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What the iPad 3 really needs: fewer stupid articles about the iPad 3

89 points by huskyr 15y ago

chucknelson 15y ago
This seems eerily like a Macalope article.
Wickk 15y ago
I really agreed with a lot of this article (but not all) but really couldn't get past the juvenile way in which it was written the entire time I was reading. I dont't personally understand everyone's need for a stylus. I hear this complaint from time to time, and with how intuitive apple's keyboard is on the iPhone/iPad ( really its the only one I can remotely stand. And yes it's far from perfect) I just don't see much of a need. If I was taking handwritten notes in class id be carrying around a notebook.
- huggyface 15y ago
  I don't personally understand everyone's need for a stylus. I don't understand why it needs to be everyone. How about some people want a stylus, some people don't? (Which is why, for instance, Samsung has a tablet with a stylus, and a tablet without. They have a smartphone with a stylus, and a smartphone without. They didn't go all in on the stylus). I can certainly see value for me, especially if it's pressure sensitive. Outside of obvious painting and drawing apps, even for something where you need to interact with small objects on the screen, using a big finger, obscuring the entire area you're trying to interact with with a meat sausage is suboptimal. Substituting a little appendage can be very useful. But it isn't for everyone. Which is why I don't get the utter fearsome defensiveness about the stylus that many in the Apple camp seem to resort to (e.g. Gruber): It isn't for them, and that's great, but trying to mock others who might want it? That's just weird.
  - Wickk 15y ago
    It was a poor choice of words on my part, what I meant was; Everyone who does want one. I can understand under an artist viewpoint ( Ideally I would really like apps in the area to improve ) but you can easily get that in a touchscreen laptop. This just from my own personal use of my tablet but from most things I can see where I could care to use one I just ibstinctevely reach for my laptop. Not trying to start a debate on stylus use, I'm sure those who use them with a tablet very good reasons for doing so. In my own personal life and opinion, I just don't see the need.
  - mmahemoff 15y ago
    Yeah I can see the value for niche uses/users, but the manufacturers are getting a bit too optimistic when they present it as a must-have killer feature. Like the Note's Superbowl ad, where really the only noticeable difference (from a mainstream consumer's perspective) is the stylus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V40oo4kkzHg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V40oo4kkzHg
    - huggyface 15y ago
      Like the Note's Superbowl ad, where really the only noticeable difference (from a mainstream consumer's perspective) is the stylus. It was a pitch for a specific product and thus highlighted the attributes of that product. If Samsung is presenting it as a must-have killer feature, why do so many of their products actually lack a stylus? I also don't care if a vehicle can parallel park itself, yet if a manufacturer makes a model with that feature they're naturally going to highlight it.
      - mmahemoff 15y ago
        It just seems too niche for a Superbowl ad and the whole presentation of the ad makes it apparent the manufacturers believe they've revolutionised the tablet space with, behold...the stylus. Setting themselves up for disappointment.
        huggyface 15y ago
        They've sold 2 million of them, and all reports are that they've seen great sales: I doubt they're disappointed. And while it is indeed a niche, but a very lucrative one. Further Samsung had no other new releases around the time of the Superbowl -- had the GS III been ready, I have no doubt they would have led with that. It's a feature of a product. A feature that appeals to some, turns off others. That's how the whole choice thing works.
  - mikeash 15y ago
    People who want a stylus can buy one from a third party. Why does Apple have to provide it?
- justjimmy 15y ago
