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Apple iPad Ping!
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me. Sent from Andrew's iPhone
Posted on 10/01/2010 5:13:59 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Apple's iPad is a consumer device, first and foremost. (And it's a good one, at that.)
But a few recent events have illustrated how the iPad could also potentially become an important device for business and enterprise users, as a lightweight, reliable, powerful -- and most important, easily programmable -- touchscreen tablet.
And that could be a big opportunity for Apple.
First, there's the restaurant check-in and queuing system we saw getting tested in San Francisco last month at the 21st Amendment Brewery restaurant.
When you check in to the restaurant, the host puts your cellphone number into an iPad via an app called Tablewait. That information gets sent from the iPad into a server somewhere (over wi-fi, we assume, but potentially over 3G). This sends your phone a text message letting you know that you're in the system. Then, when your table is ready, it sends you another text message telling you to come to the host stand for seating. And that's it.
Instead of dealing with one of those complex, expensive systems where they hand you a plastic thing that buzzes and blinks red lights when your table is ready, it's a $500 iPad, the buzzing cellphones everyone already has, and whatever the Tablewait app's monthly service fee is. Probably a lot cheaper, and much simpler and more powerful. The opportunity is also potentially there to let people take themselves out of the queue for a table (if it's easier to get a seat at the restaurant across the street), edit their table request (five people instead of four), or whatever, all via text message commands.
Second, we saw something similar in action -- but even simpler -- this week at a tech industry party held by NextNY at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
A friend of mine went to a Buckhead, GA restaurant where the wine list was on an iPad. You peruse the wines, read about them, see them, set them aside as possibilities and then finally choose your wine right there on the touch screen.
The possibilities are pretty endless...
I picked one up this week, and I’m totally loving it! I think it would have GREAT potential in the corporate world if they would open it up a little, along with supporting Java and Flash based applications. Apple is shooting itself in the foot and limiting itself in that regard.
The device has SO much potential, they just need to ‘open it up’ a bit.
From a previous Mac thread, I posted this:
Expounding on the industries which are being “fundamentally transformed” by the iPad (which I actually don’t even own, yet)...
We’re currently upgrading the scoreboard in the basketball gym of our local YMCA. It consists of a 52”LCD TV hooked up to a computer using Scoreboard software piped in wirelessly ... from an iPad. Player stats will also be tracked on a separate iPad.
You may have noticed NFL coaches talking to their quarterback on a wireless headset while hiding his mouth behind a colorful laminated play sheet. You’ll also see players on the sidelines reviewing analytical play photos in a binder. I predict that THIS YEAR we’ll start seeing those replaced with encrypted iPads. This crosses over to many other sports.
I ate at a restaurant a few weeks ago and the waitress took our order ... with an iPad. If you think about it, they could actually have their MENU on the iPad at each table with software for instant ordering, eliminating the need for a waitress at all.
I have a friend in the port shipping industry who has nothing but praise for his iPad. He uses it for inventory and tracking orders. He says it has eliminated dozens of paper forms, improved accuracy, sped up the entire process, and increased the entire company’s productivity.
My son just entered the 6th grade. In case you didn’t know, schools have eliminated the use of lockers by students (DUMB!). To avoid lugging 6 giant textbooks around in his backpack all day, he has one set of books at the school, and one set they gave him for home. By the time he finishes High School, all of his textbooks (and most of his work) will be contained on a future incarnation of an iPad. The books will be interactive with video, web links and other supporting resources. It’s already happening at all levels of schools.
This is just the tip of the iCeberg.
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me. Sent from Andrew's iPhone
An Ipad can't refill your water, and what would you tip it - an app?
Idunno...a food server?
“The device has SO much potential, they just need to ‘open it up’ a bit.”
I’d be happy with the ability to use a pressure sensitive stylus for writing :-)! It is supposed to be a “pad” anyway.
I got an iPad through work and really like it. I just hate the fact that the only thing I can write with is a “fat” stylus with a tip that feels like a worn out magic marker. From what I understand Apple’s OS is designed to look for touches about the size of a fingertip (probably also a limitation of the hardware interpreting feedback from the capacitive touchscreen). If they could reduce that surface area requirement and make an accessory pen that feeds back pressure info via bluetooth, I’d be thrilled.
Of course, I am probably part of the 1% of users that really wants pen-like capabilities. I’d just love to have the ability to maintain an electronic notebook. Some apps on the iPad are fantastic for this, but I still wish there was a better means to write!
What the heck would an Ipad do with a food server?!
And maybe even a service request button on the table’s iPad to BRING more water. Could get it there faster than trying to catch Flo’s attention?
Kiss my grits!
I would buy the 3G one if I could use it as a phone. Shoot, i wonder if Skype would work?
Interesting to see it come back as "new and innovative!" after 10 years...
It can’t do flash and run a lot of software that can run on an apple or windows laptop. Java is flaky to say the least. Apple will have it’s crappy Ipad imposed on us by default without an open system that can be utilized by things like Flash etc.. If you thought you hated MicroSh*t you’re gonna really hate Apple..
What we need is the iVote...
Flash is the problem... it doesn't support touch screen devices well. It is too dependent on "mouse over" and "button click" inputs. Even if it were re-written to accept the touch screen interface, the tens of thousands of "mouse over and button click scripts out there already would not work correctly with touch screen interface devices as written. The IOs devices already support Java script... and will translate it into iOS commands, but you just can't write your apps in Java itself... but with over 275,000 apps already, do we need to add more in another language?
I am an IMAX all in one user. Love apple.
I hadn’t considered the interaction between the touch screen and Flash. I’ve heard of the term - “jail breaking” in order to ‘open it up’, but I wouldn’t want to turn the thing into a $700 paperweight. lol
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