Well, I’ve gone and done it.  My old Nokia phone was dying, not able to keep a charge for longer than a day, and had issues.  It had run it’s course over the past three years, and it was time to get a new phone.  My wife, who had the same phone as I did, opted to get an iPhone 3GS, and I hesitated.  It was early in the Spring, and I knew that there were rumors of a new iPhone coming. 

There was no doubt that I would get an iPhone.  I’ve used an Android phone before, and find the overall experience rather clunky in comparison to the iOS experience.  Perhaps it’s because I started with an iPod Touch, moved to the iPad, and have invested quite a bit in iOS apps.  More likely it’s because there are at last count only three apps (that’s 3, only 3) that cater to Autistic children, while for iOS devices, there are over 250. 

At any rate, I was happy to say I waited until the iPhone 4 was announced, and finally ordered one.  Please note, I did wait until the "Antennagate" issue was addressed by Apple, though it doesn’t matter that much to me (I’m not left handed).  The free case, which is currently ordered, was definitely a bonus. 

So, what are my impressions of the iPhone 4?  Well, it’s just what I would expect having use iOS devices before.  I have never cared for Flash much, as most of my Flash experience has been with ads on news sites, so I don’t miss it at all.  What I do like are the new features, many of which I find very wanting on the iPad.  As such I am looking forward to the iOS 4 update, rumored to be due in November (sooner would be nice, Apple!  Just saying!). 

1.  Folders:  I love folders.  I love being able to combine all my 5 pages of apps to one screen.  It’s fabulous to have that kind of consolidation for my apps.  I was also interested to learn that of all the "games" on my iPhone, my kids games out number my own. 

2.  Multitasking:  I have to admit, this was one of the reasons I was holding back on another 2 year contract with AT&T and the expense of an iPhone over that time.  I wanted to be able to use Skype while not having to have it open all the time.  Ideal for an iPod Touch, it’s great on the iPhone.  That, and I can listen to Pandora while surfing the web.  Bring it to the iPad, and i’ll be one happy mobile computing professional.  ^_^

3.  Augmented Reality Browers:  I just discovered it this week, and I’m already intrigued.  There are several free browers available in the iTunes Store, along with some that come with paid subscriptions or others that charge for the browser.  At any rate, it’s a pretty cool thing, and I’m looking forward to playing with it more. 

4.  720p Video Recording:  This was what sold me.  Not only did I want to consolidate my cell phone with my iPod, but I wanted to add in a decent video recorder.  The video capabilities on this thing is great, and I didn’t even need to purchase the iMovie app.

5.  Retina Display:  I do a lot of reading on the go, mostly on my iPad.  But reading on the iPhone 4 is a new experience entirely.  The clarity of the words is astounding, particularly when in small text.  My eyes don’t tire when I read on the Retina Display, and I hope to see it in future iPad releases as they come (and I’m sure they will). 

Those are my likes, things I have enjoyed about the iPhone 4.  Now let’s talk about the minor disappointments.

1.  Bluetooth Headset Woes For Voyager 510:  Yes, I finally have an iOS device that will allow the Voyager 510 headset I have owned for over 5 years to work.  The problem?  It can only be used for calls, and will not work with the iPod app.  It seems this poor little trooper is just had it’s day, and I’ll need to spring for a stereo bluetooth headset. 

Yep, that’s it.  Everything else I was either expecting, aware of, or surprised that it doesn’t happen at all (i.e., Antennagate). 

So, there is my first impressions.  Some have called me an Apple fanboy.  Honestly, I think I like Apple because they take all the frustration out of compiling on UNIX.  It works when I want it to, and doesn’t feel clunky when I work it.

Businessweek has posted an article on the fight against Autism going High Tech, meaning that technology is becoming the avenue autistic people are using to overcome their social isolation brought on by the disorder.  Mentioned there are a number of different devices that are becoming more mainstream:  iPods and apps for Autism (229 and counting), robots instead of people for reliable, comfortable communication, and other tools each provide an autistic child with an opportunity to work through their disability and interact with others. 

I’ve posted several reviews on apps on the iPod/iPad that help autistic children learn, and each my son has enjoyed.  I still maintain that Apple’s true potential in their popular multitouch platform has yet to be tapped or even advertised, and that is it’s ability to enable those who are disabled.  But this is more than finding a technological solution to a problem, it’s about finding how autistic children interact, and catering to that method.

For instance, aside from robots that have preset interaction ideas, dogs can provide a save interaction variable for autistic children.  That’s because dogs are perhaps more straightforward in their responses, and remain very honest and predictable in how they will interact with children.  That is, in general at least.  There are some exceptions to that rule, but by and large dogs provide a predictable interaction experience for autistic children. 

But what about vacations?  Many parents with autistic children tend to shy away from vacations in general, and particularly large resorts with lots of people.  I’ve had several parents post comments about how they would love to have their children go to Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but fear the reaction with so many people in such a close space. 