  >If I was taking handwritten notes in class id be carrying around a notebook. If I wanted to deal with a bunch of loose notes, flipping pages finding what I want, unable to categorize them w/o ripping them out or have a notebook for each project/subject, I'd be carrying around (a) notebook(s). Stylus will give me the freedom to quickly sketch, make notes, mail/print them on the fly without scanning, make edits, project it on monitors and screens, etc etc. TBH, it's probably more handy for designers than developers in this regard. Unfortunately there isn't a stylus that's precise and responsive enough for what most people want…the only product that comes close I've seen is iPen, http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipen/ipen-the-first-active-stylus-for-ipad http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipen/ipen-the-first-acti... unfortunately it is becoming quite a circus due to delays, refunds and complaints. O well…
- aneth 15y ago
  I don't understand the debate about the stylus. You can buy many models of styli for the iPad. The fact that the thing doesn't ship with a $5 peripheral is hardly a detriment. In fact, it's an advantage - you get to pick your style of stylus - and they are cheap to replace. I bought one for $5 that goes on my keychain - if Apple made that it would be $30. So, tell me again why there is any debate about why there is no stylus? Because there isn't a form-fitted hole for a proprietary styles? Because apps aren't designed for styli (the ones that need them are)?
  - dunham 15y ago
    They don't really want "a stylus". They say they want one, but as you pointed out, there are dozens of options out there for $5 and up. What they're really pining for is "a stylus that doesn't suck". Or rather, the experience of pen on paper using an iPad. Apple hasn't figured out how to do this well, so they haven't done it yet.
- jamesgeck0 15y ago
  I find that writing with a pen feels more natural and is easier on my hands than using a tablet keyboard (or after spending all day programming, a keyboard, period). It'd also be nice if I could search my handwritten notes without having to rip them out of a notebook and scan them in and run OCR software.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- bitwize 15y ago
  Styli are for more than just OneNote, you know. The difference between doing digital art on a real tablet (of the Wacom kind) with a stylus and doing digital art on an iPad is precisely the difference between drawing with honest-to-God pencils and fingerpainting.
hahla 15y ago
/end rant
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
VonLipwig 15y ago
I completely agree with the article though I think it misses what the iPad 3 is. I think most tech commenators miss the point. Apple isn't a traditional tech company. The majority of Apples 'new products' aren't new at all. They are just a new iteration of an existing product. Many tech commentators look at the iPad 3 and see it as make or break. They want reason's why you would toss aside your iPad 2 and buy an iPad 3. The fact is though, if you don't want to piss away your money you will not get an iPad 3 if you own an iPad 2. Its like like if you own a 2010 iMac you didn't buy a 2011 iMac (I assume there was a 2010/11 iMac). While the latest model is superior, quicker, has better gizmo's etc. The one you have is just fine. The iPad 3 will be the continued evolution of the iPad product, just as the iPad 2 was. This isn't a new product, Apple is just continuing to keep its product up to date.
- djhworld 15y ago
  I'll be getting an iPad 3 (got a '2 on launch last year) The main reason being I can probably sell my iPad2 for £250-£300, Apple products tend not to depreciate in value (much) so the cost isn't that prohibitive when you're on the iOS device ladder
  - moonchrome 15y ago
    >Apple products tend not to depreciate in value (much) so the cost isn't that prohibitive Don't you think there are many iPad owners out there who are thinking the same thing ? Were are you all going to dump your iPad 2 at the same time ? Especially if it has a killer feature that makes a lot of people want to upgrade and also makes the old iPad less desirable. Also include the original iPad users who will be upgrading. My guess is second hand iPad market is going to take a dive when iPad 3 comes out, so selling before that point might be a better idea, if you can live without your iPad for few weeks or so.
- derefr 15y ago
  > The iPad 3 will be the continued evolution of the iPad product, just as the iPad 2 was. This isn't a new product, Apple is just continuing to keep its product up to date. The branding seems to contradict that idea. If it's just an update, then why not just keep calling it "the iPad", without appending a Big Shiny Version Digit? You know, like they do with all of their other desktop and notebook products?
