Posts Tagged "Multi Tasking"

Apple iPad, the pros and cons of this electronic gadget

Nomen omen is a Latin phrase which can be translated as “the fate is in the name”. The iPad reflects perfectly this logic because it is assonant with iPod and not with iPhone. In fact it is an Apple media player only bigger. It is not a big mobile phone format.

Although this is the most used metaphor, the specifications show that it is more like an iPod touch than a mobile phone. It is not enough that the more expensive iPad models have UMTS / HSDPA standard mobile connectivity: this only serves to browse the Web. There is no support for voice, while the iPhone is designed primarily to be a mobile handyman. The new Apple “magical” device is dedicated to multimedia content. If there was an integrated webcam, you could make video calls via Skype, so it seems to be a maimed object.

Even more so if you think that it doesn’t have the long-awaited multi-tasking feature: the question is, why not? IPhone has the functionality that is essential to keep multiple applications running simultaneously but it is disabled for processor workload and power consumption reasons. That is not true for the iPad, which has the powerful hardware and the interaction modes that support multitasking. The iPhone is already able to support multitasking with a process that forces the Apple operating system and has the same platform available for iPad: a compact version of OS X but not the Macbook’s version. Even for this option you can find a reason, but it is not enough to close the question.

The Cupertino company has chosen to give importance to a package composed by App Store, iTunes Store and the new iBook Store instead of using the existing standard applications for Mac. It will be possible to adapt them, like for example, for iWork applications. But the virtual stores are the true soul of the Apple mobile devices (iPhone and iPod touch) and the iPad is born with many applications already ready to be downloaded and installed. This is not a technological choice but a way to increase the lifetime of an object that was announced as a “revolutionary” product but maybe it is not. Apple started to think and develop the iPad over the last ten years, but only now the technology is mature enough for production. This means that the iPad is an invention of 2002: that was the date of the first tablet PC and Mid. The “full screen” device is an exceptional heir of these experiments and not so far as features from netbooks.

Netbooks, once again, have been harshly criticized by Steve Jobs that defined them not up to expectations.

The iPad could be seen as a luxury and an innovative Netbook-like device. Let’s continue with the provocation: apart from the touch screen display, the differences with mini laptop are very limited. On the contrary it has anything less. For example, it doesn’t support Flash, does not have USB ports to connect external accessories; it requires Sim phone card with a different format in respect to the actual ones and it seems awkward to use. A good thing of the mini PC is that it’s possible to use them like notebooks, while the iPad is mainly held in the hand.

The display, however it is beautiful, has a limited resolution (1024×768 pixels) and probably it is not suitable for reading e-books. The digital ink of e-reader is not aggressive for the eyes even for prolonged periods. An OLED display must demonstrate that it is not tired. It covers a flaw of the digital book readers that is they have limited functions and could be seen like a parent of the future electronic publishing. But the newest Apple iPad has many talents and it gives a reasonable starting point for new developments to the market, as has already happened for the iPhone. And then there’s the icing on the cake: it is the first Mac product with a small price.

Finally, the iPad has a beautiful appearance, it will be definitely fun and rewarding to use and it is designed to be used for Internet connections (besides all the other features).
In short, iPad is a simplified surrogate of a computer that will be loved by anyone who doesn’t want a computer. This is a great idea and Steve Jobs has certainly taken this into account. For now we are waiting to see what will be the iPad lifetime. Past the initial falling in love, how long will we look at it? Here again the comparison with the iPhone is out of place: you always return home to get your phone if you forget it at home or office. What about the iPad?

Would Chrome Tablets Create A Threat To Ipad?

Apple has touched a new market with its iPad device, which is mid-sized tablet PC integrating features of smartphone, eBook reader and PC. Up till now, tablet sector has been under-performing due to high prices as well as limited functionality; they are outshined by normal laptops. Therefore, iPad may not face much competition from other PC vendors.

Google’s Initiative

In January, the search giant had released its own branded ‘superphone’, called Nexus One. After that, Google has also showcased its tablet based on the Chrome operating system. Now, it might worry Apple from the Google’s new initiative. It is predicted that the Chrome-based tablets will offer attractive features and various web based apps that may affect Apple iPad sales.

Earlier this month, a Chrome-based tablet has detailed that boasts a virtual keyboard, contextual control and multiple tabs for multitasking, or please users that requires simple functionality, like surfing the Web, checking e-mails or editing Office docs. The Chrome based tablets will be available later this year, which will use web-based operating system to produce more revolutionary product than Apple’s tablet.

Here, the feature discusses few advances in the Chrome-based tablet, which may pose a threat to Apple’s iPad.