Remember that Disney has a policy:  Every guest is to have a good experience.  As such they have a special pass for those who are unable to wait in long lines for extended periods of time.  Those parents with an autistic child can get one of these passes for up to 5 people plus the special needs individual (if I remember right, it may just be 5 people).  This pass was a life saver for my family, as my son was able to ride his now favorite ride (other than the Carousel), Finding Nemo, without having to wait the full 40+ minutes to get in. 

Disney also has another interaction activity mentioned by the Businessweek article:  "Turtle Talk with Crush".  Apparently this activity, where children get to talk with Crush the Turtle from Finding Nemo has been very well received by children with lower functioning autism, and they even come away repeating more of the words that Crush has said.  My family didn’t get a chance to see this activity (it’s in Disneyland’s California Adventures park), but you can guarantee that we will be there the next time we go to Disneyland. 

There is a lot happening with Autism in this day and age.  More people are becoming aware of the disorder, more parents are getting timely information on how to manage the disorder, genetic markers and causes are being discovered, potential treatments are being investigated, acceptance is becoming more common, and technology is quickly enabling those with Autism to interact with those who are not more readily.  It’s an exciting time for parents of children with this now very wide spread disability. 

Since I purchased my iPad, I’ve had a lot of questions come my way.  Is it really worth it?  Do you like it?  Are you just an Apple Fan-boy, or do you have too much money?  Many of them are questions based on media coverage of the iPad, the assumptions made by technologists on the iPad, and the arguments made by others in the industry that feel threatened by the new medium of tablets.  So, I thought I would talk about why I have the iPad, why I purchase Apple products, and how it relates to my son’s condition.

First, if you have iTunes, open up to the iTunes Store, and then run a search for Autism.  As of this writing, there are 153 apps for the iPhone that come up, and an additional 7 that are specifically for the iPad.  Most of these are flash card apps for learning to write, read, and speak.  But at the heart of these are augmentative and alternative communication software like Proloquo2go, iCommunicate, iSpeak4U, and so on.  That means any person who has trouble talking or is completely non-verbal can use an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad as a communication device.  At its most expensive it would be roughly $700.00 for such a device.

There is an alternative to using an iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch, and that is to buy an AAC device.  These tend to run in the thousands, between $5000.00 to $10,000.00.  The software is similar (if not the same), and the results are the same.  So, in the end, Apple, with the help of several third party developers, have managed to mainstream a specialty device, making it more affordable for those families that are in need but can’t afford $5000.00 for a device to help their child speak.

Now, you may say that Apple isn’t the only tablet on the block, and you would be right.  There are several tablets that currently exist, which are tablet PC’s, and can have normal software installed on them.  They generally run at $2,000.00 (roughly), with an additional $200.00 for AAC software to be installed.  So the Apple solution is still a bargain.

But what about the Android market?  Surely I can’t spend all my time looking at Apple when Linux in the form of Android is there.  Well, I checked out the Android Marketplace through AndoidZoom.com, and searched for Autism.  I found a total of three apps, one for recording your voice and matching it to a picture, one for learning phonics, and one to give suggestions for treatment of Autism (which I would consider suspect until it is proven useful).  Not one was an AAC system,  Now, this of course is not Andoid’s fault, or Google’s, but rather the marketplace that Android represents.  Obviously interest in Autism and helping nonverbal people communicate is not a priority for third party developers that want to target the Andriod market.

So where does that leave those families that have a need of some assistance and tools, but don’t have the funds for truly expensive devices?  Quite frankly, it leaves them with Apple and their iPhone OS lineup.  At least for the moment.  As Android (as an OS) has finally outsold the iPhone (I don’t think the iPhone OS, just the iPhone), the market is expanding.  And with the rumored Tablets coming, it looks like things can get interesting.  If the HP Slate ever gets released with a full version of Windows 7, it could present a huge leap forward for AAC devices in the mainstream.

We are at an exciting period in technology.  Smaller, full featured devices are becoming more common, less expensive, more portable, and easier to use.  That means those with disabilities can and will be better served with even more affordable solutions.  So before you start labeling everyone with an iPad a “fan-boi,” perhaps you should consider the real, grown-up reasons for tablets and how they can be used.  That’s something that is rarely reported on in the Technology columns, and remains a disappointment for me.

Last week the University had a sale for all University Staff and Faculty on Apple products:  no sales tax.  It was a perfect excuse to get an iPad.  I’ve wanted one for quite some time, and finally, after my wife had a chance to play with one the weekend before, I was given the OK to plop down the cash to get one.  So, on Tuesday morning at 7:20 AM I got in line for an iPad.  In line is right, there were over 50 people in front of me, and it seems that the Bookstore sold out of all the iPads by the time I got to the register.  But I was able to get one on order.  It was the longest week of my life, waiting for the iPad, but it finally came in on Friday. 

It’s much smaller than I thought it would be, with the surrounding bezel smaller than I thought I remembered seeing on the device Steve Jobs showed in January.  It is also very hefty, feeling very solid.  I thought I might have needed a hard external case for the iPad, but it the device is solid enough I don’t worry about it now.  The only thing I would be concerned with is scratching the glass, which can be fixed with a good screen cover. 

