東西 | dongxi

As the Apple fever slowly returns back to its normal levels, we can look past the initial hype and digest the iPad for what it truly is. Despite several major disappointments (at least from much of the tech community), the iPad still marks a significant point for tablets, potentially doing for the netbook/casual computing industry what the iPod did for music.

1. Mass Market: As the iPad launched, many tech enthusiasts (me included) lamented at the lack of certain features (AT&T, cameras, storage, multitask, etc.).  There’s very little that the iPad offers that would replace one who already owns a netbook, iPod, and Kindle. However, like many products out of Cupertino, the iPad isn’t meant for über-techie (though most of us will end up getting one anyways); it’s for the “casual” consumer that’s been looking for something easier to use, that keeps them from buying three or four gadgets, and puts it all in one neat and pretty box.  Apple products have never been about customization or even being the “best ____” of its kind; it’s always about creating a user experience that is so simple and pleasing, anyone can pick it up. For the consumer who just needs to check email, Facebook, and the occasional website or video clip on the go, the iPad makes a lot more sense.

2. Education: Apple didn’t go into too much detail, but the iPad has a huge potential for changing the educational landscapes. With publishers already signing up, Apple’s tablet can easily replace a hundred pounds of textbooks and notebooks for each students. With the right pricing models (perhaps subsidization) where both publishers and families (though not printing houses) can benefit, we can see a whole new generation growing up with tablet devices over pen and paper. Apple’s always been strong in putting itself in education; my public school in Queens used Macintoshes (one of my first computers); there’s no reason why they wouldn’t capitalize on this opportunity.

3. Casual Gaming: Apple is NOT a competing with the Xbox 360 and PS3.  However, as we’ve seen with the iPhone, Apple is making huge strides to capture that casual gaming audience, which does encroach the Nintendo DS (and possibly Wii). The iPad is most likely not producing anything like Halo or Uncharted, but when it comes to games like Bejeweled, sudoku, and crossword puzzles, the iPad is a virtual goldmine. Personally, even I’ve moved much of my portable gaming onto my iPod Touch, enjoying SimCity, Civilization, Risk, and Settlers of Catan on the go. Both the iPhone and Nintendo DS (both with touch screens) were met with doubts when it launched as well, but has rocketed to the top of the portable gaming market.  Apple can’t touch Master Chief, but when it comes to solitaire, it’s the undisputed king.

4. eBooks: Despite early “Kindle” apps on the iPhone, Apple’s definitely made its move on the eBook market, directly facing against Amazon.  The decision to stick w/ LCD will still be a tough pill to swallow – def. far harder on the eyes than e-ink on the Kindle.  Still, it’s the little things like color and touchscreen (plus multifuctionality of the iPad) that may bring people over the fence.  Even more crucial (and what remains to be seen), is the relationship between Apple and publishers – if books, magazines, and newspapers can make that digital leap, we may see a huge shift for both the print industry, and us, the consumers in how we consume that media.

5. Competition: I can’t help but feel that the tablet was almost forced out of Apple, by both fans and competitors.  With the HP Slate and Lenovo’s netbook/tablet at CES, it was clear that everyone was trying to capture the yet-to-exist tablet market.  As Apple releases their iPad, we will see other companies (some more successful than others) bring out their version of the tablet, some of which may cater better to some of the more high-tech audience.  Personally, I’d love to see Google come up with a tablet (now that they’ve moved into hardware with the Nexus, why not a tablet as well?). With mail, search, Google Docs, calendar, GTalk, voice, and a million other services, Google is perfectly poised to move into the tablet computing market.  While Microsoft (and several other companies) have long ago looked towards tablets, it’s really Apple’s move that will pave the way for that market shift everyone’s been looking for.

Like many others, I’m not quite ready to jump on the iPad train.  It’s a nice device, but it’s not quite there yet for what I would need it to do. It’s still a first-gen device, and as it is with all of Apple’s products, their strategy has always been to get early adopters to go first, show off their device to get everyone else intrigued, and six months to a year later, bring out version 2.0 with more functionality (as well as dropped costs for 1.0) to hook everyone else in. We’ve seen Apple do it with the original iPod and the iPhone; if Apple plays their cards right, there’s no reason why we can’t expect the same from the iPad.  As for me though, while I won’t be camping out long 5th Avenue anytime soon, don’t be too surprised if you find me waiting in line a year from now.

First gen models of the iPod, iPod Mini, iPod shuffle

I’d like it.  I kinda want it.  But do I really need Apple’s new iPad. No.

