Apple Tablet: iPad

[haven]

Amidst the announcement of record earnings and profits (more than $4 billion profit in 91 days!), Steve Jobs took time to squash rumors of a 7 inch iPad. Jobs says that the screen would be so small that people would have to use sandpaper to make their fingertips small enough to select anything.

This remark is more than a bit disingenuous. The iPhone packs almost as many pixels (960-by-640-pixels) as the iPad onto a screen that measures only 3.5 inches diagonally. And somehow people can still use the touchscreen to control the phone.

Taking Jobs at his word, maybe Apple will consider releasing a device with 5 inch to 7 inch screen, and label it an iPod Touch instead of an iPad.

 

[spressomon]

Update: I spoke to a guy at Benchmark this morning to try to find out ETA on their iPad topo map app and was told Spring 2011 is probably a realistic launch timeframe. No other info though.

 

[zigsrig]

New iPad?

I ran across this article (HERE)... Thoughts?

Will you be able to buy the next generation of Apple's iPad--equipped with FaceTime and cameras--in time for the 2010 holiday season?

Apple Insider, citing "a person with proven knowledge of Apple's future product plans," speculates that the iPad is "unlikely to endure the company's traditional 12-month product cycle for iOS device refreshes before seeing its first major enhancements."

"A version of the tablet device with a built-in video camera and support for the new FaceTime video conferencing standard has already progressed to the advanced testing stages," Apple Insider reports. "That person familiar with the company's plans claims that as of last month, there was an ambitious push inside Apple to verify the refresh for a possible launch ahead of this year's holiday shopping season."

Is this rumor to be believed? Here's what tech blogs have to say about speculation that the "iPad 2" could be out by Christmas this year.

CNET: "Typically Apple will release updates to its iPod lineup in September (as we saw last week) and then update its Mac lineup shortly thereafter. Should this latest claim pan out, recent rumors about Apple wanting to ramp iPad production to around 3 million units a month may have actually been misinterpreted and the production increase may have been due to this rumored version."

CrunchGear: The holiday release "makes sense for a number of reasons." CrunchGear cites three: First, "The iPad is limited." Second, "The wolves are (kind of) at the door." Third, "They need FaceTime devices."

Wired: "Today's ridiculous Apple rumor comes from Apple Insider. The claim? That a new FaceTime-equipped iPad will be in stores in time for the holiday season, just six months after the original launch. Bull. [...] I say this rumor is nothing but a rumor. If you want a new camera-toting iPad, wait until April."

 

[Root Moose]

Just wait... Rev 2 will be out when it's out. That's what I'm waiting for. My gut says Feb-Mar.

 

[Outdoorsben]

Just wait... Rev 2 will be out when it's out. That's what I'm waiting for. My gut says Feb-Mar.

If apple announces a verizon iPhone in early 2011 the iPad will be summer 2011.

 

[off-roader]

Playing .flv (flash) video files on your ipad...

Is anyone using the VLC video player on their ipad? I'm curious how well it works for playing .flv video files.

Seems some are up in arms about it and it may get taken down from the apple app store. If it's any good I'd like to download it before that happens.

TIA for any feedback on it.

 

[haven]

Apple has released the "golden master" version of iOS 4.2 to developers so they can test their applications and fix any problems. Distribution of 4.2 to the public should start within two weeks. This is right on the schedule Apple announced last Summer.

iOS 4.2 for iPad will include an expanded ability to multi-task, and folders to organize files and apps. A double click on the Home button will bring up a new on-screen control panel, with slides for volume and music transport controls, screen brightness, and a screen orientation toggle lock.

iOS 4.2 includes AirPrint, the ability to wirelessly send print jobs to printers attached to Macs, and to a small number of printers that have an Internet connection without using a host computer.

AirPlay is software that sends video content from the iPad to an Apple TV box ($99) for display on your home TV. Airplay will make subscriptions to Netflix and Hulu more flexible, and lets you view free TV content on a big screen.

