iPad Already a Success

Even before its release, the iPad is already a success. And I can say that without knowing or really caring about how many units get sold over the weekend.

On the eve of the iPad's arrival, my inbox is full of announcements about iPad Apps. Some of the major Apps from big players like the New York Times, Electronic Arts and the Wall Street Journal were announced in January at the same time as the device but now I'm starting to hear about lots of applications from lots of players like Zillow which will let iPad users estimate property values and the Weather Channel which plans to launch its App on Saturday, come rain or shine.

I received an email today from Telltale Games announcing "The Penal Zone App" and I heard from SuperSync that they will have an app that lets people use an iPad to access data synced from any combination of PCs and Macs.

MotionX, which makes an iPhone GPS application for hiking, cycling and other outdoor activities, will release a "high definition" version for the iPad 3G when it's released later this month.

For me, the killer app will be Netflix. I love streaming Netflix movies to my PC, laptop and TV and can now stream them to an Ipad. Of course, you need Internet connectivity to stream a movie which could help sales of the 3G iPad when it comes out later this month.

One nice thing about most Apps is that they will be priced like iPhone Apps rather than like PC or Mac software programs. That means that iPad users will have access to a large library of affordable games and productivity products, typically for under $10 and sometimes for as little as $1 or even free. Just as it was with the iPhone, the Apps are the real game changer because going forward, it means people can purchase software as an impulse buy without having to worry about whether they can afford it.

The fact that Apps are all delivered online is nothing new, but it is probably the first device other than a smartphone where that's true for all apps from day one. It could be the final nail in the coffin of shrink wrapped software. Another interesting thing about iPad Apps is that they're small and nimble unlike megaprograms, like Microsoft Office, which come in boxes larger than some of the PCs they run on.

I admit that I was skeptical when the device was first announced, declaring myself "underwhelmed" by what I saw relative to all the hype. As far as the hardware is concerned, that's still the case -- the iPad is a big iPod Touch. But hardware is only one factor in the success of a product. When it comes to the ecosystem that supports the iPad, it's already a winner.

Update - Friday evening: Amazon has announced Kindle for iPad which means that Apple's iBook store will get some serious competition from Amazon. Also, on Friday Google announced a Gmail application.

 

Follow Larry Magid on Twitter: www.twitter.com/larrymagid

Comments

[SystemLink]

08:53 PM on 04/03/2010

I wouldn't say it is a success whatsoever. The hype is a success but that isn't the same thing as an iPad success

Prices will need to go down for the iPad AND its programs.....and more programs will need to be added to it as well for it to really catch on

[johndoug]

11:04 AM on 04/03/2010

And let me guess, this thing is supposed to be supported by the already creaky ATT wireless 3G network. Murkan wireless and bb networks are held together by chewing gum and bobby pins.

[Vitorio]

12:38 AM on 04/03/2010

are people so bored with themselves that they watch movies on little screens? I'm impressed what 40 billion in cash will do to sell inferior devices to the masses.

[Louis Leo IV]

12:25 AM on 04/03/2010

I'm still waiting for the iPooltable

[pammiethekid]

11:16 PM on 04/02/2010

This is what I have been waiting for; didn't need an iPod, or an iPhone, or even an iPod touch, though I came close. But this one seals it for me. It's big enough, it's smart enough, and doggone it, I like it!

[pammiethekid]

11:07 PM on 04/02/2010

I will probably get one. My husband and i sat out on our porch tonight watching the night sky for the first time in months. He with his iPod Touch and some app that showed the constellations, me drinking wine and thinking, yeah, I like that, I can almost see the little dipper there, but I want mine to have a bigger screen. And no, I don't want to bring a laptop outside. I use the laptop for writing, the iMac for photoshop and larger work. I just want a flat little device that works fast and easy and is lightweight, and has a bigger screen than a phone or a iPod touch.

[Info08]

10:56 PM on 04/02/2010

Let the Mac-heads and early adopters go first.

If it's worth anything I'll consider it after a year.

[bigbubba90210]

10:08 PM on 04/02/2010

Please tell me how saying "I can predict just how successful this device will be!" without even USING the device qualifies as journalism.