So what was the purpose for purchasing one?  Well, I had a laptop that was a G4 Powerbook, and it was starting to show it’s age.  The battery didn’t run long enough for me to be able to do anything while going to work.  And mostly I just wanted to write or play games while listening to music.  I could play games and listen to music with my iPod Touch, but I couldn’t for the life of me get any writing done.  The screen was too small to type well, and so many ideas would be lost in the frustration of trying to type it out with my thumbs (I am not a texter, and therefore I have no aptitude for texting).  I wanted something larger that could take the place of my Powerbook and fulfill those needs. 

Well, I did look at a Netbook for a long time, thinking I could use one, but they have one problem:  their clamshell design.  Not that huge of an issue, unless you are sitting in a cramped seat on the bus and want to type,  The clamshell monitor cannot open far enough for me to see what I’m typing, and while I can touch-type pretty well, I would rather not guess at what I am writing.  So that idea was thrown out.  I wanted a tablet like the iPod Touch, but with more space. 

Finally, I got the iPad.  My first impression using the Notes app was that it was amazingly easy to type on, as long as I didn’t used my pinkies.  That’s because the Shift key isn’t quite where it should be for a normal sized keyboard.  But, as I only need it for some punctuation and capitals (which Apple’s spell check often fixes), I don’t worry about it too much.  And if I really need a full-sized keyboard while on a long trip (like on Vacation), I can use a bluetooth keyboard paired with it.  And I like the fact that I don’t need to worry about the hard drive failing, keys being picked off by my son, or any other such nonsense that comes with moving parts.  A capacitive multitouch screen is perfect for traveling.

But the real thing that makes the iPad, or any new device, is the software.  I tried running native iPhone apps on the iPad, but most were very pixelated, looking terrible in general.  So I limited them down to those that looked the best from what I had, and started looking for iPad specific apps. 

ForScore

I sing in a choir, and often I have trouble turning pages on music.  Ever since I first saw the iPad, I thought how great it would be to be able to have it display music for me.  Of course, I would need to have a way to scan in my music and use it, preferably as a PDF.  But it should be much more than a PDF viewer, because I need to be able to make annotations directly on the iPad while I’m practicing.  ForScore does all that, and gives me a metronome that is silent (visual outline that blinks to the time) so I can keep on beat.  All in all, it’s a great app.

Pocket Legends

Some games are pretty basic on the iPhone and iPad.  Some have fantastic graphics and 3D effects.  And still many say that an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game would be too restrictive on the iPad.  Well, as a proof of concept, I present Pocket Legends.  This is everything I have wanted in an MMO, including the option to quest alone (you start your own quest, password protect it, then continue from there).  It’s great because it shows just what the iPad is capable of doing with the right hardware in place.  Honestly, I see the possibility of a true 3D Second Life or WOW client being made for the iPad…  if someone makes the effort, that is.

Cloud Readers

This is a great PDF reader app, and solves a problem I have with iBooks:  it will only read ePub files, and I have some PDF eBooks.  And while I can’t read encrypted PDF’s with the Adobe DRM in this app, I can read all my other PDF’s just fine.  It’s a great little app, and I’m glad to have it. 

eBook Readers

I love to read, when I have the time, and so I tend to collect large libraries of books.  The problem is, I want to have them with me wherever I go, and so far I don’t have the backpack big enough to fulfill this need.  So I have been downloading and purchasing eBooks for many of my reading needs.  I started on my iPod, and it worked great, though I couldn’t see a lot of the book at once.  I really wanted to have more of a view of each book, and so the iPad makes eBook reading nice.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved reading on the iPod, I just like being able to use the full real estate on the iPad for reading as well. 

Of my eBook readers, I think I like iBooks the most for the experience, Kobo for the night reading option (black background with white text seems to be easier to read for me), and I like the Kindle for overall device compatibility (syncing).  Kobo offers that as well in it’s fashion, as will iBooks when iPhone 4.0 comes to market.  I would love to see a Stanza iPad-native app come soon, though, as Stanza was my favorite eBook reader on the iPod Touch. 

So that’s a quick outline of some of the many iPad Apps I’ve found useful in their full real estate glory.  I’m looking forward to seeing quite a few new apps in various areas replace the iPod apps I currently use because they do not have a satisfactory replacement. 

But needless to say, I see tablets like the iPad quickly taking over much of our mobile experience, relegating the Notebook to either replace the Desktop, or breathing new life into the Desktop platform. And I like my iPad.  ^_^

This week has been really interesting, and really busy.  For that reason, I’m doing another week in review (and it’s only Thursday!). 

