When Steve Jobs unveil the iPad , he say that it was a twist designed to fit between the iPhone and Mac . Given the iPad ’s price and sizing , it would be easy enough to dismiss this as marketing hype . Now that I ’ve had a few hour with the iPad , however , I have a far better understanding that the “ in - between ” nature of the iPad operate far deeper than a Keynote presentment and printing press departure .
In fact , when using the machine , just about everywhere you turn you find a crossing of the iPhone and Mac OS . Certainly elbow - room plays a part — the gimmick offers the kind of space that allows more elements on filmdom — but it ’s interesting to wade into the gadget and its applications and see where Apple expanded as well as compromised between the iPhone and Mac .
Starting with software
The PIM applications — Mail , Contacts , and Calendar — owe more to the Mac OS than the iPhone . And they do mostly because of the spaciousness of the iPad ’s show .
The iPad ’s larger screen intend that you’re able to catch a inclination of mailboxes within a particular account or a inclination of messages along with a preview of a selected message , much like Mail on the Mac . Unlike with the Mac ’s variant of Mail , you ’re still oblige to move to a disjoined screen to reckon all your accounts ( a incorporate Inbox is absentminded , though Steve Jobs has claim this feature is coming ) , but unlike with the iPhone , you may view the presently choose subject matter while doing so .
Contacts appear within a volume - alike interface that return somewhere between the iPhone ’s Contact app and OS X ’s Address Book . Like the iPhone app , you could move through an alphabetical list of contacts by tapping letters — though in this causa , they ’re tabs in an address book rather than letter float on - screen with no context of use . Like the Mac ’s Address Book , you’re able to view liaison epithet along with the detail of the selected contact on a single screen . The compromise in this app is that you choose mathematical group by tapping a Groups push button , which produces a pop - over menu for selecting the grouping you need to consider . On the Mac , groups are n’t hidden in a pop - up menu .
Week view in the iPad’s Calendar app
The Calendar app is very similar to iCal . In Day view you see not only events lay out in iCal - like block , but the detail of specific appointment appear on the left side of the “ book . ” Week view looks very much like iCal , everlasting with a pop - up Details window . And from within any of these prospect you may tap on a Calendars button and choose which calendar you want to view .
Week view in the iPad ’s Calendar app
Safari , too , owe more to the Mac O than the iPhone . When inspect a Web site that tender both mobile and desktop adaptation of the site , you see the desktop interpretation . Yet the iPhone ’s bivalent - tap - to - expand - editorial trick work . The display is large enough that you could have piloting and bookmark mastery next to the URL fields rather than at the bottom of the sieve . To reckon bookmark , you’re able to simply tap a Bookmarks icon to uncover a Bookmarks Menu pop - over , much like a pull up - down menu in the Mac OS . And the iPad translation of Safari even includes a bookmarks bar - corresponding feature that provide straightaway access to favorite sites .
Safari with bookmarks bar.
Safari with bookmarker bar .
There ’s nothing like Maps outside of a web browser on the Mac OS , so naturally the iPad ’s version of this helpful program is quite like to the iPhone ’s edition . But again , screen space pays off . counselling are available from a pop - over menu that appear over the map view you ’ve selected ( this version of Maps include a new Terrain view ) . Like the iPhone 3GS , the iPad ’s Maps app includes compass capabilities , even though the iPad does n’t offer a separate Compass app .
Maps app with directions .
Maps app with directions.
iPad as iPod
The iPod and Videos coating are an interesting mixing of the iPhone and Mac OS . In term of shop your media , they ’re very much like the Mac and PC ’s version of iTunes . standardised to iTunes on a estimator you find your audio content uncommitted in a Source lean , which include Music , Podcasts , Audiobooks , iTunes U , Genius , Genius Mixes , and then any playlists you ’ve synchronize from your computer or created on the iPad . Buttons at the bottom of the screen let you view your euphony by Songs , Artists , Albums , Genres , or Composers . To play a lead , just tap it .
As with iTunes , TV are selected by kind — Movies , television set appearance , Podcasts , Music Videos , and iTunes U. Tap the television designate button , for example , and you see each show represent by its artwork . wiretap the graphics and an episode list appear along with artwork for that show . To meet an sequence , just tap the caper button .
euphony as witness through the iPad ’s iPod app .
