Cooliris Photo Wall from SXSW2010

SXSW 2010 I’m choosing not to write something everyday because usually there is very little time. So I’m doing this instead, I’m taking lots of pictures for the experience of it all and will re-cap everything in a better mixed blog post coming up.

iPad and More

Timing could not be better, nor worse, today the new Apple tablet came out the iPad. So I’ve been meaning to write, update and catch up everything on this blog clean up some things and various other things.

So on to matters, first off, the iPad. I think it is a start but for right now, it’s just a kindle with more functions. There are lacking features and then there are some ground breaking ones. Let’s start with the good go to the bad and then move on.

The good:
The iPad’s user interaction with the device allows the use of already stock apps available from the iPhone and iPod Touch line and now there are more with the new sdk and larger screen. The large high resolution screen is very nice and the update to connect the device to use for presentations is going to make it a breeze to use. I’m not so sure what else to say to that though.

The bad:
Like the first iPhone there is not GPS so where is the next generation use of location? We are in an era of mobile computing and this is supposed to be our next step? Why can we have a simple GPS chip in the computer? Where is the use of apps that rely on location? As our esteemed professors @academicdave and @therefore are always pushing the limits on and asking the question of location. This is the perfect device right? It really doesn’t feel as such that I would want this.

Also where are USB ports or various other ports I don’t want to use a dock connector to be able to access the device especially if I am needing to do various other things. I don’t want to have to go through the mystery app store process for simple interface things and then be rejected etc. I’m not so sure what to take on only having a wireless gimped bluetooth and no real hard ports.

I don’t agree with everything entirely being up to one manufacturer. We have run into many problems before with Apple and their problems this is one of their many products we are starting to see have an effect with consumer funding the second and third generation of products. Looking at where the iPad sits now I can see in a year a GPS chip being added, a couple of external ports or adaptor ports being added just like what was done with the iPhone becoming the iPhone 3G and 3Gs.

As much as I love Apple I don’t think we should have to deal with everything they put out as great. Much greater dissension is coming from loyal followers (of which I am one) and I feel the curse of Microsoft coming. I sometimes look at a Windows feature and wonder why; and then I wonder if Apple had taken that idea and added their polish to it wouldn’t it be great. Why can’t the iPad have handwriting input? I know there is a cool brushes app, and I’m sure some developer is going to come along and make something cool; but why can’t I get it out of the box as that?

Finally, I would have liked the tablet really to have run multiple applications at once. I don’t like having to work in JUST Pages or JUST Numbers I would rather switch between the two; especially if this is going to replace my laptop. I would still rather get a small netbook and give up screen size for a keyboard ports and various other things than a glorified large iPod Touch.
This is not the device that is going to change everything really but only be the pixel to point what is next. I think we are going to see the rise in Android and HTC’s devices next and see Apple grasping its breath to catch up in the mobile device market. At least that is what I can see from glimpses of CES and HTC’s misdirection campaign going awry.

Let’s see what time hold and we’ll see what happens next.

On to other stuff:

I’m also in the process of building a robot for fun and we’ll see what it does if you have any suggestions of what it should do we’ll take a look and see if it is something worth us doing. It is a project I’ve been needing to get around for a very long time and well let’s see how it goes. I hope you like what we’ve got so far. I’ll have more pictures
up as we go and thanks also to help from @johntron who is helping very much in teaching and learning with me.

Finally the big project of the year and I hope to continue with. We have high hopes to take this big prize at the first North Dallas Hooptie event for the 24 Hours of LeMons race. We are team Grassy Knoll Society. More information about the team the event and everything else is available on that blog. I will say that we are looking for sponsors and are willing to entertain almost anything at this moment.

I hope that catches you up and later days.