Apple iPad – The Future Looks Brighter Than the Present

I’ve been keeping close tabs on the reviews and reports coming out on the Apple iPad.  In my previous post, “Why the Apple iPad is a Major Let-Down” I write about all of the reasons I was let down by the feature set on this first generation product.  Since then, I’ve come to realize, this product isn’t for me.  When Apple designed it, techno guys like me were not the ones they had in mind.  It’s a little upsetting when your favorite company comes out with the next big thing and it’s not meant for you.  As it turns out the iPad device was meant for consuming content and media, not creating it.

My biggest complaint about the iPad as it was introduced is a lack of input methods.   In it’s current form, you’re limited to the on-screen keyboard or an external keyboard.  That’s not very useful for people who will hold the device in one hand while inputing with the other.  Apple knows that in order for them to advance the iPad as a platform, they’ll have to be flexible.  In true Apple style, they’re not going to show all their cards.  Why would they?  In it’s current form, the iPad appeals to millions of consumers.  Get the product out the door, let those consumers buy apps, then continue to fine tune the product to appeal to even more consumers.  They’re building a platform after all, and there’s no reason they need to be everything to everyone from day 1.

I feel that adding a stylus as an input device would add dimension to the iPad.  It would accommodate those users who are holding the device in one hand and operating it with the other.  As it turns out, Apple may be way ahead of me on this one.  There are signs that point to Apple adding handwriting recognition to future iPad products.

1. Ryan Block reports on Engadget that Apple posted a job listing back in 2008 for a “Handwriting Recognition Engineer” to help advance that technology.   That same job listing gets very specific in saying “The recognition technology you create may extend beyond Mac OS X to other applications and the iPhone.”
2. Apple Computer filed a patent (US 7,564,995 B1) for “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACQUIRING AND ORGANIZING INK INFORMATION IN PEN-AWARE COMPUTER SYSTEMS” in July 2009.  That date is in-line with when Apple would have been in the midst of development of the iPad.
3. Engadget reports that iPhone jailbreak developer Ryan Petrich found prototype support for a “handwriting keyboard” in the APIs of the iPad.  One could surmise the handwriting recognition is already in the works deep within the bowels of 1 Infinite Loop.

If you recall, the original iPhone was quite a mystery.  Even after it’s launch, no one knew that inside was a 3-D chip, capable of some serious gaming.  Why didn’t Apple tell everyone at that first keynote?  Why wasn’t it on the list of tech specs?  It’s because Apple employs arguably the best marketing strategists in the world.  These guys know how to get you there and keep you coming back.

While I’m still convinced that the iPad is just a really nice e-book reader right now, more attractive is it’s future.  I’m not attracted to what it is, but rather what it will become.