Apple posts up iPad Guided Tours... lots of Guided Tours
By Nilay Patel 
posted March 29th 2010 12:38PM
posted March 29th 2010 12:38PM
Update: Okay, here's the new stuff we've seen so far:
- iBooks has an integrated search feature, a built-in brightness control, and a dictionary that can pull up any word just by tapping on it. The same dictionary is in Pages, too -- we're assuming it's a system-wide feature available to any app, just like on Mac OS X. We've been told in the past that it supports user dictionaries and spellcheck, but we'll see what actually ends up shipping.
- There's a quick mention of connecting the iPad to your home stereo in the iPod video, but no mention of streaming to the Airport Express or an Apple TV. There's a big missed opportunity.
- Typing with one hand on the portrait keyboard in Pages looks just as silly as you'd expect.
- Numbers has a special formula keyboard.
- Tap and hold is everywhere, and unlike the iPhone, the UI has "windows," which are detailed info panes that float above the main app interface. The iWork apps also all have a "menu bar" area in the upper right that contain several options. You can see how interacting with an iPad will be familiar but still quite different than using an iPhone -- depending on the apps, of course.
[Thanks, John]
@MobileAppDeveloper Are you really a Mobile App Developer? You don't know what Quicktime and HTML5 are?
@recharged95 Driving a car is also easy and intuitive. Yet you still need help when you start.
@Bartender57 What costs "about $240 less than the iPad"?
@TheRealDeal "What I was specifically referring to with the coffee reference is that when you're reading a magazine (thinking of women here by the way although I'm sure guys do it too) its typical to hold the thing in your hand to keep you warm."
Are you kidding?
@TheRealDeal "Oh, and the Kindle has 3G built in, trying to compare its cost to the iPad's without 3G is a little silly. (...)
Now I'm not saying that the iPad won't do some things well, only that it offers nothing to justify the price."
If you really compare them you should compare with the Kindle DX (screen size). The price difference is getting smaller huh? And the iPad offers nothing? It can do much more stuff than your Kindle.
@commonman No s**t? Everyone complains for some dumb USB port they'll probably never use and then compare the iPad to a Kindle.
@nealhill Use a keyboard then.
@MobileAppDeveloper Ah, s**t, you're right . My bad :)
@MobileAppDeveloper You definitely can do more with a Macbook.
But I travel a lot and I bought MBP 13", great machine, but I find myself just browsing, chatting or reviewing my photos. So I'll go for the iPad - 700grams.
@Bartender57 Yep, thats basically why I want an Android based device, as I think it will give me the most flexibility.
@Atkins I didn't start the Kindle comparison, but for me the key thing there is that the most practical and common usage this device would be useful for is reading, which then makes it vastly over-priced. Of course if you can actually find a regular use for the thing beyond reading then fair enough, but if not I just don't see how its justified that's all.
As I've said before, I think people will purchase it with the intention of doing all this other stuff, but then realise its just not practical. Its not about what people think they'll use it for now as obviously anyone can find a reason, but asking the "what do you use your iPad for most?" question after the first week will definitely be interesting to read.
Yay, I'm certainly not regretting the purchase of HP tm2 after seeing these Guided Tours. iPad and tm2 are certainly different type of devices but they also have a lot of similarities. Forexample gaming: some iPhone like simple games vs. internet poker/CS 1.6/WOW... Integrated SD card, HDMI out, 3 USB port vs. loads of dongles.
If only Apple would give some love to integrated pen to do school notes, I could see a lot bigger audience for iPad.
@Bartender57 Why don't you compare to Kindle DX? Screen size and all....
Those "windows" are called PopOvers. They pretty much give the functionality of an iPhone options screen directly where selected.
iPAD IS COOL!!!