[pammiethekid]

11:23 PM on 04/02/2010

Has to do with this journalist's experience with other people; what they say to him about a product, and what, from empirical evidence, he devises this to mean. (I'm only explaining because you said "please.")

[Specter 2010]

09:31 PM on 04/02/2010

Que the Attack of the Geeks!

[Orcas Island]

08:54 PM on 04/02/2010

I will purchase an iPad but wait for the usual downstream improvements. With iWorks it will pretty much replace my laptops. I'll leave one laptop connected to the tv for internet streaming.

Very happy with my iPhone and iPods...I've been told that Apple hires social anthropologists to help with their user interface design. It shows in the usability. If other 'tech' firms spent as much time on their user interfaces life would be much simpler for us. Instead we are relegated to their boorish implimentations.

[smartorange]

08:38 AM on 04/03/2010

So you don't use programs like photoshop? You don't ever stream music while browsing the internet and chatting with friends? None of these things can you on the iPad. This is not a replacement for your computer, its a large PMP and a nice one, but its a lot of cash for something you can already do on a net book. Especially when you can do more with a net book.

[Orcas Island]

09:01 AM on 04/03/2010

Not so much...other cad cam-like programs for art design. 99% email and internet and Excel is about it. The music is streamed to my iPhone from Pandora and of course the iTunes freebies and purchases. the eReader aspect appeals to me but I hope it can handle scientific documents in .pdf format as well.

[Orcas Island]

09:04 AM on 04/03/2010

A multi-tasking OS would be better. The iPhone streams music in the background at least.

[Korean Teacher]

07:45 PM on 04/02/2010

American innovation as defined by Apple. Shiny, less powerful and totally overhyped so the stock price can go up. HaHaHaHa. More junk to sell so that consumers can borrow more money.

[charon]

05:58 PM on 04/02/2010

I want an iPad that has full-screen e-ink capability so that it is an ereader and touchpad websurfer in one. I know that this presents technical problems, to have both full-screen (interchangeable screens? screens on both sides of the device, with a cover that slides over the screen that one isn't using?) But that's what I want.

[klahanas]

05:29 PM on 04/02/2010

Whatever....

Before you buy one though, please, please, please, check where the moisture sensors are. If it's like the iphone/itouch, they are too exposed to the environment and give false positives. Suddenly a bad firmware update becomes not covered due to water damage. It happened to me.

Don't believe me? Check:

http://consumerist.com/2009/09/is-the-iphone-3g-liquid-sensor-a-filthy-liar.html

http://antwerp.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/apple-iphone-3g-dies-when-exposed-to-belgian-water-test/

http://techgeist.net/2009/09/apple-iphone-abuse-detection-sensors-abusing-2/
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=10583
http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=92761
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10214153-233.html

And last, but not least...
http://www.click2houston.com/video/19112376/index.html

Good luck!

[Jangocat]

05:23 PM on 04/02/2010

Only if your definition of success is media hype. In Apples market however success is measured in units sold. Lets see how many of these overpriced, underpowered, feature lacking units they sell. No USB, no camera, no changeable battery, tiny storage, 64 gigs wouldn't even hold all my MP3's. No flash or java WTF? No 4G, they will try to sell everyone the 3G one now and sucker them into buying a new 4G unit 8 months from now. It could be very cool if it was priced less then a netbook or had more features. But it's 2x as expensive as a netbook and has many less features in it's current form. This unit has fail written all over it.

[ConfuciusSay-]

08:37 AM on 04/03/2010

1 Gig stores 250,000 files of 4 meg size.
64 Gigs would probably be enough to hold all of human made recorded music.

[YankeeJTC]

01:01 PM on 04/03/2010

I have close to 100 gb of music, and believe me I do not have everything.

[bascombe]

10:32 PM on 04/03/2010

my friend has 2+ terabytes of music

[yankee222]

04:31 PM on 04/02/2010

Everybody hurry up, run out and buy a Com/munist Chinese Crapple.

Gee, wonder where the American jobs went? Wonder when they're coming back?

[valletta]

08:53 PM on 04/02/2010

I have a wonderful job working for this very company. And I know thousands of others who do as well.
I love going to work every day. How many people can say that?