In case you’ve been in a cave for the past few weeks, the biggest unkept secret of the year was the unveiling of Apple’s new iPad device last week. (In case you missed it, just go to http://apple.com and check out Steve Jobs’ keynote presentation.)
The Cliff Notes version of the announcement is this: the iPad is about 1/2″ taller and wider than a 6″ x 9″ book, 1/2″ thick, and it weighs in at a mere 1.5 lbs. It’s basically a larger version of the iPod Touch, with a VERY SHARP hi-res screen (1024×768 pixels at twice the pixel density of regular LCD monitors).
It will eventually ship in two basic versions: WiFi only or WiFi + 3G phone service.
I’m absolutely fascinated with this device. It has been getting tons of press, and pundits have had all kinds of cool and even silly things to say about it. Here’s my take on it…
But one thing is abundantly clear: this device is opening up a BRAND NEW MARKET!
It’s a new FORM FACTOR — the size is unique. It’s basically a little bigger than a common paperback book size, and not as thick.
It’s totally untethered — no power cord, no antenna, no connections of any kind, yet it’s fully WiFi/3G enabled and can run for 10 hours on one battery charge.
There’s no “top” — you can rotate it so any side is “up” and the page is displayed properly.
The only thing that seems to be missing in my mind is a stylus.
Now, while people will be extolling it’s cool gaming capabilities, fast graphics, and other interesting aspects, here’s what I believe is the most important thing about this device:
Right out of the box, it can run anything that you’d find on a typical web site, except Flash. AND … it can also be programmed to run custom software applications as well.
The thing to note about this that’s so significant is this: up until now, virtually every device on the market of roughly similar size and complexity is designed to run ONLY custom software. AND most of them are designed to be tethered to something.
IMAGINE … seeing these devices replacing POS terminals (no more cash registers!), doctor’s prescription pads, what waitresses use to take your food and drink orders, …
There are a GAZILLION business applications these devices can fulfill. And NEW ones that haven’t even been attempted yet because the cost of custom software is prohibitive.
How about this … retailers like salon owners could use one of these to allow visitors to sign in — and sign up for their VIP Mailing list at the same time!
Customers can use them to browse the internet, read information about the business and it’s products and services, and possibly even shop for cool deals, while waiting to be seen.
These can replace the forms you fill out when visiting the doctor’s office.
They can show you how to fill out forms and complete applications online, because of their video playback abilities.
They can be used to deliver tutorial info, administer tests, help you study, and reinforce what you’ve learned, using text, audio, and video modalities.
This has been the promise of computers for what seems like aeons. But when was the last time anybody handed you a laptop computer to fill out a form at a business? IF they had something, it was a desktop computer that was stuck in a corner with a crappy screen and mouse that skips.
This product is going to open up markets that heretofore have been ignored, underserved, or were just too costly to address with expensive handheld devices that require months or years of custom programming and cost $5k-$10k each.
Ironically, this is the device that Bill Gates envisioned, and showed in mock-up, in several videos when he introduced Windows 98 at conferences back in 1997. The delivery man, the waitress, the business person, the doctor, all using a small book-sized tablet device. Except in HIS dream, they were running Windows. No such luck! 
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What kinds of innovative uses can YOU see for these new devices?
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