As the smoke clears from Steve Jobs launching the Apple iPad, missing details suggest there's less to Apple's tablet than meets the eye.
What we don't know about Apple's upcoming slate PC
It's just over two weeks since Apple unveiled the iPad, however details about the device still remain sketchy.
If history is any guide, Apple's ongoing silence may mean the first-generation iPad will not be as compelling or as useful as many of us had hoped.
I've asked Apple a set of questions about what Jobs and Apple have not revealed about the iPad over a week ago. However, Apple's PR has yet to get me the answers or receive permission to relay those answers publicly.
Others in the press and analyst community are also getting the silent treatment regarding the iPad capabilities that matter to many prospective users.
Famously tight-lipped, Apple often views the press as an extension of its marketing effort, treating all but a favoured few to a sadistic game of hard-to-get.
When Apple extends this silence beyond a product's razzmatazz unveiling, it's usually meant that the product in question could not deliver the functionality journalists have asked about.
With that in mind, unanswered queries about the iPad may imply that the iPad is less "magical" and "revolutionary" than Jobs suggests.
Here are the questions Apple has not yet answered, and why the 'silence = no' implications diminish the iPad's value.
Can you save and transfer documents to the iPad?
Anyone who uses an iPhone or iPod touch with an office productivity app such as Quickoffice knows how frustrating it is to access Office documents.
You have to set up a wireless connection over a local Wi-Fi network, enter the IP address, and transfer the files, or you send the document via email on an Exchange account so that it can be opened as an attachment.
Apple says its 'no save' restriction is meant to prevent malware from being placed on the iPhone or iPod touch.
I've never bought that argument, as the iPhone and iPod touch allow you to save images to what is in essence a folder and sync those images via iTunes - so why not other file types?
Of course, that may be a loophole Apple is closing: the iPad's Photos app (a photo gallery), like the iWork for iPad app, appears to do away with saved photo files altogether, instead embedding them into the app itself.
Yet it doesn't appear that the iPad will let you transfer files in folders via iTunes, email attachment downloads, or wireless networks. (I do, however, expect some of the Wi-Fi file-sharing hack apps will enable you to transfer files, though it is unclear whether Apple's iWork productivity app will be able to see them.)
Given that Apple will offer a version of its Mac-only iWork suite for the iPad, it would make sense to be able to transfer files to and from the iPad.
Unfortunately, Apple's website only mentions access to iWork and Office files from email and avoids any claim of saving the file to the device.
The implication is that iWork for iPad can open email attachments, edit them in memory or within protected cache in the app itself, then send out the edited version in email.
It's also apparent that iWork can read both Office and iWork documents, but only send back iWork or PDF documents. Again, Apple remains silent on this discrepancy, one that essentially restricts document editing to Mac users who have iWork - an extremely tiny sliver of the world.
NEXT PAGE: Support for Microsoft Exchange?
- We look at what we don't know about Apple's slate PC
- Support for Microsoft Exchange?
- Can you use other services apart from iTunes
- Is the internal storage upgradable
- If Apple won't say, maybe you shouldn't buy
Comments
Simon Jary said: I am considering buying an Apple iPad and I once did have my head examined iPad haters who have never seen one let alone used one might want to read almost identical hysterical anti-iPod ranting in 2001 Some of it is almost word for word - no one needs it restrictions non-event stupid market already served useless will never catch on etc 250000000 iPods later
Coolteach said: Is it April 1st What exactly is the point of this It seems to be a larger ie less portable version of the iPhone What useful purpose does it serve
MalcolmF said: Is it too early to start compiling a non-event of the century listThe i-Pad launch could be right in there
Eddie said: Apple have always been Style over Substance why should this product be any different
Anthony said: If anybody is seriously considering this item they need to have their heads read It takes up the same amount of space as most netbooks with functionality similar to the ipod If another company eg SONYHP released something like this they would be slated for years to come In fact SONY get done over for having their own memory stick format Wake up world Apple is pulling the micky
Peter said: FDR - pretty much anything not built by apple as well as nokia and black berry to some degree
FDR said: Ray please name a computer product without inbuilt restrictions
Ray Woods said: It Looks quite rightly in my humble opinion the iPad has reached a high place of distinction in the Defective by Design website wwwdefectivebydesignorgAny computer product that comes with inbuilt restrictions deserves to fail I just feel sorry for those who get caught by the hype only to find the restrictions applied to the device by the manufacturer stop them from using it the way they wish to use itIt is not the ability to upgrade that worries me although it would deter me but the fact that I would only be allowed to purchase additional software from Apple or their agents This restriction goes against freedom and liberty deterring innovation and freedom of trade Not something one would expect from a Corporation from the USA now is it