Another addition to iOS 4.2 is access to Game Center, an Apple online service that expedites multi-player gaming. I think this means that small software companies will be able to create multi-player games without building their own server infrastructure.

More about iOS 4.2 for iPad here http://www.apple.com/ipad/software-update/

 

[grntrdtaco]

Is anyone using the VLC video player on their ipad? I'm curious how well it works for playing .flv video files.

Seems some are up in arms about it and it may get taken down from the apple app store. If it's any good I'd like to download it before that happens.

TIA for any feedback on it.

i dont know if it will play .flv files but it plays 720p avi files no problem, its a fantastic app.

 

[grntrdtaco]

just read through the last few pages of this thread.

not sure if it has been covered here or not. but topomaps app does not require a internet connection for maps, you do have to download them before hand but you can download 20 at a time now when connected to wifi (recommended) or 3g (not so recommended but it works). its super simple to download huge areas at once. you can tile tons of maps together to see larger areas than a single quad.

i have been using that app with a jailbroken wifi ipad running btstack and getting internet connection in the field through my iphone running miwi app from cydia. it turns the phone into a wifi hotspot. i am using this bluetooth gps

Amazon.com: Qstarz BT-Q818 66-Channel Bluetooth... Amazon.com: Qstarz BT-Q818 66-Channel Bluetooth...
it connects to satellites in about 40 seconds from a cold start and the battery lasts 30-40 hours of use. i plug it into a 12v usb charger in the truck to recharge the battery (it comes with one).

its light years better than the gps in the iphone. and just about every other gps i have ever used.

the feature of what is visible from your current location is really fantastic for finding photo locations. the map is shaded red on all the areas that are not visible.

i have it mounted in my truck with this mount.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Portable-Laptop-...item2a0b625ffa

its not the best but its pretty nice for the amount it costs. it also doubles as a camera mount. the laptop platform mounts to a standard camera ball head with a quick release and the extendable arm can go virtually anywhere inside the cab. its really neat for mounting a camera inside the truck, take the quick release off the laptop plate and put it on a camera.

the stand will fold away so its not in the passengers way at all and mounts to the seat bolt (no drilling) you install a mounting bracket on the bolt and the arm connects with quick release levers. you can take the whole unit out in less than 30 seconds.

 

[spressomon]

just read through the last few pages of this thread.

not sure if it has been covered here or not. but topomaps app does not require a internet connection for maps, you do have to download them before hand but you can download 20 at a time now when connected to wifi (recommended) or 3g (not so recommended but it works). its super simple to download huge areas at once. you can tile tons of maps together to see larger areas than a single quad.

i have been using that app with a jailbroken wifi ipad running btstack and getting internet connection in the field through my iphone running miwi app from cydia. it turns the phone into a wifi hotspot. i am using this bluetooth gps

Amazon.com: Qstarz BT-Q818 66-Channel Bluetooth... Amazon.com: Qstarz BT-Q818 66-Channel Bluetooth...
it connects to satellites in about 40 seconds from a cold start and the battery lasts 30-40 hours of use. i plug it into a 12v usb charger in the truck to recharge the battery (it comes with one).

its light years better than the gps in the iphone. and just about every other gps i have ever used.

the feature of what is visible from your current location is really fantastic for finding photo locations. the map is shaded red on all the areas that are not visible.

i have it mounted in my truck with this mount.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Portable-Laptop-...item2a0b625ffa

its not the best but its pretty nice for the amount it costs. it also doubles as a camera mount. the laptop platform mounts to a standard camera ball head with a quick release and the extendable arm can go virtually anywhere inside the cab. its really neat for mounting a camera inside the truck, take the quick release off the laptop plate and put it on a camera.

the stand will fold away so its not in the passengers way at all and mounts to the seat bolt (no drilling) you install a mounting bracket on the bolt and the arm connects with quick release levers. you can take the whole unit out in less than 30 seconds.

