What we don't know about Apple's upcoming slate PC
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.
Can you use media services other than iTunes on the iPad?
The idea of a highly portable media player is compelling - I'd love to have one when travelling so that I could watch what I chose, rather than be stuck with the usually uninteresting terrestrial fare.
My MacBook Pro gets too hot to place in my lap, and watching a DVD or streaming video on the MacBook Pro while sitting in a hotel desk is not very pleasant.
But there is no way to watch streamed video from other services on an iPad. On an iPhone or iPod touch, the screen size doesn't make for great movie-watching, so the lack of apps on those devices isn't so bothersome.
On an iPad, it will be. So far, it appears that iTunes will be your only quality media source on the iPad (YouTube doesn't qualify; it's more of a needle-in-the-haystack source for amusing clips), which means you can't use a service from someone else that you already paid for; instead, you'll need to give Apple money. Maybe using my laptop isn't so bad an option after all.
Will Apple allow the use of such video services? There's been no comment so far.
Can the iPad be used for videoconferencing?
The iPad has no embedded camera, as the iPhone and MacBooks do (but not the iPod touch).
That's riled many people who could see the iPad as a great videoconferencing tool.
There's potential for adding a camera through the iPad's sole connection port; after all, companies have offered plug-in microphones to iPods this way. But it's unclear that even with an add-on camera whether Apple would allow videoconferencing apps on the iPad.
One theory is that The health care industry has long been interested in tablets but has not liked the bulky, hard-to-use Windows offerings, and an Apple tablet is conceptually appealing to hospitals.
However, a built-in camera would raise too many privacy issues for them to adopt the iPad. If true, that's easy to address: Apple can offer a camera-less model. In either case, Apple won't say.
NEXT PAGE: Is the internal storage upgradable
- 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