First, Apple Training.  I taught the Mac OS X 10.6 Server Essentials course this week, and had two students.  Both were sharp, but one, Aaron Hix, works with Apple.  It was fun to talk with him, learn some things from his experiences, and talk about people we know.  I also got to see him at work (three laptops, an iPad, and an iPhone all running).  It was great fun, and we got a lot accomplished, and quickly!  It was the first time the Server Essentials class finished in 3 days instead of 4 (though we did skip exercises that both students were not anxious to go through). 

Second, I ordered an iPad from the Campus bookstore.  They had a sale where sales tax was not included in the price of all Apple merchandise, so I thought I would go for it.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have any iPads in stock (none!  Not even the 32GB which is supposed to be the unpopular one).  So, I placed the order and paid for it anyway, and I’m still waiting for it to show up (it could be in as late as next week).  In the mean time, I’m getting my apps ready, my pictures put together, and other fun things that come with getting a new device. 

Third, I became a Master Trainer for Apple IT classes, which means that we at the University of Utah can offer T3 courses.  It’s pretty exciting, and I’m looking forward to some being scheduled.  I also found out that we are unique among Apple Authorized Training Centers because we are able to run classes with just two students.  Other AATC’s usually need to have 5 to 8 to run a class.  We are hoping this means we get more students coming to our site, knowing we won’t cancel on them. 

Now for the Politics.  Apparently former Illinois Governor Blagojavich wants to have President Obama testify in his corruption trial, as part of the defense.  It will be interesting to see if a federal judge will try to subpoena the President in this matter.  My guess is he will not find reason to do so, though it’s always possible.  Even if it doesn’t happen here in Federal Court, it may be taken to the Supreme Court where the President will be asked again to testify.  And if asked, will the President make a personal appearance, or will he participate in some other way?  I’m keeping my eye on this one, just because it’s an interesting situation for the Judicial and the Executive branches. 

Apple vs. Adobe:  An interesting game of attacks, primarily from Adobe.  All over Flash..  Sure, Flash is a big part of the web (advertising, at least for my part), and it’s quite popular.  But Apple doesn’t want it on their iPhone or iPad.  So, Adobe tried to work around it by using Flash to develop apps for the iPhone and iPad, which Apple killed with the 4.0 user agreement (which also killed Titanium from Appcelerator).  Rumors were flying about Adobe suing Apple, but today they attacked Apple by saying they would rather work with Open platforms with their proprietary platform than with Apple’s closed ecosystem that supports open standards.  Apple fired back, the first time the Company has said anything publicly, while Adobe as a company and as individuals have been spewing forth hatred and ire at Apple. 

Now, I really like Apple.  I teach about their technologies, and I’m developing for the iPhone using their tools (mostly because I can’t use Titanium for my class I’m developing).  I like Adobe.  Photoshop is great, as are many of their other products.  But, much like fanbois for any technology that attack others for their choices, Adobe as a company has been very, well, surprisingly unprofessional.  So has Steve Jobs in his remarks, though they were never made publicly (I don’t consider a company meeting public, as it’s within the private company). 

I come away from this liking the experience I have with Apple’s tools, not having stupid Flash ads pop up over websites I’m trying to read, and enjoying the idea of having open standards grow faster on the Internet.  I also come away from this with a bad taste in my mouth for Adobe.  Perhaps I should start to look at the GIMP a bit more.  Also, I come away with having less respect for Steve Jobs as a person, though he seems to be doing very well as a CEO. 

Anyway, that’s the week in review.  Hopefully there will be some new news on the iPad soon, as in tomorrow.  But if not, I’ll be talking about it when I finally get my hands on it.

I’ve made posts about the iPad way before it was even the iPad, starting back in 2008.  When they announced the iPad, I was excited, impressed, and a little disappointed.  But since then, I’ve been converted.  Why?  Because it seems almost like Cupertino had been reading my blog posts, and built the thing just for me.  But that was from looking at videos and reading the keynote address.  What about real life?  How would it stack up?

Well, I haven’t purchased one yet, but I have played with one at the Apple Store, and at the University of Utah’s bookstore.  Here are my impressions:

The Keyboard
Unlike a lot of other people out there, I like the keyboard.  It’s big enough in landscape mode to type with, and I was pretty proficient with it when typing.  I can also type well without looking at the keyboard, which is a bonus.  The only thing is the shift keys don’t seem to be in the same place, so I would need some practice with it.

The Real Estate
I love the large screen.  It’s actually smaller than I thought it would be, though it’s about the same size as my 12" Powerbook G4 I purchased years ago.  While I can’t yet replace a laptop with it, I can definitely replace what I’ve been using my laptop for, and leave all the heavy lifting up to my iMac at home, or my Mac Pro at work.  I can’t wait to see all the awesome Autism apps that will be coming to the iPad. 

The Need
Yes, I think I need one.  Why?  Because I want a "computer" that is easy to use and gets out of the way when I use it.  I need something bigger than my iPod Touch to type on while on the go while still fitting within my seat space while commuting on the bus and TRAX train (those seats are not very clamshell-laptop friendly, let me tell you!). 

