So, we got a pair of iPads 24 hours ago and we’ve been using them a great deal in that time. Here’s what we’ve learned so far:
How it ‘feels’; from the minute you start messing about with it, it just feels exactly right, right size, weight, balance, screen, its intuitiveness. For me, it’s the (current) pinnacle of this particular design ‘path’ that Apple have been developing lately.
What it does; primarily for us it has allowed us to get more out of the internet, and by more I mean time to read, explore links, save for later reading to great Apps like Instapaper. As designers we’re immersed in a world of more information than any one individual could digest – this device is the (current) best hope you’ll have of making sense of it all. It does this through 2 key features, firstly the screen is absolutely stunning and with a bit of fiddling with the brightness, quite easy on the eyes. Secondly, but most importantly it’s how you hold it, you’re more laid back, reclining as if you’re reading a book. You commit to spend more time with the device and all of a sudden the whole experience is not all ‘worky’ like it is with a laptop.
In the studio we’re also finding new uses for it, with the help of the ‘Air Display’ app your iPad can act as a second (wireless) screen to your mac.
We can also see a new format for presentations, meaning we can (finally) do away with the noxious evil of Spray Mount and print outs and present digitally, yeah you say; like on a laptop?!. The difference is the touch screen, it can be passed around a room, projected large scale, you can draw live over visuals and generally be more reactive.
For a sneaky peek at the ‘future of print’ Wired Magazine can now be downloaded from the app store, should give designers a lot to think about.
So, to summarise; this is a ‘game-changing’ device which is still in its infancy, but its uses more than justify the price tag, if you can – buy one, get involved and see what you make of it. Oh, and make sure you buy a copy of Angry Birds HD!
