Also, the launch of iPad 2 overseas has brought amazing scenes of people lining up in the cold winter days to get theirs. Analysts estimate about a million were sold in the first weekend in the United States alone.

On Friday, the rollout was extended to 25 countries including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. In the midst of Apple’s rivals announcing their own tablets, there are several reasons why iPad 2 is still the best option.

1) Reasonable Pricing

I figured there had to be an easier, cheaper way. After searching on Yahoo Answers, I discovered positive reviews from other iPad users who had tried this site called myPadMedia and had loved it. The site promised unlimited lifetime access allowing members to download thousands of books, comic books, newspapers and more, all directly to the Apple iPad. I gave it a shot, and signed up.

I was very impressed! Within minutes of becoming a member, I was able to download the entire Twilight series to my iPad. After that, I downloaded Dan Brown’s most recent book ‘The Lost Symbol’ and then that controversial new Oprah biography. For the kids, I downloaded some of their favorites and even some games too. Just recently I was waiting as my car was getting serviced, so I jumped on myPadMedia and started reading Vogue magazine! Guess how much that cost me? Not a single cent!

I have been a member for almost a month now, and I have to say that it is an excellent service. The downloads are fast, the process is so simple, and their database is absolutely huge. I honestly think that they have a bigger range than the iBookstore. So, if you are looking to enhance your iPad experience, I suggest you give myPadMedia a shot. The customer service team is amazing. When I didn’t know how to bookmark a page in one of my download books, they were able to help me over the phone to figure it out, just minutes after I emailed them. Move over Apple, myPadMedia crushes you guys in everyway. alcohol breathalyzer

Click Here To Learn More About myPadMedia!

The e-reader news that’s slowly but surely gaining prominence is that the iPad will not only render e-readers obsolete but is also likely to bring in revolutionary changes in the entire publishing industry. To what extent e-readers are likely to be affected by the advent of the iPad is what this article is all about.

For starters, e-readers are handheld electronic devices which has the capability to simulate a conventional text book. The story of e-reader and e-reading started with Amazon launching its Kindle in November 2007. This prompted others to join the party so that what followed next is an onslaught of e-readers. Companies like Sony or Barnes & Noble soon became major players in this segment along with numerous other vendors both with established brand names or without. But, there’s no denying the fact that the monochrome e-readers were in reality a step back from the in vogue multi color and media capable laptops. However, e-readers continued to advance with time so that the e-readers of now are capable of connecting to the net and download e-books on its own. They now have HD resolution, the facility to customize text along with so much more.

This perhaps led to the demand for gadgets which can serve both as a laptop as well as an e-reader. E-Readers changed their features to include wireless net connectivity as well as higher screen resolution. Thus came into being a new breed of a hybrid between the e-reader and Laptop.

Apple happens to be one of the pioneering companies towards this development. iPad is one of its contributions to the continuous line of gadgets that work as a mobile communication device as well as an e-reader. It has a large 9.7-inch LED backlit screen and weighs just 680 gram. For connectivity, it comes with Wi-Fi and 3G features. It has various memory options ranging from 16, 32 to 64 GB which factors the price range from $499 to $829. It has an IPS multi touch screen and can be used for browsing or emailing. It can perform as an e-reader and has stupendous multimedia capabilities. With such amazing features, it’s all but certain that with iPad in the scene, the very existence of e-readers is at stake.

Now for some statistical facts – the Amazon’s Kindle is the largest selling e-reader in the US and is the reading device of choice for reading 32% of all e-books sold in the US. Also, every 5th book sold in US happens to be an e-book. All of this means a huge market for the iPad to drive into. Another immense advantage with the iPad is that while Kindle takes books to its screen, iPad can takes even periodicals and magazines in its folds. Sure e-reader prices are coming down while governments too are keen to promote e-readers with a view to save papers and hence trees. But then, even here iPads can do a far better job with its multifunctional capabilities and touchscreen display. In fact, at the Princeton University, a recent attempt to introduce kindles as an alternative to real books did not turn out to be encouraging for Amazon.

To further improve its appeal, Apple is in the process of setting up an iBook Stores in line with the iTunes. For books Apple has co-opted with publishing houses like Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Hachette which are all big time book publishers.