So, all in all, I am a happy camper, and look forward to the day I get one (which will be soon, I hope).  Do I think it will be the best tablet out there?  I think it will be for me, but I’m also excited to see how the HP Slate and various Android devices will act when they are released in the future.  The tablet format has finally found the technology and the uses that it needed to be useful.

Here is my problem:  I don’t want to get another laptop, but I need a mobile device that will let me accomplish some specific tasks.  Tasks like writing and editing documents, surfing the web, checking and responding to email, watching videos and listening to music, and a number of other very specific tasks, and all while on the go.  I had hoped that the iPod Touch would take care of all that, but it’s lacking in a couple of areas, mostly because while I like the virtual keyboard it’s too small to type fast enough to keep up with my brain.  So, taking a page from Patrick Thornton’s blog on how he would use the iPad, let me outline mine:

On The Go:

• The Bus and LightRail:  I currently commute using the MAX bus to TRAX up to the University of Utah.  Using a laptop is awkward at best, because of how close the seats are.  The frustration comes from the form factor:  the clamshell may allow for a touch-type keyboard, but it doesn’t allow for easy use with the seat in front of me.  The iPod Touch works well in this environment, even when I am cramped in a corner, but the screen is too small for me to do any effective typing.  Unlike many younger than I am, I am not adept at "texting", and therefore my thumbs seem to be good for only one thing:  the spacebar. 

  It’s in this case that a tablet with a virtual keyboard would be ideal.  It’s small enough to pull out without taking too much effort, and typing on the screen within my lap would take less space than using a clamshell screen.  At this point, since I would naturally be looking at the right angle to my lap, I could see what I was typing without having to adjust a screen to the right angle.  Also, given 3G or the eventually promised WiFi on the bus system Internet access would allow me to be productive the minute I’m able to sit down. 

• The Car:  While I normally drive the car, and therefore never use mobile devices while driving, it would be nice to have a device with a large screen for the kids to see while driving.  Some have suggested that I get a DVD player, but I don’t want to mess with DVD’s, as my son with Autism tends to break them easily.  That’s mostly why I opted for the Apple TV to begin with.  So while DVD’s are out, I need another solution.  An iPod Touch works great for one child, but what about the other one?  Well, we could use two iPod Touches, but by that point we are pretty much spending the same amount for an iPad, which both could see.  Add a car mount to be between the front seats and an audio cable to pug into the car stereo, and the device starts to make sense.
• Walking:  Even my little 12" Powerbook G4 is pretty heavy when I carry it around, though it’s dimensions are the same (if thicker) than the iPad.  The weight starts to tell when carrying books for students, note pads for book and software ideas, etc.  In fact, I often need to switch from my message bag to a backpack just to carry the laptop, power cable, etc. with me.  The iPad would take a lot of weight away, making my daily walks easier to manage. 
• Long Commutes:  I commute an average of 2.5 hours a day, it being about 1 hour 15 minutes (give or take) from my house to my office, and then the same back.  Long commutes mean the need for long battery life.  Here my iPod does ok, but the battery is really running low by the end of the day from all the activity I use it for, and that’s with a 6 hour video time.  That’s also roughly what most modern laptops get as well, though that is shortened by the boot/wake delay.  With a tablet that is always on and has at least 10 hours of battery life, I can not worry about having to charge the device at work as well as at home.  The benefits here is a device that is always on, therefore has no wait time. 
• Flying:  Occasionally my job requires me to travel.  Flying is troublesome enough without having to lug a laptop with me.  It takes up a lot of valuable space in my carry-ons, which I can use for something else.  A flat tablet would give me the work ability I would need while flying, and the long battery life would let me watch those videos I want to see.  And even if I needed to take a laptop with me, I would prefer to use a tablet in the cramped areas of the airplane (as I inevitably get to sit with the other larger guys on the flight) with more comfort than the clamshell form factor. 

In the Office:

• Notes:  Typing on a larger screen makes it easier to take notes than on my iPod Touch, and therefore would make it that much more useful than the iPod Touch. A laptop would be awkward to carry into a meeting, use, and set aside when not needed.  Not to mention battery life issues and the screen going blank when I don’t want it to.
• Presentations:  Using a laptop for presentations becomes tedious, because it requires a lot of hookups and cables, a place to set it, and I become tethered to be within reach.  A tablet with a display cable that was long enough (or could be extended) to allow me to wander about with the presentation in my hands would make that much easier, even if all my slides were just in a PDF format.  I could simply swipe through each of them if needed.  Creating or editing presentations isn’t that important, though it would be nice.  I have really wanted to have a version of PowerPoint or Keynote on the iPod Touch for a long time, if only just as a viewer.  Having it available for real makes it that much better.