1.    Google’s tablet is for multitasking

Apple has legacy to design products that are complete and the devices for the future. But, Google also knows how to remain on the top. Google will offer multi-tasking in its tablet, which is lacking in iPad. It is reported that you cannot switch over to Safari to read the news, if you are visiting pages.

2.    Web-based apps

Apple introduced its iPhone operating system in the iPad, but a Web-based operating system could deliver several features, which may include off-site storage of data that can be access wherever net connection is available. Further, users can also avail features of cloud computing on the Google devices.

3.    The Web Is the App Store

Apple’s App Store will offer over 140,000 applications available for download to its iPad. But, Chrome operating system will also have competitive advantage over others as the software does not require so many apps, because the Web is its app store.

4. Ubiquity is the key

Apple’s operating system is only available to iPad, while Chrome can run on various devices, which means users will have wide variety of PC vendors to choose from. Further, this means that there will be lot of competition between different Chrome based tablets, which give benefits to consumers with low prices. $499 for an iPad is a great price, but lack of 3G and small hard drive will transfer buyers to Chrome tablets.

5. Chrome OS for light weight systems

Chrome operating systems could not compete with Windows 7 or Mac OS X. But, it is suitable for netbooks and tablets, which comes with basic functionality like Web surfing and basic document editing. Just like Android platform, Chrome based devices can also offer multitouch options, which can match the outstanding multitouch experience of Apple’s iPhone.

The Apple Ipad In Manufacturing

The iPad is essentially an iPhone ‘on steroids’. Weighing in at 1.5lb (0.68kg) it has a 9.7″ multi-touch screen, speaker, microphone, compass, accelerometer, (so it knows if it’s being tilted and rotates the screen accordingly), Wi-Fi (the faster 802.11n standard) and Bluetooth. It comes with three storage capacities built in – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, and is also available with 3G, allowing for internet access when outside of a Wi-Fi environment. It’s powered by Apple’s own A4 processor which has been specifically designed for the iPad/iPhone operating system and offers 10 hours of runtime and a month standby. Most importantly, it’s downwardly compatible with almost all of the iPhone’s 140,000+ apps, which means that if you already have an iPhone, as soon as you buy an iPad and plug it in all of those apps will be available on there as well. Although it has an on-screen keyboard that may not appeal to many, it’s not far removed in size to a laptop keyboard, and there is an external keyboard accessory for use when desk-based.

Click Here To Grab yourself one free Ipad Voucher Courtsey of Ticket Machine (Multiple claims not allowed)

Let’s start by covering what the iPad can’t do. It’s not a PC or a Mac and doesn’t run Windows or Mac OS, or offer multi-tasking (although the rumour mill suggests that the latter may be addressed in future updates). On the iPhone the OS is locked down to the point that each third party application can only store information in their own ‘sealed’ area, unlike a PC where ‘My Documents’ can contain every file type and be accessed by all applications. It’s likely that the iPad will continue this tradition, with Apple already confirming that it will rely on iTunes for syncing with a PC. Also, due to a long running spat between Apple and Adobe, the iPhone/iPad does not support Flash, which rules out access to any websites that rely on it. Apple has been criticised and applauded in equal measure for ring-fencing access to their hardware and software. While it considerably restricts third party development flexibility, it does provide an extremely stable user experience which, unlike a Windows machine, does not degrade over time as more software is installed.

During Apple’s launch it was clear that Apple’s own 1GHz silicon was delivering quite a punch. Applications launched instantly and graphically intensive tasks ran smoothly. Couple a fast processor with a large rotatable touch screen and you have a product that lowers the technical knowledge usage barrier and can provide an intuitive user interface which 75m iPhone users already know how to use. For example, recently I reverted back to my previous smartphone – using the menu system was like wading through treacle and it was missing many of the additional apps that I’d come to rely on. The biggest difference was speed of information retrieval. For frequently performed tasks such as retrieving a contact, checking email or a quick web search there is no comparison. Tasks that I achieve with the iPhone within 15-20 seconds I would not have seen change out of a minute, if not more on the other phone, and this is likely to improve on the iPad.

What tasks could the iPad perform?

The key here is to identify what it does as well, or indeed better than existing technologies. In their launch event Apple demonstrated iPad versions of iWork, their office suite (covering word processing, spreadsheets and presentations), with each application being available for just shy of ten dollars. While you probably won’t get all of the extra templates, clipart and additional bloat that comes with traditional Office suites you could argue that most people don’t use many more features than font sizing or basic formulae. The iPad ships with the same basic PIM apps as the iPhone e.g. Calendar, Contacts, Email (including MS Exchange support) and Notes, all of which will sync with a PC or Mac through iTunes. The iPhone configuration utility allows enterprise deployment, providing easy configuration for individual business settings such as email and VPN access. So for the majority of users it will tick the basic office requirements.