The iPad is a marker to the future of today’s print media. What is today’s print content world be the online content of the morrow for downloading and reading depending on personal choice.

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As the hype subsides and the media frenzy moves on to the next big thing, the wait begins for the Apple iPad to reach the hands of anxious buyers. Based on the mixed reception the iPad has received it’s anyone’s guess whether or not Apple will have a hit on its hands. In either case, we suspect there will be some interesting consumer behavior caused by the iPad, Here’s our list:

1. It will sell more Motorola Droids, Palm Pres, and WiFi routers like Verizon’s MiFi

Our hunch is the 32GB iPad at $599 will be the most popular model but who is going to want to spend the extra money for 3G especially when you already have it with your cell phone? Now, we don’t expect you’ll be able to tether your iPhone to the iPad so that leaves WiFi or better yet WiMax. Right now the Droid can use free apps that turn it into a WiFi hotspot for no extra cost. Touch Pro 2, Imagio, and Omnia II users can also turn their phones into WiFi hotspots. For $40 a month you can use a Palm Pre or you could go with something like Verizon’s MiFi or even Sprint’s WiMax dongle and a CradlePoint portable router.

2. It will give hope to Apple’s competitors that they can still create something new and cool

The word “arrogance” is too often heard in the same sentence as Apple. As demonstrated by the lack of real innovations in the iPad, it appears that Apple employees are not super human after all. For all of Steve Jobs’ hyperboles this is not a phenomenal, incredible, amazing, truly magical, revolutionary, wonderful, unbelievable, crowning glory masterpiece. It’s pretty cool, but it’s basically a supersized iPod Touch. Okay Sony, HP, Samsung, and the rest of you out there with research labs and cutting edge technology, here’s your chance to take a giant leap with a new mind reading, natural language using, gesture-based, solar powered, lightweight, truly revolutionary device.

3. It will sell more Kindles and other E-readers

One thing that Amazon realized early on is that reading an e-book should be as relaxing and enjoyable as, well, reading a book. E-readers like the Kindle with their reflective E Ink displays don’t need a bright backlight to make it possible to read. A backlit display is perfect for looking at photographs and watching video but many book lovers prefer the experience of an electrophoretic E Ink display to backlit LCDs, even if the backlights are LEDs. Besides, E Ink displays only look better in bright daylight unlike the iPad which will not only look washed out but will require some anti-glare treatment as well.

4. It will sell more netbooks

In case netbook buyers were holding off on a netbook purchase to see what the Apple tablet was going to look like, they can go ahead and get that new Windows 7, Atom Pine Trail-based unit with the 14 hour battery life that has a real keyboard, 250GB hard drive multitasks, runs Outlook and has standard ports to connect to the outside world. Oh, and it will probably cost a lot less than $499.

5. The entry age for computers will fall

Five year olds don’t need multitasking and neither do they need a phone. We suspect many parents will be willing to buy junior’s first computer at a much earlier age if it’s an iPad. It will be easier to justify your kid’s first handheld game machine if it also serves as a book reader and window to the world wide web.

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A Look at the Negatives

You may come across an iPad review that may not sound that encouraging for you. For example, some critics claimed that the apple iPad is just a modification of the iPhone, with the inconvenience of it being bigger in size, and hence inconvenient to carry around.

Some iPad reviews will also tell you that it performs very little more than the iPhone, and hence is a half hearted try from Apple to come up with something new to make the eyes of the customers and apple fans turn towards it. A closer look at the iPad, however, may reveal something very different from this.

The Features

If you check out the various features of this gadget, you will see that not only are the interfaces much better than the iPhone, but there are much more features built into the iPad for its users. In fact, there is no comparison that can be made between the iPhone and the iPad.

Apple iPad comes with a fully functional pad touch enabled and extremely user friendly. You can use this touch pad as a on screen keyboard as well. The device has great programs like Safari, iTunes, picture viewers, editors and file managers, and much more.

This device can be ideal for a number of uses. If you are an ardent listener of music, iPad can be your personal music library. If it is internet that you are interested in, the iPad can offer you the optimum services for the internet. It has been considered to be the best mobile internet device till date.

