Apple iPad and related items
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Kid_Eternity
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
If you've got a 3G one it's no issue though right? I mean, I don't see the point of the wifi only one and don't expect it to last as a product line...
Buddy Bradley
Pantheistic solipsist
But equally, what is the point of the 3G one if you're only ever going to use it at home? I don't need a 3G iPad - on the very odd occasion I might take it away somewhere with me, it'll either be abroad (insanely expensive) or somewhere I can find some wifi fairly easily.
elbows
Well-Known Member
I didnt go for a 3G one because of the speed & cost of 3G. Lack of internet anywhere will only bother me about 5-10% of the time.
As for tethering, it will influence my next choice of phone but not sure it will be a dealbreaker. Mind you I will only consider android if they add hardware accelerated css transforms to their browser.
As for tethering, it will influence my next choice of phone but not sure it will be a dealbreaker. Mind you I will only consider android if they add hardware accelerated css transforms to their browser.
elbows
Well-Known Member
Ive been trying the Wired magazine app - he it really shows up the weaknesses of magazines in general. Reading it on the same device that can pick up the wider internet, I am really struck by the lack of length & depth of articles, and the large quantity of fullpage adverts that I have to flick through.
Kanda
Diving wanker
It's suprisingly quick over 3G.
editor
hiraethified
I think most magazines are fine as they are - it's still the best format for reading and flicking through articles and it's far easier to ignore ads.
Transferring them wholesale to an electronic tablet is where they fall down. People tend to read electronic devices differently to conventional print media and there's an expectation with the shiny new iPad for magazine apps to do more and be all interactive and exciting.
The mags I've seen on an iPad so far have been very underwhelming and sourcing all that extra whizz-bang content may make it an expensive and/or uneconomic prospect for publishers.
editor
hiraethified
Steve Jobs wouldn't like that as other platforms would be able to access the content and the publishers would probably insist on it being DRM'd to fuck.
Ach, new content will come though - there's the market size to develop for it already, no mean feat. From our company's point of view, the ipad app is already proving very popular - people tend to linger around 4 times longer than the same content via the 'conventional' website according to earlier metrics.
What's clear is that it's a challenging time for publishers. There isn't going to be a goldrush for them. In fact it reminds me a little bit of the early days of CDR content, where publishers rushed to put the same content in much the same way onto CD and (unsurprisingly) and didn't impress many or make sales. Only more inventive and involved designs proved more popular.
Clearly the ipad offers something fundamentally more involving with navigation and format that CD, but the challenge for publishers remains similar - how to customise their content so that it becomes genuinely attractive. No doubts there'll be more than a little consolidation in the publishing industry as the costs of this reformatting become apparent - as usual with the net, expect a handful of dominant players to develop.
What's clear is that it's a challenging time for publishers. There isn't going to be a goldrush for them. In fact it reminds me a little bit of the early days of CDR content, where publishers rushed to put the same content in much the same way onto CD and (unsurprisingly) and didn't impress many or make sales. Only more inventive and involved designs proved more popular.
Clearly the ipad offers something fundamentally more involving with navigation and format that CD, but the challenge for publishers remains similar - how to customise their content so that it becomes genuinely attractive. No doubts there'll be more than a little consolidation in the publishing industry as the costs of this reformatting become apparent - as usual with the net, expect a handful of dominant players to develop.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Steve jobs can do nothing about it - there's already all sorts of content offered this way via in-app purchase. The file doesn't have to come via the web, for all to plunder.
editor
hiraethified
And what would stop people forwarding the PDF formatted mag straight off their iPad to all and sundry?
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
a)The lack of a 'forward this thing I just paid for' button in the mag's app, and
b)The lack of a file explorer to root through an app's filestore, and (probably)
c)DRM encapsulation for the file to make scraping it from a jailbroken phone more difficult
There are already comicbook apps in the store that let you download the latest Marvel, DC etc. comics for a couple of quid a piece - that's the business model I'm talking about.
b)The lack of a file explorer to root through an app's filestore, and (probably)
c)DRM encapsulation for the file to make scraping it from a jailbroken phone more difficult
There are already comicbook apps in the store that let you download the latest Marvel, DC etc. comics for a couple of quid a piece - that's the business model I'm talking about.
editor
hiraethified
It's a bit clumsy alright, but it looks like some piracy has already started up...
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=25745&page=article
And some in the industry are already voicing concerns:
More: http://bookbee.com.au/index.php/201...ics-destroy-comic-book-shops-or-boost-piracy/
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Comicbook piracy has been around for years already and one of the first comics apps of the ipad was for reading the common .cbr format used for such piracy. What the official apps provide is a very user-friendly, high quality, speedy service (and higher resolution than 768x1024, zooming in is important!)
Music piracy exists and yet, somehow, those crazy guys at iTunes are making shedloads of cash selling DRM-free music. Same reasons.
There is no reason why other print media cannot follow the same model, apart from inertia, which is what hurt the music industry first time round.
Music piracy exists and yet, somehow, those crazy guys at iTunes are making shedloads of cash selling DRM-free music. Same reasons.
