Jan 28
Just my caffeinated thoughts...
ITouchbigPadPhone: The launch isn't over yet!
The iPad launch hasn't finished yet. Yesterday was just announcing the hardware. The iPhone OS 4.0, traditionally in early March, which will also power the iPad will be the perfect PR final push as to what the device will be able to achieve through software. I expect it to cover a number of issues such as multitasking. I think we'll see two, three apps running at the same time in the same way that widgets do on the Mac. Also I think we'll have an upgraded MobileMe package that will hold all your data 'in the cloud' that means your PC (mac or win) will be able to share your info with your mobile devices. Currently it's a bit tricky to sync your data remotely between two devices, (Things, for example, which can have data entered via the iPhone to the desktop, needs a shared WiFi connection to sync between iPhone and desktop. It's good but it's not a seamless experience). I see MobileMe to be the perfect 'glue' that enables you to update your todo list and then syncs with everything else on the fly.Just my caffeinated thoughts...
Comments (4)
Jan 28, 2010
Stewart Steel said...
Thanks Craig. One thing I'm wondering is how the files would sync? I really want to open a Word file in Pages via Dropbox, edit then save in Dropbox so that my shared docs are up to date with my desktop and my colleagues. Again I see this as natural fit for MobileMe too.
Jan 28, 2010
craig88 said...
Stewart,Although the iPad isn't offering direct wireless-sync. This is certainly possible.
Consider the following:
1. There already exists an app for iDisk; you can access the files remotely on your device.
2. The new SDK will allow apps to have access to a file structure on the device.
I see no reason then that using an updated version of the iDisk app, you could add a file from your computer (or any other device connected to the internet) and have it accessible on your iPad, and then that file could be used by those applications.
Jan 28, 2010
Stewart Steel said...
I agree it is possible, it is how it is implemented. Again this is a software issue. That's what makes the potential of the iPad only half realised. I think we'll get to see the whole picture sometime in March.
I think Apple will also have the opportunity to showcase more apps that would be 'unique' to the iPad. By that I mean, an app that isn't just a scaled up version of an iPhone/iPod Touch app. For example, things like handwriting recognition (complete with gestures), using the full iPad as a touch tablet input for a Mac.
I will be downloading the new SDK later today, but from what I've read about it so far there is already something promising on the way - a file structure that you can mount onto your computer. Just like a flash drive you could transfer some files onto the iPad by dragging and dropping and then these files could be accessed and manipulated by the apps. (This would be useful for editing documents, or even attaching files to emails).
To repackage a Microsoft catchphrase, the revolutionary power of the iPad relies on three things: "Developers, developers, developers..."