I'll give topomaps a try...thanks for the info! FWIW: I don't like Motion X GPS HD...too slow, too bulky (especially getting hi res maps downloaded) and leaves me wanting for more.

 

[x32792]

Gez...What a monster thread

I passed out about 30 pages into this thread..But like many others, I'm interested in the iPad as a navigational and trip planning device to replacement all things Garmin (both hardware and software).

So as of November 2010...

1) Is the iPad good for on and off road GPS location and real time navigation?

2) Do you need to pay a monthly subscription to make it work?

3) What are the best map sets covering what areas?

4) What is the best software for planning a trip and running on and off road routes?

Thank you in advance for your replies,

John

 

[off-roader]

So as of November 2010...

1) Is the iPad good for on and off road GPS location and real time navigation?

2) Do you need to pay a monthly subscription to make it work?

3) What are the best map sets covering what areas?

4) What is the best software for planning a trip and running on and off road routes?

John, I can answer some of these questions...
1) Possibly but it really depends on how good the software is/will be. There are already packages available but whether or not they're good depends on what you're looking for. What I haven't found is one package that does both street and off road navigation well.

Seems there are really 2 kinds of applications available. Street navigation (turn by turn directions, etc.) and Off Road navigation wherein you enter way points and watch them come up on the screen much like using paper maps and correlating the trail features with it.

2) No, not at all however there are several distinct options, each with their advantages/disadvantages.

- Starting with the least expensive wifi only Ipad, you can jailbreak it and couple it with a bluetooth gps and use that with topo/street navigation software to navigate. No monthly bills for this setup.

- Next you can buy the more expensive 3G Ipad with it's built in agps (assisted gps) chipset and simply use it without a contract. The agps is not as accurate or as fast to connect with the gps satellites but it should work, however I believe it will be very slow to connect and probably won't connect reliably in a canyon or in trees as a decent "sirfstar iii" gps would.

- Next you can buy the same 3G ipad and purchase a monthly 3G contract to take advantage of cell tower assistance to help triangulate your location quicker. This is reputed as working as well as a good gps unit however the limitation is it only works will where there's cellular coverage.

It likely won't work at all in Moab's canyons, death valley, or other remote wheeling areas.

- Last but not least you can get the 3G ipad and the 3G contract, jailbreak the ipad and couple it to a decent bluetooth gps to get the same results as a wifi option above.

As for questions 3 & 4, I can't help you there. I still haven't found the ideal software solution and several packages do exist although like I said above, I don't think any of them do both on-road and off road navigation equally well.

HTH.

 

[x32792]

Visited The Apple Store

Off-Roader,

Visited an Apple Store last night and spent some quality time with a Mac Expert. You are correct. The iPad can be used as a GPS navigational device, but only under certain conditions and in restricted areas. It was never truly designed for this specific purpose...At least not yet.

John

 

[off-roader]

Off-Roader,

Visited an Apple Store last night and spent some quality time with a Mac Expert. You are correct. The iPad can be used as a GPS navigational device, but only under certain conditions and in restricted areas. It was never truly designed for this specific purpose...At least not yet.

John

That's right but keep in mind they won't ever recommend jailbreaking the Ipad to allow the use of a quality bluetooth gps which is completely legal to do and can be reversed if need be.

Couple that with the topo and street mapping software of your choice and it can function as a street/off road gps, but unfortunately no one software package does both. This part of the software technology is still not mature for the ipad and assuming the arrival of the android and windows tablets doesn't take too much market away, I suspect good options will become available for both types of navigation but unfortunately probably not in a single solution. otherwise wed have already seen it from Garmin, etc. :ylsmoke:

 

[TangoBlue]

Thanks Off-roader for your explanations... I've been trying to crack the code on the benefits of the iPad as a GPS nav system in comparison to PC's.

Your explanations were very clear for me - I appreciate it!

Sounds like I should give the market a little more time to introduce upgraded OS's and different companies offerings before I put plastic on the counter.