mmahemoff 15y ago
"Apple could lose $9 billion in one day if aliens descended from the skies to steal it". Relevant parody on TNW. http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/03/06/apple-could-lose-9-billion-in-one-day-if-aliens-descended-from-the-skies-to-steal-it/ http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/03/06/apple-could-lose-9-bi... I was thinking of making an iPad headline generator, which looks something like <N random characters>iPad<N random characters>
saturdaysaint 15y ago
Sort of obvious. This hype cycle is so predictable that even the parodies are getting tired - the perpetual stream of half-baked critiques of Apple is just part of it. CNET's been pretty shameless about presenting some kind of Android/iOS horserace. I don't think any Apple product has escaped these kinds of dismissive critiques - the original iPhone was derisively compared to the Nokia N95 from the get go, the original iPad got an incredibly underwhelmed response, the iPhone 4's perceived faults overshadowed any of its breakthroughs, etc. But this is one of the most profitable/important products by one of the most profitable and interesting companies in the world, so what do you expect?
- funkah 15y ago
  To the dismay of folks like myself, the half-baked critiques you describe are unchanged from the days when Apple was still smaller than their peers. Think of Slashdot's infamous iPod review, for example. The tech press just seems to lose its mind when it comes to Apple and their products. Anyone who gets it right is a "fanboy" member of the "Mac cult", and all that nonsense.
  - icebraining 15y ago
    Think of Slashdot's infamous iPod review, for example You mean the "no wireless, less space than a Nomad. lame"? I think that was more CmdrTaco's personal opinion than a review for the general public, like these pundits are supposedly doing. He probably has very different priorities when choosing gadgets when compared to the average person; I know I do.
icebraining 15y ago
Pundits will pundit, it's what they do, and Apple is a prime target nowadays. Not sure what's with all the fury. I do wonder if the Fire will be a bigger success, especially worldwide. It's not a direct iPad competitor - it's not a product for the same market segment - but I can see it selling well in lower income places. An iPad will never be a huge success here in Portugal, for example (and in my opinion, of course).
aufreak3 15y ago
To add to this, much of what was said about the ipad 1 when it launched was along the lines of "but this is just a large sized ipod touch!". Tech "analysis" quality seems to have taken a dive. Thank goodness sites like anandtech exist. Personally, I'd drool if I see an ipad announced with a stylus - not just the blunt kind that you can get today, but a true Wacom calibre stylus complete with tilt sensor, pressure sensor, side buttons and "flip to erase". That'll be my dream educational computing device!
- aufreak3 15y ago
  ... And to top it, i really hope they put the front facing camera somewhere in the middle of the display -- a patent they've held for a while without being used in a product. That'll change all the awkwardness with video conferencing on the device where it is incredibly hard to make eye contact with the one you're talking to.
billpatrianakos 15y ago
Article gets it all right but in the end it misses a larger point: these pundits, writers, and bloggers have motivations behind these ridiculous claims they make. Those motivations are personal preference, ignorance, desire for clicks, and... wait for it... some are paid shills in one way or another. I'd venture to guess that a lot of the unrealistic things being written about the iPad are born from those motivations. For big tech sites I'd say the paid shills reside there. For bloggers with big audiences I'd say paid shill-ism and personal bias play into that. And for nobodies I'd say ignorance and personal bias are their motivations. When it comes to reviews its good to follow the money. It'll lead to why a review recommends one thing over another. That then trickles down to smaller sites. The little guys echo what the big guys say and hope they can ride some coat tails and get some Adsense revenue. Just take a look at any tech scandal like the Path address book fiasco. As soon as it became a big story everyone wanted in on the action and most everyone just echoed the popular opinion.