More Exciting Features

Even though I was a bit disappointed to find that it is not before April 2010 that this product will be released in the market for the consumers, I did get a chance to check out most of the features this device has to offer the users. Apart from being an ideal mobile device for internet, music and videos, it can be great for business use as well.

You can use the iPad to read ebooks, schedule meetings, create and view presentations, access Google maps, and get the benefits of a number of other functions on this single device. Priced at around $499 (expected) this device can be a great item to go for. So let us wait and see how the iPad shows its impact on the market!

Let’s start by covering what the iPad can’t do. It’s not a PC or a Mac and doesn’t run Windows or Mac OS, or offer multi-tasking (although the rumour mill suggests that the latter may be addressed in future updates). On the iPhone the OS is locked down to the point that each third party application can only store information in their own ‘sealed’ area, unlike a PC where ‘My Documents’ can contain every file type and be accessed by all applications. It’s likely that the iPad will continue this tradition, with Apple already confirming that it will rely on iTunes for syncing with a PC. Also, due to a long running spat between Apple and Adobe, the iPhone/iPad does not support Flash, which rules out access to any websites that rely on it. Apple has been criticised and applauded in equal measure for ring-fencing access to their hardware and software. While it considerably restricts third party development flexibility, it does provide an extremely stable user experience which, unlike a Windows machine, does not degrade over time as more software is installed.

During Apple’s launch it was clear that Apple’s own 1GHz silicon was delivering quite a punch. Applications launched instantly and graphically intensive tasks ran smoothly. Couple a fast processor with a large rotatable touch screen and you have a product that lowers the technical knowledge usage barrier and can provide an intuitive user interface which 75m iPhone users already know how to use. For example, recently I reverted back to my previous smartphone – using the menu system was like wading through treacle and it was missing many of the additional apps that I’d come to rely on. The biggest difference was speed of information retrieval. For frequently performed tasks such as retrieving a contact, checking email or a quick web search there is no comparison. Tasks that I achieve with the iPhone within 15-20 seconds I would not have seen change out of a minute, if not more on the other phone, and this is likely to improve on the iPad.

What tasks could the iPad perform?

The key here is to identify what it does as well, or indeed better than existing technologies. In their launch event Apple demonstrated iPad versions of iWork, their office suite (covering word processing, spreadsheets and presentations), with each application being available for just shy of ten dollars. While you probably won’t get all of the extra templates, clipart and additional bloat that comes with traditional Office suites you could argue that most people don’t use many more features than font sizing or basic formulae. The iPad ships with the same basic PIM apps as the iPhone e.g. Calendar, Contacts, Email (including MS Exchange support) and Notes, all of which will sync with a PC or Mac through iTunes. The iPhone configuration utility allows enterprise deployment, providing easy configuration for individual business settings such as email and VPN access. So for the majority of users it will tick the basic office requirements.

As a presentation tool the iPad excels. It can be connected to an external display, but would equally be suited for one-to-one presentations, ideal for sales staff or board meetings. Data retrieval is also a strong suit; it provides quick access to document, image, audio or video libraries, doing away with the need for storing large amounts of paper. Expect to see estate agents with iPads under their arms from April onwards! It would be equally at home in a manufacturing design office, providing a quick method of viewing product images or technical information.

The iPad supports the popular ePub electronic document format. Publishers will quickly move books, magazines and newspapers over to the format, so people will soon become accustomed to reading on the device as opposed to traditional paper-based media. This will provide companies with an easy way of creating large catalogues in a format that users can digest in a traditional manner. Companies that produce catalogues (such as electronic components or manufacturing consumables) will no doubt warm to this as printed versions are very expensive to produce, and although they will already have full e-commerce on their websites, there is a reason why they still produce printed version – many people still prefer to view information in a book-style format. This would also lend itself well to stock control, providing stores staff with a simple checklist interface when performing stock checks.

All versions of the iPad have the accelerometer and compass facilities, and the 3G version opens up further possibilities, as it includes assisted GPS. Many of us already take the likes of Google maps on our mobiles for granted, but when GPS is embedded into a device implemented at enterprise level this stretches the boundaries further. Imagine an application that provides relevant information to a user when they arrive at a specific location; perhaps a salesman visiting a prospect/customer, or branch data when HQ staff visit. Devices that ‘know where they are’ could also be used to direct the user to items of interest/relevance around them, although the sensitivity is not good enough for this to locate items on a shelf, for example, and GPS does not always work inside buildings.