At Home:

• On the Couch:  Right now having a laptop is not a good option for me while sitting at my couch with the kids running around, trying to get something accomplished.  You see, both my kids like to grab the screen and pull it down their way (opposite me) to see what I’m doing.  Almost immediately it means having to quickly stop their action, which gets in the way of what I’m trying to accomplish.  It can also potentially damage the screen (though to date I’ve been lucky with my PowerBook).  A tablet would make working from the couch with the kids much easier, as they can see what I’m doing immediately without having to move a screen or pull the thing out of my hands. 
•  Reading:  I am a prolific reader.  I love to read, and use my iPod Touch extensively for reading in both Stanza and the Kindle app.  I don’t use a laptop because it’s awkward to read from while sitting or lounging on the couch or bed.  A tablet of some sort would be ideal in this situation, where the clamshell form factor just isn’t.  It also would beat out the smaller tablets because of real estate.
• Special Needs Interaction:  My son is autistic, and as such has very special needs.  Part of that is his need to find a way to focus his mind in order to calm down.  Currently the iPod Touch works for that, though it’s very small and doesn’t have much real estate for him to work.  I would never let him use a clamshell device because he would inevitably break the screen because it moves.  With a single tablet device with little to no moving parts all the concerns about his breaking is has been reduced.  He’s very careful about placing large things like books down, and so wouldn’t throw the iPad.  There are also several apps that are targeted directly to children and adults with Autism, making the iPhone OS an excellent choice for me.  Is anyone aware of Autism apps for Android?  I would like to know.

So what about the complaints against the iPad?

• No Flash:  I hate Flash, though not because of the platform, just for what it’s used.  Flash to me means annoying ads that fly in front of text I’m trying to read for the news.  I don’t play Flash games, and I don’t use Hulu (I found it very unfriendly to use).  When we use YouTube as a family (such as viewing rollercoaster rides for our son), we use the Apple TV primarily.  Why do I like to avoid Flash?  Because it gets in the way.  Sure, other technologies will probably come along that the iPad supports that will get in the way to, but right now it’s Flash that is my big complaint.  If there is a Flash only website, I tend to avoid it like I would lima beans.

  Some may say I’m missing out on the richness of the Web by avoiding Flash, but I would counter by saying they are missing out of my patronage by forcing me to use an intrusive program that defeats the purpose of visiting the site in the first place.  It would be like forcing me to install Adware just to use an operating system.  I would quickly find another operating system.

• No Camera:  I’ve never once used video conferencing, even when I had cameras.  Text typing tends to be faster, and I don’t have to be dressed up or shave my face to use it.  Audio chat is fine too.  That, and I don’t see video chat on a Tablet being very useful, because it would be hard to use the tablet still while talking.  Nope, for video chat, a clamshell format would be ideal.  And if I really want to video chat, it would be from my office on my iMac. 
• No Multitasking:  This isn’t strictly true, as the iPod Touch already multitasks, in that I can get email, have a webpage load, play a song with iTunes, and still play a game.  It is more accurate to say that multitasking all apps is not available, and generally, I don’t need to.  The only types of apps I would like to have multitask for me is a telephony app like a VoIP app, a voice chat app, or a text chat app.  Other than that, I don’t use it a lot, and have learned to do without with these all running at the same time.  As I use one tool at a time, and don’t use it much in the background until I come back to it, I don’t really see the need for "multitasking".  How do you multitask with your mobile devices?  Let me know, because it would be interesting to see how people use multitasking on mobile devices.
• No Physical Keyboard:  This is true, though quite honestly I consider it a plus in my book.  I would much rather use an onscreen tablet than a clamshell while out and about, because it doesn’t require as much space to use.  Why is that?  Because with a clamshell on your lap, you need to either lean back to see what is going on, or rotate the screen back (almost doubling the flat area of the laptop) to see what you are doing.  Nope, this is definitely a benefit of the Tablet.
• Closed System:  While I’m all for Open Source, and have taught and worked with Linux as an Operating System, for a tablet device to work well I think it needs to have a controlled environment.  Otherwise you start running into battery issues, performance issues, and all sorts of headaches.  I honestly think this is why Google has Android and their app store:  It keeps the apps somewhat controlled, and therefore controls the user environment.  For small computing devices, I see this as a huge benefit, and so the iPhone OS isn’t a barrier for me, it’s a blessing.
• Not A Full OS:  Why do you need a full OS for a tablet anyway?  Most are slow enough on more beefy hardware like a laptop, let alone a device built for less power consumption.  I’ve heard this argument before, and I can’t for the life of me see the benefit of a full OS on a tablet vs. a specialized OS for the tablet.  All I can think of is software.  But why would you want to run a full fledged desktop program on a tablet?  Most desktop programs are designed for a mouse and keyboard input setup, which doesn’t port over easily to a touchscreen (another reason Flash would be a beast on a tablet).  While you won’t find a replacement for Photoshop or Dreamweaver for the iPhone, I wouldn’t be surprised if similar apps start to show their heads now that the iPad allows them far more real estate to work with. 
• AT&T As The Partner:  Simple:  Don’t use them.  The 3G version is open, though there isn’t another carrier in the US that will support it, and with a MiFi-type device from any other carrier, you have the same benefits as the 3G version, but on the WiFi only version.  While this could be a valid complaint for the iPhone itself, I don’t see it as a problem on the iPad. 
• There’s No Phone:  VoIP with a headset aside, did you really think you were going to put something this big against your face?  Really?  The iPad and tablets don’t replace smartphones, and they are not meant to. 
• No USB/SD Card Slots:  This I can see as a legitimate complaint, though the more the device has to power another device connected to it, the more it will deplete the battery.  While it would be nice to have an SD card slot for additional storage or as a way to quickly upload video/photos from a camera, there are adapters out there for SD and USB connections for cameras that upload into their iPhoto app.  And, just between you and me, I have yet to fill my iPod Touch 16 GB and use it all. 
• The Name/It’s Made By Apple/It’s Overpriced:  The name argument is just, well, stupid.  Does it really matter that much to you?  Really?  Well, you can get the Adam if you want, or Nook, or Kindle, or Pete.  Heck, you can call it Pete, or iPete, or RePete.  I don’t consider that a real complaint.  Don’t want people looking at the name?  Get a skin for your RePete, or better yet, make one.  It shouldn’t be that hard, I would imagine.

