There is so much iPad news now flowing that we might as well just call this “The Week Of iPad” Seriously, although only a few people have actually held and used one (and they aren’t really allowed to talk about it), the device already looks like an initial hit. Seriously, rumors are running that sales estimates for the first year have been raised to 8-10 MILLION units. WOW!
So we could have three thousand separate posts on the iPad each day, but instead we’ll do a couple of roundup posts between now and Saturday. We’ll look at news, rumors, a few newly announced accessories, and iPad app info as it comes out.
In the meantime, since Judie and I are getting ours this Saturday, let us know what questions you have, what apps you want reviewed first, and anything else that might help us fill you in on all the iPad info you want.
The first round up follows, and boy is there a bunch of news!
Don’t Tell Me This Device Is Just For Play …
Lots of different people have said that the iPad looks good but is not a work device. I have always said we should wait and see what the device is actually like before making a judgment. Well… I was wrong. The iPad will be a serious work device for those who choose to take the time and break from a couple of old paradigms. Why am I so sure this will be the case? Because we can now see the iPad in action and it is a powerful work device. The “proof” comes right from Apple in the form of a series of Guided Tours. Each tour shows more specifics regarding the different functions offered by the iPad, addressing everything from Safari to Music. Take a look at the Pages tour, the Mail tour, the Keynote tour and the Numbers tour. If you are willing to let go of some of the specific ways you have worked on a notebook, you’ll see how much the iPad will offer. I was especially wowed by the Pages demo. The ability to create and then format documents is amazing!
The iPad’s Available Saturday at Best Buy… sort Of…
Lots of sites have reported that iPads will be available at many Best Buys this Saturday. While that IS true, it is only slightly useful. You see, even those Best Buys carrying the iPad will get only 15. I was in Best Buy yesterday, and I asked the nice store manager about it. She smiled. When I asked “So it will be a bit crazy huh?” She laughed and said, “You have no idea.”
Saturday… Saturday???? Why The Heck Did Apple Choose Saturday?
And while we are talking about Saturday… One of the questions I continue to have is why Apple chose to deliver the iPads on Saturday. In the past, first day shipping was set for Thursday (the initial release of the MacBook Air) and Friday (the iPhone 3GS). Why would Apple choose a weekend when, (a) news is quieter, (b) shipping is pricier, and (c) people travel. Any thoughts on why Apple made the decision to do weekend delivery?
DROConcepts Announces Sleek Carbon Fiber Case for iPad
There are lots of cases being announced for the iPad, but this one caught my eye. The DROConcepts carbon fiber case weighs just under 1/2 a pound, offers amazingly strong protection for the iPad and looks great. It will also cost $139.99. Pricey? Yes but for the amount of protection it will offer, it just might be worth every penny
It is available for pre-order, and we hope to be reviewing one when it ships in a few weeks. More information HERE.
It Isn’t REALLY True Until We Hear It Directly From Apple… Now We Have
There have been rumors about the iPad release details. There have been rumors about those rumors. But until Apple actually announced something it was all… well… just rumors. So now that Apple has made a formal statement about their plans for the initial iPad delivery, it is actually real.
The iPad IS coming, Apple is ready, and there will be free personal setup available for customers that need help. Side note – Seriously, if you need help setting up something as simple to use as an iPhone or iPad maybe you should not be among the first to buy it?
A Penny Here, A Penny There and Soon You Are Talking Big $$$ (close to $50 Billion actually)
As amazing as it is, there are going to be lots of gripes about the initial iPad release. No, it won’t allow apps in the background. No, it has no camera. And YES, Apple cheaped out in the bundled accessories, presumably in order to save a few dollars.
The original iPhone came with headphones, a wall charger and a cradle. The iPhone 3G didn’t include a cradle and the included wall charger was smaller and less durable. Remember the initial recall because they were snapping off prongs? Well the iPad doesn’t include a dock and it doesn’t even include the cheap headphones that Apple bundles with every other mobile device they make. Seriously Apple, it is bad enough that the earbuds are crap. Not even including them with the iPad?? Give me a break.
Numbers Matter And The New Forecast For iPads Shipped In 2010 Is HUGE
Initial estimates for iPad shipments this year were good but not great. Now the buzz suggesting estimates is that it should be increased to 8-10 million. That is pretty darn impressive… especially for a device that has not even yet made it to consumer’s hands.
While that is a guess-timate this isn’t… the first run of iPads is sold out. New orders will arrive some time after the second week of April.
Apps On The Way… And There Are A Bunch Of Super Useful Ones Coming… SOON!
Lots of releases have been leaked thus far and some of the apps look really interesting. Here are a few we know about…
SketchNote
Bento
BuzzVoice
Zinio
Pocket Informant
OmniGraphSketcher
App Pricing Is Gonna Hurt…
We predicted it right after the iPad was announced…. There was no way the bargain basement prices of the App Store was going to do a repeat. I recall the app pricing when iPhone OS 2.0 was first released was relatively high. Games costing $9.99 were not uncommon. Then the pricing dropped… and dropped… and dropped. Eventually apps costing $4.99 were considered high. Well, we won’t be seeing the same thing with the iPad. Spy shots of the iPad App Store Reveal that pricing will be higher than we are used to for many apps.
As Wired points out:
Developers are pricing iPad games a bit higher than iPhone titles. The iPad game Flight Control HD , for example, is listed for $4.99; the iPhone version costs $0.99. And the iPad game Flick Fishing HD costs $2.99 — $2 more than the Flick Fishing for iPhone.
So will we see people being choosier in what they Buy? Will this be the end of the “impulse app buys” that are so common on the iPhone? Will you choose to get both iPhone AND iPad versions of your favorite apps?
Time will tell.