Steve Jobs in today’s announcement made several comparisons between the new Apple tablet, iPad, to a netbook.  Unfortunately, it’s the differences between the two that will get me to wait… at least until the next gen iPad.

1. Multitasking: Engadget reports in their hands-on that there is no multitasking on the device.  That just doesn’t fly for today.  Streaming music while web browsing and IMing is a hourly (let alone daily) activity for me.  Any normal computer (or non-Apple smartphone) can do it, why can’t the iPad?

2. Flash Support: Steve Jobs talked about how the iPad would offer the “best” experience in web browsing, yet in his very own demonstration lay a big empty box signifying a broken Adobe Flash item.  While HTML5 is slowly gaining traction, much of the web, at least in the near future, still heavily relies on Flash.  Understandably, Apple may be avoiding Flash due to security issues (as well as losing App Store revenue to free Flash games/apps), but at the end of the day, if you’re going to compare web experiences, I’d prefer something that works 100%.

3. Cameras/Mics: A bit surprised that Apple didn’t include a camera on the system (though I can easily see them popping that in the 2nd-gen model), but again, for on-the-go messaging, especially with friends and family abroad, a webcam (Skype) experience is pretty crucial.

4. Battery Life: Apple said 10 hours, but that was the stretch limit.  Going to have to wait for hands-on reviews on this, but I can’t imagine it lasting for very long if you’re going to be streaming video, surfing on 3G, or playing games.  And forget about a backup battery.

5. Price: $499 sounds good at first, until you realize that it’s $500 for only 16 gb of flash memory.  On top of that, you still have to pay $130 on top, on just base price, for 3G capabilities.   $15/mo for 250MB or $30/mo for “unlimited” data (most likely still capped), and for who, disappointingly? AT&T.  As if the slew of iPhones wasn’t enough crippling for the battered network, the added volume of data from iPads can possibly render the device unusable in major cities (such as New York and San Francisco) unless AT&T really steps up their infrastructure.  By the way, a 16 GB 3G iPad will cost you in one year just short of a grand, at $988.88 (minus taxes), a 64GB sets you back $1,188.88 (minus taxes).

Not to sound entirely like I took a bite of out of an bitter apple, I’ll admit that the device is very nice.  There were plenty of interesting features mentioned.  I’m excited to see how it may change the print industry (books, magazines, periodicals, textbooks).  The screen is definitely incredible and it seems like Apple will continue to lead the way (despite coming out later) for the new tablet market.  It’s definitely an incredible device and I’d be more than glad to take it as a gift.  Still, there is nothing new that the iPad offers me personally that I can’t get already with my other devices; it’s far from anything that I “need.”  With a netbook (under $350), my iPad Nano (iPod Touch), and my smartphone (Palm Pre) already, aside from reading eBooks, there isn’t anything that innovative or compelling for me to add an extra $1000 to my yearly bill, aside from bragging rights.  For now, I’m going to wait, at least for the next iteration of the iPad.

iPad/Apple.com

For more info and hands-on impressions, check out:
Kotaku
Engadget
Gizmodo

Twitter just rolled out regional trends, filtering the most popular tweeted topics by local cities and countries.  Currently the list includes 16 U.S. cities, 5 nations and a “Worldwide” option, though more cities are expected to follow.

Nope, it’s nothing like a jetpack that we’ve all seen on “The Jetsons” or “The Rocketeer.”

The Rocketeer/Walt Disney Pictures

NASA is currently looking into personal vehicles that would allow an individual to fly.  One concept, the “Puffin,” looks more like a cross between Astroboy, a jet, and an ICBM.  About 12 feet in length, 300 lbs, with a wingspan of 14 1/2 feet, the Puffin would allow the pilot to step in completely and fly at high-altitudes.

NASA/Analytical Mechanics Associates

While I’d love nothing more than to fulfill my personal dream to fly, the highways of L.A. have already convinced me that man is not yet capable to travel via roads, let alone skies. [NYTimes]

The NYTimes released an interesting chart last Friday that examines the various functions and services that Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Yahoo offer.  It’s an interesting look to see just how far and wide all four companies reach in consumer’s lives.  One interesting point the Times makes, “While looking at the comparisons of these four companies, it’s especially interesting to see that Apple is the only one of the four that charges for its online services, including calendar, contact sync and Web mail. Google, Microsoft and Yahoo all provide these cloud-based products free of charge.” [NYTimes]

Nick Bilton/The New York Times

What at once was an absurd joke is now shockingly reality.  For those familiar with the movie Zoolander, Mugato, the fashion designer decides to create a whole new style based on the homeless which he coined “Derelicte.”

