Apple predictions? Stream event live today

[tomato]

You can stream live the Apple press release

here

http://www.ustream.tv/leolaporte

(with video)

or here

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/...ommentslistpos

(blog only right now, they might update in a few)

if you are interested in what Stevie's going to say.

What are your predictions?

Tablet for sure. What else, new iPhone in June? iPhone to Verizon? Something else?

[CTScott]

The iPad is pretty cool. Basically a giant iPhone:

[coffiend]

^ there just might be a reason why everyone wants apple products ;)

[tomato]

Originally Posted by PK198105

cause its nicely packaged and easy to use? and Apple has the best marketing strategy?

Nothing wrong with that The vast majority of people want user-friendly, intuitive devices that you don't spend too much time learning how to use.

I'm not what you call a die-hard Apple-fan by any means (I only purchased a couple of their products over the years, and only one of their computers, the rest were PC's) but I do like their stuff. They've always been kind of a leader in multimedia IMO

Right now, I'm waiting for Stevie to say whether or not the iPhone will come out in 4G sometime this Spring, or even if another carrier besides AT&T will be allowed to sell it in the US because that might change the phone market quite a bit in the next few months if they do that. Probably still will get a droid in the end, though

[tomato]

iPad will retail for ....


$499 (start price). Wow.

[tomato]

OK, I missed something here. Is it gonna run on AT&T's 3 G network, too?

[Gideon]

Yeah, they have some deal where it's $30 unlimited and billing and management for the service is done on the iPad.

Pretty awesome, another Home Run for Apple.

[tomato]

Guess what, I just saw Steve Jobs walk down the street during my lunch hour !!!
He was coming out of the event, probably walking to his limo around the corner.
Got a couple of photos, will post later.

One of the good things about San Francisco is that there is always something going on.

Originally Posted by Gideon

Yeah, they have some deal where it's $30 unlimited and billing and management for the service is done on the iPad.

Pretty awesome, another Home Run for Apple.

Yeah, I kind of agree with you.

IMO the AT&T network doesn't need any more people on it right now, it's crawling slow enough as it is. That's kind of a disappointment.

Still a cool device for people on the go, and the beauty (for Apple) is that it still doesn't replace any other Apple product (won't replace iPhones, iPods, or their computers).

[Dave]

I think it's kinda goofy looking. It's like a cartoon iPod.

Aside from the initial "wow" factor, how long will the average person be interested in this thing? It's too big to be a cell phone, and too small to replace a laptop* in everyday use. You're just going to be lugging around more expensive gadgets that will be hot items for thieves. At least Nokia's N900 will fit in your pocket and function as a phone. I dunno. Maybe I'm missing something. At least the price is decent.


* I'm sure there will be lots of nice accessories to buy with it if one wanted to use it as a real laptop/netbook. You'd need a bluetooth keyboard, maybe a mouse, and some sort of proprietary stand to keep it upright. But then you're carrying a full backpack of stuff when you could have just brought a one-piece laptop.

[tk-421]

Originally Posted by tomato

iPad will retail for ....


$499 (start price). Wow.

$499 for a device that doesn't support multitasking?! No thanks. Even a PC made back in the 80's can do that.

I agree with Pavel in that respect. Macs may be nice to look at, but all that and more can be available on PCs these days.

Tomato does have a point, though: Most users aren't looking for lots of features. They just want to a) support a brand they know and trust, and b) They want as few complications as possible.

And boy, are they prepared to pay big bucks for that!

[Gideon]

The multitasking is a bummer, although I hear it's like the current iPhone software so you can have push notifications for email and AIM and such.

I'm going to pick one up probably. I have several laptops and a tablet PC and when I'm at home I use my iPod Touch the most for just browsing the web and chatting on AIM.

You can bash the iPhone OS all you want but no OS gives you a more stable/intuitive experience and the mobile version of Safari is lightyears ahead of any other browser as far as displaying web page formatting correctly. (Also a fantastic touchscreen, the best I've used.)

[Altitude]

Tablets already failed once so it'll be interesting to see what happens this time around. Anyone hear anything about the battery life yet?

[tomato]

they say up to 10 hours

http://www.apple.com/ipad/design/

[tk-421]

Before you buy, you may want to consider reading this:
http://blogs.adobe.com/flashplatform...oken_link.html

That's enough "Apple-bashing" from me though.

[slothman86]

Originally Posted by tk-421

$499 for a device that doesn't support multitasking?! No thanks. Even a PC made back in the 80's can do that.

I agree with Pavel in that respect. Macs may be nice to look at, but all that and more can be available on PCs these days.

Tomato does have a point, though: Most users aren't looking for lots of features. They just want to a) support a brand they know and trust, and b) They want as few complications as possible.

And boy, are they prepared to pay big bucks for that!

not garage band...lol! (pls someone prove me wrong!)

[YAR1S]

I'd take a mac over a PC anyday. I've had so much trouble with my previous pcs and had to change them every few years.... I've had my mac for 2 years now and its like it came straight out of the box brand new.... no complaints. I suppose its what you need out of the computer and what you've been used to. Yes, they are pricey, but they are worth it in the long run and much easier to operate for those who only need a computer for email, internet, word processing, and music.

[tomato]

As promised, here are a few photos I took earlier today, may be interesting to some of you.

I got there just as the presentation was over, and the journalists were all sitting outside,
some typing on their laptops and some doing their presentations in front of heavy camera equipment and newstrucks.

There were a ton of people waiting, looking at one particular door, and a fair amount of security around,
so I waited a few minutes, too, to see what would happen.

Sure enough, Steve Jobs came out.

Almost didn't recognize him at first because he seemed to be surrounded by IT people / journalists and looked like just another guy. but if you look closer at the body language of the guy in the jeans and the woman on the right, you can see that they were security people. The woman got in my face a little bit for taking pics (got a good shot of that, too ) but I understand, she was just doing her job.
Probably happens to him all day long, doubtful he can even go to starbucks without a crowd gathering. Must be hard being a famous, rich man

Anyway, here goes.

[tomato]

See, on the last picture, the woman is pulling Steve Jobs aside because his Yaris just pulled up to pick him up. I think he said something about putting his Tablet (pardon me, iPad) in one of the compartments, but which one, there are so many.