What will the iPad do for musicians?

[eduardo_b]

And who is realistically going to take out a 2 year phone contract for something that isn't a phone ?

It'd presumably be a mobile broadband contract, not a phone contract.

In the US it's an additional 30 USD per month (with AT&T) but no contract is required. That itself is odd, but I suppose with no hardware to sell AT&T can't justify a contract. Still, for someone with an existing phone contract that includes text and data, that's 30 USD on top of something close to 70 USD.

I'm wondering if they might do something for existing customers that makes more sense. There's no way I'll spend an extra $30 a month, but if they told me $5 a month I'd go for it. It's not like I'll be using both devices at the same time.

My impression was that this is separate from their phone busines, but perhaps this will all change when the iPad is officially released (the container ship is probably already on it's way from China).

[eduardo_b]

I typically don't do this, but given the excitement about something as special as the iPad, I thought I'd share this. It was sent to me by a female friend.

[Hovmod]

Its not about how many fingers (three, by the way) it can recognize, its an evolutionary rethink of the graphical user interface.

I'd say it's about how many fingers it can recognize. Sounds less brainwashed.

[biomechanoid]

Its not about how many fingers (three, by the way)

with OSCemote on iphone, it seems to be up to 5...

[any1particular]

I typically don't do this, but given the excitement about something as special as the iPad, I thought I'd share this. It was sent to me by a female friend.

Oh my TOTAL GOD that is hilarious-thanks for that!!!

[brambos]

Its not about how many fingers (three, by the way) it can recognize, its an evolutionary rethink of the graphical user interface.

I'd say it's about how many fingers it can recognize. Sounds less brainwashed.

It can recognize all 11 fingers you have. It's just up to the developer to do something with 'em.

[liqih]

maybe this is old news to many, but I found this a very interesting reading,
so if you didn't read this yet, here is a link
http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-cas ... ive-parts/
it's one year old but the subject it's still here IMHO,
it's n not "just" about what you could do with it, the machine, but what you subscribe buying one,
iPad is 100% Trusted Computing, I'm not meaning it's good or evil,
but everybody should know about a few things behind the surface of a product,

my2c

[jones-y]

I'd say it's about how many fingers it can recognize. Sounds less brainwashed.

Call it what you will. Fact remains that its an interface my 3yr old (and my technophobe aunt, btw) naturally understands. Name another computing platform that can claim that. I'll wait.

[ericj23]

Seeing as an iphone 3gs 32 gb(which is cheaper unlocked than any of the pads) costs more than £150 over and above a 2 year £35 a month deal it seems very unlikely that this is the pricing plan

I can find companies offering £400 laptops given away with 24-month x £30/month contracts.

Even Currys are doing a £250 netbook on a £25-per-month contract. Add £100 to that, as spaceman's rumour said, and you're around the right price band.
Im not claiming its a fact, just pointing out that its not unfeasible.

And who is realistically going to take out a 2 year phone contract for something that isn't a phone ?

It'd presumably be a mobile broadband contract, not a phone contract.

Yeah thats true - but seeing as 3 will give you a mobile broadband package for £8 a month it should be clear where the money is going. Thats what I meant about a phone contract - £25 a month for a couple of gigs of data is not enough - my other half gets that plus unlimted texts and 300 minutes and a phone for that sort of money

I suppose people might consider that a bargain, but it isnt

[spaceman]

I pay £35 a month for my iPhone, unlimited data, 600 free mins and 500 texts.
Paid £80something for the phone.

[jones-y]

maybe this is old news to many, but I found this a very interesting reading,
so if you didn't read this yet, here is a link
http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-cas ... ive-parts/
it's one year old but the subject it's still here IMHO,
it's n not "just" about what you could do with it, the machine, but what you subscribe buying one,
iPad is 100% Trusted Computing, I'm not meaning it's good or evil,
but everybody should know about a few things behind the surface of a product,

my2c

You're not forced to use itunes/ipod. I do understand that if you want to use itunes or the ipod, you have to use both together exclusively. But so? There are alternative music suppliers, alternative music players, and alternative mp3 players.

You can watch all the porn you want on your iphone. It has a web browser.

You can use google voice on your iphone. It has a web browser.

The only things I can't rebut are Apple's choice of cellular service provider, and the closed nature of the app store. I'm as against these decisions as anyone else. I'm sure Apple will be forced to change the app store policy at that point where it becomes the bottleneck of the developer community. But as of right now, the iphone/ipod touch/ipad platform is only one of several platforms, and its nowhere near a monopoly. Developers have their choice of what platform(s) to develop for... consumers have their choice of what platform to use... Don't like the rules, don't play the game...

I predict they'll stay closed until it hurts them (either through loss of sales, or by gaining the attention of the antitrust-ers), and then they'll open up. But by that time, they'll dominate the touch computing industry. Seems they took copious notes from M$oft.

[ericj23]

I pay £35 a month for my iPhone, unlimited data, 600 free mins and 500 texts.
Paid £80something for the phone.

but will you pay that much again to get an ipad??

[vespers75]

Its not about how many fingers (three, by the way) it can recognize, its an evolutionary rethink of the graphical user interface.

I'd say it's about how many fingers it can recognize. Sounds less brainwashed.

As long as Apple recognizes my middle finger, I'm good.

[jones-y]

The best thing about the iphone/ipod touch/ipad platform is that it will shake up the industry. The mouse is on its way out, ladies and gents. Just think of all the futuristic movies/tv shows/commercials you've watched, and recall how many 'completely-reliant-on-touch' interfaces you saw... Predator, anyone? Or how about the recent Energizer Bunny one?

Apple didn't invent the mouse, but it played a large part in bringing it to the masses, when the world was stuck on keyboard-centric interfaces... Apple didn't invent touchscreen/multitouch interfaces, but it seems history is about to repeat itself, as the world is undeniably stuck on the mouse. I personally can't wait for the death of the mouse. Its like painting a mural on a block-long wall with a miniature paintbrush...

[vespers75]

Predator? Yay! My iphone will help me hunt and kill humans.