Music as seen through the iPad’s iPod app.
When you select a movie , you first see a screen replete with point — evaluation , studio apartment , yr release , HD or SD , sum-up , actor , director , and producer . On this same screenland you’re able to knock a chapter button to see a listing of chapter . To play a peculiar chapter , bug it and press the gambol release .
Watching video on an iPad .
Yet when you bring music or watch video , it ’s a very iPhone - like experience . encounter a song , for example , an the iPad ’s screen is occupy with album artwork along with volume and take on controls , a button for producing a cart track list , and a Genius button for creating a Genius Playlist based on the presently bring song . Tap the artwork and you see a timeline ( which you’re able to scratch through just as you’re able to with an iPhone or iPod touch ) and shuffle and repeat push .
Watching video on an iPad.
The iTunes Store has always seemed cramped to me on an iPhone or iPod touching . It ’s grand that it ’s useable at all , but I use it only when on the road and I really , reallywant to hear or watch something . On the iPad , it ’s very much like the Store you see when using a Mac or PC . you could more easily see the cognitive content you ’re after than you could on the iPhone thanks to the Music , Movies , tv set Shows , Podcasts , Audiobooks , and iTunes U button at the bottom of the screen . And you could see more entropy about the mass medium you ’re interested in .
The iPad ’s iTunes Store .
The missing apps
When viewing the iPad ’s Home screen you ca n’t help but notice just how spare it seem . And it is , in part , because it ’s miss a number of apps find out on the iPhone and iPod touching — Stocks , Weather , Voice Memos , Clock , and Calculator . Many multitude have put up theories on why these apps did n’t make the cut . One is that third - party apps exist for these things so why would Apple postulate to duplicate these efforts . And that make some sense . But it also makes common sense that in a world where you carry both an iPhone and iPad , the iPhone does a better job presenting these small - form applications . Does the casual investor really need a Stocks app that fills a screen door the size of the iPad ? Likewise , how weather - obsessed must you be to want to see radio detection and ranging , satellite , precipitation , and prefigure datum on a exclusive filmdom ? These are apps that you want to check for quick update , not in - depth selective information . For this kind of thing , the iPhone is the secure machine .
Neither big iPod touch nor MacBook
Once you ’ve used an iPad you see just how silly the“it ’s nothing but a big iPod touch ” claimis . Size matters . It ’s much more enjoyable to watch video on an iPad . you may actually take a book on the affair in a way that does n’t feel cramped . The increased sizing think fewer finger’s breadth swipes and taps because you could put more control and information on a single screen . And it ’s less likely you ’re going to get killed in some shoot ’em up because you tapped the wrong millimeter of the gadget ’s showing . A larger twist like this also mean more room for a larger talker . On the on - add-in audio front , the iPad ’s verbalizer sounds much more like a MacBook than an iPhone .
At the same time , the iPad in its current form is n’t a laptop computer replacement . In portrayal orientation you still have to two - fingerbreadth type . While you could spread out out when typewrite in landscape painting predilection , there ’s the knotty problem of punctuation . You wo n’t find apostrophes and quotation sign on the main keyboard . Instead you have to tapdance the .?123 keyboard to access this punctuation . Auto - correct fixes mutual muscle contraction , but possessives and mention are still a sea wolf if you want to type as quickly as you may on your laptop . ( as luck would have it , the iPad is very responsive to Apple ’s wireless keyboard . )
Beyond typewriting , there are things the iPad just wo n’t do that many laptop user find necessary . evidently , with its limited storage , retentivity , and stimulation options , you ’re not last to do Final Cut work on your iPad any time soon . Nor is this the gadget to use for recording your next podcast .
The iPad’s iTunes Store.
But there are more workaday chores that the iPad ca n’t handle . Printing , for example . Apple offer no solution . And if you require to prepare up a family member with an iPad , be prepared to lend along a computing equipment so you may configure that extremity ’s wireless connection ( and keep it on hired hand if that connection ever goes down and the iPad is the only computing equipment in the home ) . The iPad as sole - compute - twist - in - the - home is still a reaching , return the Wi - Fi requirements .
But in - between ? Apple ’s on to something . It seems like a perfect fit .
iPad (2010)
