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[perkiset]

There are several demos out there right now re. how a table will provide content, I've liked this one the best so far:

[nutballs]

the hand-on-a-stick is very distracting. lol

overall. cool.

I like the ability to scroll photos inside the article, thats neat. Since I know often they have more photos they would want to show, but dont have the space for it.

[perkiset]

What's most intriguing to me, is that this was built in a simple vacuum, with no connection to an API or any real features or life-experienceish BETA of the format. Give that sort of platform a year with folks from the likes of Conde Naste and Wired, and I believe we'll see some seriously compelling new content. Much akin to the web circa '97 and the web now.

[kurdt]

Hmm, so basically what they are offering is digitalized magazines with search/filtering capabitilities? There's already some blogs that are essentially doing new layout for each post to be more "magazine-like". Let's just hope that tablet manufacturers keep it open so anybody can create their own "digizine" and people can then subscribe to that with their tablets. If it's just locked to content from fixed group of publishers, no thank you.

But I do agree that this with augmented reality will be very cool. Implementation will be a lot easier with tablets than with static paper.

My wish is that they would actually bring something new to the table instead of just making new interfaces to buy the same old crap. But step at the time.

[perkiset]

Interestingly, (or perhaps not) I don't need anything new.

I am just tired of making the excuse that I need to crap so that I can read my monthly copies of Wired, PopSci, Time, Newsweek, Mother Jones, Scientific American and the Enquirer.

If the content I want could be delivered in a format that I can take with me easily (larger than the iPhone but less of a commitment than my notebook) then I'll resubscribe.

Personally, I hope they take me seriously.

[kurdt]

Interestingly, (or perhaps not) I don't need anything new.

I am just tired of making the excuse that I need to crap so that I can read my monthly copies of Wired, PopSci, Time, Newsweek, Mother Jones, Scientific American and the Enquirer.

If the content I want could be delivered in a format that I can take with me easily (larger than the iPhone but less of a commitment than my notebook) then I'll resubscribe.

Personally, I hope they take me seriously.

There's nothing wrong with your attitude and that's why we are Mac users

I'm looking this purely from invention & going forward perspective. In that essence this device doesn't bring anything new. It just reframes magazines to something you can consume with tablet (what happened to just making websites with the same content?) and I don't see that to be anything new. But it's just like iPhone. It makes things easy and convenient for you but unlike iPhone, it doesn't "revolutionize" anything. iPhone singlehandedly changed mobile industry to something else, I just don't see this doing the same thing.

But there isn't anything official yet from Apple so they might have something truly innovative coming up. And I'm talking just about Apple because I have little or no hope at all that any other manufacturer can bring some truly new shit on the table(t).

[perkiset]

Ah ... I see where you're going - and from that perspective I agree, but I'd offer a different angle.

People think that the iPod's success was about MP3s - or cool, or white headphones. It was not. It was about iSync (which became the engine in iTunes).

The point was that no system had previously been developed to make the the process of search, buy and play on the run so very easy. The point is that the iPod became a piece of a chain of convenience. It also was cool, and Apple did a brilliant job of marketing it. But people argue *all the time* that the iPod was not significantly better than any other MP3 player out there and that Apple is about marketing. Apple understood that the entire experience is what makes the difference. And people can argue all day long that the iPod is nothing special, nor is syncing, nor is iTunes, nor the Apple Store ... but they did it. They put it all together and the market has rewarded them handsomely. Interestingly, I don't think most manufacturers have even grokked this fact yet.

The iPhone was about even more convenience. My music, pictures, movies etc etc in a device I already carry around? I'LL TAKE IT! Look at these pictures of my kids! They took iSync to a new level, and again, the market has rewarded their brilliance. Note again - brilliance is not necessarily just tech construction, but holistic system engineering - which is what makes the iPhone experience still vastly superior to anything out there. It's the gold standard, not because of anything tech - but because of the entirety of the experience.

So, to my point: Apple is about to reinvent printed content delivery. You can argue that it's "nothing revolutionary" but inventions rarely are. They are usually an interesting reconstruction of existing parts. In this case, Apple is going to reinvent how I can get what I want ... and THAT's what will make it revolutionary, and why they will be rewarded in the market.

