| The iPad is essentially an iPhone 'on steroids'. | | | | why they still produce printed version - many people |
| Weighing in at 1.5lb (0.68kg) it has a 9.7" multi-touch | | | | still prefer to view information in a book-style format. |
| screen, speaker, microphone, compass, | | | | This would also lend itself well to stock control, |
| accelerometer, (so it knows if it's being tilted and | | | | providing stores staff with a simple checklist interface |
| rotates the screen accordingly), Wi-Fi (the faster | | | | when performing stock checks. |
| 802.11n standard) and Bluetooth. It comes with three | | | | All versions of the iPad have the accelerometer and |
| storage capacities built in - 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, | | | | compass facilities, and the 3G version opens up |
| and is also available with 3G, allowing for internet | | | | further possibilities, as it includes assisted GPS. Many |
| access when outside of a Wi-Fi environment. It's | | | | of us already take the likes of Google maps on our |
| powered by Apple's own A4 processor which has | | | | mobiles for granted, but when GPS is embedded into |
| been specifically designed for the iPad/iPhone | | | | a device implemented at enterprise level this |
| operating system and offers 10 hours of runtime and | | | | stretches the boundaries further. Imagine an |
| a month standby. Most importantly, it's downwardly | | | | application that provides relevant information to a |
| compatible with almost all of the iPhone's 140,000+ | | | | user when they arrive at a specific location; perhaps |
| apps, which means that if you already have an | | | | a salesman visiting a prospect/customer, or branch |
| iPhone, as soon as you buy an iPad and plug it in all | | | | data when HQ staff visit. Devices that 'know where |
| of those apps will be available on there as well. | | | | they are' could also be used to direct the user to |
| Although it has an on-screen keyboard that may not | | | | items of interest/relevance around them, although |
| appeal to many, it's not far removed in size to a | | | | the sensitivity is not good enough for this to locate |
| laptop keyboard, and there is an external keyboard | | | | items on a shelf, for example, and GPS does not |
| accessory for use when desk-based. | | | | always work inside buildings. |
| Let's start by covering what the iPad can't do. It's | | | | Integrating the iPad to custom requirements |
| not a PC or a Mac and doesn't run Windows or Mac | | | | If you walk through the stages of production within |
| OS, or offer multi-tasking (although the rumour mill | | | | a manufacturing organisation and analyse the role of |
| suggests that the latter may be addressed in future | | | | software at any given part, most of these relate to |
| updates). On the iPhone the OS is locked down to | | | | the supply of information; either to or from the user. |
| the point that each third party application can only | | | | Whether it be in the store room, by a machine tool, |
| store information in their own 'sealed' area, unlike a | | | | booking goods out or back in from subcontractors, |
| PC where 'My Documents' can contain every file type | | | | despatch and through to accounts. This information |
| and be accessed by all applications. It's likely that the | | | | will either be fed into an enterprise system (MRP, |
| iPad will continue this tradition, with Apple already | | | | ERP) or to a more localised system (stock control |
| confirming that it will rely on iTunes for syncing with | | | | database, machine tool control software, order |
| a PC. Also, due to a long running spat between Apple | | | | management etc), and this is where the work needs |
| and Adobe, the iPhone/iPad does not support Flash, | | | | to be done if the iPad is to be of any real use. Many |
| which rules out access to any websites that rely on | | | | software companies are using Apple's software |
| it. Apple has been criticised and applauded in equal | | | | development kit (SDK) to develop apps to interface |
| measure for ring-fencing access to their hardware | | | | with their products. Although these apps are often |
| and software. While it considerably restricts third | | | | lightweight versions of their PC cousins and optimised |
| party development flexibility, it does provide an | | | | for the iPhone it is likely that these will be reworked |
| extremely stable user experience which, unlike a | | | | to take advantage of the iPad's display. We can |
| Windows machine, does not degrade over time as | | | | expect apps covering all mainstream software |
| more software is installed. | | | | applications, however more niche products are |
| During Apple's launch it was clear that Apple's own | | | | unlikely to have iPhone/iPad sibling products, as the |
| 1GHz silicon was delivering quite a punch. Applications | | | | take up rate would not warrant the development |
| launched instantly and graphically intensive tasks ran | | | | costs. |
| smoothly. Couple a fast processor with a large | | | | What if you cannot develop or obtain an app to |
| rotatable touch screen and you have a product that | | | | connect to an existing software system? There is a |
| lowers the technical knowledge usage barrier and can | | | | third option; we have already ascertained that the |
| provide an intuitive user interface which 75m iPhone | | | | iPad is a competent web client (if Flash isn't required). |
| users already know how to use. For example, | | | | Invariably the system you want to connect to will |
| recently I reverted back to my previous smartphone | | | | have a database, which in turn will have ways of |
| - using the menu system was like wading through | | | | getting data in and out (generally using common |