89 points by huskyr 15y ago

This seems eerily like a Macalope article.

Wickk 15y ago

I really agreed with a lot of this article (but not all) but really couldn't get past the juvenile way in which it was written the entire time I was reading. I dont't personally understand everyone's need for a stylus. I hear this complaint from time to time, and with how intuitive apple's keyboard is on the iPhone/iPad ( really its the only one I can remotely stand. And yes it's far from perfect) I just don't see much of a need. If I was taking handwritten notes in class id be carrying around a notebook.

huggyface 15y ago
I don't personally understand everyone's need for a stylus. I don't understand why it needs to be everyone. How about some people want a stylus, some people don't? (Which is why, for instance, Samsung has a tablet with a stylus, and a tablet without. They have a smartphone with a stylus, and a smartphone without. They didn't go all in on the stylus). I can certainly see value for me, especially if it's pressure sensitive. Outside of obvious painting and drawing apps, even for something where you need to interact with small objects on the screen, using a big finger, obscuring the entire area you're trying to interact with with a meat sausage is suboptimal. Substituting a little appendage can be very useful. But it isn't for everyone. Which is why I don't get the utter fearsome defensiveness about the stylus that many in the Apple camp seem to resort to (e.g. Gruber): It isn't for them, and that's great, but trying to mock others who might want it? That's just weird.
- Wickk 15y ago
  It was a poor choice of words on my part, what I meant was; Everyone who does want one. I can understand under an artist viewpoint ( Ideally I would really like apps in the area to improve ) but you can easily get that in a touchscreen laptop. This just from my own personal use of my tablet but from most things I can see where I could care to use one I just ibstinctevely reach for my laptop. Not trying to start a debate on stylus use, I'm sure those who use them with a tablet very good reasons for doing so. In my own personal life and opinion, I just don't see the need.
- mmahemoff 15y ago
  Yeah I can see the value for niche uses/users, but the manufacturers are getting a bit too optimistic when they present it as a must-have killer feature. Like the Note's Superbowl ad, where really the only noticeable difference (from a mainstream consumer's perspective) is the stylus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V40oo4kkzHg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V40oo4kkzHg
  - huggyface 15y ago
    Like the Note's Superbowl ad, where really the only noticeable difference (from a mainstream consumer's perspective) is the stylus. It was a pitch for a specific product and thus highlighted the attributes of that product. If Samsung is presenting it as a must-have killer feature, why do so many of their products actually lack a stylus? I also don't care if a vehicle can parallel park itself, yet if a manufacturer makes a model with that feature they're naturally going to highlight it.
    - mmahemoff 15y ago
      It just seems too niche for a Superbowl ad and the whole presentation of the ad makes it apparent the manufacturers believe they've revolutionised the tablet space with, behold...the stylus. Setting themselves up for disappointment.
      - huggyface 15y ago
        They've sold 2 million of them, and all reports are that they've seen great sales: I doubt they're disappointed. And while it is indeed a niche, but a very lucrative one. Further Samsung had no other new releases around the time of the Superbowl -- had the GS III been ready, I have no doubt they would have led with that. It's a feature of a product. A feature that appeals to some, turns off others. That's how the whole choice thing works.
- mikeash 15y ago
  People who want a stylus can buy one from a third party. Why does Apple have to provide it?
justjimmy 15y ago
>If I was taking handwritten notes in class id be carrying around a notebook. If I wanted to deal with a bunch of loose notes, flipping pages finding what I want, unable to categorize them w/o ripping them out or have a notebook for each project/subject, I'd be carrying around (a) notebook(s). Stylus will give me the freedom to quickly sketch, make notes, mail/print them on the fly without scanning, make edits, project it on monitors and screens, etc etc. TBH, it's probably more handy for designers than developers in this regard. Unfortunately there isn't a stylus that's precise and responsive enough for what most people want…the only product that comes close I've seen is iPen, http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipen/ipen-the-first-active-stylus-for-ipad http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ipen/ipen-the-first-acti... unfortunately it is becoming quite a circus due to delays, refunds and complaints. O well…
aneth 15y ago
I don't understand the debate about the stylus. You can buy many models of styli for the iPad. The fact that the thing doesn't ship with a $5 peripheral is hardly a detriment. In fact, it's an advantage - you get to pick your style of stylus - and they are cheap to replace. I bought one for $5 that goes on my keychain - if Apple made that it would be $30. So, tell me again why there is any debate about why there is no stylus? Because there isn't a form-fitted hole for a proprietary styles? Because apps aren't designed for styli (the ones that need them are)?
- dunham 15y ago
  They don't really want "a stylus". They say they want one, but as you pointed out, there are dozens of options out there for $5 and up. What they're really pining for is "a stylus that doesn't suck". Or rather, the experience of pen on paper using an iPad. Apple hasn't figured out how to do this well, so they haven't done it yet.
jamesgeck0 15y ago
I find that writing with a pen feels more natural and is easier on my hands than using a tablet keyboard (or after spending all day programming, a keyboard, period). It'd also be nice if I could search my handwritten notes without having to rip them out of a notebook and scan them in and run OCR software.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
bitwize 15y ago
Styli are for more than just OneNote, you know. The difference between doing digital art on a real tablet (of the Wacom kind) with a stylus and doing digital art on an iPad is precisely the difference between drawing with honest-to-God pencils and fingerpainting.

hahla 15y ago

/end rant

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

VonLipwig 15y ago

I completely agree with the article though I think it misses what the iPad 3 is. I think most tech commenators miss the point. Apple isn't a traditional tech company. The majority of Apples 'new products' aren't new at all. They are just a new iteration of an existing product. Many tech commentators look at the iPad 3 and see it as make or break. They want reason's why you would toss aside your iPad 2 and buy an iPad 3. The fact is though, if you don't want to piss away your money you will not get an iPad 3 if you own an iPad 2. Its like like if you own a 2010 iMac you didn't buy a 2011 iMac (I assume there was a 2010/11 iMac). While the latest model is superior, quicker, has better gizmo's etc. The one you have is just fine. The iPad 3 will be the continued evolution of the iPad product, just as the iPad 2 was. This isn't a new product, Apple is just continuing to keep its product up to date.