Note how Ballme I mean Ballmer can only show a PC that has touch capability and no keyboard and call that their "slate" - they think it's about tech. All the vendors are out there thinking that getting something in a 10" form factor with a touch screen is all that the public needs for them to get rich Rich RICH. It's bullshit. It's like the Windows store - they stole every trapping from the Apple store and duplicated it down to the fricking color of the stain on the furniture - obviously playing to the notion that THAT's why the Apple store is so successful. The superficiality of these people's thinking is stunning to me.

Anyhoo, that's why I think the tablet is going to be revolutionary - and the example we see here is much less about the website like presentation (really, not that amazing at all) as what it infers ... "I can has sports illustrated anywhere, anytime, my way."

I think it's going to ROCK.

[kurdt]

brilliance is not necessarily just tech construction, but holistic system engineering

I agree 100% but...

So, to my point: Apple is about to reinvent printed content delivery. You can argue that it's "nothing revolutionary" but inventions rarely are. They are usually an interesting reconstruction of existing parts. In this case, Apple is going to reinvent how I can get what I want ... and THAT's what will make it revolutionary, and why they will be rewarded in the market.

I never argued that they will introduce a new way of consuming it, I was arguing that this exists already and in this case they just repackaged the whole thing. I mean look at it, that demo can be done with jQuery & HTML, seriously. Only thing that Apple brings to the table(t) is that it has multi-touch and it's probably very light & easy to carry around, and most importantly, will have kick ass user experience. I guess what I'm trying to say is that now with all the info we have from Apple's tablet, they are not really doing anything new in a sense. With iPhone they basically innovated a new way of using phone (this includes 1-click appstore, multi-touch and iTunes user-experience). Now they are basically making it bigger so new type of content can be consumed and they introduce improvements to multi-touch interface from iPhone. If this is the final product - it is very, very cool product but it's nothing new.

Note how Ballme I mean Ballmer can only show a PC that has touch capability and no keyboard and call that their "slate" - they think it's about tech. All the vendors are out there thinking that getting something in a 10" form factor with a touch screen is all that the public needs for them to get rich Rich RICH. It's bullshit. It's like the Windows store - they stole every trapping from the Apple store and duplicated it down to the fricking color of the stain on the furniture - obviously playing to the notion that THAT's why the Apple store is so successful. The superficiality of these people's thinking is stunning to me.

Of course it's bullshit. It was never about the tech, it was always about what can be achieved with the tech and if is forgotten, you are fucked.

Anyhoo, that's why I think the tablet is going to be revolutionary - and the example we see here is much less about the website like presentation (really, not that amazing at all) as what it infers ... "I can has sports illustrated anywhere, anytime, my way."

Well, it's not actually anything new in the web design world. Check out this article from Smashing Magazines. It's really only a repackaging of webpage with browser designed for multi-touch. I'm not sure what I'm saying here but I just know that if Apple's tablet is only good for this, I'm really disappointed.

Shit, I gotta do everything myself

[perkiset]

...look at it, that demo can be done with jQuery & HTML, seriously. Only thing that Apple brings to the table(t) is that it has multi-touch and it's probably very light & easy to carry around, and most importantly, will have kick ass user experience. I guess what I'm trying to say is that now with all the info we have from Apple's tablet, they are not really doing anything new in a sense.

I think you're missing my point: of *course* someone can do a lot of that with jQuery (or hand rolled and tighter if you're any good ) but the point is, they are doing it. The "new" is that they are convincing content providers to go this way, they are (probably) going to provide a double extra easy way to get subscriptions, an undeniably cool little device that all hipsters will have to have (me included, I'm afraid) and then it'll have some other bells and whistles ... they are actually going to pull it off. They will recombine existing tech with some new coolness and create the next evolution. The ability to see through the elements of the technology do not make it happen. Not arguing with you here, just saying that a lot of people will sour grapes the tablet, saying that it's nothing new ... when in fact, it is only the cherry on top of a whole lot that is very new and paradigm shifting.

Well, it's not actually anything new in the web design world. Check out this article from Smashing Magazines. It's really only a repackaging of webpage with browser designed for multi-touch. I'm not sure what I'm saying here but I just know that if Apple's tablet is only good for this, I'm really disappointed.

