I've had the iPad 2 for several weeks: What it needs...

[Eug]

1) Apps are great. But apps are the suckage as well. It bloody irritating to go to a website only to be told that you need an app to get full functionality like proper video playback. I suspect pages will continue to evolve such that they recognize the iPad specifically and reconfigure themselves to be iPad specific, thereby making standalone apps completely redundant. I really don't want to download a new app for every multimedia webpage out there. That gets old really fast.

For example, I cannot use Yahoo Mail's new full browser interface on the iPad because there are incompatibilities. If I downgrade to their classic interface it works fine... if you don't mind the 2005 look. However, they have a new mobile version which for a change isn't built for smartphones. It appears to be specifically built for the iPad and other similarly sized tablets and is nice... which brings me to the next point...

2) The iPad 2 needs proper multi-user capability for individual apps like Mail. I have set up the iPad 2 to access my GF's email only. It really needs a user account to allow her email to be password protected and separate from my email, through the iPad 2 email interface... which brings me to the next point...

3) The whole iPad 2 menu needs proper multi-user capability. I want different home pages for her and me. For games like Angry Birds, the game is just the game with no options for user settings and separately saved games.

4) Speed. Surfing is generally fast because there is no Flash (good riddance). However, add a couple of animated GIFs or something in the page and it slows to a crawl. Fortunately ARM CPUs are getting fast quickly, probably partially because of market demand, and because Atom is starting to nip at its heels in terms of power usage.

5) Memory. 256 MB on the iPad was irritating. 512 MB on the iPad 2 is OK, but not ideal. l think the sweet spot for price vs. performance will be 1 GB for surfing.

6) Retina screen. I didn't think I'd care about the screen rez, but I find I'm looking at the thing closer than I would most laptops. I find the 1024x768 resolution lacking, even at 132 dpi. It'd be really nice to have it at a much denser resolution, which I suppose for simplicity's sake would mean 2048x1536.

7) Some sort of useful printer interface. I don't like the current AirPrint, but then again I'm probably biased because I don't own an HP printer. I do own a printer capable of WiFi, but I'd like to see iPad being able to use Mac OS X or Windows 7 shared printers. Would it be possible for a 3rd party to write a printer driver to allow AirPrint compatibility on a Mac OS or Win shared printer?

8) Other...

 

[Kev]

I definitely think it needs a multi-user function so a family could share one. Apple would never do that though, because they are greedy and would rather force each family member to own their own.

 

[Eug]

I definitely think it needs a multi-user function so a family could share one. Apple would never do that though, because they are greedy and would rather force each family member to own their own.

Actually, I would expect to see a multi-user interface by iOS 6.

It's a natural evolution. Apple does have a habit of holding back, not just to make it easier to implement a current OS well, but also to have a reason for existing customers to upgrade. When iOS 6 comes out, it's possible Apple won't support all features of it on the iPad 2.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, whichever the case, at present, the one thing the iPad 2 needs is more stock in my opinions. It's maddening to go to the local Apple Store and see a line forming outside... for tomorrow's morning shipment.

 

[Eug]

I got mine through Apple Store reservations. I think this just may be a non-US thing though. I'm in Canada and every day at 9 pm they'd post what models they had available at your local Apple Store, and then by about 9:03 it'd be out of stock again.

Apple Canada Retail Store - iPad 2 reservations

 

[James Bond]

Actually, I would expect to see a multi-user interface by iOS 6.

It's a natural evolution. Apple does have a habit of holding back, not just to make it easier to implement a current OS well, but also to have a reason for existing customers to upgrade. When iOS 6 comes out, it's possible Apple won't support all features of it on the iPad 2.

I was about to post the same thing.

Definitely an evolutionary step that will be taken soon. Within a major release or two.

 

[Dacalo]

They also need to fix the AppStore and make it similar to the iPhone. There are no genres under games, just what's hot and release date, WTF?

Better rear camera is given. Retina display I think is still a few generations away. The power required to process that kind of resolution (eats up battery life), as well as producing LCD at a reasonable price to keep the lowest priced iPad at $499 will be almost impossible currently.

 

[James Bond]

They also need to fix the AppStore and make it similar to the iPhone. There are no genres under games, just what's hot and release date, WTF?

Better rear camera is given. Retina display I think is still a few generations away. The power required to process that kind of resolution (eats up battery life), as well as producing LCD at a reasonable price to keep the lowest priced iPad at $499 will be almost impossible currently.

I'm almost positive you can sort games by categories?

 

[ManBearPig]

6) Retina screen. I didn't think I'd care about the screen rez, but I find I'm looking at the thing closer than I would most laptops. I find the 1024x768 resolution lacking, even at 132 dpi. It'd be really nice to have it at a much denser resolution, which I suppose for simplicity's sake would mean 2048x1536.

Anyone know if this is actually likely? Seems like a pretty gigantic leap and something thatd be really costly.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Anyone know if this is actually likely? Seems like a pretty gigantic leap and something thatd be really costly.

If it's feasible then yeah it'll get done. But basically what you're looking at is a mobile GPU that can run something at that high of a resolution WELL and also at the same time provide great battery life in a package that keeps the $500 price point.

