I spent some time today exchanging Tweets and Email with friends about Apple’s new iPad and I think we’re on the same page. While I think it would be fun to have, much of the function is found in my iPod touch in a far more portable format.

The iPad does not replace my MBP laptop, or even my netbook (Toshiba N205). It’s tasks are very different. It is interesting to note I can use Adobe Flash apps and video on my laptops and netbook, but not the iPod or iPad. During the product introduction it was obvious Flash didn’t work for the video on the front page of the New York Times site. Yet the image of the Times front page on the Apple website shows content were the Flash video would appear. (update)

The name is dreadful. It was bad when Fujitsu used it in 2002. The Hamming distance between iPod and iPad was simply too powerful for marketing. It also plays on the idea that accessories for the iPod should work on the new device. This remains to be seen. (I preferred something more organic, iSlate, perhaps. Though this suffers from the same ‘i-ing’ of nouns.)

Increasingly, and my deepest concern, I feel left out of the loop on this class of devices. (iPod touch, Kindle, Nook, SonyReader, iPad, etc.) I don’t like being relegated to the role of consumer when I want to be a creator. It is almost as if I’m a ‘revenue stream’ first. Kris’ comment ‘designed for consuming, not creating’ hit home with me. That said, if you are looking to consume media, I don’t know why you would buy a Nook or Kindle, if you had a chance to see the iPad.

A killer app for the iPad could be home automation systems, using the ‘pad to control lights, heat & HVAC, A/V, and security (cameras?). Though the lack of multi-tasking limits monitoring capabilities. Touch panel or voice controled lights and heat, family logistics, ‘iPad, set the heat to 68′,’iPad, did we get any mail today?’, ‘iPad, do we need milk?’, ‘iPad, where are all my children?’.

I’m sure the iPad is beautiful and I intend to test is when it becomes available. It is compelling as a multi-touch development platform. Currently I don’t need a bigger iPod, but I might consider replacing my iPod touch with an iPad when the time comes.

I hope this doesn’t herald the end of ownership or the general purpose computer. A future in which I own nothing, but merely rent access. Where is the Terminal.app, rsync, Perl, Ruby? There is nothing raw or vulnerable about this device. My view of the world is limited to what I’m allowed to buy, not what I’m enabled to create. The iPad is a consumer, not a creator device. The expansion of slick, safe, closed systems prevent users from writing their own utilities or solving their own problems. Not all solutions can be downloaded from an app store. Ultimately, the iPad may be too safe for me.

Don’t protect me from myself. Provide the platform and get out of the way.

(See also: apple.com: iPad)
(See also: engadget: Fujitsu and Apple dispute iPad name)

(See also: engadget.com: Apple excises the false flash)

(See also: O’Reilly Radar: The iPad is the iPrius: Your Computer Consumerized)
(See also: New York Times: Will the iPad cause the end of Innovation)

The Star Wars of our time? (Spoiler alert.)

(See also: scifiwire.com: Making of Avatar)

Dan Pink’s book outlines the ‘six essential aptitudes on which professional success and personal fulfillment now depend’. The era of left-brain dominance (L-directed thinking) will give way to those who are more right-brain oriented (R-directed). Individuals who develop their sense of inventiveness, empathy, and meaning will step into prominence.

Many technical careers in IT and academia are less creative than you might imagine. I have seen how the sausage is made and have turned the crank myself from time to time. I simply cannot live that way. I crave more than a creative outlet. My life must be creative.

In this book, Mr. Pink asks three critical questions:

1. Can a computer do it faster?


2. Is there a demand for my product in a time of abundance?


3. Can someone overseas do it cheaper?

In a world where information is almost free and access is immediate, the recitation of facts and figures in less important. Creativity will be in demand. Mr. Pink outlines six R-directed aptitudes:

1. Design: Moving beyond function to engage the sense.


2. Story: Narrative added to products and services, not just argument.


3. Symphony: Invention and big picture thinking.


4. Empathy: Beyond logic, engaging emotion and intuition.


5. Play: Bringing humor to business, products, and services.


6. Meaning: The purpose is the journey.

I must say, this is somewhat of a relief to hear.

(See also: danpink.com: A Whole New Mind)
(See also: danpink.com: Discussion Guide for Business)
(See also: danpink.com: Discussion Guide for Educators)

(See also: wikipedia.org: A Whole New Mind)

We are heavy Google Calendar users in our family and it has always bothered me that there was no visual cue between weekdays and weekends on ‘Week’ or ’7 Days’ view options. If this bothers you as well, simply edit the userContent.css file for your respective browser and add the following:

/* bluegrey weekends on gCal. */
td.tg-weekend {
    background-color:#F0F8FF;
}

The result is a pleasant distinction as the 7 day window moves forward.

The file userContent.css sets the display rules for web content and is located in the sub-folder called chrome in your profile folder. This folder does not exist by default, so you may need to create it before you can start adding your preferences. On my Macintosh, the chrome folder may be found:

% pwd
/Users/kunau/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/j2am41kw.default/chrome
 
% ls -al
total 24
drwxr-xr-x@  5 kunau  kunau   170 Nov  5 18:44 .
drwx------@ 70 kunau  kunau  2380 Jan 11 11:00 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 kunau  kunau  1039 Nov  5 18:44 userContent.css

It is a little thing, but it makes all the difference.

(See also: Mozilla.org: Customizing Mozilla)