The Design of Apple

A great video showcasing some of Apple's most beautifully-designed products. Noticeably missing, however, are three things: the original iMac, the Titanium Powerbook and the G4 Cube. Each of these products was groundbreaking and elegantly designed.

What's amazing is that each of these images is a 3D render, not actual product shots. Beautifully done and amazing that a lot of the products are still cool-looking after ten or fifteen years.

Anatomy of Apple Design from Transparent House on Vimeo.

Thoughts on the iPad

I must admit that I'm a little underwhelmed by the iPad. I was expecting something truly ground-breaking and while it appears pretty cool, I'm not going to be a first-day adopted like I was with the iPhone.

Here's why:

1. A4 - Apple's first home-rolled processor. Sounds cool, looks cool. But my experience has taught me to wait. Apple's first-ever technology is usually limited or buggy. I'll wait for the A5 for them to get some of the kinks out.

2. No multi-tasking - running apps in the background is a must for a large-scale version of the iPhone. I put up with it on my phone because I'm simply amazed that something so small can do so much. But the iPad is approaching the size of a laptop. Until the iPad can do more than one thing at a time, I'm not in.

3. Data storage- one reason I'd want an iPad is to take with me on the road instead of lugging my laptop with me. I generally either go on the road for photo trips or for conferences, and I tend to take photos at each. I want to be able to work with those photos in the field and view them on a high resolution monitor. Lack of data storage or the ability to hook up my camera to the iPad (which I'm assuming, since no mention was made of it and because you can't do it on an iPhone) is a deal breaker.

4. The name. iPad? Really? Even one of my non-tech friends at work said, "what a stupid name. They obviously didn't have any women in the focus group that named that thing." Exactly. It' too easy to make fun of, and in fact, already has been. Besides, with a name like iPad, you'd expect to be able to draw on it like you would a yellow legal pad. I was expecting some handwriting recognition at the least.

5. iPhone OS - I love the iPhone OS on my phone. But on a quasi-laptop I expect something a little more robust and versatile. I want to be able to store files and move them around. I want the iPad to be an extension of my desktop, not an extension of my phone. I was really hoping that the iPad would be based on Mac OSX instead of iPhone OS.

6. No tactile response - One thing I'm NOT looking forward to doing is typing o the iPad's screen. Typing on the iPhone is tough enough, but it's manageable because of the small space involved and the fact that I usually only use one finger. With what looks like an almost full-size keyboard, I think it's going to be tough to type on flat glass without some sort of feedback. I have lazy fingers, and I tend to rest one or more of them on the keyboard as I type. That seems like a recipe for error on the iPad. If there was some sort of tactile response, surely, Steve would have mentioned it, right?

7. Sound quality - This is one o those buggy things I mentioned before in first draft products from Apple. I still have a first-gen iPhone that you can barely hear when it's on speakerphone or when it rings. They fixed the problem in the iPhone3G, but I'm concerned. The speakers appear to only be on one side of the bottom of the iPad. What about stereo output? It seems like a poor way to watch video or listen to music if I don't want to use headphones.

8. No camera - I was really, really shocked that there's no camera. I mean, if the iPhone 3G S and the iPod Nano can have one and shoot video, why can't the iPad? Seems like a no-brainer. But alas, it' s missing. That kills A LOT of iPhone apps. I know, I know... the iPod Touch doesn't have a camera, but this is the Jesus Tablet, right? It deserves a camera. And as a side note, does it even have a microphone? [Update: Sorry. I somehow missed the mic on the specs page.]

So there it is. My quick list of why I'm not really excited about buying the first generation iPad. I'll be heading to the Apple store as soon as they come out because I want to hold one, in the same way that I wanted to hold the MacBook Air. But just like the Air, its limitations outweigh its coolness factor for me to want one now.

What I really want Apple to unveil today

Tablet, schmablet. (Can I say that on a blog? Just did. Suck it.)

I really want Apple to release a new MacPro today with like 20 cores or something. I'm supposed to be getting a new Mac at work, and I want some new hotness sitting on my desk.

