alamin ahmed: a typical geek 2.0

Ok, where should I began with this one. This device has been one of the most anticipated gadget since the first iPhone on 2007. For me it was even more than that. This is simply because I have hold other things from buying such as netbook, Kindle, Arochos Internet tablet, hoping that this one single device would solve all the problems at once. It some what attempted to do just that, but didn't quite get there, at least in my case.

Being Apple products user for long long time, and being familiar with Apple's design, elegance and usability, I was not disappointed with iPad, rather it seems like that Apple has pushed the standard even more higher with this one. Simply gorgeous display, durable aluminum, and speeding operating system makes using iPad a pleasure and joy. Simply put, whatever wow factors and good things you have heard about this device, are either true or will exceed your expectation. So i will not bore you with all the cool features which probably know about, rather i will focus on some of the major cons about iPad which are making all the wow factors hard to stay in effect.

Here are some of the most problematic issues with iPad:

1. If there is one thing that I worry about Apple's success with iPad, is the weight. This device is really heavy for the purpose it is intended. After you use it about 20 minutes, your hands really start to feel pain. I am talking about two hands operation, and you can forget about using it with one hand for more than 5 minutes. This ruins the whole browsing, reading and watching movie experience, and makes Apple's challenge with Kindle and laptops a questioning one. If you want to use this device for longer time, you would need to put it in your thigh or on a coffee table or pay extra for keyboard stand, all of which kills the whole purpose of a tablet/slate form factor.
2. iPad has very limited use case in daily life. First of all, iPad isn't a laptop replacement. So considering you have a laptop, iPhone (or any smart phone), you will seldom find more then 30 minutes of iPad use. I am worried that after first month with iPad, most users will realize they are spending less and less time with it and start to question about their investment.
3. Honestly, I don't care what Apple or others say about being "productive" or doing "business" stuffs, iPad simply isn't a content creation device. I spent $20 buying Apple's word precessing app (Pages) and spreadsheet app (Numbers). However creating documents - typing specially - is not pleasant at all. It is okay for simple and quick touches of your existing documents, but you simply can not do any serious work. Keyboard isn't bad, but really not comfortable for lots of typing. If you have to go back to docking keyboard... why would you use iPad?
4. iPad apps are extremely expensive. I honestly don't know why. I am an iPhone developer, but still don't understand why all the developers are making users pay twice for application when they already bought the iPhone version and charging substantially more, sometimes 5x more.
5. Yes, sorry to say but lack of flash is still bit of a problem, at least for now. Some of the website such as Hulu and even Youtube's TV shows won't work with iPad. I am not against NOT having flash because I do believe that flash is a dying technology, however as of current reality, flash still is a big factor for the web.

There, I have listed most major problem with iPad. I ignored other issues such as lack of multi-tasking, camera, USB, printing and all other issues because I think those aren't major deal breaker and Apple could potentially fix these issues with upcoming update to their Operating System.

So the word on the street is, if you are an iPhone developer then you are probably making millions.
Let put things in clear prospective for current struggling developers who have realized the reality in hard way, and also to my fellow prospective developers so that they know the ship in which they are aboarding.

My primary purpose of this short article is to spread the reality that the press does not seems to talk about while Apple takes the vowel of silence.  Lots of developers probably feel shy to admit these figures, so hope this gives better prospective for everyone.

Who are making money on iPhone

Yes there people making money at the rate of $150,000 - $300,000 per month.  Ya, i know, that hurts in many different ways.  However, there are developers making only $50 - $150 per month as well.  Yes, this also hurts in so many different ways.  So let's break it down who is making what.

We can divide developers into three categories based on iPhone 'Top Paid' ranking system.

When Steve Jobs said that their iPhone is years ahead of competition, I never thought that this would turn out to be a genuine statement. It so sad to see how Palm had to hired tons of Apple engineers, spend so much money and years only to come 'close' and to 'resemble' a device that Apple created back in 2007.  Why can't other big competitors coup up with Apple, even when everything is laid out to them, I will never understand.  I hate Apple and rest of the world for this.  I bought Palm PRE.  $325 and $70/m.  How do I get out of this!

So far Microsoft didn't get Apple.  It simply tried to copy some of the key features that makes Apple unique.  But implemented in "Microsoft way", that is unattractive, and boring.

Finally it seems like Microsoft's engineers got what Apple is about.  They got the trick.  Windows 7 completely reflects that.  I simply can't point my finger on it, but there is something about Windows 7 that makes it feel right, elegant and beautiful.  Something that only Apple was able to do.  This is not simply copying Apple, but also understanding what makes Apple different and appealing to users.



Microsoft engineers has done excellent job focusing on task bar.  Yes, task bar reflects Apple's dock and "steals" lots of great ideas. However Microsoft's little twists some how makes it bit better.  Microsoft paid attention to even smaller details such as showing downloading progress bar, thumbnail image of running application when hovering... things that traditionally only Apple would do, and does.

What really made me believe that Microsoft is unto something is when I saw the library of built-in background images provided with Windows 7.  In one word - astonishing

If you still haven't tried yet, go ahead download (http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/Windows-7/download.aspx ) and install Windows 7 RC.  It is available for download until July.  And rumor has it, it will be released in late this year.