  As for it being made by Apple and you for some reason hate them because of their marketing success, personal bias, or resentment of how they treat Windows as a platform; well, there are lots of other tablets coming to market, each with their pros and cons.  Some with Windows 7, some with Android, and eventually some with the Chrome OS if rumors are true.  If you don’t like a product, you can get one elsewhere.  It’s not going to hurt my feelings, and it shouldn’t hurt yours if I prefer an Apple product or experience.  As long as it does what you need it to do, isn’t that really the point? 

  Pricing for the iPad is actually pretty standard with most retail outlets.  T-Shirts tend to be marked up 56% or so, as are most other products from the cost of the company to produce them.  That’s because they have to pay wages, marketing, distribution, and research.  But if you want something cheaper, I’m sure other companies will cut into their profit margins to accommodate. 

So, that is my list.  Honestly, I see the iPad and other similar tablets taking the place of most netbook functionality because of the new form factor.  I don’t see them replacing laptops, netbooks, or desktops completely, as those who don’t want to have a desktop computer would probably prefer a laptop for their work (like students in a dorm).  But I don’t think that having a laptop, a desktop, and a tablet will be a necessity.  The tablet would make one or the other unnecessary (at least for me), and which depends on your needs.

So tell me what you think.

For the last couple of days I have been reading a lot about the iPad.  As one author said, there’s nothing like Steve Jobs to get people talking about new technology.  Whether good or bad, it’s been a huge talking point.

As far as I can decipher the arguments online, it comes down to two different points:

1. Apple is crazy because they have an underpowered Netbook that doesn’t even have a full OS on it, and they are going to lose a lot of money.  This is the worst idea in the history of computing, so don’t even think about buying one.
2. Apple is light years head of the rest of the computing world, and everyone just needs to accept that the future is here.  If you can’t accept that, you should hide under your rock of old technology and let the new light of reason shine.

The problem I have with both arguments is that neither have been really objective in their assessment.  Both approached the release based on high hopes, and their own colored glasses.  They have generally based their reviews on past computer experiences, management, and tools, and as such their expectations were colored.  And I freely admit, I was one of them. 

Then I read this article on PC World (of all places) about how the iPad isn’t a third device, but a new way of simplifying the computing experience.  It put things in perspective for me, things that I have been thinking about, and trying to formulate.

The main complaints I have heard is that there isn’t enough hardware to "do the job".  What job is it you need to do in a mobile environment that requires so much hardware?  Are you editing video?  Can you do that accurately with a netbook, and render it?  I don’t think there is enough power there, so you would need a Laptop, am I right?  Even then, often times a desktop would give you the best experience, because that is where real power and speed comes. 

Another argument I hear is that it doesn’t have a full OS, so you can’t multitask.  There is some room for argument here, but how much multitasking do you really do while on the go?  Those of you who have Android phones, do you really run more than app at a time?  I know you can, but how often do you?  I’m not asking to be mean, I’m really interested in what the numbers would be.  I know there are times I would like to have Skype running in the background while I run another app on my iPod Touch. 

But an interesting answer to the Multitasking argument, and the underpowered OS, etc, is this article on 9to5Mac about a Citrix client available for the iPad.  That’s right, they were able to easily turn the iPad into a thin client.  And the resolution is high enough that it will work, unlike a Netbook. 

Another argument I hear is the lack of applications that people want.  What is it you want to accomplish?  Have you searched through the App store to see if there is an App that will let you accomplish your goal?  What about a free app that will work?  I’m impressed with the huge breath of content there, and I’m looking forward to the many iPad specific apps that will show. 

So what is the iPad to me?  It’s hard to describe, because each app makes it something else.  In that case, it is a real computer, because it will do what I want it to do, and with a simplicity that will keep me coming back to it, and relegating my desktop for more intense computing needs.  I can write code in a text editor if necessary, access a secure shell client to get into a larger server (like my desktop at home), copy the files there, and run the code.  I have, essentially, a true client computer that becomes a portal to any number of more powerful computers for more intensive tasks. 

