New Apple products for 2011

[Rusty Chainsaw]

The principle of the idea - android is a mobile OS, and tablets aren't mobile as much as the manufacturers want them to be. Just because Apple can be lazy and slap iOs on everything like its the same item, but google should show some brains and use chrome OS as its meant to be used, in laptops (which, as much as some would disagree, a tablet is). A phone calls people, a laptop doesn't.

The iPad version of iOS 4 isn't the same as the iPhone version. They're each optimised for their form factor, and the apps reflect this. For instance, the iPad has several additional user interface elements that can be used over and above those available on the iPhone, such as contextual menus, default sidebars, etc.

Chrome OS and Android are two different beasts. Android is designed for touchscreen devices, allows installable apps and is tailored to mobile computing solutions. Chrome OS is designed to be used on a more traditional laptop form factor, with a keyboard and trackpad, and has no facility to install apps - everything happens through a version of Google's own Chrome browser, hence the name, and all "apps" and information are stored in the cloud. It's basically a modern interpretation of the old-skool "dumb terminal" or "thin client".

I'm all for Android-driven tablets, since Android was designed with touchscreens in mind. I love my iPad, but competition is good. What I don't get is why anyone is offering tablets that run Windows? Windows isn't designed for touchscreen use, it's still a traditional mouse-and-keyboard OS and more or less all Windows apps are designed with this in mind too. Where iOS and Android have the advantage is that neither one were designed to be used with a mouse or keyboard, so they could start with a clean slate.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Looks like it's official... Verizon's getting the iPhone next month. My in-laws will approve.

 

[EricF]

Looks like it's official... Verizon's getting the iPhone next month. My in-laws will approve.

Two months ago, I would have been

Now, I'm

I'm a very happy Droid user.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Two months ago, I would have been

Now, I'm

I'm a very happy Droid user.

No word yet on whether it's going to be full of Verizon crapware - I hope not. One thing that is cool is that apparently it can function as a mobile wi-fi hotspot.

I wonder if it's CDMA only? If so, anyone who wants to do international roaming's going to be screwed.

 

[CapnSev]

Two months ago, I would have been

Now, I'm

I'm a very happy Droid user.

+1

I bought my Droid X in November, and I'm sticking with it. My only complaint is that Verizon puts a bunch of garbage apps on the Droid that can't be uninstalled without rooting. Hopefully they don't do that with the iphone.

 

[EricF]

One thing that is cool is that apparently it can function as a mobile wi-fi hotspot.

The Droid X has Wi-Fi Hotspot capability. It's not exclusive to the iPhone.

+1

I bought my Droid X in November, and I'm sticking with it. My only complaint is that Verizon puts a bunch of garbage apps on the Droid that can't be uninstalled without rooting. Hopefully they don't do that with the iphone.

I'm sure they will give it the full Verizon work-over. It's kind of their way of doing things. Although I would prefer to be able to remove them, as long as the crap apps aren't on my home screens, I don't even think about them, and they're essentially inconsequential.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

The Droid X has Wi-Fi Hotspot capability. It's not exclusive to the iPhone.



I'm sure they will give it the full Verizon work-over. It's kind of their way of doing things. Although I would prefer to be able to remove them, as long as the crap apps aren't on my home screens, I don't even think about them, and they're essentially inconsequential.

The iPhone on AT&T doesn't have the hotspot functionality, that's what I was getting at - it's new for the iPhone.

I really hope there's no crapware on there - the only pre-installed apps on the iPhone are first-party Apple apps. According to the people at the announcement, it doesn't look like there is - hopefully it'll make it into production that way.

 

[iamlowsound]

The iPhone on AT&T doesn't have the hotspot functionality, that's what I was getting at - it's new for the iPhone.

I really hope there's no crapware on there - the only pre-installed apps on the iPhone are first-party Apple apps. According to the people at the announcement, it doesn't look like there is - hopefully it'll make it into production that way.

The iPhone has the hotspot function in Canada on Rogers.

lowsound

 

[GrooveWarrior]

If the new iPad has a USB port I'll be all over it.

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[Rusty Chainsaw]

The iPhone has the hotspot function in Canada on Rogers.

lowsound

That's just basic tethering - the Verizon iPhone allows up to 5 other computers to connect wirelessly, which is nice. Looks like it's just an app rather than anything done in hardware, so hopefully the other flavours of iPhone will get it too.