Integrating the iPad to custom requirements

If you walk through the stages of production within a manufacturing organisation and analyse the role of software at any given part, most of these relate to the supply of information; either to or from the user. Whether it be in the store room, by a machine tool, booking goods out or back in from subcontractors, despatch and through to accounts. This information will either be fed into an enterprise system (MRP, ERP) or to a more localised system (stock control database, machine tool control software, order management etc), and this is where the work needs to be done if the iPad is to be of any real use. Many software companies are using Apple’s software development kit (SDK) to develop apps to interface with their products. Although these apps are often lightweight versions of their PC cousins and optimised for the iPhone it is likely that these will be reworked to take advantage of the iPad’s display. We can expect apps covering all mainstream software applications, however more niche products are unlikely to have iPhone/iPad sibling products, as the take up rate would not warrant the development costs.

What if you cannot develop or obtain an app to connect to an existing software system? There is a third option; we have already ascertained that the iPad is a competent web client (if Flash isn’t required). Invariably the system you want to connect to will have a database, which in turn will have ways of getting data in and out (generally using common connectors such as ODBC), so a relatively simple solution would be to build an intranet that communicates with the application. Windows Server comes with IIS (Internet Information Services), and any of the web centric languages (PHP, Cold Fusion,.NET/ASP etc) will be able to connect to a database easily. The iPad (or any other device) could then interact with the software using a web browser. Although this still requires a considerable level of technical skill, it’s likely to be a far easier and more cost-effective skill set to source than developing an iPad-specific app and will result in a more flexible solution that other devices can take advantage of. It would also be easier to manage from a security aspect, as the network administrators take care of user access control to any given data resource on the local network.

If Apple is serious about the business angle of the iPad they will need to provide companies with more information on controlling user access, tracking usage and locking down features on it (which, to be fair they have done with the iPhone), otherwise no doubt the wide range of available games will find their way onto it and eat into productivity. Another major concern is that they will be a target for theft. It’s likely that you will be able to password protect it and, as with the MobileMe service on the iPhone, locate it if stolen (3G only) or remotely wipe it, but that’s little consolation.

In recent years Apple products have become über chic and this is something many businesses will want to harness. It’s more likely that iPads will find homes in the boardroom than on the shop floor, due to environmental factors alone, but for facilities that already keep their production areas spotless this could be seen as the device that makes them look just that little bit more cutting edge than their competitors.

Summary

The debate is raging fiercely in the blogosphere as to whether the iPad is a ‘game changer’ or not, but in my opinion it is. Apple said that they would not release anything equivalent to a tablet or a netbook until they could deliver something that did everything well. Given what is already known about the iPhone and what we currently know about the iPad, reasonable assumptions can be made about the iPad’s suitability for a given task. There will be of course many tasks that will always be faster or indeed only possible on a desktop/laptop than the iPad, but as a high speed, highly portable (and highly desirable) ‘media consumption device’ the Apple iPad will set the benchmark by which all others will be measured.

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Apple’s product roadmap with the iPad is a number of revs away. Throwing this finicky iPad version is part of the means to try it (while earning revenue from it). Apple iPhone had a great camera. The tablet device doesn’t. Apple IPad Apps can be available on mixture of iTunes like the iPhones even though not exactly.

Apple had a similar problem with the iPhone and Cisco, which they could actually resolve with a little bit of cash. I suspect that Apple will have to get out their wallet again for making Fujitsu disappear. Apple will sell an add-on keyboard for the iPad, but in order to do loads of work on the go, you may be better off finding a real laptop. The iPad isn’t for work. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, to include Apples new iBookstore, the easiest way to browse, buy and read books using a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.

