fyngyrz

Oh well. I came back after the liveblog and dashed out the “no-haves”. Plus it’s FAT… that bezel consumes enough square inches to hide an entire iPod in. Sad, really. features that enhance the iPad over the Touch are in bold:

o iPod Touch interface
o iPod Touch compatibility for apps
o all good with iTunes
o accelerometers
- front camera for communication These 2 are really bad screwups
- rear camera for prod id, pics, etc.
- resolution drop from 163 ppi to 132 ppi(-19%)
+ adds GPS for location (optional, part of $135 3G option)
o compass for static direction
o microphone for song-id, comm, etc.
- programmable tactile feedback for keyboard, etc.
o bluetooth for headphone(s)
o able to emit mono audio
o tiny, tinny, silly speakers, just because
- IR emitter for use as remote
- battery lasts (at least) 12 hours (reading) (10)
o low model: 16 gb high model: way more
- memory UPGRADABLE (card)
- understands and works with stylus or fingers
o high resolution (same dpi as iPod Touch)
o Wifi
+ 3G cellular interface (optional, $135, includes GPS)
- L/R lcd angular polarizer for stereo vision
- OSX mode for the hardcore
- charges on a pad – NO cables
- syncs via wifi – NO cables
- runs with OR without backlight
- user replicable battery
o $450 entry price (16 gb) ($499 — not bad at all. $699 for 64 gb. Add $135 for 3G+GPS)

Yeah, I know, I know. But that’d be my ideal tablet, right there.

Some other things you might like to know… the iPad is 1024×768, about 5x the total resolution of an iPod Touch. On the other hand, the iPod Touch is 163 ppi, and the iPad is only 132 ppi, which is going to create quite a drop in perceived sharpness. It’s still a step up, device-wise; it’ll go like this: The iPad is 1024 across, the iPod is 480 across, so we’re at 2x the dots (speaking one dimensionally)… you’ll simply have to be about 20% further away with the iPad for them to look as good as the iPod, which means that the 100% gain in resolution will drop by 20% in size. So you’re going to “feel” like you’re up about 80% in total.

The complete lack of cameras means no using barcodes to library your cds, dvds, blurays, etc. No id’ing products and heading out on the web to compare prices and availability. No snapshots of your friends, no face-to-face webcamming, no photobooth, no make-up apps, no photography apps (at least, none that have any immediate use.)

My bet is we’ll see cameras in the next generation, because it was such an act of mental midgetry to leave them out. Perhaps that bezel will shrink as well, and we’ll get a charging system that doesn’t require wires.

One can hope.