Hard to iMagine

Update: Wow…it has been a while. Interesting to revisit this after using the since day 1 of the originals release! I was pretty right, I think… no?

Well, as the final weeks start to roll by before the launch of the mythical iPad, and the pre-orders start pouring in, one wonders just how many people out there are seeing the upside of owning one. I completely over-exhausted my words on the day after the initial announcement of the device, yet I find myself wanting to express more about it. The possibilities for ways the iPad can be used are seemingly limitless. So I just felt like I should throw a few out there and see what all of you think you could use one for.

Talking Points

Communication is the most obvious place to start. I have heard, over the past two months, far too many times about the iPad being “nothing more than a giant iPod Touch.”, which just is not the case. How much easier would it be to type and email on a 10″ high resolution screen? Especially with the new email app designed for the tablet, I would say IMMENSELY easier. Just iMagine how much faster and more accurately you could type on a much larger on-screen keyboard. Let alone how much easier it will be to read what you are typing, then add the ability to see your email as a whole while you do so. This is a no brainer for written communications.

What about the fact that there s no phone?? Ahhhhh, but have we absolutely all forgotten about VOIP? You could easily make calls with apps the likes of Skype. The iPad has a built in microphone and speaker, not to mention a headphone jack as well. Yeah, there is no video for video chats, but how much do you actually video chat with people anyway?

Rack ’em Up!

There are no doubts, at least in my mind, that the iBook app will be a HUGE success for Apple. Last Friday Apple mentioned a couple of key ingredients for the success of the app and accompanying store. First one would be the addition of a screen lock button. What this lovely little button does is lock the screen in position so you can still tilt the iPad a bit in any direction, or pass it around, without having the screen constantly changing from profile to landscape modes. If you have ever passed and iPhone around to show a photo or video to someone you should know what I mean.

The second thing that was announced is that once your eyes grow tired of reading a book, or you need to do something else while you are reading, you can press a button and have the book read to you by the iPad. This is a sweet addition to the device as you can still keep your mind on track with the book you are reading and still manage to make yourself some food in the meantime. One must eat! Obviously this is not a feature limited to merely making some food… but you get the picture.

Next thing that will no doubt be a game changer for travelers and publishers alike, is the possibility of getting your magazine fixes without having to lug around a ton of magazines. (This idea really struck me when my Aunt came to visit from Long Island last week. With her she was carrying at least 5 extra pounds of magazines?!)The iPad will never gain an ounce of extra weight, regardless of how many magazines you put on it. Alone, that is worth the price of admission. Then you can add to that by realizing the way that magazines can enhance their content. You are no longer limited to static images and formats. The publishers can add video, web links, slideshows and enhanced navigation to their offerings and thereby make the experience for you and I much much much more immersive and engaging. It’s a win win scenario for all parties involved.

iMage-in

While many many people are crying about the iPad not having a camera, being both a photographer and someone in live with his photographer girlfriend, I am beyond excited to work with the the photo app and the Apple camera and card reader dock attachments. For one thing, the pictures will look fantastic on that 10″ screen, making it very easy to show others the pictures. Also one would be able to carry their portfolio around with them and show it to potential jobs without having to lug around a 5-10 pound physical portfolio. This alone has HUGE potential.

Then throw in the camera attachment and card reader attachments and you have yourself a wide open field of possibilities. You could easily shoot your pictures and then import them to the iPad where you can really check the image out. You can dump the photos to your iPad quickly and free up the card for more shooting. Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, one could feasibly  use the iPad for tethered shots. Which would make framing and composition much much easier than a view finder or a 3″ lcd on the back of a camera.

I, for one, do not actually want to use a camera on the iPad. I mean I have an iPhone for point and shoot photos. Plus I have a DSLR for taking very high resolution photos. No need for their to be a low resolution camera on the iPad itself. Have you ever tried taking a perfectly still image with the iPhone? It is rather hard, especially in lower light settings to get a perfectly clear photo. Now imagine trying to steady a 10″ device with the same camera built in… eek!

The Appsolute Truth

The real, yet to be seen, value of the iPad lies with the App developers out there. They are the real window into the realm of possibilities for the device. With much more screen real estate, faster performance, larger keyboard, and higher resolution screen at their disposal, the sky is the limit. Already Apple themselves have shown what is possible by making iWork a native iPad app. This pops open the idea of actually getting serious work done, on the go, with a lightweight touch screen device.

I cannot say enough about this magnificent device, and I have yet to even hold one in my own hands!

So, who has already pre-ordered the iPad out there?

Who plans on waiting until they hear more about it?

Who plans on passing on it entirely?

feel free to chime in!