Apple will additionally provide you with the option to have it with 3G. Furthermore, the iPad will connect to the App Store, iTunes as well as the brand new iBook Store. Apple, with all of its nearly $200 billion market cap and nearly $60 billion in annual sales, has the financial and technical wherewithal to take us all the distance down the digital highway. The iPad will nibble away at other mobile devices including those made by Apple and raise the bar for hardware, software, content and commerce players. Apple has just launched the SDK that may allow app developers to edit their apps to make them work on the iPad and utilize the larger screen.

Apple knows exactly what they’re doing and this thing will grow into the magical device we wish it to be. Apple knows how to play the mind games, catch the wave, and ride on it like it did with iPod claiming music industry, iPhone striking at communications industry and after this finally iPad targeted towards students, snappy execs, home-makers etc. Apple is less an innovator in design than an innovator in marketing. I am going to however concede how the iPhone was a brilliant step forward in design.

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The older generation does not understand why most of us can not live without our computers. Mom, dad and even our grandparents shy away from the internet because no one ever showed them how to connect to our incredible online world. But now the revolutionary iPad will change all our lives forever. Apple has finally released a tablet-style computer that anyone can use. The new iPad has an advanced touch screen so your mom and grandmother will no longer be afraid to go near the computer. Even if you’re young and inexperienced; dealing with the internet and the many programs on a computer is easier now thanks to Apple’s new iPad. The iPad with its user friendly programs will bring you the confidence and experience you’ll need to surf the web.

The great thing about the tablet-style iPad is it has audio playback features, TV, video and mail attachment support as well as Dictionary/Language support for more than nine different languages. For those of you who are into “Going Green”, the iPad has a number of green features as well: the recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure, Mercury-free LCD display; the iPad is PVC and BFR-free and comes with arsenic free display glass.

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In the old days we would expect to spend over $2000 for a new laptop or desktop computer and most of the young and older computer geeks are not ready to spend thousands on the latest computer trend but amazingly enough the new iPad will only run in the range of $500-$800. However, there are currently “Get Free iPad” offers out there, as long as you know which are legit. The costs of the iPads are covered by third party sponsors, as long as you complete the offers given. They give away these iPads as a marketing tool. By giving out free samples of the new iPad, Apple can get some well needed feedback on their product. The opinions offered by people who participate in this free trial offer will help the producers of the iPad to improve their computers and find out the demand that will develop by those who will spread the news of this new revolutionary computer.

Don’t wait too long though, as this offer will not be around forever. As soon as the iPad becomes popular enough, the companies will no longer need to offer their product to the public for free.

The Apple iPad

Over the past week we’ve looked at why the iPad will be good for contractors and why you might not be the target audience for the device. After considerable thought, I’d like to share why I want an iPad.

I’m not an Apple fanboy – the only Apple device I currently own is a 4 year-old refurbished iPod Nano. I don’t carry an iPhone – I use a Samsung Ace Windows Mobile smartphone. I still like the device because it’s tiny and has great battery life for my trips. I was recently scolded for not using Keynote for my presentations. My main computer is a refurbished Dell XPS M1330 laptop which I’ve enjoyed over the past year although lately the fan has made so much noise that I can’t bring it to SXSW with me. I have been considering purchasing the new Asus ULvt30 laptop as it has a super battery and looks like it would meet my needs well.

So why do I want the Apple iPad? It’s been bashed from blog to blog and fanboys are torching their shrines to Steve Jobs. (side note, I wonder if the fanboys would have loved the device if Jobs gave one to everyone in the audience. You know, just like Google did with the Nexus One. Didn’t see much hate over that way, did ya?)

The Asus laptop weighs in at just under 4 pounds. It’s got great specs and will work perfectly for coding, working on my startup, and all the other heavy lifting that a computer is meant to handle. Everyday I am in NYC at an event, meeting an entrepreneur looking for advice or meeting with a customer of my startup. Many times it would be nice to have a device that I can whip out in a second and show off my startup, look at other startups, review a presentation, etc. Typically I use my mobile for checking my various email accounts and browsing the web using the Skyfire mobile browser. The iPad will be able to handle everything I’ve listed and more and I can travel around with a 1.5 pound machine. If I take the laptop with me, it’s lugging around a 3x heavier machine and then I also have to take a bigger (and heavier) laptop bag as well. The iPad will fit into my lightweight bag with no issues.