Dood ... it's not Apple's deal. They're going to provide a platform and framework ... others will provide the content. Watch for what Wired comes out with. I'll bet it's hot. But I hope it's not SO hot and different that I can't read the magazine LOL ... just make it really pretty and more functional and I'll be a happy guy

[kurdt]

Dood, we agree about everything already I guess my point is that "it has all done before" and your point is "yes and they are doing it".

[perkiset]

Kind of. My point is that the brilliance is in the combination and deployment of it all, not necessarily the tech.

As a business owner for a lotsa lotsa years, I can't even tell you how many times I've heard about the great new idea... or the cool way it could be done ... or "What we really should do is..." - I'm here to tell you - the tough part is not the invention, it's the implementation.

The real brilliance to me, is that Apple pulls off an incredible experience in a world that does not promote or incentivise this sort of thing. Particularly here, we perseverate on either the tech parts or the price. Apple does that stuff but then wraps it all in a Magic Kingdom sort of experience.

The real magic is that although anyone and probably everyone here at the cache and see *exactly* how their stuff is made, the software is built and the product is sold, no one here could have actually done it all. In fact, no other company really ever has. This is what will make the magazine content deployment really special and different - the end-to-end package.

(I know we're both on the Apple wagon, this is not to contradict you in any way, only to point out where I think the real juice is.)

[isthisthingon]

In truth I think Apple may produce the tablet that dominates that sector.  They have a special finish (not happy) that creates a user experience with an edge over the rest.  A tablet struggles in terms of functionality that would justify the purchase for anything but niche use.  Yet if Apple can make the user experience of exploring magazines as fun as using the iPhone, we might see Apple tablets everywhere.

[kurdt]

Yet if Apple can make the user experience of exploring magazines as fun as using the iPhone, we might see Apple tablets everywhere.

I agree but if the $1000 price tag rumor is true... then it might be a little bit scretch for most of the people. Most of the people won't see the value if price is much higher than your average laptop. But it's Apple and they sold iPhone even the cost of ownership is much more expensive than your average phone. It's interesting to see what's true and what's not and how will Apple handle this.

[perkiset]

In truth I think Apple may produce the tablet that dominates that sector.  They have a special finish (not happy) that creates a user experience with an edge over the rest.  A tablet struggles in terms of functionality that would justify the purchase for anything but niche use.  Yet if Apple can make the user experience of exploring magazines as fun as using the iPhone, we might see Apple tablets everywhere.

I concur. I have a recent fear, but also have hopes for attenuation.

Some current rumors lean towards a steep learning curve of the new interface. Rumors suggest that Apple has retooled their iWork suite to work on the tablet - perhaps even to be deployed with the tablet for free - so that they will work 100% from a touch interface. One person hinted at a "3 finger touch and twist means Open File" - eYikes. Horrible memories of Palms graffiti alphabet come to mind.

On the plus side, it says that even though this might be an overgrown iPhone, if it can run iWork, it will be much much more. On the downside, if there's a whole new UI then I hope Steve has been his usual asshole artist self and demanded an insanely great experience ... that we'll be able to learn and use.

In any case, I honestly believe that Apple is about to toss the iSalad.

<add>
@Kurdt: I agree, if it's a grand that'll be a definite speed bump - specially when you can purchase a low-end notebook from Apple for about the same. Rumors currently run from 1K down to 499, but no one seems to know for sure. The 1K rumors seem to be more centered around, "how could they possibly produce and sell it for less?" We'll just have to see.

I think it is fair to say that the marketing geniuses at Apple will figure out a way to make a huge amount of people incapable of living without spending another grand on their latest miracle. 

[kurdt]

Rumors currently run from 1K down to 499, but no one seems to know for sure.

$499 seems like doable because ebook readers have been generally around $300-800 so it fits right in. Actually what interests me the most is that how they have dealt with the whole backlight eye-strain thing which seems to be the reason why no ebook reader manufacturer use LCDs. e-ink has been so popular because it takes almost no power and just like normal book, it's easy for the eyes. If you read long time from LCD monitor, it starts to wear your eyes.