Techcrunch's MC Siegler has an article up that states that Apple may be developing a larger iPad variant, about 15 inch in size and possibly announced on the (developer!) conference WWDC 2010.
John Gruber thinks this is total bullshit.
I do agree with John that at first this is way too early to even consider a larger variant, but if the iPad will be a success, the idea isn't too bad at all.
As a photographer I love the idea of taking the iPad with me to clients to check out and select the photos, present my work and even write an invoice on the spot. I'm already sold to the 9.7" version.
However, for serious editing work, I would love to see a larger version. And with larger, I mean LARGER, like 20-24 inch. Yes it wouldn't be portable, but look at it as a Wacom Cintiq with the added multitouch function and full computer possibility (the Cintiq is just a "screen"). Ideal for studio work. I can totally see myself working in Bibble 5 using a large iPad like that. And for on the road work, a version that is mentioned in the Techcrunch article of about 15.4" would be pretty nice as well. So the iPad becomes it's own product range, with an iPad (10"), iPad Pro (15") and iPad Studio (20") version. But since the iPad is running the iPhone OS, what would the larger variants run, it can't be iPhone OS with its limitations?
I guess "standard" OS X to make full use of their size and functionality. And thus this idea is almost immediately killed. Why would Apple support different OS-es in one product range? It would make support and development much harder.
It's much more plausible that the iPad will be extended with functionality, remaining similar sized (maybe grow a bit larger to max 12"). Still, I like the idea of editing photos/movies on a large iPad :-)
Deze keer een extra lange aflevering, vanwege de aankondiging van de Apple iPad. Maar liefst 2x zo lang geworden :-)
Onderwerpen o.a.:
- heel veel iPad
- Google Nexus One review door Luc van Braekel
- Facebook
- Internet in België en de ideeën van Groen
En ons gast panellid (maar ondertussen ook al bijna lid van de familie) Jan Seurinck was er ook bij, naast de vaste pannelleden Maarten Hendrikx, Stefaan Lesage, Cindy de Smet, Jojanneke van den Bosch en mijzelf.
Meer info en download op de Tech45 site en iTunes
Veel plezier met deze extra lange aflevering! Commentaar graag via de website, twitter (tech45cast) of email reactie@tech45.eu - NB: bij reacties op twitter graag de hashtag #tech45_09 gebruiken voor deze aflevering!
ChromeOS seems to be redefining computing for many users. The concept of a "cloud-only" environment is new and really takes some effort to understand. With ChromeOS, the user won't need to worry about files and folders anymore. Users only need to worry about content. Photos, Movies, Documents, etc. Hopefully with a sensible name.
I'm not sure how Google wants to go forward in managing this without the legacy concept of folders and files, but we'll see.
[edit] @luclodder indeed commented that Google is already doing this in gmail using tags and search.
Back in 1998, 1999 there was a small company called Be Inc. Their success on the desktop was not what they expected and Jean Louis Gassée, the CEO of Be came up with the "brilliant" idea to start making so-called internet devices. Lightweight devices running BeOS. The iPad, archived on Scot Hacker's site here: http://www.birdhouse.org/beos/byte/07-IPAD/ was one example. Be wanted to be inside every device. From your fridge (ordering milk if needed) to TV (web experience).
The idea never took off, and eventually Be Inc was bought by Palm and we never saw anything from BeOS or iPad again.
It does seem though that the time is now right for these devices. ChromeOS seems to be made for lightweight devices.
Most people now think that ChromeOS will be for lite netbooks, a laptop like computer that you carry around. But Google could take this much further. ChromeOS can essentially run in any device.
Imagine having a small touch-enabled screen in the kitchen. Connected to the internet, you are just a few clicks away from ordering groceries. Or check your email while waiting for the oven, or load that latest recipe from that cooking forum.
ChromeOS can run in your TV set. Streaming the latest movies. Playing the latest games. Chatting with friends and relatives. Or even in your car. Guiding you towards that new restaurant you want to try. Streaming your favorite radio channel.
Just regarding ChromeOS as a means for an even lighter netbook is shortsighted. It looks as if Google is reaching beyond this, it wants to be everywhere.
1984 and 1999 all over again?