As a presentation tool the iPad excels. It can be connected to an external display, but would equally be suited for one-to-one presentations, ideal for sales staff or board meetings. Data retrieval is also a strong suit; it provides quick access to document, image, audio or video libraries, doing away with the need for storing large amounts of paper. Expect to see estate agents with iPads under their arms from April onwards! It would be equally at home in a manufacturing design office, providing a quick method of viewing product images or technical information.

The iPad supports the popular ePub electronic document format. Publishers will quickly move books, magazines and newspapers over to the format, so people will soon become accustomed to reading on the device as opposed to traditional paper-based media. This will provide companies with an easy way of creating large catalogues in a format that users can digest in a traditional manner. Companies that produce catalogues (such as electronic components or manufacturing consumables) will no doubt warm to this as printed versions are very expensive to produce, and although they will already have full e-commerce on their websites, there is a reason why they still produce printed version – many people still prefer to view information in a book-style format. This would also lend itself well to stock control, providing stores staff with a simple checklist interface when performing stock checks.

All versions of the iPad have the accelerometer and compass facilities, and the 3G version opens up further possibilities, as it includes assisted GPS. Many of us already take the likes of Google maps on our mobiles for granted, but when GPS is embedded into a device implemented at enterprise level this stretches the boundaries further. Imagine an application that provides relevant information to a user when they arrive at a specific location; perhaps a salesman visiting a prospect/customer, or branch data when HQ staff visit. Devices that ‘know where they are’ could also be used to direct the user to items of interest/relevance around them, although the sensitivity is not good enough for this to locate items on a shelf, for example, and GPS does not always work inside buildings.

Integrating the iPad to custom requirements

If you walk through the stages of production within a manufacturing organisation and analyse the role of software at any given part, most of these relate to the supply of information; either to or from the user. Whether it be in the store room, by a machine tool, booking goods out or back in from subcontractors, despatch and through to accounts. This information will either be fed into an enterprise system (MRP, ERP) or to a more localised system (stock control database, machine tool control software, order management etc), and this is where the work needs to be done if the iPad is to be of any real use. Many software companies are using Apple’s software development kit (SDK) to develop apps to interface with their products. Although these apps are often lightweight versions of their PC cousins and optimised for the iPhone it is likely that these will be reworked to take advantage of the iPad’s display. We can expect apps covering all mainstream software applications, however more niche products are unlikely to have iPhone/iPad sibling products, as the take up rate would not warrant the development costs.

What if you cannot develop or obtain an app to connect to an existing software system? There is a third option; we have already ascertained that the iPad is a competent web client (if Flash isn’t required). Invariably the system you want to connect to will have a database, which in turn will have ways of getting data in and out (generally using common connectors such as ODBC), so a relatively simple solution would be to build an intranet that communicates with the application. Windows Server comes with IIS (Internet Information Services), and any of the web centric languages (PHP, Cold Fusion,.NET/ASP etc) will be able to connect to a database easily. The iPad (or any other device) could then interact with the software using a web browser. Although this still requires a considerable level of technical skill, it’s likely to be a far easier and more cost-effective skill set to source than developing an iPad-specific app and will result in a more flexible solution that other devices can take advantage of. It would also be easier to manage from a security aspect, as the network administrators take care of user access control to any given data resource on the local network.

If Apple is serious about the business angle of the iPad they will need to provide companies with more information on controlling user access, tracking usage and locking down features on it (which, to be fair they have done with the iPhone), otherwise no doubt the wide range of available games will find their way onto it and eat into productivity. Another major concern is that they will be a target for theft. It’s likely that you will be able to password protect it and, as with the MobileMe service on the iPhone, locate it if stolen (3G only) or remotely wipe it, but that’s little consolation.

In recent years Apple products have become über chic and this is something many businesses will want to harness. It’s more likely that iPads will find homes in the boardroom than on the shop floor, due to environmental factors alone, but for facilities that already keep their production areas spotless this could be seen as the device that makes them look just that little bit more cutting edge than their competitors.

Summary

The debate is raging fiercely in the blogosphere as to whether the iPad is a ‘game changer’ or not, but in my opinion it is. Apple said that they would not release anything equivalent to a tablet or a netbook until they could deliver something that did everything well. Given what is already known about the iPhone and what we currently know about the iPad, reasonable assumptions can be made about the iPad’s suitability for a given task. There will be of course many tasks that will always be faster or indeed only possible on a desktop/laptop than the iPad, but as a high speed, highly portable (and highly desirable) ‘media consumption device’ the Apple iPad will set the benchmark by which all others will be measured.