January 27, 2010
Hello iPad
So here it is at last, the iPad.
After so much hype it was always going to be difficult to impress people, and there’s already signs of a backlash online, not least about that name. But… I want one. Have a look at the pictures online and tell me you don’t want one. If still unsure look at it being used here. Yum yum.
People have commented it’s ‘just a big iPhone’, as if there was something wrong with that. Was it ever going to be anything else? A big iPhone will do me. I’ve been using my iPhone increasingly for reading content, enjoying excellent apps like the Guardian’s, and I can easily imagine doing the same with more space for design and presentation.
Like the iPhone, there’s no Flash compatibility. From a magazine perspective that’s no disappointment. InDesign and Adobe Air provide plenty of opportunity for creativity based on the same software as printed publications – already Condé Nast, for one, are concentrating efforts in this direction.
My one disappointment today – no demos of a magazine on the device. Wired, where were you?
Nonetheless, at last, we can see an end for the PDF page turner and the start of real digital publishing. There are many more steps to go before we know what’s possible but today’s launch was a major one of those steps.
Read Luke Hayman’s thoughts on the subject here, and Andrew’s technical analysis here.
11 Comments
Comment on January 28, 2010 by Anorak Magazine says:
We love it too!
Comment on January 28, 2010 by uberVU - social comments says:
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by daniel_howells: @magCulture sums up the iPad perfectly – http://bit.ly/dhMBwr What’s wrong with a big iPhone?…
Comment on January 28, 2010 by Smith+Fritzy says:
I am interested if we’ll be able to sell magazines on it in the same fashion as the books – I can’t see why not, but no mention of it. Also, will independent publishers be allowed into the store?
Comment on January 28, 2010 by James Kelleher says:
Looks like an ergonomic nightmare to me!
Disappointed that they’ve let the iPhone lead the case design too, rather than have this drive the look of the next generation of phones. Same story with the UI: that loose app-grid just looks weirdly empty.
I wanted to like it. Still can’t see the niche.
Comment on January 28, 2010 by Tweets that mention magCulture.com / editorial design -- Topsy.com says:
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Alexander Flores, Luis Mendo, Daniel Howells, Jeremy Leslie, Sasha Iacob and others. Sasha Iacob said: RT @magculture Hello iPad http://bit.ly/dhMBwr [...]
Comment on January 29, 2010 by Rad4Ever says:
Picture looks like an iphone blown up and superimposed onto photo!
Comment on January 29, 2010 by Roots says:
I quite enjoyed this response to Apple’s iPad video: http://onboardsnowboarding.com/news/onboard-unveils-onboard.html
Comment on January 30, 2010 by NA says:
it looks like a giant, shiny turdtastic version of the indisputedly poopy, iPhone.
Aptly named the iPad, it’s only use will be to mop up waste product.
Comment on January 30, 2010 by Lyn Dark says:
Looking at this, if someone gave me one tomorrow I’d auction it for Haiti -or consign it to the drawer alongside my discarded iPhone.
Time will tell if all the hype is worth it. These days, though the products are indisputably elegant, Apple technology is only as good as the latest app, it seems, and the quality of the network you subscribe to.
I sense disappointment around me, but that’s what you get when you big something up that much. The dream is rarely fulfilled with the first version.
Comment on January 31, 2010 by bob says:
I like it but will wait until they release one thats also a phone and camera. A number of years off I should think as theres many who will be seduced by this oversized iphone.. that doesnt have a phone or camera. Also long for the day I can design a magazine on something like this.. ie without a separate keyboard and mouse.
Comment on February 1, 2010 by David says:
iPuff, anyone?
