February 2010 Archives

Will the iPad work as a standalone computer, the only one that someone owns? Much of the geek led interest in the iPad stems from its simplification of the computing experience. A device for "the rest of us" that focuses on getting things done with the computer, not doing computing. I agree with this viewpoint, but it does raise a troubling issue. How does someone back up an iPad? The easy option is to backup to a local Mac or PC, but if this is meant to simplify computing, then why do you need another computer to act as sync and backup.

I've read that there is a small segment of iPhone owners who bought it for the internet everywhere computing device I mentioned in a previous post. For some people the iPhone was their only computer, it mostly works in that mode too, as long as your needs are not great.

Backup is the aspect that is not covered. The announcement video and details on Apple's website give some information, but I suspect there is more to come. One suggestion which comes to mind involves additional hardware from Apple. They already have the Time Capsule device for automatic backup of a Mac and it works as a wireless hub too. I can see a wireless access point with a 1-200GB drive inside, plus a dock connector as a single device from Apple. It would provide backup when docked, wireless access when not and a place to charge the iPad overnight.

We are not yet at the point where internet backup restore is that feasible, most people still have 512k ADSL at home, rather than ADSL2+ rates of up to 24meg. Also the customers for this machine are not likely to be the purchasers of high end internet access. A simple backup device like this sticks with the simplicity approach which the iPad offers, plus it gives Apple another profit rich accessory for them to sell.

The Time Capsule already has a USB port, I'd expect a cheaper version of with iPad support using this USB port to be released. Potentially the dock version I mention above and software support for the current models as a USB led iPad backup. 1TB is a bit excessive for a 16-64GB device and $299 is two thirds of the cost of the iPad. Apple may decide to push for more MobileMe subs though and an internet based backup system. Restoring 64GB over basic ADSL is going to take a while... So a smaller and cheaper Time Capsule would be a better match.

The blog to accompany my book, Building Social Web Applications is taking shape. Moving house, Christmas and ill children conspired against it being a regular blog until now. Go and have a look. Articles on geo datasets, plus Google Buzz so far and plenty more planned.

I've been meaning to write up something on the iPad since it was announced. Not really about the technology, nor really about it being the computer for the rest of us. Those are interesting, but they've been well covered elsewhere, Fraser Spiers and John Gruber in particular cover it well.

What struck me was instead something about the iPhone. The most significant enabling aspect of the iPhone launch was the unlimited cellular and then later 3G access. It was this ubiquitous access to the internet which drove the continuing demand for the device. This allowed you to check your email, the web, twitter everywhere, plus allowed every app to assume the internet would be there. Imagine an iPhone where you counted every byte you used, I had plenty of phones like that from Nokia on Orange, grim and rarely used.

I believe that this is what Apple are trying with the iPad. I read a lot of science fiction and no where in the plot does someone worry about paying for access to the communal network. It is a given. Just like Apple simplified (forced) the pricing model for 3G phone access I think this is what they are driving at here. No contract, two levels a month for access, compared to 24 month fixed contracts which are the norm from telcos.

Always on, everywhere, unmetered access will change how computers are used, just the same way as the iPhone changed how phones are used, maybe not to the same degree, but it is a shift towards the computer as part of live for everyone, not just geeks with dongles.