Apple iPad and related items (part 2)

[sim667]

Dunno about AFP, but Air Sharing will allow you to connect via WiFi using SSH...

(and I think, over 3G on the pro version)

Hmmmmm

Ive set up my share so i can access it from the internet..... Im not sure i want to leave my ssh shell open in the same way tbh.

 

[editor]

Jobs has buddied up with Murdoch to bring you lucky iPad owners The Daily:
http://www.wirefresh.com/unholy-alliance-of-steve-jobs-and-rupert-murdoch-spawns-the-daily/

 

[elbows]

It seems the VLC dev who is has been a nipple and caused VLC to be removed from the app store works for Nokia!

 

[Crispy]

New 4/5 finger gestures in iOS 4.3



Looks very slick

 

[Kid_Eternity]

BGR has some intriguing rumours which add to the (very slick!) video above, apparently Apple are going to remove the home button from the iPad 2 and iPhone 5, and are moving to a full touch n swipe navigation.

We just got some pretty wild information from one of our Apple sources and while it’s hard to believe at first, it does make sense. We have exclusively been told that the reason Apple just added multitouch gestures for the iPad in the latest iOS 4.3 beta is because the iPad will be losing the home button. Yes, we are told that Apple, at some point in time, will remove the home button from the iPad’s design. Instead of button taps, you will use new multitouch gestures to navigate to the home screen and also to launch the app switcher.

That’s not all, however. In addition to the home button disappearing from the iPad, we’re told that this change will make its way over to the iPhone as well. Our source said Apple employees are already testing iPads and iPhones with no home buttons on the Apple campus, and it’s possible we will see this new change materialize with the next-generation iPad and iPhone devices set to launch this year.

Additionally, we’re told Apple’s popular photo-taking application, Photo Booth, will be appearing on the next iPad. It’s also very possible that we’ll see iLife apps for iOS unveiled around the iPad 2 release as well.

It has been said that Steve Jobs didn’t want any physical buttons on the original iPhone at first, and it looks like he may soon get his wish.

 

[Crispy]

Hmm, that's not so good. A single "panic" button is a very strong UI feature. Multi-touch gestures are very neat and useful, but they're far from intuitive.

Also, what about eg. a music app where you want to move 4 sliders upwards at the same time?

 

[editor]

BGR has some intriguing rumours which add to the (very slick!) video above, apparently Apple are going to remove the home button from the iPad 2 and iPhone 5, and are moving to a full touch n swipe navigation.

Following Android's lead then - Android 3.0 Honeycomb needs no physical buttons.

Personally, I like physical buttons...

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Hmm, that's not so good. A single "panic" button is a very strong UI feature. Multi-touch gestures are very neat and useful, but they're far from intuitive.

Also, what about eg. a music app where you want to move 4 sliders upwards at the same time?

I'm not especially sold on it either, but it is nice to see Apple finally shaking things up a bit with this part of its product line...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Also, what about eg. a music app where you want to move 4 sliders upwards at the same time?

You do it with a proper controller, with physical faders.

Touch UI's are great if you want to look cool but are utter shit for actual real world performance IMHO. The lack of "feel" kills them.

 

[Crispy]

You do it with a proper controller, with physical faders.

Touch UI's are great if you want to look cool but are utter shit for actual real world performance IMHO. The lack of "feel" kills them.

I agree, but that's just one app example. Fruit Ninja, for example, is a game that encourages multi-touch swipes in all directions. There are others. How will this conflict be resolved?

Knowing apple, it'll be "tough shit, change your app so it has no multi-touch swipes. Those are ours now"

 

[elbows]

Its an interesting question. How many fingers do the Fruit Ninja swipes use? I would not be surprised if Apple go down the tough shit route either, I cant think of a dead easy solution but we will see.

 

[Crispy]

four or five, not sure. but exactly the same as the sideways swipe shown in the demo video.

 

[Echo Base]

Zumocast is the tits.

 

[Crispy]

Looks nifty. I'm waiting for the Boxee ipad app, at which point I'll be getting a HTPC to go with it, I think.
Or maybe that new iomega boxee box, if it supports transcoding, of course...

 

[sim667]

I use zumocast, brilliant app.

I manages the WOL for my mac too which is even better

 

[stupid dogbot]

Hmmmmm

Ive set up my share so i can access it from the internet..... Im not sure i want to leave my ssh shell open in the same way tbh.

SSH is encrypted and designed for secure transport over the web...

 

[sim667]

SSH is encrypted and designed for secure transport over the web...