| treacle and it was missing many of the additional | | | | connectors such as ODBC), so a relatively simple |
| apps that I'd come to rely on. The biggest difference | | | | solution would be to build an intranet that |
| was speed of information retrieval. For frequently | | | | communicates with the application. Windows Server |
| performed tasks such as retrieving a contact, | | | | comes with IIS (Internet Information Services), and |
| checking email or a quick web search there is no | | | | any of the web centric languages (PHP, Cold |
| comparison. Tasks that I achieve with the iPhone | | | | Fusion,.NET/ASP etc) will be able to connect to a |
| within 15-20 seconds I would not have seen change | | | | database easily. The iPad (or any other device) could |
| out of a minute, if not more on the other phone, and | | | | then interact with the software using a web browser. |
| this is likely to improve on the iPad. | | | | Although this still requires a considerable level of |
| What tasks could the iPad perform? | | | | technical skill, it's likely to be a far easier and more |
| The key here is to identify what it does as well, or | | | | cost-effective skill set to source than developing an |
| indeed better than existing technologies. In their | | | | iPad-specific app and will result in a more flexible |
| launch event Apple demonstrated iPad versions of | | | | solution that other devices can take advantage of. It |
| iWork, their office suite (covering word processing, | | | | would also be easier to manage from a security |
| spreadsheets and presentations), with each | | | | aspect, as the network administrators take care of |
| application being available for just shy of ten dollars. | | | | user access control to any given data resource on |
| While you probably won't get all of the extra | | | | the local network. |
| templates, clipart and additional bloat that comes with | | | | If Apple is serious about the business angle of the |
| traditional Office suites you could argue that most | | | | iPad they will need to provide companies with more |
| people don't use many more features than font sizing | | | | information on controlling user access, tracking usage |
| or basic formulae. The iPad ships with the same basic | | | | and locking down features on it (which, to be fair |
| PIM apps as the iPhone e.g. Calendar, Contacts, Email | | | | they have done with the iPhone), otherwise no doubt |
| (including MS Exchange support) and Notes, all of | | | | the wide range of available games will find their way |
| which will sync with a PC or Mac through iTunes. The | | | | onto it and eat into productivity. Another major |
| iPhone configuration utility allows enterprise | | | | concern is that they will be a target for theft. It's |
| deployment, providing easy configuration for individual | | | | likely that you will be able to password protect it and, |
| business settings such as email and VPN access. So | | | | as with the MobileMe service on the iPhone, locate it |
| for the majority of users it will tick the basic office | | | | if stolen (3G only) or remotely wipe it, but that's little |
| requirements. | | | | consolation. |
| As a presentation tool the iPad excels. It can be | | | | In recent years Apple products have become |
| connected to an external display, but would equally | | | | über chic and this is something many businesses |
| be suited for one-to-one presentations, ideal for sales | | | | will want to harness. It's more likely that iPads will find |
| staff or board meetings. Data retrieval is also a | | | | homes in the boardroom than on the shop floor, due |
| strong suit; it provides quick access to document, | | | | to environmental factors alone, but for facilities that |
| image, audio or video libraries, doing away with the | | | | already keep their production areas spotless this |
| need for storing large amounts of paper. Expect to | | | | could be seen as the device that makes them look |
| see estate agents with iPads under their arms from | | | | just that little bit more cutting edge than their |
| April onwards! It would be equally at home in a | | | | competitors. |
| manufacturing design office, providing a quick method | | | | Summary |
| of viewing product images or technical information. | | | | The debate is raging fiercely in the blogosphere as to |
| The iPad supports the popular ePub electronic | | | | whether the iPad is a 'game changer' or not, but in |
| document format. Publishers will quickly move books, | | | | my opinion it is. Apple said that they would not |
| magazines and newspapers over to the format, so | | | | release anything equivalent to a tablet or a netbook |
| people will soon become accustomed to reading on | | | | until they could deliver something that did everything |
| the device as opposed to traditional paper-based | | | | well. Given what is already known about the iPhone |
| media. This will provide companies with an easy way | | | | and what we currently know about the iPad, |
| of creating large catalogues in a format that users | | | | reasonable assumptions can be made about the iPad's |
| can digest in a traditional manner. Companies that | | | | suitability for a given task. There will be of course |
| produce catalogues (such as electronic components | | | | many tasks that will always be faster or indeed only |
| or manufacturing consumables) will no doubt warm to | | | | possible on a desktop/laptop than the iPad, but as a |
| this as printed versions are very expensive to | | | | high speed, highly portable (and highly desirable) |
| produce, and although they will already have full | | | | 'media consumption device' the Apple iPad will set the |
| e-commerce on their websites, there is a reason | | | | benchmark by which all others will be measured. |