While that resulted in laughs and chuckles on the silver screen, the following may lead one to respond in a giant “WTF.”  In a recent press release for the Milan Fashion Week, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood’s new”homeless chic” line was revealed to be based upon the homeless, stating: “Perhaps the oddest of heroes to emerge this season, Vivienne Westwood found inspiration in the roving vagrant whose daily get-up is a battle gear for the harsh weather conditions… Quilted bombers and snug hoodies also work well in keeping the vagrant warm.”

I may not know much about fashion, but I can tell you when something is in bad taste.  [TimesOnline]

For more info (or a place to hear some good ranting), check out the Gadgettes at CNET.

Asians often joke about having eyes that get mistaken for blinking, but according to a recent Time article (via Yahoo), this issue is actually coming to light as cameras and other tech devices are proving functions such as smile recognition and auto-brightness balance.

In the case of Joz Wang, a Taiwanese-American, she discovered that her recently purchased Nikon Coolpix S630 digital camera would constantly question if people were blinking in her family pictures.  Apparently, only after her brother unnaturally posed “bug-eyed” did the message stop.

It doesn’t stop with Asians.  A recent YouTube clip titled “HP computers are racist” demonstrated that a HP webcam only detected the faces of whites.  As they  moved, the camera would follow accordingly.  However, when a black person came to view, the camera would remain motionless.

While most of this can be attributed to the internal programming in the devices it does call to question the amount of thought and testing behind these products as they come to mass market.  As the racial makeup of the United States continues to change, corporations should be more aware of the diverse audience that makes up the national and global marketplace.  Especially with an issue as touchy as race, the last thing any corporation wants is any accusation of racial discrimination, even if it is from a camera.

Until these features are fixed though, the best bet is to keep your eyes as large as possible.

To check out the picture Joz Wang took, check out her blog.

In the wake of the recent China-Google debacle, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed several issues regarding internet freedom today at Washington, D.C.’s Newseum.  Clinton not only adapted Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech of 1941, but also made several Cold War-era references, including the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, while calling for the “information curtain” of censorship to be pulled down.

Though Clinton mentioned several nations, including Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia, for infringements on cyber “rights,” she was also clear in directing her concern on China.  She called for “Chinese authorities to conduct a thorough review” of the recent hacking accusations as well as greater transparency.  She continued on to mention several incidents around the world, including cyber attacks against religious minorities as well as the imprisonment against bloggers in nations such as Egypt.

One interesting point was her suggestion of a mobile app used to allow the public to rate government ministries, including that of the United States.  However, such a system, she noted, would require assistance for developers and a mechanism from the State department (which it currently lacks).

Clinton’s speech was far from a dry rant against these oppressive nations;  she began and ended her speech with stories about Haiti, on how information flow (through mobile users) helped to raise money for humanitarian efforts and how a girl pulled from the rubble in Port-Au-Prince with the help of freedom (in contrast to the “rubble of oppression.”)

For more information, check out the official release from the State Department, including the video recording of the speech.  Remarks on Internet Freedom

Also, check out CNET’s Buzz Out Loud podcast featured Jared Cohen, Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State for some more insight and discussion on today’s speech.

In wake of the impending collision between Google and China, Motorola has begun making moves for their mobile consumers in China.  AP reports that Motorola Android users in China can now choose Baidu, the top search engine in China.  Motorola stated that consumers would be able to choose “a number of providers including Baidu.”

At the same time, the Wall Street Journal reports that Motorola has also opened an app store for Android users.  While the URL for SHOP4APPS was uncovered back in December of 2009, the site was quickly taken down.  In today’s announcement, Motorola promised that the store would be open for Chinese consumers in time for the New Year (Feb. 14).

“Our ability to offer SHOP4APPS and choice in search is a testament to the openness of the Android platform.  SHOP4APPS will provide developers the opportunity to market and promote their applications on Android handsets within the Chinese market,” said Christy Wyatt, corporate vice president of software and services, Motorola Mobile Devices. “In addition to our close collaboration with the Android community, we are working closely with our carrier partners in China, and with ecosystem partners like Baidu to provide consumers with a full suite of services.  These services will include search, email and maps for our newest China smartphones.”

Was checking out a story on Kotaku when I noticed streaming options on the embedded YouTube clip.  After refreshing it went back to the standard HD/non-HD selection.  Perhaps a soft rollout for YouTube?