The Apple iPad

Apple has released their tablet computer and it is called the iPad. OK the name isn't that great but the machine is. This is the perfect device for people who want a netbook or laptop that actually wouldn't use one. For example, this would be the perfect device for my wife, It is an oversize iPod that she can hook a keyboard up to via the keyboard accessory. My biggest 2 issues are with issue with it is the lack of a usb port or card reader, (which I imagine will come out later as an accessory) and the lack of the Full Mac OS. To use this computer, fully, you still need a computer to sync it to itunes. Now if you could hook up an external hard drive, and have a card reader with the full OS functionality then I think people would be going gaga over it. Regardless this is still a huge leap forward.

I was expecting 3 things from this announcement.

1. It would start the pricing at $799.00 USD


2. It would be a little slow or "under powered"


3. There would be little to no software for it

Apple really surprised everyone with what they came out with. The iPad is the next logical extension of the hardware and at $499, it's a deal. Let's face it the regular Mac OS would be difficult to use without a full keyboard and mouse, the iPhone OS is much simpler to use and by adapting the software to work better with the iPhone OS then the target market will have an easier time using the iPad. Speaking of which who is the target market for this? Well you can say e-book readers, but I think where the iPad will shine is in Sales, Education, and most importantly general computing. Who will use this? Students, Moms, Non-Tech Savy People. Why? Because it is the easiest OS you can use. It does one thing at a time and won't allow you to do more then one thing at any given time.

What about the big techies that want one? Well it will make a great video device, handy for following online tutorials, reading websites, blogs, and ebooks. I must say it is a really good size as well; I can't wait to see one in person. My wife doesn't know if she would use it but for everything she does on her laptop, the iPad fits the bill better then her laptop. My sister goes to college this coming up school year, this would fit the bill perfectly for a mobile device for school. She can record notes, use google docs or iwork, and there are lots of apps that will open and save word files, and more. Having used XP tablets (Which cost a lot more) and end up feeling quite slow, I have I hopes for performance on the iPad.

For those people that thought Steve Jobs can change the laws of physics, he is only human and for their first tablet computer, Apple's is once again a cut above the rest. I'm not saying by any means that it's perfect, I'm just saying that what's out there right now it is the best there is. They made it cheaper then what most had thought (Starting at $499). It has a fast 1Ghz processor (still needs to be proven to me) and loads of apps thanks to the Apps Store.

Improvements I would make to the iPad.

Add 1 or 2 standard USB Ports
80GB SSD
SD Card Reader
FULL OS SUPPORT!

I would expect apple to have a $499 or $599 product line or the possible replacement of the MacBook line. These mobile devices are becoming cheaper, faster, easier to use and are much more popular then regular personal computers. Very soon you will have a home server to store all your data (songs, movies, documents) and everyone will have a "iPad" or tablet for accessing, and syncing it all.

Trevor

Why does Facebook Want To Be Twitter?

I for the life of me can't figure out why Facebook has Twitter envy. Maybe it's the followers, or maybe it's because you can follow celebrities, who knows. One thing I am sure about is that if Facebook isn't careful they can completely screw it up. What am I talking about the Privacy Settings. Just recently Facebook in an effort to compete with twitter changed their privacy settings so that things can be more easily indexed by a search engine. Read Article.

As this an attempt to take a shot at twitter, Facebook had some sort of trend about bra colours? Was this to take a shot at twitter? Probably. Did it make sense? Not to me but I don't wear a bra so maybe it effected me less. Facebook seems to be scared of twitter and my evidence is facebook recent changes to it's privacy rules. Read Article.

Facebook shouldn't be trying to be more open (in the content sense) they should trying to keep people's information as private as possible to the point where in the EULA companies can pay for placing ads or sending email fliers or messages about products they sell, services and or events in a region reaching people living in that region. Your selling access to your users, keeping everything else free; thus not having to monetize the services via subscription. You could also monetize by taking a percentage of the virtual economy, where you can pay money for e-cards to friends, or items in games like farmville.

How about selling your farmville game to someone else or trading virtual items for real world money and taking a cut? There is so much potential for Facebook the biggest thing going for it is the 65 million active users. No online app or service to my knowledge is larger then Facebook. Facebook has so many ways it can monetize it's not even funny, if it's to partner with google to show ads in the direct messages or emails based on keywords and splitting the revenue or getting money from government to perform census and surveys. Why does Facebook want to be twitter?

Stephen Harper Prorogues Canadian Parliament Again!

Well he did it again, shutdown the government. The current Prime Minister seems to not play well with others. We the Canadian people elected a minority government and that government is to work in the best interest of the Canadian people. We don't want this party politics garbage that all parties are guilty of, but the worst offender in my opinion is the Prime Minister.

Yes he has the "Majority of Party Seats" but the the Majority of seats in the house. As a responsible Prime Minister he should be reaching out for common ground not sending out ultimatums and bullying other MPs. What do I mean? The Name Garth Turner should ring a bell. Read Article Read Star Article. Mr. Harper also bullies public servants such as Richard Colvin. I'm talking about the Afghanistan inquiry into prisoner abuses. Then Public Servant Richard Colvin was trying to bring awareness about the abuses by the Afghanistan army/police. Read Star Article So instead of trying to get to the truth the Government wanted to bury it and also one could argue destroy Mr. Colvin's reputation. This is just one of the many things the conservatives have had blow up in their face, but more concerning is that this has all the signs of an election coming.

The Conservatives appear to be announcing more "Money Announcements". On January 7th Rona Ambrose handed over $125000 in federal funding, the latest in money announcements from the Government. There also appears to be allot of PR going on right now to boost numbers by the conservative party. Perhaps the government is going to call an election in March? I don't think that's far fetched. It's after the Winter Olympics, everyone "Should" be relatively happy with the government if the Olympics are a success. So what should you do, you might think I'm a "Liberal Fan Boy" but I'm not, I want our government to work for us, not for the parties or other interest other then that of the paying Canadian tax payer.

To that end I'll be buying a membership to the Pirate Party of Canada, and I'll do what I can to try change the government and the way politics are done in Canada. If I were you take a look at the parties, the people, and the way things are being done (Or as the case is NOT done). It's time for a change, Let's give the old parties a message. "Were tired of being screwed with, now do what we elected you to do. Work for the public good of your constituents, and the public well being in Canada." Not what your party's agenda is or those special interest groups.

You can follow the Pirate Party at http://www.twitter.com/piratepartyca