I can easily see the iPad becoming a part of my life as a computing portal, instead of just an eBook reader, or just an Email reader, or just a Web browser.  With VNC, Citrix clients, and other such apps being made for the device, I see real potential here.  And I’m still waiting to hear if Blizzard will make a Warcraft app.  ^_^

This has been a very long time in coming.  For the past 3 years it has been rumored that Apple will revive the MessagePad, and this time base it off of the iPhone multitouch technology.  It was rumored to be called the iPod Slate, iSlate, iPad, and various other references.  Lots of suggestions and comments were made, wishlists were created, including my own.  Now that I have seen Apple’s presentation that was made today about the iPad, I want to go over my list:

1. Reasonable Price:  This was number one, and I think Apple hit it on the head.  At $499 for a 16GB WiFi only device, it’s killer.  It’s $130 more for a 3G enabled device, which has unlimited use on AT&T for $29.99.  If AT&T would let VoIP work on it, I could replace my cell phone for something far more valuable to me.  Yes, I’d say it’s a good price.  ^_^
2. Multiple Apps At Once:  This one wasn’t even touched on, so it most likely didn’t happen.  That’s a shame, because a lot of education buyers will want a book that would keep their place while they switch to their document, and then switch back.  No smile for this one.
3. iWork:  Woohoo!  The interface looks killer, and the programs are priced well.  You can get any one of the three iWork apps for $9.99, so it’s a total $30 for the whole suite.  And it’s a full suite, not a watered-down version.  That’s killer.  ^_^
4. Voice To Text:  We will have to see if the Dragon Naturally Speaking app will work for this.  With a built in microphone, it should, or at least with a microphone jack, so I’m giving it a smile until proven otherwise.  ^_^
5. Bluetooth:  This one I’m not going to assume works, though I really hope it does.  Bluetooth is built into it, but there is no indication that one can tether anything to it, nor any mention of a bluetooth keyboard option.  Instead, there is a dock with a keyboard.  Well, we will see. It’s been confirmed by PC World that a Bluetooth keyboard can be tethered. That’s a great step in the right direction. ^_^
6. Open 3G/4G:  Yes!  It’s immediately open using a GSM microSIM card, and is unlocked!  Anyone can use any service they would like, if they get the 3G model, as long as the service is compatible.  I would say that this is a very good thing, because while I don’t have any personal problems with AT&T, I don’t want to be a slave to any one price structure.  Though, at $30.00 a month for unlimited use, it’s a hard price to compete with.  ^_^
7. Display Port:  There isn’t a display port, but it’s claimed you can hook it up to a projector.  My guess is, it’s through one of the docks that was presented, though The coverage I read didn’t specify that.  I’ll have to verify that to be sure, and find out how much the docks will cost.  Also, will the keyboard dock work on an iPod Touch? The display dock is $29, and the keyboard dock is $69. I think those are pretty reasonable prices.
8. Access To Stored Files:  The assumption is that iWork files are accessible, and could be shared with versions of iWork on the Mac.  That’s what the presentation said, but didn’t explain how.  Is it synced?  Do you have access to your stored files?  I don’t know, and until I do, I’m going to keep this one with no smile. It’s Smile Time! It’s confirmed that there will be a central, mountable file store that even third party apps will be able to access. ^_^
9. Full iTunes:  I don’t think we have a full iTunes, though it almost looks like it.  I wonder how it will compare.
10. Video Conferencing:  That’s a big, fat, no.  Pity.
11. FM Radio:  With 3G this wouldn’t be too big a deal, but it still would have been nice.
12. GarageBand for Podcasting:  I guess I’ll just have to look for an App for that.
13. Battery Life:  I didn’t have my hopes up for this one, but boy was I floored with a whopping 10 hours of battery life!  I figure it will be a full day’s usage, which is at least twice more than I get from my iPod Touch.  ^_^
14. iBooks:  This one has me intriqued…  Will it be a part of iTunes?  Or will it be another application entirely that I can get for free from Apple and use on my Mac as well as on the iPad?  I’d like to be able to add any ePub books I already have into the iBooks reader.  If I can’t, then I think I’ll stick with Stanza as my default reader, which should look killer on the iPad.  ^_^

So, those are my takes on what was presented.  A lot of it comes from my focus on what I wanted.  Gaming looks awesome, but I’m not a big gamer anymore.  But the thing is, this device is so cool and powerful, I could easily imagine a version of World of Warcraft coming specifically for the iPad.  That would be cool.  But the best thing that came from this device is easily the price.  It’s priced right there with a Netbook, and does just about everything I would want from a mobile computing environment.

What’s even more exciting is the possibilities made available for the Autism community.  Here is a device, much like an AAC device, and yet it’s not in the $10,000 range.  Therefore it’s possible to use the already killer AAC software available on the iPod Touch on the iPad, and have it be more functional.  That, to me, is a huge benefit that will probably never get mentioned.