djhworld 15y ago
I'll be getting an iPad 3 (got a '2 on launch last year) The main reason being I can probably sell my iPad2 for £250-£300, Apple products tend not to depreciate in value (much) so the cost isn't that prohibitive when you're on the iOS device ladder
- moonchrome 15y ago
  >Apple products tend not to depreciate in value (much) so the cost isn't that prohibitive Don't you think there are many iPad owners out there who are thinking the same thing ? Were are you all going to dump your iPad 2 at the same time ? Especially if it has a killer feature that makes a lot of people want to upgrade and also makes the old iPad less desirable. Also include the original iPad users who will be upgrading. My guess is second hand iPad market is going to take a dive when iPad 3 comes out, so selling before that point might be a better idea, if you can live without your iPad for few weeks or so.
derefr 15y ago
> The iPad 3 will be the continued evolution of the iPad product, just as the iPad 2 was. This isn't a new product, Apple is just continuing to keep its product up to date. The branding seems to contradict that idea. If it's just an update, then why not just keep calling it "the iPad", without appending a Big Shiny Version Digit? You know, like they do with all of their other desktop and notebook products?

mmahemoff 15y ago

"Apple could lose $9 billion in one day if aliens descended from the skies to steal it". Relevant parody on TNW. http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/03/06/apple-could-lose-9-billion-in-one-day-if-aliens-descended-from-the-skies-to-steal-it/ http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/03/06/apple-could-lose-9-bi... I was thinking of making an iPad headline generator, which looks something like <N random characters>iPad<N random characters>

saturdaysaint 15y ago

Sort of obvious. This hype cycle is so predictable that even the parodies are getting tired - the perpetual stream of half-baked critiques of Apple is just part of it. CNET's been pretty shameless about presenting some kind of Android/iOS horserace. I don't think any Apple product has escaped these kinds of dismissive critiques - the original iPhone was derisively compared to the Nokia N95 from the get go, the original iPad got an incredibly underwhelmed response, the iPhone 4's perceived faults overshadowed any of its breakthroughs, etc. But this is one of the most profitable/important products by one of the most profitable and interesting companies in the world, so what do you expect?

funkah 15y ago
To the dismay of folks like myself, the half-baked critiques you describe are unchanged from the days when Apple was still smaller than their peers. Think of Slashdot's infamous iPod review, for example. The tech press just seems to lose its mind when it comes to Apple and their products. Anyone who gets it right is a "fanboy" member of the "Mac cult", and all that nonsense.
- icebraining 15y ago
  Think of Slashdot's infamous iPod review, for example You mean the "no wireless, less space than a Nomad. lame"? I think that was more CmdrTaco's personal opinion than a review for the general public, like these pundits are supposedly doing. He probably has very different priorities when choosing gadgets when compared to the average person; I know I do.

icebraining 15y ago

Pundits will pundit, it's what they do, and Apple is a prime target nowadays. Not sure what's with all the fury. I do wonder if the Fire will be a bigger success, especially worldwide. It's not a direct iPad competitor - it's not a product for the same market segment - but I can see it selling well in lower income places. An iPad will never be a huge success here in Portugal, for example (and in my opinion, of course).

aufreak3 15y ago

To add to this, much of what was said about the ipad 1 when it launched was along the lines of "but this is just a large sized ipod touch!". Tech "analysis" quality seems to have taken a dive. Thank goodness sites like anandtech exist. Personally, I'd drool if I see an ipad announced with a stylus - not just the blunt kind that you can get today, but a true Wacom calibre stylus complete with tilt sensor, pressure sensor, side buttons and "flip to erase". That'll be my dream educational computing device!

aufreak3 15y ago
... And to top it, i really hope they put the front facing camera somewhere in the middle of the display -- a patent they've held for a while without being used in a product. That'll change all the awkwardness with video conferencing on the device where it is incredibly hard to make eye contact with the one you're talking to.

billpatrianakos 15y ago

Article gets it all right but in the end it misses a larger point: these pundits, writers, and bloggers have motivations behind these ridiculous claims they make. Those motivations are personal preference, ignorance, desire for clicks, and... wait for it... some are paid shills in one way or another. I'd venture to guess that a lot of the unrealistic things being written about the iPad are born from those motivations. For big tech sites I'd say the paid shills reside there. For bloggers with big audiences I'd say paid shill-ism and personal bias play into that. And for nobodies I'd say ignorance and personal bias are their motivations. When it comes to reviews its good to follow the money. It'll lead to why a review recommends one thing over another. That then trickles down to smaller sites. The little guys echo what the big guys say and hope they can ride some coat tails and get some Adsense revenue. Just take a look at any tech scandal like the Path address book fiasco. As soon as it became a big story everyone wanted in on the action and most everyone just echoed the popular opinion.