Monday, September 7th, 2009

What is an iPad Computer?

An iPad computer, or iPad tablet computer, with the “i” meaning “INTERNET”, is a touch sensitive computer designed for surfing the net, media play and portability, made by Sony, HP, Apple (pending), Nokia, Dell, and more.
 
* The iPad Computer should cost somewhere between $400 and $1,000.
 
What makes the iPad different from the first generation tablet computers?   In addition to size and weight, companies like Apple and Sony are introducing advanced communication features such as webcams, bluetooth and 802.11 N WiFi.   However, this is only projected information as Apple has not yet announced the release of an iPad or tablet type computer.
 
The size and weight of present and projected iPads range anywhere from 5×7, 12 ounces to 8.5×11 and two pounds.   Possible advanced features of the iPad could include a Bluetooth keyboard that “docks,” a stereo Bluetooth headset optimized for audio, voice recognition and 3G/4G capability.
 
For those of us trying to envision what the iPad may look like when it is unveiled, the possibilities are endless.   Imagine the MacBook Air minus the keyboard and the addition of a touch sensitive screen.

 
Decreasing the MacBook screen from the current 13 inches to 10 inches would perhaps make it a 1.5 Ib super iPad. Going one step further and equipping the iPad with USB 3.0 and a high resolution camera with face tracking, would put a power touch on the system.
 
Conversely, Apple may simply take the phenomenally popular iTouch and put it on steroids, thereby increasing the screen size from 3.5 inches to six inches.     This would allow sufficient resolution for both e-book legibility and downloadable and on demand high-definition movies.   Industry rumblings also suggest that Apple may turn the iPad into an iGame machine by adding a higher speed graphic coprocessor.
 
This would be Apple’s first move into the gaming arena and would be significant if the iPad came equipped with Bluetooth wireless controllers, wireless media server and iCamera – preferably one with 3-D capability.   The icing on the cake would be to pair the iPad with the Apple TV, as an ultra remote, drawing table and content controller.
 
Other issues surrounding the iPad include those about operating systems and battery life.   Of great importance is the fact that Apple had previously shrunk the OS X for the iTouch, therefore they would have an insignificant amount of re-writing to do in order to ready an OS for a larger, faster iPad.   Apple has already addressed the battery life issue by installing non-removable batteries, with a promised life of between five to seven years, in the Air portable and new generation 13, 15 and even 17 inch MacBooks.   These non-removable, ultra capacity, long life batteries are exactly what is needed to not cripple processor speeds, while at the same time still pleasing the “must watch a three hour movie” crowd.
 
It is widely expected that Apple will make a move into both the textbook and book publishing market in order to counter [/caption] Amazon’s Kindle, now in its second generation, and Sony’s e-book readers, two of which were just announced with mention of a third model coming.   Sony has teamed up with industry heavyweight Google to offer more than one million e-books at launch.
 
Sony has been in the position to release a tablet for years, as the PSP has always had the processing power and the graphics capability necessary.   Imagine the Sony PSP, now in its 2.5 generation, upgraded with a touch sensitive screen.   Many people who have attempted to watch movies or surf the Web on the PSP have been hoping for a larger version for years.   It is now or never.   If Sony does not make a move soon it will miss the opportunity of a lifetime.
 

  Speculation has arisen that cell phone giant Nokia would make a move into the iPad/iTablet arena as well.   For several years, Nokia has been incrementally improving its Wifi internet browsing mini tablet.   I bet you never heard of it, but I had one three years ago.   By the way, the Nokia has been running at 800×480 resolution for years.
 
And what if Apple joins with Garmin and installs the Garmin GPS Map software and a GPS chip on all systems?   Instant car karma.
 
If you wanted to get fancier, you could have two iPads side by side, and drag content from one to the other.   (Take THAT, Microsoft!)
 
We predict that between Fall 2009 and Spring 2010, the battle will be on, and it will be the year of the iPad tablet Computer.