Thanks, although vie found a good solution running a VPN server on my router.... It also means I can connect to my own VPN when using a wifi hotspot in public, bit of free added piece of mind. Vnc is running on it too, although I would like to change that to rdp. I'm told afp will work over a VPN, although VPN protocols don't support multicasting, so I have to mount the share manually, although I might write people who want to do it a script that will connect to the VPN and mount the afp fileshare.

I have found a piece of freeware that will allow you to share a iTunes library over a VPN, which is the next task.

 

[editor]

Looks like Apple's quest for more profits will see off free iPad editions of newspapers:

Apple has reportedly told several European newspapers that they will no longer be able to offer print subscribers free access to the iPad editions of their publications.

The publishers told Dutch newspaper deVolkskrant that Apple has issued “stricter rules” to ensure that it controls subscriber data and its 30% cut of revenue generated from those who want to access the publisher’s content in app form.

Such rules, should they extend to the UK and elsewhere, would disrupt the current subscription models of publications like The Economist, which offers the iPhone and iPad versions of its publication to digital and print subscribers for free.

http://mashable.com/2011/01/14/apple-no-free-ipad-newspapers

 

[FridgeMagnet]

"Stricter rules"? Eh?

 

[editor]

It all seems a litte bit conjecture-tastic, but here's a report from Apple Insider:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article..._free_ipad_edition_for_print_subscribers.html

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Stupid move, the Kindle does something similar, you can't have free subscriptions so have to set them at the lowest possible price point...

 

[Kid_Eternity]

iPad 2 to Have SD Card Slot & Qualcomm Chip [RUMOR]

I doubt any other tech company have so much pulling power when it comes to rumours! Here's another one for the next iPad:

According to Engadget‘s sources, the new iPad will be slimmer and sleeker, but will retain its 10-inch screen. It will have two cameras (something that we’ve often heard) and a “super high resolution” screen much like the Retina Display in the iPhone 4, though it won’t have the same pixel density.

The most surprising revelation though is that the iPad 2 will have an SD card slot built into the device. And contrary to previous reports, it will not have a USB port. Still, the ability to load and unload media and documents via a traditional SD card is a surprising but welcomed addition. The iPad is on track for an April release, once again in line with previous reports.

 

[Crispy]

A higher resolution screen? Doubtful IMO - unless it's 2x the pixels, you get ugly scaling artifacts with legacy aps. And somebody please show me who's making 2048x1536 10 inch screens?

 

[Kid_Eternity]

SD card would be nice, better screen would be very nice but it being cheaper would be the nicest of all.

 

[elbows]

A higher resolution screen? Doubtful IMO - unless it's 2x the pixels, you get ugly scaling artifacts with legacy aps. And somebody please show me who's making 2048x1536 10 inch screens?

I know what you mean. Id be pretty certain it wont be double the res, but despite the drawback you mention I would not be surprised if they bumped the res enough that they could throw the term HD into the marketing. So 1280x1024 or possibly a bit higher. The only thing that makes me doubt this is the issue with existing apps that you mention, although as Apple probably see their track-record at getting devs to update their apps for other resolutions as being very good, they may think this issue will turn out ok.

As for the SD slot and/or USB, it does seem likely that Apple would provide one or both of these at some point as a slightly defensive move against the competition.

I dont expect any great breakthrough on price, unless they keep the ipad 1 hanging around as a slightly cheaper option or they really think they need to trim their own margins in order to gain or maintain market share, which given the price of comparable tablets Im not sure they will feel the need to at this time.

 

[Crispy]

1280x1024 is not enough of a jump to get excited about - also, it's a different aspect ratio (should be 1280x960 to maintain 4:3)

 

[elbows]

1280x1024 is not enough of a jump to get excited about - also, it's a different aspect ratio (should be 1280x960 to maintain 4:3)

Oops! In that case I will bet 50p on 1600x1200. Though I have to admit that such a resolution seems excessive for the screen size, but then again I would have said the same about retina display on iphone 4.

 

[elbows]

I like this sort of potential use for tablets:

Apparently awaiting approval by Apple.

 

[Crispy]

Hmm. For the same price, you'd get some dedicated kit that worked better, I'd imagine (more physical knobs/faders for one thing - which are miles better than a touch screen)

 

[editor]

Those onscreen knobs look well fiddly, and if it's a hot and very sweaty gig, operating a touchscreen may not be the easiest thing to do. Fine for the studio though, although I imagine you'll get better value and ergonomics off proper dedicated music kit.