Here it comes. The first kindergarten class gets iPads. Watch how quickly the others come online–and how quickly school gets the same treatment as, say, photographic film or CDs or any of the other stuff that’s been digitized. Story in video form below, or, if you prefer, actual words written on the screen by PCMag.
The next small thing: mobile TV
April 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A very simple idea: add a tuner and a TV antenna to your portable device, and you can watch TV anytime, anywhere. No Internet, no cell phone service needed. However–your local TV broadcast television station must package mobile digital television (mDTV) channels. There will be dozens these channels–not thousands–some free, some fee. Tests in DC and other markets indicate that consumers love to watch mid-day newscasts and entertainment news–the heaviest viewing is daytime when folks are away from home.
Relaxing with a (legal?) cocktail
April 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment
It’s taken more than a week to set up the iPad. Some unexpected issues:
1. Poking around the App Store absorbed most of my free time. I didn’t think much about the iPad as a kind of ultimate seductive shopping device, but that’s what it turns out to be.
2. I found myself learning more about video files and video file formats than I want to know. Audio and music files were easy; video files required study, questions to friends, a visit to the Apple Store to talk to a Genius, and a few hours of research. I believe I am using HandBrake in a legal way, but I’m unsure why there is no similar commercial product (for legal use).
3. From a work perspective, moving files back-and-forth between the apps and the cloud is cumbersome (and proved difficult to figure out–until I visited the Apple Store’s Genius).
4. Even with Apple’s Smart Cover, you need a case to protect the whole iPad. There are a lot of cases available–and a lot of articles about cases, sleeves, and all sorts of stuff. Almost none of it exists at any local Best Buy, Staples, Apple Store, etc. I found my case here: http://sfbags.com/products/ipad-cases/ipad-cases.php
Apparently, the devices are still difficult to find–supposedly because demand is exceeding supply by about 500% (again, my source is my Genius). Imagine that–and try to come up with ANY other product where this kind of shortage exists. (Comments welcome.)
Now that this little obsession is settling down, I’m back to issues.
iPad for Me! (1 of 18 available!)
March 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment
I was hoping I would get lucky at one of my two local, independently-owned Apple dealers–until I learned of their situation. There are now EIGHTEEN iPad SKUS available in the U.S., and only four of them met my needs (AT&T, 32 or 64GB, in white or black). Most small retailers receive relatively small quantities–so my local stores told me, quite honestly, that I could be waiting a very long time for any of the models I wanted to show up at their particular store. (I can’t imagine why they chose this particular product launch to double the SKU count by adding white–adding even more confusion for smaller retailers and for consumers.)
Without driving myself crazy, I stopped by every Apple Store, Target and Best Buy within reasonable walking or driving distance– usually on the way home from appointments.
And, sure enough, I found TEN iPads today, locked in a cage at my nearby Best Buy store. At first, the salesperson told me that they were all Verizon models, but he actually found me in the store to tell me that he had made a mistake, that they were, in fact, all AT&T models, all 64GB models, all black. If I had wanted any of the 17 other available options, I would have left the store unhappy.
Very strange. Perhaps we’ll all learn more about the strategy soon. Right now, it seems just plain goofy.
No iPad for You! – Day 6
March 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Day 6 of the stupidest product launch in American consumer products history.
So far, here’s what I’ve done to not buy an iPad:
1. Supported my local Apple dealer (not an Apple store, just a local store specializing in Apple products). I visited, tried out a display unit, and offered to buy one. During the cash register transaction, I realized it wasn’t a 3G model. End of transaction. Beginning of wait.
2. Tried to go to an Apple Store in a New Jersey mall. The mall was closed due to flooding.
3. Visited an Apple Store in Manhattan. No iPads for sale. Just a sign saying, more or less, come back tomorrow (when we may or may not sell you one).
4. Checked in at the local AT&T store. The staff laughed at me.
I’ll keep you posted.
Digital Insider 