iPad? Maybe

So. The Apple tablet. I was never chomping at the bit for one and I’m still not. I have a small laptop (an eee with a 10″ screen) which works just fine for those few tasks I can’t perform with my iPhone. To get me to switch away from it, here’s what I need:

Apps for Hulu and Netflix – I can understand not having them for the iPhone, but now, there’s no reason they shouldn’t put them out there (looks like I may have to wait for Netflix)
An updated-for-the-iPad version of what is still (surprisingly) the only screenwriting app – I would be shocked if this isn’t ready by the time the iPad ships
Google Docs support – While I love Simpletext.ws and the associated iPhone app, I still have a lot of files in Google Docs that I need to be able to edit. Word is that rich text support for text areas is now turned on in the SDK so this may be good to go from day one

And really that’s about all I need (other than an external keyboard, but they already provide that). However, to really make me a devotee, I also want:

A front facing camera for video communication – I get not having a camera on the back, but all of Apple’s computers come with cameras, even my eee has a camera, and the iPhone has the processing power to stream video so surely this device does
Flash support – Youtube is ok, but what about Vimeo or blip.tv (so I can watch That Sci Fi Guy) or the dozens of games. The battery argument may have made since on the iPhone, but not on the iPad

And well, that may be it. I was quite underwhelmed at first, but the more I’ve thought about it, most of my problems are software based. That’s something fixable either via OS updates or via third party apps. With a two month lead on getting those apps ready, developers may have some great programs ready on day one.

i wrote this up to explain why i was going to wait for version 2, but I may have talked myself into hopping on early (assuming I had or can find the money).

(John August has some good thoughts on the iPad and it’s use by screenwriters.)

because this is an area of my expertise

For those couple of people who disagreed with me the other night when I said John Hodgman is a Mac user in real life, have a look at this interview fom Engadget.

why i’m an apple geek, part 381

So Apple’s announcement yesterday of the $200 iPhone price drop didn’t anger me as it seems to have done for many others. When I bought it, I knew the price would drop before the holidays so I wasn’t taken aback and good on them if they can afford to drop the price that much, it’ll get more out the door. I still love my iPhone and consider it worth the money I spent. Then I read this open letter from Steve Jobs promising a $100 credit for all iPhone owners.

This offer is why I continue to stick by Apple in spite of very unfriendly actions like charging to use the new ringtone feature in iTunes. Even that, I’d imagine was the best deal they could wrangle from the record companies, one that took several weeks to hammer out which is why it wasn’t available when the phone launched. Personally I don’t plan to use that feature (though it is wonderfully implemented). Instead I tried out a program last night called iToner. All it does is handle the install (having Quicktime Pro I can easily chop down any files to ringtone length), but it did so fast and easy. Haven’t decided yet if it’s worth the cost (I don’t see myself using it too often), but Ambrosia is one of those companies that, like Apple, I’m happy to support.

just a small word of thanks

iPhone activated, I slipped into my car, jacked the iPhone into the FM transmitter, and nothing. Well, I did hear music, but not coming out of my car speakers. My one major issue with the phone.

Then today I read that the update that hit this week held more than just patches and bug fixes. It added support for more iPod accessories. So, getting in the car to go see the Bourne Ultimatum (which was excellent), I plug the cable in again. The prompt asking if I want to switch on airplane mode to prevent interference pops up as before, making by heart sink down as before. I tap open the iPod software, tap play and boom, there’s Bruce Springsteen singing from my car speakers.

This incompatibility was probably the only issue I had with the iPhone that I thought couldn’t be fixed with a software update and then it turns out to be the first one resolved. Thank you, Apple.
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