by Michael F. Kastre
When it comes to sleek design and innovative technology, Apple has become an iconic American brand. Not surprisingly, the company's recent launch of the iPad was preceded by high expectations and fierce speculation. Many of its features were anticipated, others were not, and some were mysteriously missing. So unless you already own an iPad, here's a list of little-known features and facts:
Little-Known Features and Capabilities
- Screen orientation lock. Automatically detects how the device is being held, orients the screen and allows you to lock the screen position no matter how the device is tilted or turned.
- Multi-touch productivity. Allows you to use one finger to perform functions such as selecting and dragging slides and another to stack additional slides. It also makes it easier to align pictures.
- Automatic screen brightness. Allows you to set the screen brightness manually or let the device automatically adjust the brightness for optimal viewing.
- Background music. Can set the mood while you perform tasks. The iPad can also connect to Bluetooth devices to broadcast music to wireless headphones or home stereos.
- Slideshow soundtracks. Can provide appropriate music for your images.
- Browser dashboard. Allows you to open multiple pages at the same time in the form of thumbnail images instead of tabs.
- Home screen bookmarks. Allows you to create bookmarks for websites so they can be accessed without opening the browser.
- Smart links in mail. Can recognize names and addresses and link them to helpful information, such as directions.
- Photo sorting. Allows you to easily organize pictures. The device is capable of using recognition software to automatically detect faces and sort photos by person, timeframe or location.
- iTunes benefits. Allows you to instantly find music similar to songs already in your libraries or the iTunes store.
- YouTube app. Though it doesn't have Adobe flash, the device can interact with such things as YouTube videos.
- Built-in dictionary. Provides a dictionary in the iBooks or word processor apps to help with definitions or to search e-books using keywords.
What It Lakcs
- No USB or SD Card Slot. Its ports are limited to a proprietary dock connector and a headphone jack, making its plug-and-play versatility very limited (no mice or keyboards, for example). Without a USB port, the iPad is hardly a threat to laptops. Moreover, the lack of an SD card slot prevents you from being able to expand storage with an easily removable device. SD facilitates the transfer of files to and from devices, such as digital and video cameras. Note, though, that adapter fixes are available.
- No built-in camera. While this might not seem necessary for a tablet, it would have allowed for video chatting. As a result, many camera apps cannot be used.
- No true multitasking. It seems the larger screen could have accommodated multitasking - allowing you to toggle between multiple apps and programs, for example. As a result, you can’t work on a document and have a Web browser open at the same time.
- No flash. The lack of this Adobe format, which is popular for such things as Web video and Web-based games, can be a problem if you want to connect with Internet content. Without it, you can't see much of the media on websites. Fixes and work-arounds are being developed.
Interesting Facts
- It doesn't use an Intel processor. Because Apple purchased a chip company called PA Semiconductor known for its high end, low-power chips, the heart of the iPad is a custom-made chip. This is certainly a blow to premier chip company Intel.
- It's built on applications. Which shifts it from a page- and site-based Internet to one built on Apple apps. This seems contrary to the trend of moving toward a distributed Web (think Cloud computing). It also means you have to use Apple apps, making the use of other apps and the Web difficult when it comes to links and searches.
Does It Live Up to the Hype?
Well, yes and no...it depends whom you ask. The iPad definitely reflects innovative and impressive engineering. And for every flaw, some very bright Apple folks are working on a fix. Critics, though, point out that the device lacks the power of a laptop or even a netbook. Others wonder if it encourages consumption instead of creation, effectively turning its users into nothing but an audience-which, of course, advertisers and media companies would love. Some consumers lament its lack of distributed computing, which can limit its use.
No one knows what iPad models of the future will be capable of, or what innovations they will feature. Only time will tell how fully consumers embrace it.
Michael F. Kastre is a freelance writer who is always amazed by the cleverness and creativity of the technical wizards who bring these wonderful gadgets and goodies into our lives.
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