Read Write Web had an interesting post about how the iPad will allow startups to create “instant demos”. I very much agree with this premise and could see startups purchasing one just for the demo ability.

I am also hoping that I can use the iPad as my new music playing device where I start a playlist, “hold” the device and stick it into my bag and the music keeps playing.

Based on what I have read, it does appear that I will have some gripes with the device. First, it has no camera – a camera would have been excellent for networking and I am guessing it will be on version 2 – isn’t that how Jobs creates his devices? Jobs says the battery will last 10 hours which probably means 3-4 in real life. I certainly hope the power cord is super light and easy to carry. The iPad also apparently can’t handle multi-tasking which seems stupid because many times you will want to browse the web and listen to a song in your iTunes collection. Apparently there is some issue where Flash doesn’t work on the iPad — not exactly sure how this will affect my Web usage but it is something to consider.

Update: The comments seem to indicate you can play a song in iTunes and work in the browser.

From what I can tell so far, the iPad might also improve my productivity while I am out and about because I can load up on apps that I can use to keep better track of everything going on in my life from scheduling to note taking to contact management.

It looks like there will be adapters that will connect into the iPad to allow for some external functions. I am hoping that a foldable keyboard is one of those options. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like you can carry a second battery. It would also be great if you can plug the iPad into a projector for large group demos and presentations.

I’m not sure whether I will purchase the model with the 3G. My Ace phone handles Bluetooth tethering very well so I could just use that when needed. I’m guessing you can’t add on the 3G later so my guess is that I will take the 3G version. I’m quite certain I will go for the least expensive version. The 3G service plans seem expensive to me – especially since if you only use it a drop, you still pay for the entire month. I am actually willing to bet that one of the sweet spots for the iPad will be for people who are happy with their cell phone but want a smarter device without buying an iPhone or Droid.

So to summarize why I want an iPad:

• lightweight
• ability to check and respond to emails and handle customer inquiries for my startup
• web browser
• productivity apps
• meeting functionality (review presentations, review apps, discussions)
• long battery life
• new music player to replace my old Nano

I’d also like to note that I am sure there are other tablet machines on the market that are worth looking into. I have not started this research yet but plan to before looking at the iPad for purchase.

Had the device been available for purchase before SXSW, my bet is that you would see 1,000 or more of the devices in the convention center.

The iPad could also replace my wish of moving into a new mobile device this year. If I have an iPad that tethers to my phone and my phone to handle calls (which Sprint does perfectly), then I am all set.

Overall I think the iPad will be a huge winner for Apple. Ithink the price will drop a bit by mid-year which will get more mainstream users excited about the device. Now I need to work on getting more pageviews so I can pay for the new iPad device.

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First of all the design is fantastic. The front as an amzingly large 9.7″ LCD Led lit display that without a doubt will look great. Just below the screen you get the iPhone home button that allows you to go back to the beginning at all times. One less pretty feature for me are the black borders around the screen. They are a bit too wide for my taste, it would’ve been better if Apple was able to stretch the display a little and remove the borders. On the top you get the sleep button that will deactivate the display. On the right side you get the volume buttons and the silence switch, interesting is that the buttons have been moved from left (iPhone) to the right. On the back you get the large black Apple logo in the middle of a big gray (aluminum?) mass. It also says iPad on the back, the number of GBs and a few FCC things that are required to be there I think. It’s not impossible to assume that the new iPhone will feature a similar back. The tablet is really thin, in fact it’s just 0.5 inch thick, that’s as thick as an iPhone. Height and width measures come in at: 9.6 inches and 7.47 inch.

Now lets talk about the software of the iPad. It works very similar to an iPhone. Slide to unlock and you’re in the main screen with the typical iPhone icons. You get: YouTube, mail, Safari, contacts, iPod, iTunes, app store, video, settings, maps (by Google!), calendar, photos and last but not least notes.

The apps have been modified a bit for the new capabilities though. For example photos are now arranged by event blocks. Tapping on a block of photos will show you a preview of the photos in that event (or map for windows users). However you can also view your most treasured memories by list, location, faces or date. We can imagine that it will look really fantastic to manipulate the photographs on a huge touchscreen and to show it to your friends.

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