Bruce Giovando

VNC Client

No matter how you look at it the iPad is really just a larger version of an iPod Touch. Despite lacking many features of netbooks half it’s price (multi-tasking being the most obvious) there is one killer app – an iPad optimized VNC client.

I’m hoping the 802.11n will entail a VNC experience so smooth you won’t be able to tell you’re not actually interacting with the hardware in front of you. The 1024×768 should be more than enough to play around in photoshop, illustrator and other programs that are likely to benefit from a handheld touch screen and in conjunction with the pogo sketch I think the iPad really has some potential for artists and designers. It won’t replace my Wacom but I still want one.

E-Reader
I think the majority of people dislike reading on a device with a backlit display. It’s extremely straining on your eyes, doesn’t work in sunlight and it’s glossy (glare). In other words – there’s a reason why the kindle uses e-ink and with advantages in transreflective lcd tech I don’t see the ibook app being killer until it adopts a something similar. The kindle is cheaper, lighter and focuses on doing one task really well which is arguably why the original ipod saw so much success. The iPads attempt at ereader functionality is half assed.