 

[Eug]

I don't expect the retina screen any time soon in the iPad... but then again, I didn't expect the retina screen in the iPhone 4 either.

It's true the iPhone 4 needs the retina screen way more than the iPad though.

I would not be surprised to see the retina screen in the iPad by 2013. In the meantime, they need to implement multi-user already, and add more memory.

 

[ManBearPig]

It's true the iPhone 4 needs the retina screen way more than the iPad though.

I have to agree with that. A lot of people think its the other way around, but its much more helpful to have a super crisp screen on a smaller device. Not to mention much cheaper to make since its so much smaller.

 

[Ns1]

I'm almost positive you can sort games by categories?

definitely

 

[PCTC2]

7) Some sort of useful printer interface. I don't like the current AirPrint, but then again I'm probably biased because I don't own an HP printer. I do own a printer capable of WiFi, but I'd like to see iPad being able to use Mac OS X or Windows 7 shared printers. Would it be possible for a 3rd party to write a printer driver to allow AirPrint compatibility on a Mac OS or Win shared printer?

It's called the Airprint Activator. It works on Mac OS X 10.6.5+

Link: http://netputing.com/airprintactivator/

 

[Eug]

It's called the Airprint Activator. It works on Mac OS X 10.6.5+

Link: http://netputing.com/airprintactivator/

Awesome, thx. You just made my day.

It doesn't work with my networked multifunction fax/scanner/copier/printer, but it works great with my laser printer attached via USB to my iMac.

Thanks again.

 

[dawks]

I definitely think it needs a multi-user function so a family could share one. Apple would never do that though, because they are greedy and would rather force each family member to own their own.

Yea, I'd have to agree like this. I think the idea is (in Apples view), its a personal device, and each user who wants one, should have their own. I'm sure their investors agree. I have a feeling thats why there is no multi-user setup. I guess it might happen down the road, but I doubt its a priority. Especially if they keep pushing these out the door like candy. Maybe when sales drop the might get more motivated.

 

[Aikouka]

7) Some sort of useful printer interface. I don't like the current AirPrint, but then again I'm probably biased because I don't own an HP printer. I do own a printer capable of WiFi, but I'd like to see iPad being able to use Mac OS X or Windows 7 shared printers. Would it be possible for a 3rd party to write a printer driver to allow AirPrint compatibility on a Mac OS or Win shared printer?

I have a HP printer with AirPrint (OfficeJet 6500A), and it actually works pretty well. I do agree that the printer selection very paltry right now, which is kind of ridiculous. The printer in question also has e-mail printing available, which could work too if you have a printer with a feature like that, but not AirPrint.

 

[Dacalo]

I'm almost positive you can sort games by categories?

Let me know if you find out.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I'm almost positive you can sort games by categories?

Not directly on the iPad's App Store or not that I can find any way to do so. Featured/Release Dates are the only options for sorting right now.

It used to be that there was an option to sort by Rating/Genre/Name/Price, too, but it seems Apple recently pulled that, again.

 

[badb0y]

iOS 5 is apparently going to be "big"

 

[Eug]

I have a HP printer with AirPrint (OfficeJet 6500A), and it actually works pretty well. I do agree that the printer selection very paltry right now, which is kind of ridiculous. The printer in question also has e-mail printing available, which could work too if you have a printer with a feature like that, but not AirPrint.

PCTC2 linked AirPrint Activator which allows AirPrint to work with any printer attached to a networked Mac. No iPad "drivers" needed.

It works exactly how I envisioned it to be. No need for the printer to be specifically AirPrint compatible.

I'm using it with a Samsung laser printer. It sees my Canon photo inkjet printer too, but I haven't tried it yet with that.

It doesn't work with my networked Epson multifunction printer though. (The Samsung and the Canon are attached to my iMac through USB.)

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

PCTC2 linked AirPrint Activator which allows AirPrint to work with any printer attached to a networked Mac. No iPad "drivers" needed.

It works exactly how I envisioned it to be. No need for the printer to be specifically AirPrint compatible.

I'm using it with a Samsung laser printer. It sees my Canon photo inkjet printer too, but I haven't tried it yet with that.

It doesn't work with my networked Epson multifunction printer though. (The Samsung and the Canon are attached to my iMac through USB.)

It just sucks because you still need your computer on and connected over USB.

 

[Eug]

It just sucks because you still need your computer on and connected over USB.

True, but in my case I have my computer on (since iMac is my file server), and it's got a USB-connected printer so it works for me.

What I wonder is why only HP supports AirPrint. Does HP own some of the tech? If so, that means other companies wanting in on this would need to pay HP licencing for it. Of does Apple alone own the tech. If so, then the other printer companies may still need to pay Apple licencing for it.

 

[Emulex]

hp eprint uses a friggen email address. if you can't figure out how to send an email with your pdf/pic/etc then i don't know what to say. doesn't get any simpler.

 

[Aikouka]

It doesn't work with my networked Epson multifunction printer though. (The Samsung and the Canon are attached to my iMac through USB.)

Ahh that would be a problem for me... my printer is networked and I really like it that way :\.