 

[sonic assassin]

all i want is a non touch screen iphone. i dont do touch screens, but OSX is so common to me now that id like to have it everywhere.

 

[bassman1185]

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Hi, we're Apple, and we charge you extra for adaptors and equipment that should be included with our products, and which our less expensive competitors don't need because they have standard inputs and outputs.

But hey, buy our products anyway, because they're pretty.

 

[MJ5150]

I'm a very happy Droid user.

Yep. They can have the iPhone. Cool device, but my Droid kicks it's butt. Notice folks, I said my Droid, not every single Droid in the world.

One thing that is cool is that apparently it can function as a mobile wi-fi hotspot.

This is a feature that I love about my Droid. I rooted mine, and use it to tether with my iPad. Total cost, $0.

-Mike

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

Hi, we're Apple, and we charge you extra for adaptors and equipment that should be included with our products, and which our less expensive competitors don't need because they have standard inputs and outputs.

But hey, buy our products anyway, because they're pretty.

Basically, 95% of iPad users would have no use for a USB port. Everyone forgets that the iPad wasn't designed to be a standalone computer, and more or less everything you'd do with it that might require a USB port can be achieved either wirelessly or by syncing with its host computer. I consider myself an iPad "power user" and I've never felt the need for USB. I did get the camera connection kit for my wife though, since she's a photographer and having the ability to use SD cards with the iPad is nice for her - saves her having to lug her MacBook Pro around with her for offloading photos. She's definitely in the minority of iPad users who'd use something like that, though.

 

[fryBASS]

They're already selling iPads in Verizon stores... isn't that enough of a precursor?

 

[MJ5150]

Basically, 95% of iPad users would have no use for a USB port.

This was a huge hangup for me at first. But yes, it proved to be no big deal. I honestly can not think of a time in the couple months I have owned my iPad where I really missed a USB port.

Between MobileMe and Dropbox, I have access to every file I need in the cloud!

-Mike

 

[beggar98]

I know a lot of people hate AT&T, but I've had an iPhone with them for 3 years (first a 3G and now a 4) and haven't had any real problems. The Verizon iPhone is a stripped down version operating on an inferior network. 3G CDMA is incredibly limiting, both geographically and technologically. Want to use your Verizon iPhone in Europe? Sorry. Want to check e-mail or look up directions while you're on the phone? Can't support that.

For me, the AT&T service has been fine. And the iPhone is far superior to Droid, but that may be because I use a lot of Apple products (Macbooks, AppleTV) and the integration is seamless.

 

[Selta]

I don't think I'd get hung up over lack of a USB port. I have 8 on my desktop, and I'm using 4 - keyboard, mouse, printer and iPod. I don't see needing any of those on the iPad.
The iPhone at least is on VZW now Not that I care, cos my original Droid slays it, and I think the Droid X does as well.

Edit: Heck, I don't even remember the last time I used my iPod, actually. Been at least a year, since I use Subsonic on my droid.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

I know a lot of people hate AT&T, but I've had an iPhone with them for 3 years (first a 3G and now a 4) and haven't had any real problems. The Verizon iPhone is a stripped down version operating on an inferior network. 3G CDMA is incredibly limiting, both geographically and technologically. Want to use your Verizon iPhone in Europe? Sorry. Want to check e-mail or look up directions while you're on the phone? Can't support that.

For me, the AT&T service has been fine. And the iPhone is far superior to Droid, but that may be because I use a lot of Apple products (Macbooks, AppleTV) and the integration is seamless.

The inability to do international roaming is a dealbreaker for me, alas, so I'll be sticking with AT&T.

Also, it does look like there will be some Verizon crapware on there. From Verizon's iPhone FAQ:

Will any Verizon Wireless apps be available on iPhone?

iPhone will have the 3G Mobile Hotspot app pre-installed, and it will also have other popular apps available in the market such as VZ Navigator, and V CAST Media Manager.

Hopefully they'll be uninstallable.

 

[Selta]

The inability to do international roaming is a dealbreaker for me, alas, so I'll be sticking with AT&T.

Also, it does look like there will be some Verizon crapware on there. From Verizon's iPhone FAQ:



Hopefully they'll be uninstallable.

The only one installed is the hot spot... it clearly says the rest are available on the market. Like it didn't come preloaded with *anything* at all from AT&T?