘proper’ USB support. You’ll need to purchase a proprietary connector. I find that disappointing and it may diminish its value to corporate users.
There are other minor frustrations for me, such as the lack of Flash, poor wide screen definition, no HDMI output which would have been great to have for video, no multi-tasking and finally no camera.
Those gaps are more niggles than anything else and they can probably be resolved over time or with a purchase from the Apple store.
Sort out connectivity and Apple would make have made it unbeatable!