There is no reason why other print media cannot follow the same model, apart from inertia, which is what hurt the music industry first time round.
editor
hiraethified
I can think of other reasons why some magazines may be reluctant to jump into bed with Steve Jobs: his moral censorship campaign being one of them.
More: http://gizmodo.com/5490310/its-time-to-declare-war-against-apples-censorship
elbows
Well-Known Member
I think there are still big questions about how much 'multimedia' and touch interaction can actually improve the experience. Its quite hard to come up with things that arent simply gimmicks. The web in general has evolved to the point where benefits can sometimes be seen from the use of video clips, audio, photo galleries and the occasional interactive chart/map. But it doesnt always add much, and traditional publishers of the written word can struggle to make compelling video. And a lot of stuff is still best consumed in a fairly linear way with minimal interaction required.
editor
hiraethified
I'm a gadget freak but I'm happy to concede that the best way to read a book or a magazine remains in print.
elbows
Well-Known Member
Well that wasnt quite the point I was trying to me, although I can see why many are of that opinion. I was just saying that beyond the core advantages of getting stuff digitally, there isnt always much apparent value to trying to add different sorts of navigation & content to the mix. If I preferred to read stuff on paper then I doubt I would have felt the need to buy an ipad at all.
As for my general experience and impressions of the ipad after a week of ownership, Im as impressed as the first day I bought it. The only issue Im having at the moment is that Ive spent so many years glued to a computer whilst sitting at a desk, that its taking me a while to adjust my routine so that I actually use my ipad more. Every day I am getting a little better at this, but have a long way to go.
As for the impressions of other people who have seen my ipad, I have avoided gratuitously waving it around but the few times it has come out in public at work it has generated considerable interest, more than when I first got an iphone. The price certainly puts people off and some have gotten sad when I tell them it does not completely replace their laptop.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
I haven't used my desktop computer to browse the net all week 
Feels very nice, and I find myself bimbling round the house with it - quite unlike a laptop. Sparrow's always had her macbook, but it really behaves like a desktop that changes table maybe twice a day (and has to bring its power adapter along just in case). I used mine solidly, from hometime till bedtime last night, including several hours of music making and an episode on iplayer, and there's still just under 50% battery. No regrets splashing out on it, it's very nice indeed
Feels very nice, and I find myself bimbling round the house with it - quite unlike a laptop. Sparrow's always had her macbook, but it really behaves like a desktop that changes table maybe twice a day (and has to bring its power adapter along just in case). I used mine solidly, from hometime till bedtime last night, including several hours of music making and an episode on iplayer, and there's still just under 50% battery. No regrets splashing out on it, it's very nice indeed 
Sunray
Its sunny somewhere.
It still is and technology might like to think it can take its place but there is a long way to go before I put down a book and read it on an ebook.
Currently my use for an ebook is travelling and for reference manuals. This is giving up some things that I like about books for weight and searchability reasons.
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
Have changed my mind about MobileMe - turns out it doesn't work if you want to also synchronise using Microsoft Exchange Server.
So:
iPhone <-> MobileMe = great
iPad <-> MobileMe = great
iMac <-> MobileMe = great
but Work PC <-> MobileMe = no go
That means I have to sync contacts and calendars between iPad/iPhone and the work PC using Microsoft Exchange Server. This results in different calendar/contact entries on the iPad/iPhone depending on the sync method.
Would be OK if I could sync the iMac with Microsoft Exchange Server but we have 2003 at work and that's not compatible with Snow Leopard which only works with 2007.
I shall reluctantly have to stick with Plaxo.
Buddy Bradley
Pantheistic solipsist
Got one. 
16Gb wifi model in the end.
The kids absolutely love it - I think it's going to end up being an entertainment machine more than anything else.
16Gb wifi model in the end.The kids absolutely love it - I think it's going to end up being an entertainment machine more than anything else.
Kid_Eternity
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Got one.
The kids absolutely love it - I think it's going to end up being an entertainment machine more than anything else.
Have to say one thing I really thought was quite neat was the way you can play scrabble on it with your letters kept on your iPhone.
Buddy Bradley
Pantheistic solipsist
LOL - did anyone ever think they'd need over a thousand pounds worth of kit just to play Scrabble..?Have to say one thing I really thought was quite neat was the way you can play scrabble on it with your letters kept on your iPhone.
Kid_Eternity
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
LOL - did anyone ever think they'd need over a thousand pounds worth of kit just to play Scrabble..?
Well if you can afford it that would be the most stylish way to play.
elbows
Well-Known Member
Yay I have spent a day stumbling around trying to replicate the sorts of things the various apps do with being able to swipe fullscreen photos, but using css transforms & transitions in the browser rather than a native app. I knew it should turn out pretty smooth and Im very happy with the results.
Here is a test for ipad in landscape mode. It isnt doing anything clever in terms of loading the images as it goes, and its a bit of a botch job really but it demonstrates that smooth animation in the browser is pretty achievable on the ipad, as expected.
http://padapt.com/s/
Here is a test for ipad in landscape mode. It isnt doing anything clever in terms of loading the images as it goes, and its a bit of a botch job really but it demonstrates that smooth animation in the browser is pretty achievable on the ipad, as expected.
http://padapt.com/s/
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