When I got my current work computer, a PowerMac G5 dual 2.3GHz, in 2005 I had, for over a year, not only the fastest computer in the company but also more storage space sitting on my desktop than were in all the company servers combined downstairs.

That has since changed, but it was awesome while it lasted, and I want that power again.

Uh oh. Somewhere, Steve is pissed.

The CEO of McGraw-Hill spills the beans on tomorrow's announcement, confirming not only that the announcement is, in fact, a tablet but that the tablet is based on the iPhone OS.

I would hate to be this guy when the black helicopters arrive at his house tonight.

Apple's Book Reader?

There have been many report lately regarding Apple's still-mythical tablet. I've weighed in with my fantasy device, as well.

And there have been reports that Apple is working with publishers on an e-book reader of their own, similar to a Kindle.

So what would an Apple tablet/e-book reader be named? It's so obvious, I almost fell out of my chair when it hit me.

How about iBook?

I can hear Steve making recycling jokes on stage already...

What Will the MacSlate Be?

A friend asked me today what the iSlate will be. Will it be a computer? Will it be an accessory? Will it be a glorified iPod Touch? If so, what would the purpose be? In that very instant I had a revelation. I happened to look down at the Wacom tablet that sits on my desk and that's what sparked the idea. It's going to be all those things. I think it will be much more accessory than either Mac or iPhone. And I think it's going to be called MacSlate. MacPad is too easy to make jokes about. About the only other name I've seen that sounds like it would be an Apple product is MacBook Touch. But that name doesn't quite fit with the product I'm imagining.

Imagine sitting at your computer, but not being forced to sit at attention in front of the keyboard, as you would be if you had a traditional keyboard. Imagine sitting back in your chair and typing on a keyboard in your lap, as if you had a bluetooth keyboard. Now imagine using the same device to mouse around your screen using multi-touch, like a huge trackpad or iPhone surface. And imagine not having to switch gears to do either of those things. They just happen. You type a letter on the full-size virtual keyboard, save it and then pinch it to pick it up and drop in into an e-mail. Then you get up and leave the office, taking your MacSlate with you. But as soon as you leave the confines of your wi-fi network or bluetooth range (you'll get to choose), your MacSlate becomes it own (limited) computer, much like a MacBook without the clamshell. But it's not meant as a replacement for your MacBook. No- it's meant to interact with your Mac and iPhone or iPod Touch, not replace them.

It will also be a media device that will play movies and music, just like an iPod Touch. It will also play games. I expect that it won't come with a wireless connection from a particular carrier, but I envision the MacSlate being 3G capable and able to join any carrier's network (for a fee, of course.) It would run mobile apps, but not necessarily full Mac apps.

Many of the gripes I've heard about people who use touch-screen phones, such as the iPhone, are that the screen is just too small and their fingers are too big, especially when using apps. The MacSlate will be able to sync to your iPhone or iPod Touch the same way it does your Mac and display the apps and games you already own on its 10.1-inch screen. It's a much more manageable size to play games on. Imagine Star Wars: Trench Run or a driving game played holding a device that more closely approximates the size of a real steering wheel. You would steer just as you would with your iPhone, but it would take interactivity to a whole new level.

Upon getting home, your MacSlate would automatically sync with your Mac at home and would become the monitor. Essentially you'll be screen-sharing to the MacSlate, so your Mac will actually be doing all the processing work.

You would be able to actually draw on the MacSlate itself with your fingers (or perhaps with a stylus for more precise detail work). But imagine working on a Photoshop project by actually pushing pixels around. Imagine burning or dodging a photo with your fingers or applying the Heal tool in Photoshop to someone's face by making several lightly-touched passes. Imagine painting - creating the underpainting and layering the paint based on the force of your touch - right on the MacSlate. Pretty cool. We've gotten pretty good at it using trackpads in recent years, so why not?

So that's my prediction for what Apple's tablet will be. At least, that's the only device that I could think of that would make me want something in between my Mac, my MacBook and my iPhone.